Other

University of Washington

Innovation Associates, Inc.

Enertechnix, Inc.

Combustion Specialists, Inc.

Puget Sound Power & Light Company

Martin A Afromowitz

George Kychakoff

Richard E Hogle

Sinclair S Yee

Ronald L Bardell

Gordon L Mitchell

Fred K Forster

Alan P Blanchard

Nigel Rudra Sharma

Roger A Wolthuis

Richard E Hugle

A system for detection and control of deposition on pendant tubes in recovery and power boilers includes one or more deposit monitoring sensors operating in infrared regions of about 4 or 8.7 microns and directly producing images of the interior of the boiler, or producing feeding signals to a data processing system for information to enable a distributed control system by which the boilers are operated to operate said boilers more efficiently. The data processing system includes an image pre-processing circuit in which a 2-D image formed by the video data input is captured, and includes a low pass filter for performing noise filtering of said video input. It also includes an image compensation system for array compensation to correct for pixel variation and dead cells, etc., and for correcting geometric distortion. An image segmentation module receives a cleaned image from the image pre-processing circuit for separating the image of the recovery boiler interior into background, pendant tubes, and deposition. It also accomplishes thresholding/clustering on gray scale/texture and makes morphological transforms to smooth regions, and identifies regions by connected components. An image-understanding unit receives a segmented image sent from the image segmentation module and matches derived regions to a 3-D model of said boiler. It derives a 3-D structure the deposition on pendant tubes in the boiler and provides the information about deposits to the plant distributed control system for more efficient operation of the plant pendant tube cleaning and operating systems.

Infrared imaging sensor

Sensing system for detection and control of deposition on pendant tubes in recovery and power boilers

3-D structures which are fabricated by gray-tone exposure of a class of thick negative photo-sensitized epoxy resists from the substrate side of a transparent substrate, using development methods that rely upon a physical distinction between polymerized (solid) and unpolymerized (liquid) photoresist at elevated temperatures Such structures may exhibit smoothly-varying topographic features with thicknesses as great as 2 mm.

3-D structures with smoothly-varying topographical features in photo-sensitive epoxy resists

The method includes the step of forming a solid epoxy member on a substrate, the epoxy member having an upper surface of desired configuration. A first metal layer is deposited on the epoxy member with the upper surface thereof conforming to the desired configuration. A layer of epoxy is deposited on the first metal layer and epoxy material from the epoxy layer is removed to create a well, exposing the metal layer on the epoxy member. A metal impression layer is then deposited in the well. The metal impression layer is then removed from the well and affixed to a mounting member as a mold component for injection molding of small structures.

Fabrication of molds and mold components using a photolithographic technique and structures made therefrom

A system for detection and control of deposition on pendant tubes in recovery and power boilers includes one or more deposit monitoring sensors operating in infrared regions and about 4 or 8.7 microns and directly producing images of the interior of the boiler. An image pre-processing circuit () in which a 2-D image formed by the video data input is captured, and includes a low pass filter for performing noise filtering of said video input. An image segmentation module () for separating the image of the recovery boiler interior into background, pendant tubes, and deposition. An image-understanding unit () matches derived regions to a 3-D model of said boiler. It derives a 3-D structure the deposition on pendant tubes in the boiler and provides the information about deposits to the plant distributed control system () for more efficient operation of the plant pendant tube cleaning and operating systems.

A method utilizing gray-tone exposure of a class of thick negative photo-sensitized epoxy resists from the substrate side of a transparent substrate and development methods that rely upon a physical distinction between polymerized (solid) and unpolymerized (liquid) photoresist at elevated temperatures may be used to fabricate 3-D structures in the photo-sensitized epoxy. Such structures may exhibit smoothly-varying topographic features with thicknesses as great as 2 mm.

Method for fabricating 3-D structures with smoothly-varying topographic features in photo-sensitized epoxy resists

Micropumps fabricated by micromachining techniques and employing fixed or no-moving-parts valves. As one aspect of the invention, a laser-assisted chemical etching technique is employed for providing smooth-walled, curved configuration necessary to obtain the desired flow characteristics of the valves that are used in conjunction with the micropump.

Micropumps with fixed valves

A system includes a catheter (10) having a low pressure balloon (42) at of one end thereof, a precise, low pressure, low volume fluid infusion means (41) and a pressure sensor (43). The balloon (42) is introduced to a body lumen, such as a blood vessel, and inflated to a pressure at or just above physiologic, typically being below 200 mmhg. From the balloon volume at a particular pressure, the internal cross-sectional area and diameter of the vessel can be calculated. Additional calculations can be made at other pressures below 200 mmhg to determine compliance of the vessel.

Apparatus and method for determining physiologic characteristics of body

Reference materials of differing indices of refraction or acoustic impedances are incorporated into liquid compositions to monitor the solidification process of these liquid compositions. Light or acoustic waves are used to indirectly measure the difference between the index of refraction or acoustic impedance of the solidfying composition and the reference material. The method provides an accurate in situ indication of the completion of the solidification process as well as a monitor of the degree of solidification during the solidification process.

Method of monitoring solidification of a liquid composition

Reference materials of differing indices of refraction or acoustic impedances are incorporated into liquid compositions to monitor the solidification process of these liquid compositions. Light or acoustic waves are used to indirectly measure the difference between the index of refraction or acoustic impedance of the solidifying composition and the reference material. The method provides an accurate in situ indication of the completion of the solidification process as well as a monitor of the degree of solidifications during the solidification process.

Apparatus and method for measuring an electric field using the electroreflectance effect. The apparatus comprises sensor means and a probe positionable at the point at which the electric field is to be measured. The probe comprises a layer of en electroreflective material having first and second surfaces. An optical source signal is directed onto the probe such that reflection or transmission at the first and second surfaces produces an optical output signal. The intensity of the output signal provides a measure of the electroreflective effect and therefore a measure of the electric field. The wavelength of the source signal is selected such that the electroreflective material exhibits the electroreflective effect at that wavelength, and such that the reflectance of the layer of electroreflective material at that wavelength changes as the index of refraction of the electroreflective material changes.

Apparatus and method for measuring electric field by electroreflectance

An inclinometer, adapted to be rigidly secured to an object, for detecting the amount and direction of the inclination of the object in any direction with respect to a horizontal or other reference plane. The inclinometer comprises a fiber optic rod rigidly mounted at one of its ends and having a weight secured to its free end. The free end of the rod has two degrees of freedom of motion with respect to its rigidly mounted end. Light is supplied to the rod's mounted end and light emitted from the rod's free end falls on a continuous two dimensional optical detection surface area of an optical detector which uniquely detects the position of the spot of light falling anywhere on its surface area, regardless of the direction in which the spot of light moves on its surface area. From the position of the spot of light on the surface area, the amount and direction of inclination of the object can be determined. Undesired oscillations of the free end of the optical fiber rod, caused by acceleration of the inclinometer, are reduced by surrounding the rod and/or weight with a viscous liquid, and/or by also providing fins on the weight to increase its fluid resistance. A temperature sensor allows for correction of the inclination angle detected caused by changes in temperature of the inclinometer. A pure fused silica optical fiber rod is preferred, to prevent undesired hysteresis which might otherwise be caused by an elastic deformation of the optical fiber rod.

Inclinometer having two degrees of freedom

An improved ion-sensitive electrode is described, particularly in terms of the structure of a pH electrode and first and second processes for making the same. The pH electrode includes a substrate, preferably of forsterite, which is configured as a wafer having a substantially planar wafer surface. A continuous conducting layer, formed by either thin-film vapor deposition or thick-film screening processes, is formed on the substantially planar wafer surface in a desired configuration. A first region of the continuous conducting layer, and contiguous portions of the substantially planar wafer surface, are covered by a continuous membrane layer preferably composed of a pH-sensitive glass such as Corning Code 0150 glass. Typically, the membrane layer is formed by a thick-film process which involves the reduction of the glass to a fine powder, the mixing of the powder with an organic vehicle including an organic solvent and an organic binder to form a glass paste, and the application of the glass paste to the wafer through a wire mesh screen having an open region therethrough corresponding in configuration to that of the desired membrane layer. The paste when applied to the wafer is fused into a continuous membrane layer by the application of heat, at a first temperature to drive off the organic solvent and at a second temperature or temperatures to drive off the organic binder and to fuse the glass. An insulated output lead is connected directly to a second region of the conducting layer. Alternatively, an active device chip, such as that including a field effect transistor, is bonded to the wafer and interconnected with the second region of the conducting layer and with the output lead or leads. The exposed conducting elements of the electrode, including the second region of the conducting layer, the active device chip, and all exposed portions of the leads, are covered by a fluid-tight seal. Other ion-sensitive electrodes and variations of the aforementioned processes are described.

Growing community of inventors

Mercer Island, WA, United States of America

Martin A Afromowitz