Abstract: There are provided an electric-current sensing device capable of detecting an electric current with high accuracy, a load driving system, and a method for manufacturing the electric-current sensing device. According to one embodiment, the electric-current sensing device includes a sense IGBT through which an electric current proportional to an electric current flowing through a main IGBT flows. Further, a depth of a P type floating region from a lower end of each of a plurality of trench gates provided in the sense IGBT is shallower than a depth of another P type floating region from a lower end of each of a plurality of trench gates provided in the main IGBT.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques to accurately detect that a secondary battery has been replaced. A secondary battery state detecting device detects a state of a secondary battery installed in a vehicle. The device includes a control unit that learns element values of an equivalent circuit of the secondary battery on the basis of a voltage and a current of the secondary battery. The control unit also compares the element values obtained through learning at different timings and, when at least one of the element values has changed more than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, determines that the secondary battery has been replaced.

Abstract: A position sensor comprises a waveguide of magnetostrictive material which extends along a measurement path and which is configured for conducting mechanical pulses triggered by magnetostriction. A transducer at a first end of the waveguide serves for coupling a current pulse into the waveguide and for detecting a mechanical pulse conducted by the waveguide in the direction of the transducer. A damping element of an elastomer material is provided at a second end of the waveguide for damping a mechanical pulse propagating in the direction of the second end, wherein the hardness of the elastomer material increases as the distance from the transducer increases. The invention furthermore relates to a method of manufacturing a damping element of such a position sensor.

Abstract: A method for characterizing an integrated circuit that includes ramping the supply voltage to an integrated circuit as a function of time for each of the transistors in the integrated circuit, and measuring a power supply current for the integrated circuit during the ramping of the power supply voltage. The measured peaks in the power supply current are a current pulse that identifies an operation state in which each of the transistors are in an on state. The peaks in the power supply current are compared to the reference peaks for the power supply current for a reference circuit having a same functionality as the integrated circuit to determine the integrated circuit's fitness.

Abstract: A method of controlling a voltage regulator includes regulating a voltage output by the voltage regulator to correspond to a target voltage, generating a voltage ramp that starts at a first voltage and ends at a second voltage and responsive to the voltage ramp, modifying the output voltage response of the voltage regulator based on one or more compensation parameters.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to compliant probe structures for making temporary or permanent contact with electronic circuits and the like. In particular, embodiments are directed to various designs of cantilever-like probe structures. Some embodiments are directed to methods for fabricating such probe or cantilever structures. In some embodiments, for example, cantilever probes have extended base structures, slide in mounting structures, multi-beam configurations, offset bonding locations to allow closer positioning of adjacent probes, compliant elements with tensional configurations, improved over travel, improved compliance, improved scrubbing capability, and/or the like.

Abstract: Disclosed are a system for testing a wireless terminal and a method for controlling the same. The system includes: a reflecting surface, configured to totally reflect one or more first wireless signals emitted by the wireless terminal; a test antenna, configured to receive the one or more first wireless signals reflected by the reflecting surface; and an absorbing screen, configured to absorb one or more second wireless signals emitted by the wireless terminal. The device under test, the test antenna and the reflecting surface correspond to a same ellipsoid, the device under test and the test antenna are arranged at two foci of the ellipsoid respectively, the reflecting surface is arranged on the ellipsoidal surface and the absorbing screen is arranged on a straight line between the device under test and the test antenna.

Abstract: A measurement system, its assembly and use are disclose. The system may include an instrument for making sensor measurements. The instrument has a substantially cylindrical housing. The shape and size allow the instrument to easily fit in an average hand enabling handheld operation. The housing houses a board stack of electronic boards. These electronics drive an electrical signal in at least one drive channel and measure responses from at least two sensing channels. These responses are provided to a processor for analysis. The instrument has a sensor connector that enables simultaneous electrical and mechanical attachment of an end effector.

Abstract: A method for the validation of a fuse head in an electronic detonator is disclosed, the method including measuring at least once a first charge time; activating a switching means to a second position to replace a reference resistor in an RC circuit with the fuse head; measuring at least once a second charge time; and determining the deviation of the second charge time from the first charge time.

Abstract: A planar sensor array capable of three-dimensional magnetic field sensing is disclosed. The sensor array may be utilized, for example, in connection with security inspections and detection of concealed electronics and contraband. Each sensor pixel may comprise a planar spiral inductor to measure a magnetic field of interest in a first dimension, a first Hall effect sensor to measure the magnetic field of interest in a second dimension, and a second Hall effect sensor to measure the magnetic field of interest in the third dimension.

Abstract: A testing system includes a subtractor and a divider. The subtractor is configured to receive a first voltage of a circuit being tested and a second voltage of the circuit, and to derive a difference between the first voltage and the second voltage. The divider is configured to receive the difference between the first voltage and the second voltage, and to derive a resistance of the circuit by dividing (i) the difference between the first voltage and the second voltage by (ii) a difference between a first current applied to the circuit and a second current applied to the circuit. The first voltage is corresponding to the first current, and the second voltage is corresponding to the second current.

Abstract: A sensor arrangement for measuring a speed of a rotating component includes a rotary encoder and sensor unit. The encoder is coupled to the component, and has a magnetic surface code with alternating North and South poles. The sensor unit has a housing, connecting cable, at least one sensitive measuring element, and contacting arrangement. The element is positioned in the sensor unit such that a main detection direction of the element is angled relative to a main extension direction of the sensor unit. The contacting arrangement electrically connects the element to the cable within the housing. Rotational movement of the encoder changes a magnetic field generated by the code at the element, which is configured to detect the change over a first direction parallel to the main extension direction or over a second direction perpendicular to the main extension direction in order to determine the speed of the component.

Abstract: A sensor is provided for determining at least one rotation characteristic of a rotating element. The sensor includes a sensor wheel, which is connectable to the rotating element, including at least one first reading track. The reading track includes a first plurality of magnetic event timers. The sensor furthermore includes at least one magnetic sensor for detecting magnetic events generated by the first plurality of magnetic event timers. The first reading track is designed in such a way that, over a complete circumference of the sensor wheel, a magnetic field strength of the first plurality of event timers changes step-by-step from a first maximum north pole to a first maximum south pole.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes a processing circuit and a sequence control circuit. The processing circuit calculates, based on an imaging sequence to be executed in magnetic resonance imaging, a value of a current flowing through a closed circuit by using an equivalent circuit and determines, prior to an execution of the imaging sequence, based on the value of the current, whether it is acceptable to execute the imaging sequence. The sequence control circuit executes the imaging sequence. The equivalent circuit is an equivalent circuit for a circuit that includes a gradient coil and that has a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit is connected to a power supply and has self-inductance. The second circuit includes at least one closed circuit having mutual inductance with the first circuit.

Abstract: A lung segmentation processor (40) is configured to classify magnetic resonance (MR) images based on noise characteristics. The MR segmenatation processor generates a lung region of interest (ROI) and detailed structure segmentation of the lung from the ROI. The MR segmentation processor performs an iterative normalization and region definition approach that captures the entire lung and the soft tissues within the lung accurately. Accuracy of the segmentation relies on artifact classification coming inherently from MR images. The MR segmentation processor (40) correlates segmented lung internal tissue pixels with the lung density to determine the attenuation coefficients based on the correlation. Lung densities are computed using MR data obtained from imaging sequences that minimize echo and acquisition times. The densities differentiate healthy tissues and lesions, which an attenuation map processor (36) uses to create localized attenuation maps for the lung.

Abstract: A device for monitoring an electrical insulation in the case of a vehicle electrical system of a vehicle, includes: a voltage source for generating direct voltages having a first and a second voltage value; a voltage-measuring unit between a positive and a negative power supply line of the vehicle electrical system for measuring a voltage between the positive and the negative power supply line; a current path between a positive current connection of the voltage source and the positive power supply line; a current-measuring unit in the current path for measuring a current flowing through the current path; a determining unit designed to determine an insulation resistance between the vehicle electrical system and an electrical ground from voltage measurement values of the voltage-measuring unit, current measurement values of the current-measuring unit, and the first and the second voltage value.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method to detect pick and place indexing errors on each manufacturing batch (lot) of semiconductor wafer processed during a die attach process using a preselected skeleton of check die. The known locations of the check skeleton die are verified during picking of die from the wafer. If the check skeleton cannot be correctly verified at the known locations, then a pick error is indicated. The embodiments may be implemented on existing die attach equipment.

Abstract: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to execute a pulse sequence to acquire data from an image taking region after applying a pre-pulse in synchronization with a predetermined electrocardiographic waveform of the subject. The processing circuitry is configured to monitor recovery of longitudinal magnetization by acquiring data from a monitor region that is different from the image taking region, by using timing linked with the timing with which the pre-pulse is applied. The processing circuitry is configured to control execution of the pulse sequence on the basis of a signal value of the data from the monitor region.

Abstract: A method for characterizing an integrated circuit that includes ramping the supply voltage to an integrated circuit as a function of time for each of the transistors in the integrated circuit, and measuring a power supply current for the integrated circuit during the ramping of the power supply voltage. The measured peaks in the power supply current are a current pulse that identifies an operation state in which each of the transistors are in an on state. The peaks in the power supply current are compared to the reference peaks for the power supply current for a reference circuit having a same functionality as the integrated circuit to determine the integrated circuit's fitness.

Abstract: An electromagnetic data acquisition system and an associated method for measuring subsurface structures with electromagnetic fields is employed for removing near surface effects from borehole to surface electromagnetic data. Preferably, the system is used to obtain information about deep, target structures located deep below the Earth, especially in oil and gas fields, while mitigating the effect of near surface geological shallow structures on collected electromagnetic (EM) data by using a series of electromagnetic measurements and data treatments that preferentially illuminate near surface geologic shallow structures so that the shallow structures may be recovered separately from deep structures of interest.