Other

Alstom Technology Limited

Brk Brands, Inc.

Robert Dickerman

Terry M Grayson

Bruce Maxwell Muller

Christopher Dickerman

Stationary devices employing quadrature phase analysis light scattering are provided, to aid in the determination of the magnitude and polarity of electrophoretic mobility and zeta potential of particles in colloids. The devices use an optical quadrature interferometer with an electrophoresis sample chamber containing sample particles undergoing electrophoresis, the optical quadrature interferometer being configured to generate a quadrature signal. The phase of the quadrature signal may be analyzed at the frequency of the sample chamber electric field to estimate displacements and directions of the particles. The estimates can be used to determine a central value of the magnitude of the electrophoretic mobility, as well as its polarity. Particles having low electrophoretic mobility, or that may be adversely affected by high electric fields, can be analyzed, and constraints on vibration and light source coherence length may be relaxed. A phase modulator or frequency shifter is not required.

Quadrature phase analysis light scattering for electrophoresis and zeta potential measurements

Devices and methods are provided for determining frequency spectra, as well as the polarity of frequency, of energy in quadrature signals. In Doppler detection systems, found in sonar, radar, lidar, optical velocimeters using interferometers, and ultrasonics applications, for example, this information can be used to determine target speed and direction. Embodiments obtain a quadrature signal and determine a sine transform of a cross correlation between the I and Q components of the quadrature signal, and can provide an output comprising a signed frequency spectrum. A sign of a sample of the signed frequency spectrum can correspond to a polarity of frequency. The signed frequency spectrum can be rapidly determined over a unipolar frequency span that may be only approximately half the baseband sampling frequency. The signed frequency spectrum may be impervious to imaging under severe conditions of uncorrected quadrature amplitude imbalance.

Determining frequency spectra and polarity of frequency for imbalanced quadrature signals including for Doppler system target speed and direction

Devices and methods employing stationary homodyne interferometry to aid in the determination of the magnitude and polarity of electrophoretic mobility and zeta potential of particles are provided. The devices use an optical quadrature interferometer having a sample holder loadable with an electrophoresis sample chamber that may contain sample particles undergoing electrophoresis, the optical quadrature interferometer being configured to perform optical velocimetry on the particles and to generate a quadrature signal comprising characteristics related to the speeds and directions of the particles. The quadrature signal may be used to determine the speeds and directions of particles. The speeds and directions of particles may be used, together with other information, for the determination of the magnitudes and polarities of the electrophoretic mobility and zeta potential of the particles. Constraints on vibration, light source coherence length, and measurement resolution may be relaxed.

Stationary devices for determination of magnitude and polarity of electrophoretic mobility and zeta potential

Devices and methods for estimation of quadrature signal imbalance are provided. A quadrature signal is coupled to a computing system. The computing system determines several points on a symmetry function of corrected quadrature signals, and identifies a symmetry point that may satisfy a threshold level. An imbalance corresponding to the identified symmetry point may be used as an imbalance estimate. The imbalance estimate can be used for imbalance correction. Multiple imbalance estimates can be combined to reduce random errors caused by noise. Triangulation can be used to identify a value of symmetry that satisfies a threshold level. Triangulation allows the determination of the location of a symmetry trough by calculating as few as four symmetry points, thereby permitting embodiments to track rapidly changing imbalance. The disclosed embodiments may be employed in optical velocimetry systems, detection and ranging systems such as radar, sonar, and lidar, ultrasonics, and communications systems.

Quadrature signal imbalance estimation

A system for mitigating electrostatic discharge (ESD) that may occur during egress from vehicles is provided. One embodiment comprises a narrow conductive electrode that is galvanically connected to the vehicle chassis, and that is applied to that one edge of a seat which is next to the door nearest that seat. For example, in the U.S., this edge will normally be the left edge of the driver's seat, or the right edge of the front passenger's seat. The electrode is substantially located on a normally unoccupied surface of the seat cushion. Other embodiments further include pointed shapes on the electrode to increase the electric field intensity, which may promote more complete discharging.

Electrostatic discharge mitigator for vehicles

Disclosed are improved designs for incorporating static dissipative qualities into footwear. A novel static dissipative shoe may be made by incorporating a conductive layer or element that spans the exposed side surface of the sole on the outside of the finished shoe, in at least one location along the perimeter of the sole. A unique advantage is that static dissipative qualities may be incorporated into many existing shoe designs with no tooling changes, by adding a step to the manufacturing process, such as a pad printing step, for instance. Another advantage is that static dissipative qualities may be included at a lower cost, because fewer conductive parts and less conductive material are required, as compared to prior art. Yet another advantage is that, unlike for prior art, most embodiments have a negligible effect upon basic shoe performance characteristics, such as shock absorption, support, or wear resistance.

Static dissipation modifications for shoes

In an apparatus that issues maintenance warnings, such as the low-battery audio warnings issued by smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, a system for insuring that warnings are issued only at times of day when it is likely that residents will be awake, so as not to interrupt sleep. In the simplest embodiments, the system may comprise an oscillator, a 24-hour timer, and control logic, most of which may be contained in a microcontroller. One embodiment allows manual selection of the time of day of inhibiting warnings by pressing a pushbutton once. In other embodiments the starting time for the issuing a warning is close to the time of day at which the battery was installed, or the time of day that the detector was last tested. The latter embodiments are automatic, and require no user configuration.

Maintenance warning inhibitor based on time of day

An apparatus for evaluating data representing the electrical characteristics of a combustion vessel, the combustion vessel being operable to combust a fuel. The apparatus includes a matrix of nodes arranged on an ohmic material of the combustion vessel, a wire A, B, A, B, connected to each respective node and a switch SW , SW connected to each wire and to a current source. A circuit A, B for reducing leakage currents uses an added series element, optimally a diode D , and feedback control of the voltage across the diode to a set point of zero volts to effectively reduce the off-state leakage current of each switch SW , SW

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Northfield, MA, United States of America

Robert Dickerman