Author: claimsbot

1. A monolithic piezo actuator, comprising:
a bulk piezoelectric substrate having a starting top surface and an opposing starting bottom surface; and
a plurality of electrodes operatively disposed on the bulk piezoelectric substrate, consisting of:
a plurality of discrete electrodes disposed on at least one of the starting top surface and the starting bottom surface and at least one electrode disposed on the at least one of the respective starting bottom surface and the starting top surface.
2. The piezoelectric actuator of claim 1, characterized by an operative condition of substantially only in-plane motion.
3. The piezoelectric actuator of claim 1, characterized by a width, W, a height, H, and a length, L, where W is less than or about equal to H to enable high aspect ratio piezoelectric beam structures.
4. The piezoelectric actuator of claim 3, wherein the piezoelectric actuator is comprised of a plurality of monolithic, contiguous segments, each next adjoining segment of which has an in-plane orientation along the length, L, that is different than that of its respective prior segment by between greater than zero degrees to \xb190 degrees.
5. The piezoelectric actuator of claim 1, wherein the bulk piezoelectric substrate has at least one intermediate surface.
6. The piezoelectric actuator of claim 5, wherein the bulk piezoelectric substrate is asymmetric in the H direction.
7. The piezoelectric actuator of claim 5, characterized by an operative condition comprising an out-of-plane twisting motion.
8. The piezoelectric actuator of claim 3, wherein the piezoelectric actuator has a curvilinear length dimension.
9. A stage, comprising:
a PZT base;
a plurality of the piezoelectric actuators of claim 1 disposed on the base;
a movable platform disposed on the base; and
a plurality of deformable connectors each having a first connection to a respective one of the plurality of piezoelectric actuators and a second connection to a respective portion of the movable platform,

wherein the stage is electrically controllable.
10. The stage of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of the piezoelectric actuators are characterized by an operative condition of substantially only in-plane motion.
11. The stage of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of the piezoelectric actuators are characterized by a width, W, a height, H, and a length, L, where W is less than or about equal to H.
12. The stage of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of the piezoelectric actuators is comprised of a plurality of monolithic, contiguous segments, each next adjoining segment of which has an in-plane orientation along the length, L, that is different than that of its respective prior segment by between greater than zero degrees to \xb190 degrees.
13. The stage of claim 9, wherein the bulk piezoelectric substrate of each of the plurality of the piezoelectric actuators has at least one intermediate surface.
14. The stage of claim 13, wherein each of the bulk piezoelectric substrates is asymmetric in the H direction.
15. The stage of claim 13, wherein each of the bulk piezoelectric substrates is characterized by an operative condition comprising an out-of-plane twisting motion.
16. The stage of claim 11, wherein each of the bulk piezoelectric actuators has a curvilinear length dimension.
17. The stage of claim 9, wherein the moveable platform is PZT.
18. The stage of claim 17, wherein the moveable PZT platform integrally comprises a monolithic, bulk PZT device.
19. The stage of claim 18, wherein the monolithic, bulk PZT device is at least one of a sensor, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, and an energy harvester.
20. The stage of claim 9, further comprising a monolithic, bulk PZT device mounted on the moveable platform.
21. The stage of claim 20, wherein the monolithic, bulk PZT device is at least one of a sensor, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, and an energy harvester.
22. A method for monolithically making a piezoelectric actuator, comprising:
providing a bulk piezoelectric (PZT) material that includes an electrode disposed on a starting top surface thereof and on an opposing starting bottom surface thereof; and
using a direct write micropatterning technique to remove at least a portion of the electrode on at least one of the starting top surface and the starting bottom surface, such that the monolithic, bulk PZT material comprises a plurality of electrodes consisting of a plurality of discrete electrodes on the at least one of the starting top surface and the starting bottom surface and at least one electrode on the at least one of the respective starting bottom surface and the starting top surface.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein the direct write (maskless) micropatterning technique includes at least one of laser micromachining, water-jet drilling, ultrasonic drilling, electrical discharge machining, laser-assisted etching, and micro-CNC machining.
24. The method of claim 22, further comprising removing at least a portion of at least one of the non-electrode containing starting top surface and the non-electrode containing starting bottom surface to form at least one non-electrode containing intermediate surface.
25. The method of claim 24, comprising forming asymmetric intermediate surfaces in the respective non-electrode containing regions of the starting top surface and the starting bottom surface.
26. The method of claim 22, comprising forming the monolithic piezoelectric actuator into a beam shape in a length, L, direction characterized by a width, W and a height, H, where W is less than or about equal to H and W, H<<L.
27. The method of claim 22, comprising forming the monolithic piezoelectric actuator into a plurality of monolithic, contiguous segments, each next adjoining segment of which has an in-plane orientation along the length, L, that is different than that of its respective prior segment by between greater than zero degrees to \xb190 degrees.
28. The method of claim 22, comprising forming the monolithic piezoelectric actuator into a curvilinear shape along the length, L, direction.
29. A method for making a stage, comprising:
providing a plurality of the actuators according to claim 22;
providing a moveable PZT platform;
providing a respective plurality of deformable connectors each having a first connection to a respective one of the plurality of piezoelectric actuators and a second connection to a respective portion of the movable platform.
30. The method of claim 29, further comprising forming a monolithic, bulk PZT device in the moveable PZT platform.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A method for controlling concealment of a plurality of expansion cards mounted in a computer system selectively operable in a plurality of operating systems, comprising the steps of:
a) previously storing supported-card identification information, wherein the supported-card identification information identifies types of expansion cards supported by respective ones of the operating systems;
b) determining an unsupported expansion card among the plurality of expansion cards based on identification information supported by a selected operating system, wherein the unsupported expansion card is not supported by the selected operating system; and
c) powering off the unsupported expansion card to conceal it from the selected operating system.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein
the step b) comprises the steps of:
b.1) creating a first mounted-card information table upon system startup, wherein the first mounted-card information table contains entries for respective ones of the plurality of expansion cards mounted in the computer system, wherein each of the entries includes mounted-card identification information for a corresponding expansion slot; and
b.2) determining an unsupported expansion card among the plurality of expansion cards based on the first mounted-card information table and supported-card identification information of a selected operating system, wherein the unsupported expansion card is not supported by the selected operating system;

the step c) comprises the steps of:
c.1) deleting an entry for the unsupported expansion card from the first mounted-card information table to produce a second mounted-card information table for operation of the selected operating system; and
c.2) powering off an expansion slot mounted with the unsupported expansion card to conceal the unsupported expansion card from the selected operating system.
3. A method for controlling concealment of a plurality of expansion cards mounted in a computer system selectively operable in a plurality of operating systems, comprising the steps of:
a) previously storing supported-card identification information, wherein the supported-card identification information identifies types of expansion cards supported by respective ones of the operating systems;
b) creating a first mounted-card information table upon system startup, wherein the first mounted-card information table contains entries for respective ones of the plurality of expansion cards mounted in the computer system, wherein each of the entries includes mounted-card identification information for a corresponding expansion slot;
c) storing startup information including the first mounted-card information table and setting information of a selected operating system;
d) determining whether the startup information is different from previous-startup information, wherein the previous-startup information includes previous setting information of a previously selected operating system and a previously stored first mounted-card information table;
e) when the startup information is different from previous-startup information, determining an unsupported expansion card among the plurality of expansion cards based on the first mounted-card information table and supported-card identification information of the selected operating system, wherein the unsupported expansion card is not supported by the selected operating system;
f) deleting an entry for the unsupported expansion card from the first mounted-card information table to produce a second mounted-card information table for operation of the selected operating system;
g) when the startup information is identical to the previous-startup information, using a previously stored second mounted-card information table as the second mounted card information table;
h) powering off an expansion slot mounted with an unsupported expansion card depending on the second mounted-card information table to conceal the unsupported expansion card from the selected operating system;
i) storing the second mounted-card information table; and
j) booting up the selected operating system based on the second mounted-card information table.
4. A computer system selectively operable in a plurality of operating systems, comprising:
a terminal device for designating a startup operating system from the plurality of operating systems;
a plurality of expansion slots for mounting a plurality of expansion cards;
a memory device storing supported-card identification information, wherein the supported-card identification information identifies types of expansion cards supported by respective ones of the operating systems;
a computation device for determining whether each of the plurality of expansion cards mounted is supported by the designated operating system, based on identification information supported by a designated operating system; and
a power controller for powering off an expansion slot mounted with an expansion card that is not supported by the designated operating system to conceal it from the designated operating system.
5. The computer system according to claim 4, wherein
the computation device performs:
creating a first mounted-card information table upon system startup, wherein the first mounted-card information table contains entries for respective ones of the plurality of expansion cards mounted in the computer system, wherein each of the entries includes mounted-card identification information for a corresponding expansion slot,
determining an unsupported expansion card among the plurality of expansion cards based on the first mounted-card information table and supported-card identification information of the designated operating system, wherein the unsupported expansion card is not supported by the designated operating system, and
deleting an entry for the unsupported expansion card from the first mounted-card information table to produce a second mounted-card information table for operation of the designated operating system, and

the power controller powers off an expansion slot mounted with the unsupported expansion card to conceal the unsupported expansion card from the designated operating system.
6. A computer system selectively operable in a plurality of operating systems, comprising:
a terminal device for designating a startup operating system from the plurality of operating systems;
a plurality of expansion slots for mounting a plurality of expansion cards;
a first memory device storing supported-card identification information, wherein the supported-card identification information identifies types of expansion cards supported by respective ones of the operating systems;
a second memory for storing a first mounted-card information table created upon system startup, wherein the first mounted-card information table contains entries for respective ones of the plurality of expansion cards, wherein each of the entries includes mounted-card identification information for a corresponding expansion slot;
a third memory for storing startup information including the first mounted-card information table and setting information of a designated operating system;
a computation device for determining whether the startup information is different from previous-startup information,
wherein the previous-startup information includes previous setting information of a previously designated operating system and a previously stored first mounted-card information table,
wherein, when the startup information is different from previous-startup information, the computation device determines an unsupported expansion card among the plurality of expansion cards based on the first mounted-card information table and supported-card identification information of the designated operating system, wherein the unsupported expansion card is not supported by the designated operating system,
wherein the computation device deletes an entry for the unsupported expansion card from the first mounted-card information table to produce a second mounted-card information table for operation of the designated operating system;
wherein, when the startup information is identical to the previous-startup information, the computation device uses a previously stored second mounted-card information table as the second mounted-card information table, and
wherein the computation device stores the second mounted-card information table, and boots up the selected operating system based on the second mounted-card information table; and
a power controller for powering off an expansion slot mounted with an unsupported expansion card depending on the second mounted-card information table to conceal the unsupported expansion card from the selected operating system.
7. A method for controlling concealment of a plurality of expansion cards mounted in a computer system selectively operable in a plurality of operating systems, comprising the steps of:
a) previously storing supported card identification information, wherein the supported-card identification information identifies types of expansion cards supported by respective ones of the operating systems;
b) detecting a physically mounting status of the plurality of expansion cards;
c) determining whether each of the plurality of expansion cards is supported by the selected operating system, based on identification information supported by a selected operating system;
d) updating the physically mounting status by logically deleting an unsupported expansion card from the physically mounting status to produce a logically mounting status of the plurality of expansion cards; and
e) booting the selected operating system based on the logically mounting status of the plurality of expansion cards.
8. A method for controlling concealment of a plurality of expansion cards mounted in a computer system selectively operable in a plurality of operating systems, comprising the steps of:
a) previously storing supported-card identification information, wherein the supported-card identification information identifies types of expansion cards supported by respective ones of the operating systems;
b) detecting a physically mounting status of the plurality of expansion cards;
c) storing startup information including the physically mounting status and setting information of a selected operating system;
d) determining whether the startup information is different from previous-startup information, wherein the previous-startup information includes previous setting information of a previously selected operating system and a previously stored physically mounting status;
c) when the startup information is different from previous-startup information, determining whether each of the plurality of expansion cards is supported by the selected operating system, based on supported-card identification information supported by the selected operating system;
f) updating the physically mounting status by logically deleting an unsupported expansion card from the physically mounting status to produce a logically mounting status of the plurality of expansion cards;
g) when the startup information is identical to the previous-startup information, using a previously stored logically mounting status as the logically mounting status;
h) booting the selected operating system based on the logically mounting status of the plurality of expansion cards.
9. A basic inputoutput system code for a computer system selectively operable in a plurality of operating systems comprising:
a terminal device for designating a startup operating system from the plurality of operating systems;
a plurality of expansion slots for mounting a plurality of expansion cards;
a memory device storing supported-card identification information, wherein the supported-card identification information identifies types of expansion cards supported by respective ones of the operating systems,
the basic inputoutput system code comprising the steps of:
creating a first mounted card information table upon system startup, wherein the first mounted-card information table contains entries for respective ones of the plurality of expansion cards, wherein each of the entries includes mounted-card identification information for a corresponding expansion slot;
determining an unsupported expansion card among the plurality of expansion cards based on the first mounted-card information table and supported-card identification information of a designated operating system, wherein the unsupported expansion card is not supported by the designated operating system;
deleting an entry for the unsupported expansion card from the first mounted-card information table to produce a secured mounted-card information table for operation of the designated operating system; and
setting a control register depending on the second mounted-card information table, wherein the control register is used to individually perform power-onoff control of the expansion slots to conceal a unsupported expansion card from the designated operating system.
10. A basic inputoutput system code for a computer system selectively operable in a plurality of operating systems comprising:
a terminal device for designating a startup operating system from the plurality of operating systems;
a plurality of expansion slots for mounting a plurality of expansion cards;
a memory device storing supported-card identification information, wherein the supported-card identification information identifies types of expansion cards supported by respective ones of the operating systems,
the basic inputoutput system code comprising the steps of:
creating a first mounted-card information table upon system startup, wherein the first mounted-card information table contains entries for respective ones of the plurality of expansion cards mounted in the computer system, wherein each of the entries includes mounted-card identification information for a corresponding expansion slot;
storing startup information including the first mounted-card information table and setting information of a designated operating system;
determining whether the startup information is different from previous-startup information, wherein the previous-startup information includes previous setting information of a previously designated operating system and a previously stored first mounted-card information table;
when the startup information is different from previous-startup information, determining an unsupported expansion card among the plurality of expansion cards based on the first mounted-card information table and supported-card identification information of the designated operating system, wherein the unsupported expansion card is not supported by the designated operating system;
deleting an entry for the unsupported expansion card from the first mounted-card information table to produce a second mounted-card information table for operation of the designated operating system;
when the startup information is identical to the previous-startup information, using a previously stored second mounted-card information table as the second mounted-card information table;
setting a control register depending on the second mounted-card information table, wherein the control register is used to individually perform power-onoff control of the expansion slots to conceal a unsupported expansion card from the designated operating system; and
storing the second mounted-card information table.

1. A film for a display comprising a cellulose ester and a compound represented by Formula (I) or (Ia):
wherein R2 to R5 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent; R2 and R3, R3 and R4, and R4 and R5 may be combined to form a ring; R6 represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent; n represents an integer of 1-4; when n equals to 1, R1 represents a substituent; and when n is 2-4, R1 represents a di- to tetra-valent linkage group,
wherein n represents an integer of 2 to 4; m represents an integer of 1-3; R1a and R6a each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent; Rta represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent; a plurality of Rta may be combined to form a ring; and Rka represents a di- to tetra-valent linkage group.
2. The film for a display of claim 1, wherein
R1 in Formula (I) is a conjugated substituent when n is 1; or
R1a in Formula (Ia) is a conjugated substituent when n is 1.
3. The film for a display of claim 1, wherein the compound represented by Formula (I) is a compound represented by Formula (I-1):
wherein R2 to R5 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent; R7 to R11 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms or an alkoxy group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms.
4. The film for a display of claim 1, wherein a sum of Hammett’s \u03c3p values of R7 to R11 is 0 or less.
5. The film for a display of claim 1, wherein the compound represented by Formula (I) is a compound represented by Formula (I-2):
wherein R2 to R5 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent.
6. The film for a display of claim 1, wherein R5 in Formula (I) is a hydrogen atom.
7. The film for a display of claim 1, wherein the compound represented by Formula (Ia) is a compound represented by Formula (I-3):
wherein R1, R2, R3, R5 and R6 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent; R2 and R3 may be combined to form a ring; and X represents a divalent linkage group.
8. The film for a display of claim 1 further comprising a compound represented by Formula (A):
wherein R11 to R16 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent.
9. The film for a display of claim 1 further comprising a phosphonite compound.
10. The film for a display of claim 1, wherein a transmittance of the film for a light flux having a wavelength of 450 nm is 90% or more.
11. The film for a display of claim 1, wherein the cellulose ester is a mixed fatty acids ester.
12. The film for a display of claim 1, wherein a total number of carbon atoms contained in acyl groups in one glucose unit of the cellulose ester is 6.1 to 7.5, wherein the total number of carbon atoms represents a sum of each product of a number of carbon atoms of each acyl group multiplied by a substitution degree of the acyl group, wherein the substitution degree represents an average number of 3 hydroxyl groups replaced with an acyl group in one glucose unit of the cellulose ester.
13. The film for a display of claim 1, wherein the film is a long length film wound in a roll.
14. A polarizing plate protective film for a liquid crystal display comprising the film for a display of claim 1.
15. The polarizing plate protective film of claim 14, wherein the polarizing plate protective film is a long length film wound in a roll.
16. A polarizing plate comprising the polarizing plate protective film of claim 14 provided on at least one surface of a polarizer film.
17. A polarizing plate comprising the polarizing plate protective film of claim 15 provided on at least one surface of a polarizer film.
18. A method to produce the polarizing plate of claim 17 comprising the steps of:
(i) producing the long length polarizing plate protective film;
(ii) winding the long length polarizing plate protective film in a roll; and
(iii) winding back the long length polarizing plate protective film from the roll and laminating the polarizing plate protective film with a polarizer film to form a polarizing plate.
19. A method to produce a polarizing plate comprising the steps of:
(a) melting a mixture of a cellulose ester and a compound represented by a formula selected from the group consisting of Formulas (I), (Ia), (I-1), (I-2) and (I-3);
(b) extruding the melt of the mixture to form a film;
(c) cooling the extruded film on a substrate;
(d) peeling the film from the substrate;
(e) stretching the film; and
(f) laminating the film with a polarizer film to form a polarizing plate:
wherein R2 to R5 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent; R2 and R3, R3 and R4, and R4 and R5 may be combined to form a ring; R6 represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent; n represents an integer of 1-4; when n equals to 1, R1 represents a substituent; and when n is 2-4, R1 represents a di- to tetra-valent linkage group,
wherein n represents an integer of 2 to 4; m represents an integer of 1-3; R1a and R6a each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent; Rta represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent; a plurality of Rta may be combined to from a ring; and Rka represents a di- to tetra-valent linkage group,
wherein R2 to R5 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent; R7 to R11 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms or an alcokyl group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms,
wherein R2 to R5 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent,
wherein R1, R2, R3, R5 and R6 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent; R2 and R3 may be combined to form a ring; and X represents a divalent linkage group.
20. A liquid crystal display comprising the polarizing plate of claim 16 provided on at least one surface of a liquid crystal cell.
21. A liquid crystal display comprising a polarizing plate produced by the method of claim 18 provided on at least one surface of a liquid crystal cell.
22. A liquid crystal display comprising a polarizing plate produced by the method of claim 19 provided on at least one surface of a liquid crystal cell.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A spatial frequency optical measurement instrument (100), comprising:
a spatial frequency mask (120) positioned in a light path and configured to encode light with spatial frequency information;
a light receiver (140) positioned to receive the light encoded with the spatial frequency information, wherein the light encoded with the spatial frequency information has been interacted with a sample material; and
a processing system (180) coupled to the light receiver (140) and configured to determine a change in the spatial frequency information due to the interaction of the light with the sample material.
2. The instrument (100) of claim 1, with interacting the light with the sample material comprising substantially passing the light through the sample material.
3. The instrument (100) of claim 1, with interacting the light with the sample material comprising substantially reflecting the encoded light off of the sample material.
4. The instrument (100) of claim 1, further comprising one or more optical components (150) configured to define a spatial frequency image of the spatial frequency mask (120) at the light receiver (140), with the spatial frequency image substantially including the spatial frequency information.
5. The instrument (100) of claim 1, further comprising a light source (110) configured to emit the light along the light path.
6. The instrument (100) of claim 5, with the light source (110) further comprising a powered light source.
7. The instrument (100) of claim 5, with the light source (110) further comprising an ambient light source.
8. The instrument (100) of claim 1, with the spatial frequency mask (120) being located before the sample material and encoding light that has not interacted with the sample material.
9. The instrument (100) of claim 1, with the spatial frequency mask (120) being located after the sample material and encoding light that has interacted with the sample material.
10. The instrument (100) of claim 1, with the spatial frequency mask (120) comprising light blocking and light transmitting regions that encode the spatial frequency information.
11. The instrument (100) of claim 1, with the spatial frequency mask (120) comprising a series of spatially varying blocking and light transmitting regions that encode the spatial frequency information.
12. The instrument (100) of claim 1, with the spatial frequency mask (120) comprising a series of apertures (123) that encode the spatial frequency information.
13. The instrument (100) of claim 1, with the spatial frequency mask (120) comprising a series of spatially varying apertures (123) that encode the spatial frequency information.
14. The instrument (100) of claim 1, wherein a light path length through the sample material can be varied in order to vary the change in spatial frequency information.
15. The instrument (100) of claim 1, wherein the light path includes one or more excursions through or reflections from the sample material.
16. The instrument (100) of claim 1, wherein the light path includes one or more excursions through or reflections from the sample material and wherein the number of excursions or reflections can be varied in order to vary the spatial frequency information.
17. The instrument (100) of claim 1, with the spatial frequency information being substantially independent of the intensity or composition of the light.
18. The instrument (100) of claim 1, with the change in the spatial frequency information including a change to a content or organization of the spatial frequency information.
19. The instrument (100) of claim 1, with the change in the spatial frequency information including a change to one or more of a line, an edge, a bar pattern, a sinusoidal pattern, or a point function of the spatial frequency information.
20. The instrument (100) of claim 1, with determining the change in the spatial frequency information comprising determining a change in the spatial frequency information from a predetermined standard.
21. The instrument (100) of claim 1, with determining the change in the spatial frequency information comprising determining a change in contrast in the spatial frequency information from a predetermined contrast standard.
22. The instrument (100) of claim 1, with the processing system (180) further determining a particulate concentration in a media of the sample material based on the change in the spatial frequency information.
23. The instrument (100) of claim 22, with determining the particulate concentration further comprising comparing the spatial frequency information to one or more predetermined particulate concentration images and interpolating andor extrapolating a particulate concentration value from the one or more predetermined particulate concentration images.
24. The instrument (100) of claim 1, with the processing system (180) further determining one or more surface characteristics of the sample material.
25. The instrument (100) of claim 24, with determining the one or more surface characteristics further comprising comparing the spatial frequency information to one or more predetermined surface images and interpolating andor extrapolating the one or more surface characteristics from the one or more predetermined surface images.
26. The instrument (100) of claim 1, wherein a first portion of the encoded light is reflected onto a first light receiver (140) without interacting with the sample material and wherein a second portion of the encoded light is interacted with the sample material and wherein the second portion of the encoded light is compared to the first portion.
27. The instrument (100) of claim 1, with the light comprising a first light portion interacting with the spatial frequency mask (120) and the sample material to form a spatial frequency image and with the light further comprising a second light portion interacting with a predetermined standard material to form a predetermined standard image, wherein the change in the spatial frequency information comprising a difference between the spatial frequency image and the predetermined standard image.
28. A spatial frequency optical measurement method, comprising:
encoding light with spatial frequency information;
interacting the light with a sample material; and
determining a change in the spatial frequency information due to the interaction of the light with the sample material.
29. The method of claim 28, with encoding the light comprising interacting the light with a spatial frequency mask positioned in a light path.
30. The method of claim 28, with encoding the light comprising interacting the light with a spatial frequency mask positioned in a light path, with the spatial frequency mask comprising light blocking and light transmitting regions that encode the spatial frequency information.
31. The method of claim 28, with encoding the light comprising interacting the light with a spatial frequency mask positioned in a light path, with the spatial frequency mask comprising a series of spatially varying light blocking and light transmitting regions that encode the spatial frequency information.
32. The method of claim 28, with encoding the light comprising interacting the light with a spatial frequency mask positioned in a light path, with the spatial frequency mask comprising a series of apertures that encode the spatial frequency information.
33. The method of claim 28, with encoding the light comprising interacting the light with a spatial frequency mask positioned in a light path, with the spatial frequency mask comprising a series of spatially varying apertures that encode the spatial frequency information.
34. The method of claim 28, with interacting the light with the sample material comprising substantially passing the light through the sample material.
35. The method of claim 28, with interacting the light with the sample material comprising substantially reflecting the encoded light off of the sample material.
36. The method of claim 28, wherein a light path length through the sample material can be varied in order to vary the change in spatial frequency information.
37. The method of claim 28, wherein a light path includes one or more excursions through or reflections from the sample material.
38. The method of claim 28, wherein a light path includes one or more excursions through or reflections from the sample material and wherein a number of excursions or reflections can be varied in order to vary the change in spatial frequency information.
39. The method of claim 28, with spatial frequency information being substantially independent of the intensity or composition of the light.
40. The method of claim 28, with the change in the spatial frequency information including a change to a content or organization of the spatial frequency information.
41. The method of claim 28, with the change in the spatial frequency information including a change to one or more of a line, an edge, a bar pattern, a sinusoidal pattern, or a point function of the spatial frequency information.
42. The method of claim 28, with determining the change in the spatial frequency information comprising determining a change in the spatial frequency information from a predetermined standard.
43. The method of claim 28, with determining the change in the spatial frequency information comprising determining a change in contrast in the spatial frequency information from a predetermined contrast standard.
44. The method of claim 28, with the processing system further determining a particulate concentration in a media of the sample material based on the change in the spatial frequency information.
45. The method of claim 44, with determining the particulate concentration further comprising:
comparing the spatial frequency information to one or more predetermined particulate concentration images; and
interpolating andor extrapolating a particulate concentration value from the one or more predetermined particulate concentration images.
46. The method of claim 28, with the processing system further determining one or more surface characteristics of the sample material based on the change in the spatial frequency information.
47. The method of claim 46, with determining the one or more surface characteristics further comprising:
comparing the spatial frequency information to one or more predetermined surface images; and
interpolating andor extrapolating the one or more surface characteristics from the one or more predetermined surface images.
48. The method of claim 28, wherein a first portion of the encoded light is reflected onto a first light receiver without interacting with the sample material and wherein a second portion of the encoded light is interacted with the sample material and wherein the second portion of the encoded light is compared to the first portion.
49. The method of claim 28, with the light comprising a first light portion interacting with the spatial frequency mask and the sample material to form a spatial frequency image and with the light further comprising a second light portion interacting with a predetermined standard material to form a predetermined standard image, wherein the change in the spatial frequency information comprising a difference between the spatial frequency image and the predetermined standard image.
50. A spatial frequency optical measurement method, comprising:
interacting light with a sample material;
reflecting and encoding the light with spatial frequency information; and
determining a change in the spatial frequency information due to the interaction of the light with the sample material.
51. The method of claim 50, with reflecting and encoding the light comprising interacting the light with a reflective spatial frequency mask positioned in a light path.
52. The method of claim 50, with reflecting and encoding the light comprising interacting the light with a reflective spatial frequency mask positioned in a light path, with the reflective spatial frequency mask comprising light reflecting and non-reflecting regions that encode the spatial frequency information.
53. The method of claim 50, with reflecting and encoding the light comprising interacting the light with a reflective spatial frequency mask positioned in a light path, with the reflective spatial frequency mask comprising a series of spatially varying light reflecting and non-reflecting regions that encode the spatial frequency information.
54. The method of claim 50, with reflecting and encoding the light comprising interacting the light with a reflective spatial frequency mask positioned in a light path, with the reflective spatial frequency mask comprising a series of apertures that encode the spatial frequency information.
55. The method of claim 50, with reflecting and encoding the light comprising interacting the light with a reflective spatial frequency mask positioned in a light path, with the reflective spatial frequency mask comprising a series of spatially varying apertures that encode the spatial frequency information.
56. The method of claim 50, with interacting the light with the sample material comprising substantially passing the light through the sample material.
57. The method of claim 50, wherein a light path length through the sample material can be varied in order to vary the change in spatial frequency information.
58. The method of claim 50, wherein a light path includes one or more excursions through the sample material.
59. The method of claim 50, wherein a light path includes one or more excursions through the sample material and wherein a number of excursions can be varied in order to vary the spatial frequency information.
60. The method of claim 50, with spatial frequency information being substantially independent of the intensity or composition of the light.
61. The method of claim 50, with the change in the spatial frequency information including a change to a content or organization of the spatial frequency information.
62. The method of claim 50, with the change in the spatial frequency information including a change to one or more of a line, an edge, a bar pattern, a sinusoidal pattern, or a point function of the spatial frequency information.
63. The method of claim 50, with determining the change in the spatial frequency information comprising determining a change in the spatial frequency information from a predetermined standard.
64. The method of claim 50, with determining the change in the spatial frequency information comprising determining a change in contrast in the spatial frequency information from a predetermined contrast standard.
65. The method of claim 50, with the processing system further determining a particulate concentration in a media of the sample material based on the change in the spatial frequency information.
66. The method of claim 65, with determining the particulate concentration further comprising:
comparing the spatial frequency information to one or more predetermined particulate concentration images; and
interpolating andor extrapolating a particulate concentration value from the one or more predetermined particulate concentration images.
67. The method of claim 50, with the processing system further determining one or more surface characteristics of the sample material based on the change in the spatial frequency information.
68. The method of claim 67, with determining the one or more surface characteristics further comprising:
comparing the spatial frequency information to one or more predetermined surface images; and
interpolating andor extrapolating the one or more surface characteristics from the one or more predetermined surface images.
69. The method of claim 50, with the light comprising a first light portion interacting with the spatial frequency mask and the sample material to form a spatial frequency image and with the light further comprising a second light portion interacting with a predetermined standard material to form a predetermined standard image, wherein the change in the spatial frequency information comprising a difference between the spatial frequency image and the predetermined standard image.