Abstract: An ASIC (14, 14′, 14″) conditions two independent outputs (VINM, VINP) of a full Wheatstone piezoresistive bridge (12) in separate conditioning paths. Each path is provided with a bridge supply voltage (VHB1, VHB2) which can serve as a temperature related input signal to respective offset and gain compensation control circuits. The half bridge outputs are inputted to respective amplifiers (U1, U2) along with a selected percentage of the temperature dependent bridge supply voltage. The outputs of the amplifiers provide a signal proportional to respective half bridge output voltage. In one embodiment, the output of the amplifier (U2) in one conditioning path of one half bridge is connected to the input of an amplifier (U4) in the other conditioning path to provide a signal in the one path proportional to the Wheatstone bridge differential output voltage and in the other path a signal proportional to the Wheatstone half bridge output voltage.

Abstract: A VDD power-up detection circuit is provided having a p-channel transistor having a source coupled to a VDD voltage supply terminal and a gate coupled to a ground supply terminal. A first resistor or a diode element is coupled between the drain of the p-channel transistor and the ground supply terminal. An n-channel transistor has a source coupled to the ground supply terminal and a gate coupled to the drain of the p-channel transistor. A second resistor is coupled between a drain of the n-channel transistor and the VDD voltage supply terminal. A trigger circuit is coupled to the drain of the n-channel transistor. As the VDD supply voltage increases during power-up, the p-channel and n-channel transistors are both turned on. At this time, the trigger circuit asserts a control signal that enables an associated circuit to operate in response to the VDD supply voltage.

Abstract: A nanomechanical actuator/oscillator device and system are provided. The nanomechanical actuator/oscillator device comprising nanobimorphs, such as nanotubes, designed such that inducing a difference in charge density between the tubes (e.g. by biasing one tube positive with respect to the other with sufficient tube-to-tube contact resistance) induces lateral movement in the end of the bimorph, forming a nanoscale resonator, as well as a force sensor when operated in an inverse mode. A method of producing a novel nanobimorph structure with integrated electrodes is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for an integrated circuit comprising a thermal sensor (41-44), an A-D converter (58) coupled to the thermal sensor, wherein the thermal sensor provides an input to the A-D converter, and the A-D converter converts the input to a digital value representative of the thermal environment of the thermal sensor. The integrated circuit collects a data value at a location on an integrated circuit wherein the data value has a predetermined functional relationship to the temperature at the location. The integrated circuit converts the data value to a value representative of the thermal environment of the location on the integrated circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring drying of an agricultural porous media such as grain and seed, includes deriving moisture content of the porous media using time domain reflectometry and utilizing moisture content to monitor and/or control the drying process. The porous media is positioned around a time domain reflectometry probe. An array of probes can be used to measure moisture in different areas of one batch of porous media or in a plurality of batches of porous media. The derivation of moisture content of the porous media around each probe would allow information to be provided to a dryer controller to alter the drying process if needed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to quickly electrically test an electrical wiring system that has a large number of contacts by maximally reducing the number of electrical tests. A plurality of contacts forming a network of an electrical wiring system is divided into a plurality of groups. The respective groups are insulated from each other. The insulated states of these groups are discriminated, and the insulated states of the respective contacts in the respective groups are discriminated if the insulated states of the respective groups are judged to be satisfactory.

Abstract: A power supply voltage detection circuit, includes a constant voltage generator and an A/D converting unit and an A/D conversion result register. The constant voltage generator generates a first voltage of a constant voltage. The A/D converting unit performs an A/D conversion on the first voltage inputted through an analog input channel as a reference voltage of a second voltage of a power supply voltage. The A/D conversion result register stores an A/D conversion result obtained by the A/D converting unit.

Abstract: A Sensor for detecting radio-frequency oscillations of a voltage, and an arrangement of a sensor for detecting radio-frequency oscillations of the voltage in a line. The sensor (10) has a capacitor (15) whose first connection can be connected to the line (11). According to the invention, the second connection of the capacitor is associated with a current transformer (18) and a bush (19) for outputting a measured signal. The invention furthermore provides for a sensor (10) to be arranged in an intermediate space (13) between the line (11) and a shield (12).

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for detecting quantity variation of high purity liquid chemicals by way of detecting capacitance variation to determine the liquid level of liquid chemicals. Meanwhile, the ratio of the area of the smallest electrode of the capacitor to the distance between the electrodes is adjusted to magnify the capacitance so that a very small variation can be observed clearly. This invention also discloses a device to carry out this method.

Abstract: The circuit configuration converts an input signal into a binary output signal. The circuit has at least one comparator, at least one demodulation unit, and at least one clock unit. The demodulation unit has two or more capacitors and two or more switches controlled by the clock unit. The switches connect the capacitors of the demodulation unit to the comparator, and the comparator compares an input signal demodulated by the demodulation unit with a reference value and forms from that the binary output signal.

Abstract: A Hall device biasing circuit includes a plurality of terminals for applying a bias voltage to a plurality of Hall devices connected in series, respectively. A magnetism detection circuit includes a plurality of Hall devices connected in series; and a Hall device biasing circuit including at least a plurality of terminals corresponding to the plurality of Hall devices for supplying a constant bias voltage to each of the plurality of Hall devices respectively from the plurality of terminals.

Abstract: A system for measuring signals in a non-linear network is provided which reduces the reliance on hardware and processing support when correcting for A/D offset by performing a pair of dual slope measurement cycles with an integrating analog to digital converter (ADC) circuit. Each of the measurement cycles has at least four phases including a first integrating phase and a first de-integrating phase followed by a second integrating phase and a second de-integrating phase. The system further includes an ADC controller operatively communicative with the integrating ADC circuit for detecting when the first count value is reached during the second de-integrating phase and then resetting the second count value in response to this detection so that the second count value is offset corrected at the end of the second de-integration phase. As a result, a difference calculation is automatically performed during the measurement cycle.

Abstract: Methods for determining electrical and thermal properties of a heated pipeline are provided. During commissioning or at any time thereafter, a base curve of impedance versus temperature of the pipeline is determined, so that impedance measurements can thereafter be used to measure temperature of the pipeline. Continuous monitoring of impedance is provided to detect changes in conditions of the pipeline. Start-up procedures that decrease risk of damage to the annulus from arcing are disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for routing all external connection points of a dual-sided edge connector of a circuit card to one side of a test tray suitable for testing with a bed of nails, “pogo pin” or similar type of load board for functional testing of a circuit card. A first embodiment of the apparatus includes a pivotally mounted or snap-in removable electrical and mechanical receptacle with a slot or socket suitable for holding a dual-sided edge connector of a circuit card in a test tray. The receptacle pivots or is otherwise mounted in the test tray to allow the circuit card to lie coplanar with the test tray, thus providing perpendicular contact to the pins of a bed of nails-type load board. Another embodiment provides a fixed receptacle mounted vertically that routes all edge connector traces to the bottom surface of the test tray, again, suitable for engaging with a bed of nails-type test board.

Abstract: An abnormal current discriminating method including an arc current detecting method and the apparatus for performing the same in which the arc current method includes the steps of: extracting a predetermined transition pattern specified by the combination of fluctuation patterns of peak values of three continuous half waves from the peak value for each half wave detected from an alternating current flowing to the AC load circuit which is sampled in a predetermined cycle and converted into a digital value, counting the number of appearances of the predetermined transition pattern, and comparing the count value with a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Methods automatic process control of biasing and testing a heated-electrode refrigerant sensor for use in a refrigerant detector. An unbiased sensor may be mounted in a manufacturing station, and while mounted may be biased by applying current to electrically heat the sensor and by applying a voltage potential between the sensor's anode and cathode, thereby generating a bias current at the cathode, and after the sensor is at least partially biased, the bias current is used to electrically test the sensor's construction. If the temperature of the sensor is held constant at a bias temperature, the acceptability of the sensor may be determined based on the time that elapses before the bias current decreases from an initial value to a threshold value, or determined based on the noise present on a signal which is representative of an operating condition other than the bias current magnitude.

Abstract: A device for triggering ignition circuits is used to increase safety without additional expenditures in the form of hardware or wiring. Plus and minus output elements of various ICs are used for this purpose. Ignition circuit diagnosis is now also distributed over two ICs. Ignition circuit diagnosis includes, in particular, the resistance measurement of the respective ignition circuit. Each substrate, in other words IC, therefore has at least one plus and one minus output element.

Abstract: The attenuation of the stray current impulse limits the capacitive leakage. The value of the inductance, coupled to the parasitic capacitance of the charge, creates a reactive filter effect. Since the effect is reactive, the impulse energy is not absorbed. The energy is therefore redistributed in time, but since the intensity of the tension is greatly diminished, the coupling through the capacitances is diminished. The apparatus comprises a core which includes 1, 2, 3 or 4 coils. The apparatus is typically a high quality reactance which includes a low reactive value in opposition of the line current (residual mode) and a high reactive value for the circulation of the parallel current (common mode).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for electrically testing a pipe-in-pipe pipeline during the construction, installation, commissioning, operation, or dismantling phases of an electrically heated pipe-in-pipe subsea pipeline. One embodiment is directed to a high voltage qualification test of the electrical integrity of a segment of a pipe-in-pipe pipeline. Another embodiment is directed to a method and an apparatus for performing a high voltage pulse test of the electrical integrity of a pipe-in-pipe pipeline. Yet another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method and an apparatus for performing a low voltage pulse test of the electrical integrity of a pipe-in-pipe pipeline, which may be performed during the operation phase of an electrically heated pipe-in-pipe pipeline.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring and a method for controlling the static charge developed by a flowable solid as it passes through a conduit. The flowable solid is conveyed through the conduit in such a manner that the powder develops a static charge due to the triboelectric effect as it moves against the conduit walls. The static charge on the solid is then measured using a static charge measuring device such as a Faraday drum or cage.