Did You Know...
...that the Eveready Battery began as an invention called the "electric flowerpot," which was a tube with a battery and light bulb inside? The idea was to fasten this gizmo to the side of a flowerpot so it would illuminate the flowers from the bottom. The idea died on the vine and the businessman who licensed the flower pot, Conrad Huber, was left with a pile of useless tubes -- until he found a way to market them as batteries to light the world!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7852468 | Fiber optic refractometer A downhole refractometer apparatus and method include a light source, an optical fiber that receives light emitted from the light source and a fluid cell that receives a downhole fluid. A metalloid interface member is disposed to provide an interface with the downho... | 12/14/2010 |
| 7372063 | Optical detector for the presence of gas bubbles in a liquid The invention concerns a method for detecting gas bubbles in a liquid adapted to a device comprising a light source, a light detector and a data controlling and processing unit connected to a client system comprising the following steps: emitting light from the ligh... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7339657 | Low-cost on-line and in-line spectral sensors based on solid-state source and detectors combinations for monitoring lubricants and functional fluids A series of optical spectral sensors is based on a combination of solid-state sources (illumination) and detectors housed within an integrated package that includes the interfacing optics and acquisition and processing electronics. The focus is on low cost and the f... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7336358 | Method and apparatus for determining particle size and composition of mixtures Method and apparatus for evaluating one or more materials in accordance with size of particles. The method includes evaluating a spectrum of light reflected from a first group of particles; evaluating a spectrum of light reflected from a second group of particle; co... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7333211 | Method for determining a qualitative characteristic of an interferometric component The present invention relates to a method for determining a qualitative characteristic of an interferometric component (eg a planar waveguide structure) or a process for determining a qualitative characteristic of a stimulus of interest to which the interferometric ... | 02/19/2008 |
| 7319523 | Apparatus for a liquid chemical concentration analysis system An apparatus utilizes optical reflectivity (REF) to measure concentrations in liquids. The REF optical system is packaged in a compact and cost-effective form factor. An electronic circuit drives the optical system. The miniaturized REF sensor is situated in an opti... | 01/15/2008 |
| 7295295 | Paste solids measurement in real time A real-time method of determining paste solids includes: correlating the refractive index of a paste with solute concentration in a solvent using a plurality of paste solids concentrations, typically including at least two paste solids concentrations greater than ab... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7274032 | Document processor with optical sensor arrangement An apparatus for document processing comprises an optical sensor including a light source, a light detector and an optical element. The optical sensor is adapted so that, during operation of the apparatus, at least a first portion of light from the source that enter... | 09/25/2007 |
| 7268864 | Method for a liquid chemical concentration analysis system An apparatus utilizes optical reflectivity (REF) to measure concentrations in liquids. The REF optical system is packaged in a compact and cost-effective form factor. An electronic circuit drives the optical system. The miniaturized REF sensor is situated in an opti... | 09/11/2007 |
| 7247837 | Optical moisture sensor and method of making the same A soil moisture sensor uses a non-collimated light source and a photosensor, respectively, mounted at the foci of a transparent ellipsoidal plastic body. The dimensions of the body are such that emitted light rays are internally reflected toward the photosensor at t... | 07/24/2007 |
| 7230986 | Multistandard video decoder and decompression system for processing encoded bit streams including a video formatter and methods relating thereto A pipeline video decoder and decompression system handles a plurality of separately encoded bit streams arranged as a single serial bit stream of digital bits and having separately encoded pairs of control codes and corresponding data carried in the serial bit strea... | 06/12/2007 |
| 7215457 | Apparatus and methods for modulating refractive index An iono-refractive structure that includes one or more ion insertion layers having a real portion and an imaginary portion of the dielectric constant is provided. While both the real portion and the imaginary portion of the dielectric constant change, the change in ... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7215384 | Method and apparatus for simplifying field prediction motion estimation Motion estimation on a received stream of data comprising at least a predicted frame and an anchor frame, and utilizing even-parity field prediction to predict content of each of a plurality of fields of the predicted frame from corresponding fields of the anchor fr... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7209605 | Packaged optical sensors on the side of optical fibers The present invention concerns an optical sensor located on a preferred azimuthal portion of the side of an optical fiber. An optical fiber having two opposite ends, a core and a cladding and at least one sensing area is disclosed. Each of the sensing areas is locat... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7199871 | Refractometer and method for measuring refractive index The invention relates to a refractometer and to a refractive index measuring method. The invention directs an incident light ray onto an interface of a medium of known refractive index and of the medium studied, then measuring the intensity of the reflected light ra... | 04/03/2007 |
| 7145709 | Apparatus and methods for modulating refractive index An iono-refractive structure that includes one or more ion insertion layers having a real portion and an imaginary portion of the dielectric constant is provided. While both the real portion and the imaginary portion of the dielectric constant change, the change in ... | 12/05/2006 |
| 7142306 | Optical probes and probe systems for monitoring fluid flow in a well Several optical probes useful in downhole applications are provided. A first probe has a tip in the form of a cubical corner with the diagonal of the cubical corner aligned with the axis of the probe. A second probe has a tip formed in a 45° cone. In these designs,... | 11/28/2006 |
| 7139454 | Methods for signal transmission in optical fiber This disclosure concerns methods for transmitting a signal in an optical system. In one example, the method begins when an optical signal is generated. Then, the optical signal is manipulated such that the optical signal defines a substantially annular intensity pro... | 11/21/2006 |
| 7106429 | Apparatus and method for detecting change of dielectric constant Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method for detecting a selected material that change an effective dielectric constant of a circular resonator. An example of the apparatus includes an input waveguide, an output waveguide and a circular resonator. The input waveg... | 09/12/2006 |
| 7104704 | Transmission apparatus using a plastic fiber A transmission apparatus comprises a plastic fiber, and a photodetector for detecting light, which has been propagated through the plastic fiber. The photodetector comprises a plurality of semiconductor light receiving devices, whose light receiving sensitivity wave... | 09/12/2006 |
| 7064816 | Refractometer The invention relates to a portable refractometer comprising a depression (7) for samples, located on an insertion tip (11) in such a way that once the insertion tip (11) has penetrated a liquid or a fruit, a sufficient quantity of the sample li... | 06/20/2006 |
| 7062125 | Prismatic reflection optical waveguide device A prismatic reflection optical waveguide device having an input and an output optical waveguide segments and a reflection interface provided therebetween apt to convey a light beam from one direction to another, wherein the light beam is conveyed by a single reflect... | 06/13/2006 |
| 7024060 | Method and apparatus for continuous measurement of the refractive index of fluid An apparatus and method are herein disclosed which utilize a ratio based on a varied angle of incidence of light on an optical fiber analysis system. By calculating the ration of light incident on the sample element, variations in the system parameters which can pro... | 04/04/2006 |
| 7016026 | Method and apparatus for a downhole refractometer and attenuated reflectance spectrometer The invention relates to refractometry and attenuated reflectance spectrometry in a wellbore environment. Specifically, it pertains to a robust apparatus and method for measuring refractive index of fluids along a continuum (rather than in steps), and for measuring ... | 03/21/2006 |
| 7009750 | Apparatus and methods for modulating refractive index An iono-refractive structure that includes one or more ion insertion layers having a real portion and an imaginary portion of the dielectric constant is provided. While both the real portion and the imaginary portion of the dielectric constant change, the change in ... | 03/07/2006 |
| 6975388 | Optical-fiber refractometer The invention relates to a refractometer and to a method of measuring the refractive index of a medium. An incident light ray is directed onto an interface consisting of a medium of known refractive index and of the medium being studied. Then the intensity of the re... | 12/13/2005 |
| 6956982 | Integrated optical lightguide device In an integrated optical lightguide device including a light-transmitting core layer, an inclusion or buffer layer, and an active or cladding layer. The cladding layer is divided into segments. Groups of different segments exhibit different refractive indices, light... | 10/18/2005 |
| 6949758 | LCC-based fluid-level detection sensor A non-mechanical fluid level sensor based on light communication channel (LCC) technology. In a preferred embodiment, one end of the LCC is connected to a signal source while another end is connected to a sensor. The LCC is dipped in a fluid container and a signal p... | 09/27/2005 |
| 6950930 | Multistandard video decoder and decompression system for processing encoded bit streams including pipeline processing and methods relating thereto A pipeline video decoder and decompression system handles a plurality of separately encoded bit streams arranged as a single serial bit stream of digital bits and having separately encoded pairs of control codes and corresponding data carried in the serial bit strea... | 09/27/2005 |
| 6911803 | Systems and methods for evaluating a charge state of a battery based on optical properties of the battery electrolyte material System and methods for evaluating a charge state of a battery are provided. A light source is configured for emitting light through an electrolyte contained within the battery. An optical element determines the charge state based on the light passing through the ele... | 06/28/2005 |
| 6728430 | Fluid identification system A fluid detector system for identifying a fluid or detecting presence of a substance in a fluid. The fluid detector includes at least two optical conductors, optical detectors coupled to outputs from the optical conductors; and a comparer for comparing the outputs f... | 04/27/2004 |
| 6683681 | Method and apparatus for a downhole refractometer and attenuated reflectance spectrometer The invention relates to refractometry and attenuated reflectance spectrometry in a wellbore environment. Specifically, it pertains to a robust apparatus and method for measuring refractive index of fluids along a continuum (rather than in steps), and for... | 01/27/2004 |
| 6538727 | Electronic device for distinguishing sugar sweetened beverages from artificially sweetened ones A refractometer which provides a "sugar" or "diet" indication when immersed on a beverage. The device is electronic and lights either a "sugar" or "diet" signal to the user. A prove has a light source and a photodetector at one end and an angled face at t... | 03/25/2003 |
| 6525808 | Method and system for local index measurement in optical materials A method and system for determining a spatially local index of refraction in optical materials is provided. Light, including a near-field intensity, is collected above a surface of the material. A probe is oscillated at a plurality of frequencies and in a... | 02/25/2003 |
| 6429447 | Fluid level indicator An optical device for measuring a level of a fluid in a container wherein a light conducting body having a top surface and a bottom surface is positioned within the container and into the fluid. A first end of the light conducting body and an oppositely d... | 08/06/2002 |
| 6422073 | Device for identifying liquid anaesthetics A device for use in an anaesthetic administration apparatus for identifying at least one liquid anaesthetic in the anaesthetic apparatus has a measuring unit for determining at least one parameter related to the refractive index of the liquid anaesthetic,... | 07/23/2002 |
| 6356675 | Fiber optic refractive index monitor A sensor for measuring the change in refractive index of a liquid uses the lowest critical angle of a normal fiber optic to achieve sensitivity when the index of the liquid is significantly less than the index of the fiber core. Another embodiment uses a ... | 03/12/2002 |
| 6149591 | Refractometric devices especially adapted for the in vivo detection of refractive indices of cervical mucus Devices for detecting hydration of cervical mucus (which is indicative of the course of a female's reproductive cycle) include a detector having a light source, a photoreceptor and a light guide positioned so as to guide light from the light source to the... | 11/21/2000 |
| 5973774 | Portable instrument to determine concentration of AFFF in fresh and sea water solutions A compact portable instrument for determining the percentage concentration of a material in a solution such as the amount of concentrate in an output from an Aqueous Film Forming Foam generator used to extinguish fires. The instrument comprises a refracti... | 10/26/1999 |
| 5966477 | Fiber optic sensor enclosure system There is disclosed a sensor system comprising a sensor for detecting and signaling the presence of a fluid in an enclosure. The sensor system can be installed or incorporated within electronics and communications enclosures that house fluid-sensitive comp... | 10/12/1999 |
