Abstract:
Systems and methods for driving optical sources operating at different wavelengths within a smoke sensor are described herein. Multiple optical sources such as light emitting diodes may be used in a photoelectric smoke sensor to detect particles of different sizes. Photoelectric smoke sensors can operate by pulsing the LEDs and measuring a response in a light sensor. The signal measured at the light sensor changes based on the quantity of particles existing in a smoke chamber. Each optical source may have different operational characteristics and thus require different drive currents to operate. LED driving circuitry according to embodiments discussed herein provide a consistent and reliable drive current to each optical source, while maximizing efficiency of power consumption across a range of possible voltages provided by different power sources.
Abstract:
Apparatus for remote laser-based detection of a analyte in a remote target region; comprising a reference container for housing a reference substance identical with the analyte; a laser unit which constituted to emit a laser beam of a tuneable wavelength towards the target region to be analysed and along a reference path which passes through the reference container for detecting the reference substance; a laser control means constituted to control wavelength of the laser beam during detection periods such that the laser wavelength is changed to allow detection of an optical absorption profile of the analyte during detection periods; an analytical detection unit which detects light from the target region and generates analytical signals during the detection periods, a reference detection unit which detects laser light passed through the reference container and generates reference signals during the detection periods; and an analysing means constituted to analyse the similarity of the analytical and reference signals or of one or more calculated functions respectively calculated from the analytical and reference signals for determining the concentration of the analyte in the target region.
Abstract:
A method and a machine for balancing vehicle wheels with weights (18), the method comprising stages of: using a video camera (5, 6, 206) to frame a portion of a surface of a hub (101) of a wheel on which a weight (18) is to be applied, locating, in images of the hub (101) taken by the camera (5, 6, 206), at least a balancing plane (E1, E2) which is perpendicular to a rotation axis (A) of the wheel, piloting at least a pick-up device (8, 9, 209) such as to direct the at least a pick-up device (8, 9, 209) onto a point (P1, P2) of the hub (101) belonging to the balancing plane (E1, E2), detecting, by means of the pick-up device (8, 9, 209) characteristic geometric parameters of the hub (101) at the balancing plane (E1, E2), measuring an imbalance of the wheel, calculating, by means of an electronic calculator (4, 204) an entity of at least a weight (18) to be applied to the hub (101) at the balancing plane (E1, E2), and also calculating an angular position (T1, T2) of the weight (18) in the balancing plane (E1, E2).
Abstract:
An assembly which comprises (a) a duct (22) for transmission of fluids, said duct having longitudinal axis, (b) at least one emitter (301) capable of exciting a beam of radiation (21) in the form of a cone having root angles βex and βey, which may be the same or different, into a cross section area of a duct to be analysed in a direction downstream of fluid flow in the duct at an angle λe from the plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the duct, the angle λe being between 5° to 45°, (c) a detector (23, 304) sensitive to radiation radiated by scattering centres in the fluid over at least 1% of the cross sectional area of the duct, the direction of the central axis of the emitter cone being at an angle α to the direction of the central axis of the detector cone, the detector cone having root angles βdx and βdy, which may be the same or different and the detector cone having angle λd perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the duct, the direction of the detector being downstream of fluid flow in the duct, the angle α being in the range 0° to 180° and angle λd being between 5° to 45°, the detector collecting scattered radiation and the detector being coupled to (d) a collator (310) for collecting data from the detector.
Abstract:
A portable device for the quality control of vegetal products comprising a power supply (7) intended for powering a circular crown of lighting lamps (41) at the centre of which there is arranged the receiving objective of a spectrometer (45) provided with means (431) adapted for resting on the product to be checked, said spectrometer (45) being associated to a microprocessor (11) which provides the measurement data on display means (12); according to the invention, the lamps (41) are permanently powered, and in stand-by, at a reduced voltage (70), lower than the nominal voltage (71) delivered by the power supply (7), and instantaneously at the nominal voltage (71 supplied by the power supply (7) through a power circuit (8) whose activation is commanded and controlled by the microprocessor (11) in response to an activation signal generated by a button (10).
Abstract:
Immuno-chromatographic diagnosis means (1) for detecting and/or quantifying a plurality of analytes present in an essentially liquid sample (E), comprising:
at least one reaction mixture (2) containing recognition biological molecules and/or competitive ligands labelled with at least one visualisation molecule which is detectable in fluorescence, said reaction mixture being present in a separate container of said recovery system (3); and at least one recovery system (3) in the form of a solid support to which are bonded competitive ligands and/or recognition biological molecules at distinct and known recovery locations (4 and 5), which are arranged according to a two-dimensional matrix arrangement defined according to a system of coordinates, so as to identify by the localisation of said recovery locations (4 and 5) on said support, said analytes present in said sample (E).
Abstract:
A system including a light source, sampling tray, and at least three detectors mounted at angles with respect to each other receives light reflected from a sample of cannabis-based matter. Light from the three detectors is fed to a spectrometer which converts the reflected light into a fingerprint corresponding to the concentration of at least one substance in the sample. The fingerprint is processed by a statistical model to determine concentration level of the at least one substance in the sample and the concentration level is then displayed.
Abstract:
Inspecting a retaining ring of a dynamoelectric machine includes placing an optical device in a stationary component of the dynamoelectric machine and directing the optical device toward a radial view of the retaining ring. An image is obtained and transmitted of a circumferential portion of the retaining ring, using the optical device during rotation of the rotor. Identification is made of a location of one or more stress cracks forming and visible at the circumferential portion of the annular edge. Further, a structural condition is determined for at least one location on the retaining ring using a metric to identify a value of the metric exceeding a predetermined acceptable value of the metric.
Abstract:
A cartridge and cartridge system for use in an apparatus for analyzing a sample are provided. The system has a plurality of cartridges for different applications for a multimode instrument. The cartridges are removably engaged with a cartridge support of the apparatus in a “plug-in” format such that one cartridge may be removed from the apparatus and another cartridge may be easily installed. The cartridge support includes a plurality of cartridge positions that receive cartridges concurrently. One of the cartridges may be a luminescence cartridge that includes an integrated detector that is movable toward and away from a sample carrier of the apparatus, and thus toward and away from a sample located at the sample carrier.
Abstract:
A cartridge and cartridge system for use in an apparatus for analyzing a sample are provided. The system has a plurality of cartridges for different applications for a multimode instrument. The cartridges are removably engaged with a cartridge support in a “plug-in” format such that one cartridge may be removed from the apparatus and another cartridge may be easily installed. The cartridge support includes a plurality of cartridge positions that receive cartridges concurrently. One of the cartridges is a wavelength-tunable cartridge in which different light sources, excitation filters, and/or emission filters may be selected. Tuning is further accomplished by tilting the excitation or emission filters at desired angles relative to a beam of exciting light or emitted light.