Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes at least one coil responsive to an AC coil drive signal; at least two spaced apart magnetic field sensing elements responsive to a sensing element drive signal and positioned proximate to the at least one coil; and a circuit coupled to the at least two magnetic field sensing elements to generate an output signal of the magnetic field sensor indicative of a difference between a distance of a conductive target with respect to each of the at least two spaced apart magnetic field sensing elements.

Abstract: A process variable transmitter for measuring a process variable includes a process variable sensor configured to sense a process variable and provide a sensor output. Measurement circuitry receives the sensor output and provides a measured output related to the process variable. Output circuitry provides a device output on a two-wire process control loop based upon the measured output. The output circuitry has a transfer function that is a function of an adjustable analog circuit component. A motorized actuator is configured to adjust the adjustable analog circuit component to thereby change the transfer function of the output circuitry. An optional calibration controller is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing vaporizers of electronic cigarettes is disclosed. Each vaporizer comprises a heating element, and electric terminals for electrically powering the heating element. The testing apparatus comprises a holding construction part with multiple movable vaporizer holding units. A contact construction part is provided with multiple electric contact members each associated with a respective holding unit, and electrically contacting at least one electric terminal of a vaporizer in the associated holding unit. A supply construction part conducts electric power to each contact member. A measuring part measures at least one electric quantity representative of an electric resistance and/or inductance of the heating element, compares the measured quantity with a pre determined range and, if the measured quantity is outside the range, outputs a rejection signal.

Abstract: The invention provides an internal combustion engine combustion state detecting device such that ascertaining a combustion state using ionic current detection is carried out accurately over a wide operating range of an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine combustion state detecting device includes a spark plug that has a central electrode and a grounding electrode opposing across a gap, and a discharge stopping-induced current detecting device that estimates an induced current caused by a stopping of a spark discharge generated in the gap between the central electrode and the grounding electrode, wherein an ionic current detection threshold is set to a threshold value that is not affected by the induced current using the induced current estimated by the discharge stopping-induced current detecting device.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method for tracking energy consumption. An energy tracking system comprises at least one switching element, at least one inductor and a control block to keep the output voltage at a pre-selected level. The switching elements are configured to apply the source of energy to the inductors. The control block compares the output voltage of the energy tracking system to a reference value and controls the switching of the switched elements in order to transfer energy for the primary voltage into a secondary voltage at the output of the energy tracking system. The electronic device further comprises an ON-time and OFF-time generator and an accumulator wherein the control block is coupled to receive a signal from the ON-time and OFF-time generator and generates switching signals for the at least one switching element in the form of ON-time pulses with a constant width ON-time.

Abstract: A personal laboratory includes a self-contained, miniaturized, portable kit that provides for design, testing, and automated assembling, dissembling, and reassembling of a physical system (rather than a simulation) with flexibility as to the variety of configurations of components that may be designed and assembled, and easy integration of complex components. The personal laboratory includes a reconfigurable system, the reconfigurable system includes a plurality of functional components, and a plurality of connectors configured for operatively connect respective functional components to other functional components; a stimulus generator configured to apply a stimulus to the reconfigurable system; and a measurement system configured to measure a response to the applied stimulus generated by the reconfigurable system. In the context of electronic circuits, the reconfigurable system is a reconfigurable circuit, the functional components are circuit elements and the connectors are electrical connectors.

Abstract: A through-casing formation monitoring system may include a casing string positioned within a wellbore, a power source electrically coupled to a first transmitter configured to produce a magnetic field, a magnetic induction sensor positioned within the casing string such that the magnetic induction sensor allows a continued operation of the wellbore, a fiber optic cable coupled to an electro-optical transducer within the magnetic induction sensor, and an optical interrogation system configured to receive measurements from the magnetic induction sensor via the fiber optic cable.

Abstract: A roof monitoring system for flat and low slope roofs having a membrane (10) applied over an underlying support structure or subroof (11) wherein air passing between the membrane and the subroof passes through a vent (1) having sensors (12) located therein to collect data.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensing system may include a first magnetic field sensing element; a second magnetic field sensing element; means for generating a first magnetic field having a first non-zero frequency; means for generating a second magnetic field having a second frequency; a conductive target positioned to generate a reflected magnetic field in response to the first magnetic field; means for producing a first signal representing the first magnetic field and the reflected magnetic field during a first alternating time period; means for producing a second signal representing the second magnetic field during a second alternating time period; means for calculating an error value as a function of the first and second signals, wherein the error value is based, at least in part, on the second signal during the first time period; and means for applying the error value to the first signal during the first alternating time period.

Abstract: A system and method of for underground line location using a view-in-the-ground indicator includes a display. The display includes a view-in-the-ground indicator configured to indicate left-right position information and orientation information associated with a plurality of underground lines using a corresponding plurality of needles. The plurality of needles are concurrently displayed and are distinguishable from one another. Each of the plurality of needles has a variable horizontal position that indicates the left-right position information and a variable orientation that indicates the orientation information. In some embodiments, the plurality of needles are distinguishable from one another based on a color coding scheme. In some embodiments, the color coding scheme of the plurality of needles matches a color coding scheme of a plurality of feeder cables coupled to the plurality of underground lines.

Abstract: An electricity meter includes a pair of terminals configured to connect in-line with a power line, an electrical conductor within the electric meter connecting the pair of terminals through a switch that includes an electric motor with an inductive coil, an inductive coil coupled to the electrical conductor, and a metrology circuit operatively connected to the electric motor in the switch. The metrology circuit includes a current sensor electrically connected to the inductive coil to measure an electric current that flows between the pair of terminals through the electrical conductor and an arc detection circuit electrically connected to one of the inductive coil coupled to the electrical conductor or the inductive coil in the electric motor, the arc detection circuit being configured to detect electrical arcs between the pair of terminals and the power line.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, provided is an electric vehicle supply equipment having a line power contactor including a first line power input and a second line power input and a first line power output and a second line power output. It further has a welded contactor detector with a contactor sense circuit, the sense circuit having a first line shunt resistor network connected from the first line power contactor output to ground and a second line shunt resistor network connected from the first line power contactor output to ground. In another embodiment provided is an EVSE including a welded contactor detector with a contactor sense circuit having a bias resistor connected between the hot line relay input and the neutral line relay output.

Abstract: Magnetic sensors may be positioned around an opening for a wire to measure the current flowing through the wire. A non-symmetric positioning of the sensors around the target measurement zone can enable an expanded measurement zone compared to conventional current measurement devices. Further, some sensors may be paired such that a hypothetical line connecting the sensors is tangential to the target measurement zone. Other sensors may be paired such that a hypothetical line between the sensors crosses the target measurement zone. The different pairs of the sensors can enable a reduction in the impact of stray field interference on the measurement of the current flowing through the wire.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for magnetic field sensors with self-test include a detection circuit to detect speed and direction of a target. One or more circuits to test accuracy of the detected speed and direction may be included. One or more circuits to test accuracy of an oscillator may also be included. One or more circuits to test the accuracy of an analog-to-digital converter may also be included. Additionally, one or more IDDQ and/or built-in-self test (BIST) circuits may be included.

Abstract: In a touch sensor unit, a bracket body is provided with a first protruding portion which is disposed on a vehicle interior side of a base portion, a gap portion is provided between the first protruding portion and the base portion, the height from the bracket body to the distal end of the first protruding portion is smaller than the height from the bracket body to the sensor portion. Therefore, when the sensor portion and the base portion are elastically deformed by contact with a blockage, the elastically deformed sensor portion and base portion enter the gap portion, thereby preventing the sensor portion and the base portion from being pressed against the corner portion of the bracket without increasing the rigidity of the sensor portion and the base portion.

Abstract: A method for online limit early-warning to a shunt capacitor bank, and the method comprises: performing harmonic monitoring to the shunt capacitor bank; obtaining a measured voltage and a measured current, based on raw data obtained by the harmonic monitoring; obtaining a first parameter representing a ratio of the measured voltage to a rated voltage and a second parameter representing a ratio of the measured current to a rated current, based on the measured voltage and the measured current; obtaining a relation between an impedance correlation quantity of the shunt capacitor bank and a background harmonic voltage ratio, based on the first parameter, the second parameter, and an obtained series reactance ratio of a detected capacitor circuit; and performing online limit early-warning to the shunt capacitor bank, based on the relation. The present invention also discloses a device for online limit early-warning to a shunt capacitor bank.

Abstract: A sensor module or system for monitoring a headspace of a transformer can include a sealed chamber configured for coupling and accessing gasses from the headspace of the transformer, a plurality of sensors placed within the sealed chamber which can include a hydrogen sensor and at least a second sensor such as a total combustible gas sensor, a moisture sensor, a pressure sensor, or a temperature sensor. The module or system can include one or more processors coupled to the plurality of sensors where the processors are configured to generate an alarm signal when a combination of the hydrogen sensor and at least the second sensor exceed a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A capacitive distance sensor includes a sensor element having an electrically conductive, elongated, flat sensor area which in turn contains a number of holes. The sensor area is completely surrounded by an electrically non-conductive insulating body, with the result that the insulating body completely covers the edge regions of the holes. The sensor element is produced, in particular, by first of all making the holes in the sensor area. In a subsequent step, the sensor area is completely encased by the insulating body which also completely fills the holes in the sensor area.

Abstract: Chip packages with improved tamper resistance and methods of using such chip packages to provide improved tamper resistance. A lead frame includes a die attach paddle, a plurality of outer lead fingers, and a plurality of inner lead fingers located between the outer lead fingers and the die attach paddle. A chip is attached to the die attach paddle. The chip includes a surface having an outer boundary and a plurality of bond pads arranged proximate to the outer boundary. A first plurality of wires extend from the outer lead fingers to respective locations on the surface of the chip that are interior of the outer boundary relative to the bond pads. A tamper detection circuit is coupled with the first plurality of wires. A second plurality of wires extend from the inner lead fingers to the bond pads on the chip. The second plurality of wires are located between the lead frame and the first plurality of wires.

Abstract: Based on a ratio between Doppler frequencies calculated from a plurality of reception signals outputted by a receiver, a position detector calculates a relative position of a plurality of antennas in a mobile wireless apparatus to a stationary wireless apparatus. A train position detector calculates a position of a train from the calculated relative position, a placement position of the stationary wireless apparatus and placement positions in the train of the plurality of antennas.