Abstract: According to an example, a microfluidic apparatus may include a fluid slot and a foyer that is in fluid communication with the fluid slot via a channel having a relatively smaller width than the foyer. The microfluidic apparatus may also include an electrical sensor to measure a change in an electrical field caused by a particle of interest in a fluid passing through the channel from the fluid slot to the foyer, an actuator to apply pressure onto fluid contained in the foyer, and a controller to receive the measured change in the electrical field from the electrical sensor, determine, from the received change in the electrical field, an electrical signature of the particle of interest, and control the actuator to control movement of the particle of interest based upon the determined electrical signature of the particle of interest.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 26, 2016
Date of Patent:
August 24, 2021
Assignee:
Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
Inventors:
Chantelle Domingue, Tod Woodford, Manish Giri, Matthew David Smith, George H Corrigan, III, Masoud Zavarehi, Joshua M. Yu
Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments related to a corrosion detection device for detecting corrosive environments. A corrosion detection device comprises a magnetic sensor and at least one magnetic nanowire disposed on the magnetic sensor. The magnetic sensor is configured to detect corrosion of the one or more magnetic nanowires based at least in part on a magnetic field of the one or more magnetic nanowires.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 4, 2017
Date of Patent:
August 24, 2021
Assignee:
KING ABDULLAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Inventors:
Jürgen Kosel, Selma Amara, Iurii Ivanov, Mario Blanco
Abstract: A method and device for determining insulation resistances in a motor vehicle. The device includes a control device which, in at least two measuring intervals, controls a respective operating state of at least one power converter of the motor vehicle, which is conductively connected to the traction energy store. The device further comprises a measuring device having a measuring terminal, which is conductively connected or connectable to least one DC voltage pole of an electric traction energy store of the motor vehicle, and a ground terminal which is conductively connected or connectable to a reference potential of the motor vehicle. The measuring device, in the at least two measuring intervals, respectively measures a conductance between the measuring terminal and the ground terminal. The device further comprises a calculation device, which determines the insulation resistances as a function of the at least two measured conductances and the operating states controlled.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 13, 2018
Date of Patent:
August 17, 2021
Assignee:
MAN TRUCK & BUS AG
Inventors:
Alexander Moertl, Markus Hubert, Stefan Soboll
Abstract: A circuit and method for magnetic field detection is disclosed. A fluxgate sensor comprises a fluxgate having a first core and a second core. A sense coil has a first winding around the first fluxgate core and a second winding around the second fluxgate core. A fluxgate detection circuit is coupled to the sense coil and outputs a signal proportional to an external magnetic field applied to the fluxgate. A detection circuit is coupled to the first winding and outputs a signal that indicates whether voltage pulses have been detected on the first winding.
Abstract: Various embodiments manage a fuel cell IT grid system to maintain fuel cell temperatures above a threshold temperature. The system may include power modules each including a fuel cell, DC/DC converters each connected to a power module, a DC power bus connected to the DC/DC, IT loads each connected to the DC power bus, a load balancing load connected to the DC power bus, and a control device connected to a first power module. The control device may determine whether a temperature of the first power module exceeds the temperature threshold, determine whether an electrical power output of the power modules exceeds an electrical power demand of the IT loads in response to the temperature exceeding the temperature threshold, and direct excess electrical power output to the load balancing load in response to the electrical power output exceeding the electrical power demand.
Abstract: Interconnection meter socket adapters are provided. An interconnection meter socket adapter comprises a housing enclosing a set of electrical connections. The interconnection meter socket adapter may be configured to be coupled to a standard distribution panel and a standard electric meter, thereby establishing connections between a distribution panel and a user such that electrical power may be delivered to the user while an electrical meter measures the power consumption of the user. A power regulation module is disposed between the interconnection meter socket adapter, and configured to selectively connect one or more energy sources or energy sinks.
Abstract: A method determines a generator system load and/or rotor angle. The generator system has a generator with a generator terminal outputting electrical power generated by the generator, a transformer and a point of common coupling, PCC, terminal. The transformer is between the generator and PCC terminals. The method includes: determining the generator field current; determining the output voltage, the output current and the power factor and/or angle of the output voltage and output current from the generator terminal, and determining the load angle of the generator system, output voltage from the generator terminal, output current from the generator terminal and the power factor and/or angle; and/or determining the output voltage, the output current and the power factor and/or angle of the output voltage and output current, and determining the rotor angle of the generator system, output voltage, output current from the PCC terminal and the power factor and/or angle.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 2, 2019
Date of Patent:
August 3, 2021
Assignees:
ROLLS-ROYCE plc, MTU FRIEDRICHSHAFEN GMBH, MTU ONSITE ENERGY GMBH
Inventors:
Johannes Demharter, Souvik Dasgupta, Michael Kreissl, Amit K Gupta, Vsk Murthy Balijepalli
Abstract: A capacitive interface device, includes a detection surface with one or more first capacitive electrodes extending in a first direction (X), second capacitive electrodes extending in a second direction (Y), third capacitive electrodes arranged in a matrix between the second capacitive electrodes and facing the one or more first capacitive electrodes, and linking tracks electrically connected within the detection surface to a plurality of adjacent third capacitive electrodes.
Abstract: A method of measuring thickness of a material generally includes applying an oscillating signal to a first electrode at a fixed frequency, passing the signal through the material to a second electrode, and measuring the magnitude of the signal reflected back to the first electrode. The thickness of the material is determined based on the measured magnitude of the reflected signal by: 1) comparing the determined magnitude to a predetermined baseline to establish a difference; and 2) identifying the thickness based on the difference. Related apparatuses are also disclosed. The material may be a vehicle tire.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 29, 2018
Date of Patent:
July 13, 2021
Assignee:
DUKE UNIVERSITY
Inventors:
Joseph Batton Andrews, Martin Brooke, Aaron Franklin
Abstract: A magnetic field sensing apparatus including a substrate, a plurality of magnetoresistance sensors and a plurality of magnetization direction setting devices is provided. A surface of the substrate includes a plurality of inclined surfaces and a plane surface. The magnetoresistance sensors include a plurality of first magnetoresistance sensors disposed at the inclined surfaces and a plurality of second magnetoresistance sensors disposed at the plane surface. The first magnetoresistance sensors include a first and a third portions and form a first full Wheatstone Bridge. The second magnetoresistance sensors include a second and a fourth portions and form a second full Wheatstone Bridge. The magnetization direction setting devices include a first and a second magnetization direction setting devices. The first magnetization direction setting device is disposed beside and overlaps with the first and the second portions.
Abstract: A probe system includes a heater and a control circuit. The heater includes a resistive heating element routed through the probe. An operational voltage is provided to the resistive heating element to provide heating for the probe. The control circuit is configured to provide a test voltage different than the operational voltage and monitor a test current generated in the resistive heating element while providing the test voltage. The control circuit is further configured to detect micro fractures in the resistive heating element based on the test current.
Abstract: The present invention relates in general to a novel microelectromechanical sensor device for detecting and measuring electric field and magnetic field. In particular, the sensor device of the present invention is useful for measuring low and high strength electric fields and magnetic fields without reference ground connection, the device comprising a first electrode and a second electrode rigidly connected together via a joining segment so that the first electrode and second electrode are mutually and dependently pivotal about an axis passing through a joining segment to form a tiltable unit, and the first electrode and the second electrode are electrically isolated from each other. The present invention further provides novel methods of using through specific arrangement of such novel sensor device.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 9, 2018
Date of Patent:
July 13, 2021
Inventors:
Cyrus Shafai, Janaranjana Sampath Hiniduma Liyanage
Abstract: Methods and apparatus to determine a position of a rotatable shaft of a motor are disclosed. An example apparatus to determine a position of a rotatable shaft of a motor includes a sensor printed circuit board (PCB) structured to be mounted to a motor, the sensor PCB including a plurality of capacitive sensors, the plurality of capacitive sensors having respective ones of a plurality of capacitances that independently change as a conductor moves relative to the sensor PCB in conjunction with a rotatable shaft of the motor during an operation of the motor, and a controller electrically coupled to the sensor PCB, the controller configured to determine a position of the rotatable shaft based on the plurality of capacitances.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 14, 2017
Date of Patent:
July 13, 2021
Assignee:
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
Inventors:
Rujun Ji, Jun Zhang, Lichang Cheng, Kangcheng Xu
Abstract: A system may include a first injection electrode, a second injection electrode, a first sensing coil, and a second sensing coil. The first injection electrode and the second electrode may each be configured to contact a material and conduct an alternating current through a portion of the material. The first sensing coil and a second sensing coil may each be configured to inductively sense a Hall current created by the alternating current and a magnetic field perpendicular to the alternating current. The first sensing coil and the second sensing coil may be coupled in series.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 13, 2018
Date of Patent:
July 6, 2021
Assignees:
Rolls-Royce Corporation, University of Cincinnati
Abstract: Systems and methods may provide for obtaining first sensor data associated with a gyroscope and obtaining second sensor data associated with a magnetometer. Additionally, the first sensor data, the second sensor data and an extended Kalman filter may be used to calibrate the magnetometer. In one example, a sampling rate of the magnetometer is increased before obtaining the second sensor data and the sampling rate of the magnetometer is decreased after calibration of the magnetometer.
Abstract: Various circuit board embodiments are disclosed. In one aspect, an apparatus is provided that includes a circuit board and a first phase change material pocket positioned on or in the circuit board and contacting a surface of the circuit board.
Abstract: A magnetic field sensing device including a magnetic flux concentrating module and a plurality of vortex magnetoresistors is provided. The magnetic flux concentrating module has a first side, a second side, a third side and a fourth side, wherein the first side is parallel to the third side, the second side is parallel to the fourth side, and the first side is not parallel to the second side. The vortex magnetoresistors are disposed beside the first to the fourth sides. The vortex magnetoresistors have a same pinning direction. The pinning direction is inclined with respect to the first side and the second side. The vortex magnetoresistors are configured to be connected to form a plurality of different Wheatstone bridges, so as to sense magnetic field components in a plurality of different directions, respectively.
Abstract: A signal acquisition apparatus has a vehicle state sensor that outputs measurement results in current form, an overcurrent interrupter connected downstream of the vehicle state sensor, which interrupts an overcurrent due to a short from the output connection of the vehicle state sensor to a battery voltage, and a shunt, connected downstream of the overcurrent interrupter, across which an output voltage corresponding to the output current of the aforementioned overcurrent interrupter is dropped. A control part is provided that controls the operation of the overcurrent interrupter according to the output voltage dropped across the shunt and assesses the measurement results of the vehicle state sensor on the basis of the output voltage.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 20, 2017
Date of Patent:
June 15, 2021
Assignee:
Vitesco Technologies GmbH
Inventors:
Myongsoo Ha, Insun Baek, Jaemin Jung, Euncheol Seong
Abstract: A probe relies on multiple sensors, which are capable of directly measuring soil moisture, temperature, and electrical conductivity (EC). The proposed probe uses radio frequency (“RF”) transformers to sense changes in load by the primary of the transformer, which will make direct contact with the soil. The probe contemplated herein, accurately measures EC values in liquids, and water saturated soils, by having direct contact with the medium in which the measurements are made. The measurements yield absolute EC, in any soil type.