From: Saul Berger To: 'Cathy Colwell' Subject: RE: Mainland Project: Question #1 patent Date: Monday, January 18, 1999 3:03 PM Hi Cathy, Item 1. - The patent number is 5590432. Item 2. - We have not received funding for any sort of artificial lighting. We hawever work closely with many govermnet agencies, NGO's and Universitys on ambient UV radiation monitoring and calibration instruments. Solar Light is a member of CORM and CIE, Commission International de Eclairge. ( International Lighting Commision) Item 3. - For a basic diagram of light detector I would suggest the excellent graphs used in 501 user manual availble on our website at www.solar.com file locker. If you have any questions about the graphics please let me know. Simply put a gallium arsenide ( GAsp) has placed above it a interference filter for selected spectral reponse and input optics normally a diffusor to bring the light to the filter. A ratio between the light intensity and the voltage coming out of the GAsp determines the calibration. Issues in designing and building a detector are the interference filter, ( both wavelength and bandwidth) long term stability, cosine and choice input optics depending on the type meaurement( Exp: Irradiance or radiant measurements.) Your web page looks good concerning light meters. Item 4.- The PMA 2100 has complete PC interface consisting of software package and cable for connecting a host PC to the data buffer on board the PMA 2100 meter. The on board data buffer date and time stamps all collected data. The PMA 2100 Interface software package allows for graphing of all collected data and for exporting into a host spreadsheet for further data manipulation. Item 5. - I reviewed some of the data refenced on your link. But sdtill did not come across any min. light levels. If we are talking about reflections from stars it must be very low. There was a reference to the photon level sensitivity of a turtle eye. Perhaps one of your students can dig up the exact number from the abstract reference list . Item 6.- You may go ahead and link the Solar Light PMA 2100 series detectors pages to your web site. My pleasure. I hope this covers your current questions. In the future try to put as many questions as you can on one email . Sounds like a great project !! Thanks and good luck, Saul Berger - Solar Light Inc. ---------- From: Cathy Colwell [SMTP:colwell@mindspring.com] Sent: Sunday, January 17, 1999 6:42 AM To: saul.berger@solar.com Subject: Mainland Project: Question #1 patent Saul, I am going to number these so that you can respond easily. I'm afraid that some of our questions will unfortunately reveal how much we still need to learn .... #1 - Can you tell us the patent number for the PMA 2100 meter that we hope to modify? Does your company, or someone in your company, hold that patent? Research on the patent is part of the project. The students have become familiar with searching the patent database. -----Original Message----- From: Saul Berger To: 'Cathy Colwell' Date: Thursday, January 14, 1999 2:10 PM Subject: RE: urgent assistance with one of your products Hi Cathy Colwell, The PMA 2100 meter and host of detectors can provide the instumentation you require. The PMA 2180 customized detector can be built to monitor 525 nm and 645 nm with a 10 nm bandwidth. The PMA 2110 detector monitors UV-A with a bandwidth of 40 nm from 340 to 380 nm. The PMA 2100 meter offers data logging and PC interface options. A 10 or 30 degree view angle can be installed into the detectors to match the loggerheads acceptance cone and the deterctor. Though you may not need this modification. A few more minor details need to be ironed out before I can submit a quote. Can you call me when you have a moment ? Regards, Saul Berger - Solar Light Inc. Tel: 215 927 4206. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ---------- From: Cathy Colwell [SMTP:colwell@mindspring.com] Sent: Wednesday, January 13, 1999 11:41 PM To: info@solar.com Subject: urgent assistance with one of your products <>I am the faculty advisor to a group of students involved in an Internet Science Fair research project at Mainland High School in Daytona Beach, FL. For the past six weeks, the students have been researching light meters, or other portable light detection devices, which could measure light pollution as it affects endangered nesting sea turtles and their hatchlings. Sea turtles seem to be attracted to violets and ultraviolet lights irrespective of the light's intensity. Their physiology is less sensitive to reds and yellows. Research has concluded that while sea turtles have color cones along their retinas, they do not appear to have color vision - that is red and green wavelengths remain unique, not blended to form shades of yellow. Lighting pollution is a deterrent to nesting "mother" turtles and a distracter to hatchlings. Sea turtle researchers would like to be able to measure the lighting in "nurturing beach environments" and apply those standards to areas where turtles are being harmed. Unfortunately they have not been able get obtain a reference standard for lighting measurements in a beach environment with any light meters that are presently available commercially. Sources of light pollution along the beach include: streetlights, hotel lighting, sidewalk lighting, and ambient urban glow. Local streetlights have been changed out to LPS lights, and hotels in compliance with lighting ordinances either have amber shields on incandescent bulbs or yellow bug lights. Sidewalk lighting seems to primarily be incandescent globe lights. Urban glow is also present from local principalities. Obviously there must be a compromise between protecting sea turtles and providing security for human beings. Until tonight, all of our initial searches lead us to photographic light meters. I am earnestly hoping that someone at your company can help us. The last day we have to work on our project is next Wednesday, we have to cease all improvements on our entry's website on Thursday, January 21st. (I) has anyone in your company received any federal, state, local, or private grant monies to do research on measuring the intensity of environmental lighting -- urban glow, distant streetlights (beach to road, for example), ambient local light, light of only specific frequencies. There are probably other related topics about which I am unaware ... all suggestions are welcome. Component #1 (http://istf.ucf.edu/screen68.htm) requires that we know the dollar amount of the grant, the funding agency, the principal investigator, the institution where the research was conducted, the duration of the grant and the outcome of the investigation. (We have found innumerable grants for turtle research; none for light meter research and development). (II) If your company holds any patents for light monitoring detectors? If yes, could you please supply us with a list or specifications to help us with Component #3. (http://istf.ucf.edu/screen68.htm) Ultimately, in the competition, we need to make a recommendation for an improvement in an existing patent. (III) As one of the components of this project (Component #3: http://istf.ucf.edu/screen68.htm), we need to obtain a review of a proposed product by a commercial company (the actual product does not have to be built). As an established manufacturer of light meters, we were hoping that you could help us by considering the product described below. It is targeted at hotel owners and beachside residents interested in knowing if they are in accordance with local sea turtle nesting laws. After lengthy research through lighting sites on the Internet, we were hoping that you would help us base our product's idea on your UV-Biometer Models 501 and 501A: http://www.solar.com/501.htm Our product is a variation of existing light meter technology, incorporating various enhancements designed to mimic the vision characteristics of sea turtles. (1) First, there needs to be a way to display the intensity values for