Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.

The B. F. Goodrich Company

Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.

Pmd Holdings Corp.

Other

Simmonds Precision

William B Spillman, Jr

Elmer D Dickens, Jr

Eric Martin Weissman

Scott Robert Durkee

Bruce R Kline

Douglas R Patriquin

Robert Edward Rudd, Iii

Sylvester M Ellinger

Maurizio Massimo

David Henry Crowne

Mokhtar M Sadok

Lisa B Maurice

James R Parkinson

Kenith Meissner

Richard P Andresen

Jianmin Gong

Eric M Weissman

Michael F Mayer

Michael E Ellinger

Kenith Meissner, Ii

Jennifer Diane Bennett

Certain exemplary embodiments comprise a system comprising a spatially distributed multimode optical fiber; a pixelated photodetector configured to detect a plurality of optical signals provided from said fiber, a first portion of the optical signals indicative of modal conversion and a second portion of the optical signals indicative of modal interference, a predetermined area of said pixelated photodetector adapted to be illuminated by the first portion of the optical signals; and a signal processing module adapted to decode and interpret a plurality of detected variables related to the optical signals.

System, device, and method for detecting perturbations

Certain exemplary embodiments comprise a spatially distributed multimode optical fiber; a photodetector configured to detect optical signals provided from said fiber; a wireless digital module coupled to said photodetector and adapted to wirelessly transmit a wireless signal encoding a plurality of detected variables of the optical signals; a wireless receiver adapted to receive the wireless signal; and a signal processing module coupled to said wireless receiver and adapted to decode and interpret the plurality of detected variables of the optical signals.

System, device, and method for detecting perturbations via a fiber optic sensor

This disclosure is directed to apparatus for measuring height of a surface of liquid in a container utilizing a light source and camera pair disposed above the liquid surface in a predetermined spatial relationship to each other and the container. The light source illuminates the liquid surface with a light pattern and the camera captures the area image of the light pattern in a form of discrete picture elements (pixels) that are processed in an image processor to determine the height of liquid in the container. In another embodiment, the pixels of the area image are further processed to determine attitude of the liquid surface so that the processor may determine the quantity of liquid in the container based on the determined height and attitude of the liquid surface and container geometry data stored in a memory thereof. In yet another embodiment, a plurality of light source/camera pairs are disposed above the liquid surface, each pair operates by capturing an area image of the light pattern on a portion of the liquid surface illuminated by its light source. The pixels of the area image of each pair are processed in the image processor to determine the heights of the corresponding liquid surface portions. In still another embodiment, a plurality of cameras are disposed above the liquid surface to observe at least one light pattern at different viewing angles. Each camera captures an area image of the at least one light pattern and the pixels of such area images are processed in the image processor to determine at least one height for the liquid surface in the container. In this embodiment, the image processor may include an algorithm for combining together the pixels of the various area images of the plurality of cameras to determine the at least one liquid surface height.

Apparatus for measuring height of a liquid in a container using area image pattern recognition techniques

A volume measurement system uses volume element counting in determining the amount of a liquid such as fuel in an irregularly-shaped container such as a fuel tank which can have changing orientation. The container is conceptually divided up into a plurality of volume elements. An orientation sensor determines the orientation of the container or of the liquid surface, which is approximated as a plane. A computational or optical processor uses orientation data to project vectors representing the volume elements onto a direction normal to the liquid interface plane. These projected distances are then arithmetically or optically compared to the location of the liquid interface plane.

Volume measurement system and method for volume element counting

An implant device which includes a structure implantable within a living animal and a sensor included as part of the structure. The sensor is operatively configured to detect accretion of biological material on the sensor by producing an output which varies as a function of the accretion of biological material on the sensor. A communication element is further included as part of the structure and is operatively coupled to the output of the sensor. The communication element is configured to communicate information based on the output of the sensor wirelessly to a remote element located outside the living animal.

Remotely interrogated implant device with sensor for detecting accretion of biological matter

An analyzer apparatus and method is provided for analyzing restenosis associated with a stent implanted within a living body. The apparatus includes an input for receiving ultrasonic data from an ultrasonic imaging apparatus; digital memory for storing the ultrasonic data at least temporarily; a processor for analyzing the ultrasonic data, the processor being configured to analyze the data in accordance with at least one predefined criteria to diagnose a degree of restenosis experienced by the stent; and an output for outputting information indicative of the diagnosis.

Ultrasonic detection of restenosis in stents

An implant device is provided which is responsive to an external interrogation circuit. The implant device includes a structure implantable within a living animal and operatively configured to carry out or assist in carrying out a function within the living animal. The device further includes an electrically passive sensing circuit integral with the structure for sensing a parameter associated with the function. In particular, the sensing circuit includes an inductive element wherein the sensing circuit has a frequency dependent variable impedance loading effect on the interrogation circuit in response to an interrogation signal provided by the exciter/interrogator element, the impedance loading effect varying in relation to the sensed parameter.

Remotely interrogated diagnostic implant device with electrically passive sensor

A device and system for remotely interrogating a diagnostic implant device utilizes acoustic energy to power and/or interrogate the device. Acoustic energy is utilized to excite the device from outside the body of a patient. By analyzing the response of the device to such excitation, it is possible to ascertain the condition of the device. Additionally, acoustic energy may be used to provide operating power to the device.

Acoustic-based remotely interrogated diagnostic implant device and system

Remotely interrogated implant device with sensor for detecting accretion

A strain gauge device for detecting force applied to a planar structure, the device including a capacitor having two spaced conductive surfaces, and a dielectric material between the conductive surfaces with a dielectric constant that varies in relation to strain force normal to the surfaces. In one embodiment, the dielectric material is realized in the form of a pair of facing linear molecule monolayers attached endwise to the respective conductive layers and oriented at an oblique angle to the layers.

Capacitive z-axis strain gauge

A smart structure comprising a rotatable shaft, and a sensor integrated with the shaft, a resonant detector circuit integrated with the structure for detecting a sensor output, and an external exciter circuit; the detector circuit having first coil means and the exciter circuit having second coil means magnetically coupled to the first coil means when aligned across a gap; and control means exterior the shaft for producing an output that corresponds to the sensor output compensated for the gap.

Embeddable DC power supply for smart structure sensors

Apparatus for acoustically analyzing a structure having distributed characteristics comprising a first acoustic waveguide for transmitting an acoustic signal through a portion of the structure, a second acoustic waveguide for receiving a reflected acoustic signature of the structure and transmitting the acoustic signature to a sensor; the sensor producing an output that corresponds to the acoustic signature. The apparatus and methods are particularly adaptable to detecting distributed structural characteristics.

Distributed structural characteristic detection system using a

A gauging apparatus for fluid containers such as fuel tanks includes a capacitance disposed in the container that changes value based on the volume of fluid in the container; a first antenna disposed below an outer surface of the container and coupled to the capacitance; a second antenna magnetically coupled with the first antenna across a coreless gap; and a gauging circuit coupled to the second antenna and comprising an oscillator for applying an excitation signal at a number of different frequencies to the second antenna, and a signal processing circuit that detects current in the second antenna caused by the excitation signal and by current in the first antenna related to the capacitance value.

Fluid gauging apparatus with inductive interrogation

An acousto-optic damage detector and locator uses acoustic energy propagated through a structure to modulate light transmitted through an optical fiber whereby the character of acoustic signals detected by the fiber varies according to the physical condition of the portion of the structure through which the pulses propagate to determine the existence, location and extent of faults within the structure.

Growing community of inventors

Charlotte, VT, United States of America

William B Spillman, Jr