Abstract: A test method and test apparatus is provided that employs a microfluidic device to characterize properties of a fluid. The microfluidic device has a first inlet port, an outlet port, and a microchannel as part of a fluid path between the first inlet port and the outlet port. While generating a flow of the fluid through the microchannel of the microfluidic device, fluid pressure at the first inlet port of the microfluidic device is measured and recorded in conjunction with varying the controlled temperature of the microchannel of the microfluidic device to characterize the properties of the fluid that flows through the microchannel of the microfluidic device. The properties of the fluid can relate to the clathrate hydrate formation condition of the fluid at the pressure of the flow through the microchannel of the microfluidic device.

Abstract: A number of analytes are divided into groups based on at least either the elution position determined by silica gel column chromatography under the same condition or the partition ratio in a hexane-acetonitrile partition method. To each group, a compound obtained by labeling one of the compounds in the group by deuterium and/or carbon is assigned as the surrogate. After those surrogates are added as internal standard substances to a standard sample for the creation of calibration curves, a GC/MS analysis for the sample is performed and a calibration curve is created for each analyte. In the measurement of an unknown sample, the same set of surrogates are added to the sample and the GC/MS analysis is performed. A quantitative determination processor determines the quantity of each analyte by comparing a peak area ratio calculated from the analysis result with a calibration curve read from the database.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for printing a bag with a print, which bag is filled with a detergent or cleaning agent and is made from a water-soluble or water-dispersible film, wherein the printing of the bag is carried out by means of an inking-pad printing process; and to a method for producing film bags of this type; and to the film bags which are produced in this way.

Abstract: A system includes a MEMS sensor having dual proof masses capable of moving independently from one another in response to forces imposed upon the proof masses. Each proof mass includes an independent set of sense contacts configured to provide output signals corresponding to the physical displacement of the corresponding sense mass. A switch system is in communication with the sense contacts. The switch system is configured to enable a sense mode and various test modes for the MEMS sensor. When the switch system enables a sense mode, output signals from the sense contacts can be combined to produce sense signals. When the switch system enables a test mode, the second contacts are electrically decoupled from one another to disassociate the output signals from one another. The independent sense contacts and switch system enable the concurrent compensation and calibration of the proof masses along two different sense axes.

Abstract: A gas-sensing apparatus with a self-powered microheater to reduce power usage and enhance efficiency when determining a presence of one or more gases in an air sample is provided. The gas-sensing apparatus includes a substrate, a sensing layer coupled to the substrate, and a heater element connected to the sensing layer and having at least one sheet. The sheet is made from a homogenous mixture of zinc powder and activated carbon. Oxygen from ambient air interacts with zinc ions in the zinc powder in an exothermic reaction to generate heat energy for use in heating the sensing layer to a desired temperature, thereby permitting the sensing layer at the desired temperature to detect the presence or ratio of the one or more gases in the air sample.

Abstract: A micro heater and a micro sensor is capable of providing a heater having a small thermal capacity by forming an air gap which surrounds the heater wire, and forming the heater wire on a porous substrate.

Abstract: A gas monitoring system and a gas monitoring method make it possible to identify plural gas sensors having a single specification and which are connected to one trunk line. Trunk line connectors have identification configurations for allowing information concerning positions where the trunk line connectors to be identified are arranged. Hydrogen sensors have a single specification (the same specification). When connectors of the hydrogen sensors are fitted to the trunk line connectors, the hydrogen sensors store the sensor IDs, which are assigned to the hydrogen sensors, in memory units based on the identification configurations of the trunk line connectors.

Abstract: The system and method for testing a filter containment system. A containment system may include a filter housing with a diverging transition section mounted upstream and a converging transition section mounted downstream. An upstream test section can be arranged upstream of the diverging transition section. During a test of the filter, and aerosol can be dispersed substantially evenly across a cross-sectional area of the upstream test section. The downstream test section can be arranged downstream of the converging transition section. The downstream test section may optionally include a mixer that disturbs the airflow. The downstream test section can also include a sampling array, downstream of the mixer that simultaneously samples the airflow substantially evenly across the cross-sectional area of the downstream test section for the presence of aerosol.

Abstract: A fluid properties measurement device, including a magnetically excited and sensed resonator and a resonator electromagnetic excitation assembly, including an excitation coil driven by an electrical network, electrically connected to the excitation coil. The excitation coil is positioned so that a varying magnetic field produced by the excitation coil will drive the resonator in a pattern of resonating movement that has predetermined characteristics. Also, an electromagnetic sensing assembly, including a gradiometric sense coil is positioned so that an electromagnetic field originating due to movement of the resonator in a pattern having the predetermined characteristics, will create a time-varying gradient across the sense coil. Finally, a signal sensing electrical network is electrically connected to the sense coil.

Abstract: A measuring element for measuring dynamic pressure, temperature and/or static pressure includes a body made of a piezoelectric material and having opposing side surfaces carrying electrodes. The piezoelectric material of the body is selected in such a manner that a thrust coefficient of the piezoelectric e-tensor is not equal to zero, with the result that the inverse piezoelectric effect can be used, and a transverse coefficient of the piezoelectric d-tensor is not equal to zero and/or a longitudinal coefficient of the piezoelectric d-tensor is not equal to zero, with the result that the transverse piezoelectric effect can be used in the transverse direction and/or the longitudinal piezoelectric effect can be used in the longitudinal direction in a simultaneous manner with the inverse piezoelectric effect.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with gas detecting sensors. According to one embodiment, a gas sensor includes a metal layer, a barrier interlayer, a substrate layer, a first insulating layer, a conduction path, a contact pad, and a second insulating layer. The conduction path connects the metal layer to the contact pad. The second insulating layer prevents diffusion through the contact pad, the conduction path, or the metal layer. The sensor includes a wire bonded electrical connection to the contact pad such that voltage can be determined and/or applied.

Abstract: An air quality test unit for attachment to a vent of a HVAC system with air flow there through. The air quality test unit contains at least two substrate panels arranged in a v-shape form wherein at least one panel includes a sticky surface or a collection container. The air quality test unit is attachable to the vent by one or more clips. The sticky surfaces or collection container of the substrate panels capture airborne substances and contaminants emanating from the air flow of the HVAC system vent. A culture growth medium may be disposed in the collection container or on the sticky surface. The air quality test unit kit provides a user with an air quality test unit and process for shipping the unit to the laboratory for analysis.

Abstract: An integrated load cell and inclinometer includes an outer shell including a u-shaped structure configured to receive a polished rod; a load sensor configured output a load signal based on a load experienced by the load sensor; a position sensor configured to output a position signal based on a position experienced by the position sensor; a load and position signal processor configured to receive and process the load signal from the load sensor and to output load signal data representative of the load experienced by the load sensor, and receive and process the position signal from the position sensor and to output position signal data representative of the inclination of the walking beam or the position of the polished rod; a solar battery configured to provide power to the integrated load cell and inclinometer; and a transmitter configured to transmit the load signal data and position signal data.

Abstract: A modified ink cup for plate printing is presented, where the ink cup is separated internally into two domains, a storage area and a print area, by a baffle system. The baffling allows only a limited amount of exposure of the ink in the ink cup to the outside air, reducing evaporation of the ink solvent and extending the life of the ink supply in the cup. This system greatly reduces the number of times an ink cup has to be re-filled to perform plate printing and limits the evaporation of possibly toxic solvents to the air.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for sensing one or more odorants are disclosed. The device may include an oscillator crystal coated with a polymer. The oscillator crystal may typically oscillate at a known first frequency. The coated crystal may respond to exposure to an odorant by oscillating at one or more alternative frequencies. The coated crystal response may depend on the polymer composition, polymer concentration, coating geometry, and/or odorant to which it may be exposed. The system may include one or more oscillator crystals, each coated with a different polymer composition, polymer concentration, and/or coating geometry. The system may include non-coated crystals. The system may also include additional electronics to measure the frequencies of the one or more coated or non-coated crystals and to analyze their frequencies. The method may include the use of such devices and/or systems to identify and/or determine the concentration of one or more odorants.

Abstract: Diagnostic processes for determining whether a NOx sensor is in a stuck-in-range failure mode may be performed when the NOx sensor reaches an operational temperature and before the oxygen pumps of the NOx sensor are activated and/or during operation. The processes may include interpreting values of a parameter indicative an amount of O2 and/or NOx measured by the NOx sensor. The processes include determining if the values of the parameter exceed a threshold value and indicating a failure of the NOx sensor responsive to the values not exceeding the threshold value. In some implementations, the processes may include increasing an amount of O2 in a chamber of the NOx sensor. Increasing the amount of O2 in the chamber of the NOx sensor may include deactivating an oxygen pump of the NOx sensor or reducing an amount of O2 removed via an oxygen pump of the NOx sensor.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include systems and methods for determining adhesive strength of a sample label. For example, the present invention relates to a novel approach for examining the resistance to peel force required to remove a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) label from its intended substrate. This approach is encompassed by systems and methods which rely on the creation of one or any combination of at least four test strip types traced and cut from a label adhered to its intended substrate. The test strips may be oriented in at least three ways: along the machine direction of the label's face stock, along the cross direction of the label's face stock, and along an angle diagonal to the intersection of the machine and cross directions of the label's face stock, where the angle does not equal 0°, 90°, 180°, 270°, or 360°. The test strips may be peeled in reference to the position along the label and to and from which they extend.

Abstract: A particulate matter measuring device includes: a diesel particulate filter (DPF) in which upstream side and downstream side openings of multiple cells partitioned by porous partition walls are alternately plugged; a pair of first electrodes received in a pair of first electrode cells arranged diagonally with a central cell therebetween; a pair of second electrodes received in a pair of second electrode cells arranged diagonally with the central cell therebetween; a first connecting member for connecting the first electrodes to each other; a second connecting member for connecting the second electrodes to each other; and a unit that calculates an amount of particulate matter trapped in the DPF on the basis of capacitance between the electrodes. The four cells which are adjacent to each other around the partition walls of the central cell and sandwiched between the first electrode cells and the second electrode cells are used as measurement cells.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are materials and methods used to form a three dimensional (3D) article having a printed layer thereon. The 3D articles are capable of displaying rear projected images, effectively as a 3D “screen” for displaying an image or a movie. The 3D articles are used as standalone articles or as a portion of an animatronic figure. The articles are made by forming a substantially planar thermoformable laminate including a rear projection screen material, printing and curing a radiation curable ink onto one or both sides of the laminate, and thermoforming to impart a shape to the laminate.

Abstract: A safe that is unopenable and uses solar energy to dispense via a infrared remote signal a single or double, 1.5 oz shot of hard alcohol every night between the hours of 10 pm and 12 am. Featuring a oneway pump which intakes alcohol into the glass lined reservoir and a tamper proof z shaped nozzle composed of titanium to dispense. Also requires a breathalyzer and identity check of the user. The breathalyzer will use near infrared spectroscopy and also have additional optical filters which check for the organic compounds nitrogen and carbon dioxide present in human breath. The identity check may be done by iris scan or facial recognition scan and may require to have face aligned with both the camera and breathalyzer holes. May also feature a refrigeration system on the bottom of the safe using a Stirling heat engine to power the compressor.