Abstract

Abstract
A fiber optic sensing system for simultaneous measurement of refractive index and temperature, based on a hybrid fiber Bragg grating/long-period grating arrangement is described. The experimental results show that this setup has a good performance in terms of linearity and sensitivity, the ratiometric output changes 4%/0.001 RIU and 3.6%/degrees C, respectively. The sensor resolution for the refractive index is approximate to 2 x 10(-5) RIU. The simultaneous measurement of the refractive index and temperature was demonstrated. The sensing configuration has the ability to be read-out in reflection and works in the telecommunications window.

Abstract

Abstract
The integration between industrial applications and industrial networks technologies is a required condition to share information at the factory level. Industrial networks are known for having different communication protocols. Therefore wired gateway technologies play an important role in the integration of different protocol stacks, wherever that integration is necessary. However, if there are physical constraints that make hard setting up a wired gateway, such as, difficult access for the required cabling, the use of a wireless gateway may present both a technical and an economical advantage when compared with wired gateway. This paper illustrates two industrial automation case studies, where both solutions use ELPRO wireless gateways proposed by Tee Wise Company (R). The assessment results confirm that the use of wireless gateways may be an interesting solution for the industrial communication interconnection being analyzed. In this paper, we make a technical and economical assessment of the use of wireless gateways in industrial networks as a contributive solution for the integration of different industrial communication protocols.

Abstract
A self-referenced passive optical network (PON) with coarse wavelength division multiplexing (CWDM) is reported for remotely addressing optical intensity sensors with enhanced sensitivity. The self-referencing remote configuration is described as a finite-impulse-response (FIR) filter in reflective operation using two fiber Bragg gratings (FBG) and a fiber delay line. The antisymmetrical phase response of the configuration permits to achieve a self-referencing measurement parameter two times more sensitive than reported previously. To enhance the power budget of the network, CWDM devices with low insertion losses are used for spectral splitting of a radio-frequency (RF) modulated broadband light source (BLS). The network topology and the sensor's interrogation technique are theoretically analyzed and experimental results validating the models are reported.

Abstract
Considering that the capacity to innovate is increasingly becoming a decisive factor in the competition between organisations, the study and conception of systems that help the birth of new ideas, products and solutions is rising in importance. In this article, the authors consider the concept of Creative Information Systems and present a proposal for the development of architecture for such a system based on the creative technique of brute thinking.