Other

Electrawatch, Inc.

University of Virginia Patent Foundation

Virginia Semiconductor, Inc.

Center for Innovative Technology

Eas Ip, LLC

Virginia Technologies, Inc

Robert A Ross

Ryan C Dunn

Guy D Davis

Paul A Bell

Stephen H Jones

Josef K Hudson

James J Kauzlarich

Ronald D Williams

James M Beach

Donald A Tubbs

Ravinder K Mittal

Joshua M Parman

Robert G Kelly

Richard W McCallum

Bryan D Wright

Bruce Schirmer

Jiamnim Liu

Carolyn DeMain

David Abdallah

Thomas Digges

Jian Dez Chen

Zhiyue Lin

Jonathan Tillack

Amber M Bryant

Emily A Schechter

Nathaniel M Brakeley

The invention apparatus for and a method of creating a localized warning to prevent damage to buried pipeline and other buried infrastructure using a new type of marker tape with the trade name signal tape® [hereinafter referred to as 'Signal Tape']. The disclosed Signal Tape may incorporate tracer wire and RFID technology to aid in the remote location of the Signal Tape and, thus, the buried infrastructure. Signal Tape may also incorporate Litz wire for use as tracer wire within the Signal Tape. The Signal Tape is designed to be buried just below the surface of the ground and directly over a buried infrastructure such as a pipeline. The Signal Tape incorporates a strong core material which permits the Signal Tape to be bodily removed from the soil when it is struck by excavation equipment.

Signal tape

The invention comprises portable, rugged and relatively compact electrochemical cells. Each may be removably and nondestructively secured to one surface of a substrate of indefinite size. In-situ electrochemical measurements may be made on portions of existing structures such as ships, bridges, or buildings. An electrochemical cell is disclosed which comprises an analytical chamber which can be utilized with either on-board or external potentiostats. The electrochemical cell has a mounting means which permits the cell to be secured to substrates with irregular surface morphology and to horizontal, vertical or intermediately oriented surfaces. The electrochemical cell provides a means to control the temperature of the electrolyte and the substrate area of interest to permit more accuract and consistent elecrochemical measurements. Said probe is capable of performing electrochemical measurements such as a monitoring corrosion, effectiveness, or integrity of conductive and nonconductive coatings on bare and coated metallic or conductive substrates.

Portable electrochemical cell with temperature control and surface morphology independence

The coating monitoring system is based on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The system consists of one or more compact and rugged mini-potentiostat modules coupled to one or more electrodes mounted on top of the paint coating of the structure being monitored. The electrodes and modules can be coated with a topcoat if desired. Alternatively, they may be mounted only temporarily to the structure for spot inspection. They periodically report to a laptop. Communications may be implemented using a wireless protocol. The units may be battery powered with an estimated battery lifetime of up to ten years, depending on the frequency of measurement and interrogation Alternative power supplies may be used to replace or supplement the battery to allow extended battery lifetime. Moisture, humidity, or other sensors may be incorporated into the coating monitor.

Coating monitor for evaluating the effectiveness of protective coatings

The invention comprises portable, rugged and relatively compact electrochemical cells. Each cell has the ability to be removably and nondestructive secured to one surface of a substrate of indefinite size. In-situ electrochemical measurements may be made on portions of existing structures such as ships, bridges, or buildings. An electrochemical cell comprises an analytical chamber which can be utilized with potentiostats. An electrochemical cell is a self-contained portable probe comprising an electrochemical cell, an electronics component and a fluid handling component. Said probe is capable of performing electrochemical measurements by itself without the use of an external potentiostat, such as monitoring corrosion, effectiveness, or integrity of conductive and nonconductive coatings on bare and coated metallic or conductive substrates.

Portable electrochemical cells

A method and apparatus are disclosed for preventing excavation damage to buried infrastructure. A plurality of excavation-sensing modules is buried near the buried infrastructure. The buried infrastructure excavation-sensing modules protect and detect buried infrastructure by emitting dense clouds of visible gas when the excavation-sensing modules are activated by impact with excavation equipment. In most instances, the visible gas will be brightly colored and it may also have a strong odor. In addition to the gas released by the modules, a loud sound may also be produced by the activated excavation-sensing module. This alerts construction crews or other workers that their excavation is nearing a protected underground structure. Once installed, no maintenance or active monitoring is required.

Passive alarm to prevent buried infrastructure damage

The present invention relates generally to a therapeutic pulse generator system used to provide energy efficient stimulation/pacing by causing controlled cellular depolarization based on pre-measured charge transfer. This is accomplished by periodic electrical characterization of the electrode-tissue interface. Each channel of stimulation is programmed individually enabling the clinician to customize the therapeutic protocol. Energy efficiency may also be further improved through the use of a multi-channel lead in which the amount of energy required for each subsequent channel may be set to be less than the previous channel. The total energy required for multi-channel stimulation/pacing has also been shown to be less than that required by a single channel for the same therapeutic benefit.

Energy efficient therapeutic pulse generator system

The disclosed light standard system provides flat field illumination through the use of an integrating light chamber which is in communication with a microprocessor. The light chamber has at least one high performance light source, such as LED's, recessed within the walls and positioned to prevent light from directly exiting the chamber. A photosensor monitors multiple parameters within the chamber and interacts with the microprocessor to control intensity, temperature and wavelengths. The lights standard operates in benchmark, ratio light, linearity and transient response modes with all parameters being programmable and storable within said microprocessor.

Light standard for microscopy

A system for monitoring the material changes in a structure is disclosed through the use monitoring instruments embedded within the structure. The instruments have at least one sensor with electrodes in contact with the surrounding material and electronics that are contained within the instrument. The sensor signals are converted to digital and transmitted to an external data logger or computer for display of the digitized signals. The connection between the microcontroller and the data logger can be either through hardwire or RF. Power is provided to the electronic sensors through either external or local methods. A power management system can be used to place the electronics into a sleep mode when not in use. The electronics are encapsulated within potting material within an instrument case that is manufactured from a material having a flexural modulus equal to, or greater than, the surrounding material to prevent mechanical failure of the device before failure of the surrounding material. The case has protective trays to protect the electrodes and rounded adjacent connection lengths to prevent the case from developing cracks.

Embeddable corrosion monitoring-instrument for steel reinforced structures

Techniques and systems for obtaining the thickness map of a partially transparent substrate in a nondestructive optical fashion. The thickness is determined by comparing the amount of absorption by the substrate to a calibrated amount obtained from a substrate standard with a known thickness that is formed of the same material. Digital signal processing operations are performed to reduce noise and to improve resolution of the thickness map.

Optical system for measuring and inspecting partially transparent

Techniques and systems for measuring absolute thickness, the total thickness variation, and electric resistivity of a semiconductor wafer in a nondestructive optical fashion. Optical absorption is used to measure the absolute thickness of a semiconductor wafer with a light source and a phototransceiver. The thickness is determined by comparing the amount of absorption to a calibrated amount. Coherent light interference is used to measure the total thickness variation of a substrate. Alternatively, both the absolute thickness and total thickness variation of the substrate can be measured based on light absorption using a CCD imaging device. The resistivity of a wafer sample can also be measured by using an alternating electrical signal.

Optical micrometer for measuring thickness of transparent wafers

An electronic pacemaker is used to counter-act crural diaphragm relaxation thereby preventing and/or treating gastroesophageal reflux. The pacemaker can be implantable, or be connected to the skeletal muscles of the crural diaphragm through the skin. A sensor is used to identify spontaneous intermittent relaxations of the diaphragm. During these spontaneous intermittent relaxations, one or more electrodes are used to stimulate the skeletal muscles of the crural diaphragm to cause contraction of the lower esophageal sphincter.

Crural diaphragm pacemaker and method for treating esophageal reflux

An electronic viscometer having a vibrating drive in a hollow probe which oscillates along its longitudinal axis and is damped by a sample into which the probe is inserted. The viscometer has a piezoelectric crystal having a feedback electrode, a phase locked loop circuit to track the resonant frequency, drive amplifiers and buffers, and a phase compensation network to ensure that the proper phase relationship is maintained between piezoelectric drive and feedback signals.

Electronic viscometer

A portable or implantable gastric pacemaker includes multiple electrodes that are positionable on the inner or outer surface of an organ in the gastro-intestinal tract and which are individually programmed to deliver a phased electrical stimulation to pace peristaltic movement of material through the GI tract. The pacemaker will accommodate variations in pulse amplitudes, pulse durations, pulse periods, and relative pulse phasing among the electrodes. Computer control can be used to adjust and vary all stimulation parameters delivered by the electrodes to achieve effective treatment and re-training of an organ for natural pacing. The pacemaker can be programmed with parameters to enhance or accelerate peristaltic movement through the gastric tract or to attenuate the peristaltic movement to treat such conditions eating disorders or diarrhea.

Gastro-intestinal pacemaker having phased multi-point stimulation

A dam frame and a dam assembly for use during dental procedures. A two-member elliptical radiolucent plastic frame is provided having arcuate openings matching the upper and lower teeth of a patient and an opening adjacent the throat area. A rubber dam sheet is disposed between the two frame members so as to cover the openings. To produce a dam assembly, the frame is bent along its minor axis to place in a patient's mouth. The dam sheet may be cut or punched to isolate one or more teeth with the uncut portions protecting the patient's throat and mouth.

Growing community of inventors

Charlottesville, VA, United States of America

Robert A Ross