Did You Know...
...that a workman who left the soap mixing machine on too long was responsible for making Ivory Soap? He was so embarrassed by his mistake that he threw the mess in a stream. Imagine his dismay when the evidence of his error floated to the surface! Result: Ivory soap, the soap that floats.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7743661 | Fiber optic MEMS seismic sensor with mass supported by hinged beams The present invention relates to an optic seismic MEMS sensor. More specifically, a proof mass is supported by a frame having supporting beams. The proof mass is positioned within the frame and has a hinged attachment to the beams. The proof mass has a sensor gap ha... | 06/29/2010 |
| 7673517 | System and method for optical interrogation of micro-mechanical sensors using microcavity interferometry A sensor and a method for sensing a change in mass of a reflective microbeam in a sensor, the sensor having a reflective layer disposed on a substrate and spaced apart from the reflective microbeam. The microbeam receives amplitude modulated laser energy at a first ... | 03/09/2010 |
| 7420876 | Obstacle sensor having supersonic sensor An obstacle sensor includes: a supersonic sensor for detecting an obstacle in a first range, the supersonic sensor including a substrate, a transmission device and a reception device disposed on the substrate; a detection element for detecting the obstacle in a seco... | 09/02/2008 |
| 7310287 | Method and apparatus for seismic data acquisition A marine seismic exploration method and system comprised of continuous recording, self-contained ocean bottom pods characterized by low profile casings. An external bumper is provided to promote ocean bottom coupling and prevent fishing net entrapment. Pods are teth... | 12/18/2007 |
| 7302852 | Vibration measuring and monitoring system A vibration measuring and monitoring system (100) for an object (20) includes a laser unit (11), a laser sensor unit (12), and a processor (15). The laser unit is used for emitting a laser beam (13). The laser sensor unit is... | 12/04/2007 |
| 7286964 | Methods for monitoring structural health conditions Methods and recordable media for monitoring structural health conditions. The present invention provides a method for interrogating a damage of a host structure using a diagnostic network patch (DNP) system having patches. An interrogation module partitions the plur... | 10/23/2007 |
| 7168323 | System and method for optical vibration sensing A system for sensing vibration of a machine is provided. A light source directs a beam of light toward a light receiving system adapted to receive at least a portion of the beam of light. A light modulating system modulates the light beam received by the light recei... | 01/30/2007 |
| 7146862 | Thick film strain gage sensor A strain gage sensor having improved operational aspects and lower production costs. The strain gage sensor includes two active resistors, two passive resistors, and a structure for minimizing strain experienced by the two passive resistors. The active and passive r... | 12/12/2006 |
| 7117742 | Sensors and systems for structural health monitoring Sensors and systems for monitoring structural health conditions. The present invention provides a device for monitoring structural health conditions including a dielectric substrate, a piezoelectric device for actuating and/or sensing Lamb waves, a molding layer dep... | 10/10/2006 |
| 7021146 | Attitude sensor The present invention provides an attitude sensing device and method for determining an attitude of a reference axis of a package containing a fiber optic sensor sensor. The attitude sensing device comprises an electro-mechanical attitude sensor for generating an el... | 04/04/2006 |
| 6918283 | System and method for demonstrating and investigating brownian motion effects on a diamagnetically suspended particle An apparatus for demonstrating, investigating and observing Brownian motion and temperature of a medium, such as gas or liquid, uses a small particle which is diamagnetically suspended in the medium. The tiny magnetized particle having a known mass is levitated usin... | 07/19/2005 |
| 6895131 | Hermetic seal for use in converting optical signals to electrical signals The present invention provides a configuration where all optical parts of a monitoring system are contained within a seal and within the generator itself. Non-optical preamplifier functions may also be placed within the seal. In this configuration there is an electr... | 05/17/2005 |
| 6779402 | Method and apparatus for measuring acceleration using a fiber optic accelerometer A system and method for measuring acceleration using a fiber optic accelerometer having a pair of fiber optic coils positioned around a deformable support structure. The support structure possesses a nominally cylindrical shape with the fiber optic coils being wound... | 08/24/2004 |
| 6761528 | Steam turbine and method of measuring the vibration of a moving blade in a flow passage of a steam turbine The invention relates to a steam turbine (3) comprising an optical measuring system (60) for measuring a moving blade vibration. A transmitter (55) produces a light beam (61) which strikes the moving blades (27, 29, 31, 33) and is ... | 07/13/2004 |
| 6642848 | Shock sensor by variable capacitor This invention is pertaining to multi purpose shock sensor comprising three conductive plates arranged in 3 layers in parallel which make 2 variable capacitors connected in series. Two outer plates are firmly attached to a supporting insulating material a... | 11/04/2003 |
| 6494095 | Micro electromechanical switch for detecting acceleration or decelaration A micro electromechanical switch for detecting acceleration or deceleration includes a rectangular planar mass of, for example, etched silicon suspended on a pair of beams from an anchor located in the same silicon base. Motion in a plane of movement caus... | 12/17/2002 |
| 6354147 | Fluid parameter measurement in pipes using acoustic pressures At least one parameter of at least one fluid in a pipe 12 is measured using a spatial array of acoustic pressure sensors 14,16,18 placed at predetermined axial locations x1,x2,x3 along the pipe 12. The pressure sensors 14,16,18 provide acoustic pressure s... | 03/12/2002 |
| 6276536 | Method of measuring ripeness and texture of vegetable or fruit and measuring instrument A method for measuring the ripeness and the texture of a fruit, the method comprising a step for applying a vibration having sequentially hanging frequencies to a fruit to be measured, a step for measuring the intensity of the vibration applied to the fru... | 08/21/2001 |
| 6161433 | Fiber optic geophone A geophone includes an optical element capable of changing its refractive index and path length in response to acceleration of the geophone. The sensor component comprises a mass mounted on a fulcrum for rotational movement against the force of a biasing ... | 12/19/2000 |
| 6041020 | Gas-coupled laser acoustic detection The investigation, development and application of a laser-based ultrasonic inspection system to the problems of evaluating polymer/graphite composite materials has been realized. The use of lasers to generate and detect ultrasonic waveforms in materials p... | 03/21/2000 |
| 5951481 | Apparatus and method for non-invasive measurement of a substance An apparatus and method of non-invasive measurement of a chosen region (4) within a body (2), using the transmission of an ultrasonic pulse and the measurement of back scattered optical radiation which has been modulated by the ultrasonic pulse at the reg... | 09/14/1999 |
| 5926584 | Fiber optic load sensor The invention concerns a faseroptic load sensor with a support structure and at least one interference structure shaped like a wire, on which at least one optical fiber is displayed. The optical fiber is cleared through a wireshaped interference structure... | 07/20/1999 |
| 5886265 | Optical vibration sensor An optical vibration sensor includes a built-in blade provided with a system for reflecting light, a system for directing light onto the reflecting system, system for collecting the light reflected by the reflecting system and a system for analyzing the i... | 03/23/1999 |
| 5729075 | Tuneable microelectromechanical system resonator A resonant beam or cantilever is implemented in single crystal silicon or polysilicon. Adjacent the end of the cantilever is an electrode capable of receiving a variable voltage. The cantilever has a natural mechanical resonant frequency when vibrated, an... | 03/17/1998 |
| 5465624 | Apparatus for measuring kinematic errors in power transmission mechanisms An apparatus for measuring kinematic errors in power transmission mechanisms with an input shaft and an output shaft. The apparatus comprises a pair of laser doppler velocimeters (LDV's) (16,34). Each generates a laser beam split into two equal-intensity ... | 11/14/1995 |
| 5437186 | Integrated optical acceleration sensor An acceleration sensor for measuring accelerations in at least one direction, the sensor including: a plate-like seismic mass which responds to accelerations, is disposed within a fixed frame and is movably fastened to the frame by at least one web extend... | 08/01/1995 |
| 5381695 | Apparatus for investigating a sample with ultrasound An apparatus for investigating a sample with ultrasound has a probe head formed by a casing, a transducer element of piezoelectric plastics material, and a source for applying a high frequency pulse to the sample. The source is preferably one end of an op... | 01/17/1995 |
| 5339289 | Acoustic and ultrasound sensor with optical amplification An optical lever acoustic and ultrasound sensor with increased sensitivity using an optical amplification means to amplify the motion of an incident acoustic wave and convert it to an electric signal for image processing. Three approaches to the optical a... | 08/16/1994 |
| 5317929 | Fiber optic flexural disk accelerometer An accelerometer or seismometer has a pair of flat spirals of optical fiber and has one or more elastic disks bearing a mass and supported for flexure. Each spiral is fixedly attached to a corresponding disk side so that disk flexure lengthens a spiral on... | 06/07/1994 |
| 5249163 | Optical lever for acoustic and ultrasound sensor An acoustic sensor, suitable for use as an ultrasonic transducer, microphone or hydrophone, uses an optical lever to amplify the motion of the sensor surface and convert it to an electrical signal suitable for image processing. In the acoustic sensor, a b... | 09/28/1993 |
| 5207766 | Fiber-optic vibration sensor Vibrations of a body are measured by attaching a vibrating element to the body, directing a beam of electromagnetic energy onto the vibrating element and collecting reflected electromagnetic energy from the vibrating element. The magnitude of the reflecte... | 05/04/1993 |
| 5191249 | Self-aligning bearing for a precision measurement pendulum This invention relates to a self-aligning bearing for a precision measurement pendulum, in which, between the pendulum and a housing, there are two magnetic bearings, one each on either side of the pendulum, each of which has a bearing ring magnet. The ma... | 03/02/1993 |
| 5155548 | Passive fiber optic sensor with omnidirectional acoustic sensor and accelerometer A mismatched path length fiber optic interferometer is optically coupled to an optical fiber and configured to form an omnidirectional acoustic sensor. A second mismatched path length fiber optic interferometer is optically coupled to the optical fiber an... | 10/13/1992 |
| 5134882 | Fiber-optic accelerometer An accelerometer includes a compliant cylinder supported midway along its length and having equal masses at opposite ends. Two birefringent optical fibers with elliptical cores are wound around the cylinder in opposite senses on opposite sides of the supp... | 08/04/1992 |
| 5090254 | Polysilicon resonating beam transducers Force transducers are formed of a beam of polysilicon which is mounted at its ends to a silicon substrate and is encapsulated within a polysilicon shell which defines, with the substrate, a cavity around the resonating beam. The cavity is sealed off from ... | 02/25/1992 |
| 5063781 | Fiber-optic vibration sensor The sensor comprises a vibrating sheet (1), mechanically connected to the body (5A) to be analyzed, and an optical triangulation recording system for recording the displacements of the movable part of the sheet, in particular the free end (1B) opposite to... | 11/12/1991 |
| 4938597 | Light responsive motion sensing device A motion sensing device which includes a means including a light source for sympathetic movement with the motion, a light responsive fluid contained in a resilient envelope contiguous to the light source to receive light from the source for either absorpt... | 07/03/1990 |
| 4922095 | Method and apparatus for sensing disturbance using fiber-optic polarization rotation A method and apparatus for sensing vibrational disturbance using fiber optic coils conducting circularly polarized light. A circularly polarized light source illuminates each of a sensing fiber optic coil in a disturbance-sensitive environment and a refer... | 05/01/1990 |
| 4918303 | Detecting disturbance with cross polarized fiber optic sensing Apparatus for determining physical parameters of a disturbance using a fiber optic coil and linearly polarized source light. The apparatus directs a linearly polarized source light through the fiber optic coil being effected by a disturbance, and then mea... | 04/17/1990 |
| 4900919 | Wide bandwidth fiber optic accelerometer A vibration sensor 24 is disclosed which uses a piezoelectric crystal 26 to electrically modulate the phase of a laser beam using a phase modulator 28 producing a linearly phase modulated light beam. A DC bias can be provided by a battery 60 while a photo... | 02/13/1990 |
