Projects

We have been and continue to be involved in the research and development of many large scale research and commercial instruments. Several of the instruments have been detectors for IR gas sensing, either for natural gas or medical applications. Another example is the laser calibration system for major US DOE basic high energy physics experiments and other related experiments around the world. Current activity focuses on the development of very low power IR handheld gas detection sensors and related technologies, especially high-precision spectroscopic techniques utilizing birefringent tunable Lyot style filters. We have also produced NDIR instruments, ellipsometers and scatterometers, magneto-optic measurement equipment, laser based instruments and are collaborating on novel signal processing techniques for fault detection and electrical energy conservation, such as Non-Intrusive Appliance Load Monitoring (NIALM) for facilities tracking and electrical utility industries.

Sensit® Portable Methane Detector

Currently in production by Sensit® Technologies under sponsorship of OTD, GTI, and GRI is a Portable hand-held Methane Detector – the PMD – which allows leak surveys with reduced maintenance costs, high accuracy, selectivity and all-optical autoranging from ppm levels to 100% gas. A large portion of gas system infrastructure must be inspected on foot, and the lightweight battery operated PMD is particularly suited to walking surveys.

Optical Methane Detector

This device was the first in a series of leak detection systems designed to confront the high costs associated with natural gas detection. Through the combined use of optics and electronics, significant advantages over FID technology have been realized without the complications and cost associated with laser based instruments.

Nitrous Oxide Monitor


The Nitrous Oxide Monitor is a multiband inexpensive NDIR instrument for the detection of trace levels and continuous monitoring.

Nonintrusive Load Monitoring

NILM can determine the operating schedule and power consumption of electrical loads in target systems using measurements taken from a distinct location, such as a service entry. In addition, because only a small number of sensors are required, the cost of installation is low and reliability is high. NILM can even monitor activity within the distribution system itself.