A sensor device has a metal sensor housing with a housing base coupled to a frame base of a metal optical frame. A device mounting plate is orthogonal to the frame base. A securing device secures an optical communication device to the device mounting plate. A barrel mounting channel has first and second sidewalls, each extending obliquely to the frame base and defining a linear translation pathway along the frame base for a metal lens barrel. A fastener secures the metal lens barrel to the first and second sidewalls. A glass lens is in contact with three protrusions extending outward from an inner annular surface of the lens barrel. The optical communication device is configured to be in optical communication with the lens and is secured in a particular position in a translation plane mutually defined by the device mounting plate and the optical communication device.

An apparatus for suspending a sensor element is provided. The apparatus can include a housing including a cavity, an inner surface, and a first end cap integrally formed within a first end of the housing. The housing can include a sensor element therein. The first end cap can include a first plurality of suspension elements integrally formed within the first end cap and arranged to project from a surface of the first end cap toward the cavity. The inner surface of the housing and/or the first plurality of suspension elements can suspend the sensor element within the cavity as the sensor element translates within the cavity. Related systems and methods of manufacture are also described.

The present invention relates to alternative equipment for solar energy prospecting with a focus on low cost, low complexity in installation, operation and maintenance, and high reliability. A low-cost solarimetric station consists of compact equipment capable of providing global irradiance measurements and estimates for direct and diffuse components, as well as hemispheric photographs, with acceptable levels of uncertainty. The pyranometer periodically provides global irradiance information to the system, and the camera records photos of the sky. Using machine learning algorithms, and based on that information, the equipment provides estimates for direct and diffuse irradiance components. The equipment has other meteorological sensors, GPS, and wireless communication facilities. The equipment has an energy supply and management system consisting of a photovoltaic module, charge controller, and battery, which provide the energy necessary for the station to operate.

Light mapping devices and systems for use in indoor or vertical farming are disclosed herein. In particular, a light detection device is provided that includes a plurality of light sensors configured for detecting light emitted from one or more light sources at distinct positions across a grow plane. The light detection device will also include a microcontroller and one or more signal routing circuit boards, or junctions, for making electrical connections between the light sensors and the microcontroller in a multiplex architecture to enable the microcontroller to cycle through and read the Lux values from each of the light sensors with sub-second frequency and in real-time. The light detection device may also be part of a light mapping system that converts the Lux values to PPFD and generates a heatmap of PPFD intensity at distinct locations across the grow plane. Also provided herein are methods of using the light detector device and/or the light mapping system to determine the PPFD distribution across a grow plane in 2-dimensions or 3-dimensions in order to adjust the lights and/or position of growing plants, if necessary, to ensure that each plant in the grow bed receives sufficient light for optimal growth.

An example apparatus includes: a semiconductor substrate; a mechanical resonator supported by the substrate, the mechanical resonator including an array of capacitors; and a plasmonic infrared (IR) absorber including an array of metal structures. The mechanical resonator is between the substrate and the IR absorber.

A system for monitoring ultraviolet (UV) exposure of a wearer. The system comprises a wearable device operable to sense UV radiation levels to which the wearer is exposed, and to transmit UV radiation information. The system further comprises an external computing device in remote communication with the wearable device, operable to receive the UV radiation information from the wearable device and configured to determine the wearer's real-time UV index value and the wearer's daily cumulative percentage of minimal erythema dose based upon the UV radiation information.

A combination imaging system includes a housing having a base and a lid, the lid having a closed position against the base and having an open position. The imaging device further includes a contact area image sensor. The lid shields the contact area image sensor from ambient light when the lid is in the closed position. The imaging device also includes a camera. The camera includes a lens, and the field of view of the camera encompasses at least a portion of an imaging area of the contact area image sensor when the lid is in the open position. The device may be especially useful for capturing a chemiluminescent image of an electrophoretic assay result, and capturing a colorimetric image of the same result, so that non-chemiluminescent protein standards may be located with respect to chemiluminescent analytes of interest.

A display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate disposed opposite to the first substrate, a connector connected to a first surface of each of the first and second substrates and covering at least a portion of side surfaces of each of the first and second substrates, a photo sensor disposed on the connector and facing the side surface of the first substrate, and a fixing member disposed between the first substrate and the connector, in which the photo sensor is inserted into the fixing member.

An optical shutter apparatus has a baseplate that defines an aperture in a plane and that has at least first and second tabs that extend outward from the plane. At least a first linear actuator is coupled to the first tab and drives a magnetic shaft between the first and second tabs according to an electrical signal. A shutter blade is coupled to the magnetic shaft and is linearly translatable along a translation path in the direction of the plane between a first and a second position, wherein the shutter blade blocks at least a first portion of the aperture in the first position and unblocks the first portion of the aperture in the second position.

An ambient light detection unit for a household appliance includes a sensor housing and a brightness sensor which is disposed in the sensor housing and detects the brightness of the ambient light in the environment. The ambient light detection unit has a lens with which the ambient light that is incident on the sensor housing is focused toward the brightness sensor. A household appliance is also provided.