A seed pod shatter test system for determining the resistance to seed pod shattering in various plants, wherein the system comprises a mobile platform that is structured and operable to traverse at least one row of plants growing in plot, and at least one plant engaging head mounted to a front of the mobile platform. The at least one plant engaging head is structured and operable to condition each of the plurality of plants by contacting each of the plants in the row(s) with a predetermined amount of force as the mobile platform traverse the row(s) of plants. The system additionally comprises a data collections and analysis system that is structured and operable to determine an amount of seed pod shattering that occurred in the plurality of plants as a result of the conditioning.

An optical system may include a light source to provide a beam of light. The optical system may include a reflector to receive and redirect the beam of light. The optical system may include a light gate having an opening to permit the beam of light, from the reflector, to travel through the opening. The optical system may include a light sensor to receive a portion of the beam of light after the beam of light travels through the opening, and convert the portion of the beam of light to a signal. The optical system may include a processing device to determine whether a notch of a wafer is in an allowable position based on the signal.

A photoelectric sensor can include: a lighting element configured to generate a first optical signal, where a second optical signal is generated by reflection of the first optical signal when emitting an object; a driving circuit configured to drive the lighting element; a photoelectric conversion circuit configured to generate a first optical current in accordance with the second optical signal; and a programmable current amplifier circuit configured to sample and hold the first optical current when the lighting element is in operation, and to generate a second optical current when the lighting element is out of operation in one detection period, where the second optical current lasts for at least one working period in the detection period, and where the second optical current represents the first optical current.

A photoelectric sensor can include: a lighting element configured to generate a first optical signal, where a second optical signal is generated by reflection of the first optical signal when emitting an object; a driving circuit configured to drive the lighting element; a photoelectric conversion circuit configured to generate a first optical current in accordance with the second optical signal; and a programmable current amplifier circuit configured to sample and hold the first optical current when the lighting element is in operation, and to generate a second optical current when the lighting element is out of operation in one detection period, where the second optical current lasts for at least one working period in the detection period, and where the second optical current represents the first optical current.

A sensor for monitoring a hydrate inhibitor dissolved in a liquid. The sensor includes an internal reflection window for contacting with the liquid. The sensor further includes a mid-infrared light source for directs a beam of mid-infrared radiation into the window to provide for attenuated internal reflection at an interface between the window and the liquid. The internally reflected mid-infrared beam is passed through a narrow bandpass filter which preferentially transmits mid-infrared radiation over a band of wavelengths corresponding to an absorbance peak of the dissolved hydrate inhibitor to filter internally reflected mid-infrared radiation received from the window. The intensity of the reflected mid-infrared beam transmitted through the filter is measured and used to determine an amount of hydrate inhibitor ion the liquid.

A sensor for monitoring a hydrate inhibitor dissolved in a liquid. The sensor includes an internal reflection window for contacting with the liquid. The sensor further includes a mid-infrared light source for directs a beam of mid-infrared radiation into the window to provide for attenuated internal reflection at an interface between the window and the liquid. The internally reflected mid-infrared beam is passed through a narrow bandpass filter which preferentially transmits mid-infrared radiation over a band of wavelengths corresponding to an absorbance peak of the dissolved hydrate inhibitor to filter internally reflected mid-infrared radiation received from the window. The intensity of the reflected mid-infrared beam transmitted through the filter is measured and used to determine an amount of hydrate inhibitor ion the liquid.

Various controllers are disclosed herein that detect whether or not a remote object is in a predetermined position. A controller emits a laser through a laser emitter at the remote object and measures an intensity of light reflected back to the controller through a photosensor disposed in close proximity to the laser emitter. The surface of the remote object may comprise a retroreflective portion, which reflects most of the laser beam's light in the direction from which it came. A predetermined position of the remote object is detected when the intensity of light measured by the photosensor reaches a threshold level. The controller and retroreflective portion are configured such that when the remote object is not in the predetermined position, the intensity of the reflected laser light diminishes due to a scattering of the light when the laser beam is incident on any non-retroreflective portion of the remote object.

Various controllers are disclosed herein that detect whether or not a remote object is in a predetermined position. A controller emits a laser through a laser emitter at the remote object and measures an intensity of light reflected back to the controller through a photosensor disposed in close proximity to the laser emitter. The surface of the remote object may comprise a retroreflective portion, which reflects most of the laser beam's light in the direction from which it came. A predetermined position of the remote object is detected when the intensity of light measured by the photosensor reaches a threshold level. The controller and retroreflective portion are configured such that when the remote object is not in the predetermined position, the intensity of the reflected laser light diminishes due to a scattering of the light when the laser beam is incident on any non-retroreflective portion of the remote object.

A high resolution inspection apparatus using a terahertz Bessel beam. The high resolution inspection apparatus comprises a terahertz wave generating unit for generating a terahertz wave; a Bessel beam forming unit for generating a terahertz Bessel beam using the terahertz wave incident from the terahertz wave generating unit; a ring beam forming unit for forming a ring beam using the terahertz Bessel beam and concentrating the formed ring beam to an inspection target object; a scattered light detecting unit for detecting scattered light generated from the inspection target object; and a ring beam detecting unit for detecting a ring beam transmitted through the inspection target object.

A high resolution inspection apparatus using a terahertz Bessel beam. The high resolution inspection apparatus comprises a terahertz wave generating unit for generating a terahertz wave; a Bessel beam forming unit for generating a terahertz Bessel beam using the terahertz wave incident from the terahertz wave generating unit; a ring beam forming unit for forming a ring beam using the terahertz Bessel beam and concentrating the formed ring beam to an inspection target object; a scattered light detecting unit for detecting scattered light generated from the inspection target object; and a ring beam detecting unit for detecting a ring beam transmitted through the inspection target object.