Abstract: Appliances, methods, and systems (e.g., utilities) for use in analyzing received pressure waves to obtain and deduce various types of meaningful information therefrom (e.g., testing operation of an acoustic device that generates beams of acoustic energy). A pressure sensor in the disclosed system makes use of a piezoelectric layer or film (e.g., polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)) that has been substantially uniformly poled prior to interconnection with electrodes that are configured to send electrical signals to a controller or the like for generation of a dynamic, image (e.g., 2D) representing the received pressure waves. Among other advantages, the disclosed system leverages excellent economy of scale, can be configured in different arrangements with reduced cost, and limits the need for adapters or reverse engineering (e.g., as it can operate independently of the design of a probe or system under test.

Abstract: A system is for determining a viscoelastic property of a flexible seal, such as for use in connection with a vessel having a junction formed between first and second rigid parts that serve to compress the seal in use. A magnetic material is coupled to the flexible seal, and a generator such as an electric coil is provided for generating a magnetic field for causing the magnetic material to output a signal representative of a dynamic mechanical response of the magnetic material. A sensor senses the signal. An analyzer may be provided for analyzing the signal to determine the viscoelastic property of the object. Flexible seals with one or more embedded permanent magnets are disclosed, as are a method and apparatus for manufacturing such a seal using superconductive levitation to position a magnetic material, such as a permanent magnet, in a mold cavity during injection of a molding material.

Abstract: A guided wave probe for use in guided wave testing of plate structures. The probe comprises a cup having a flat or nearly flat bottom, and a guided wave sensor, such as a magnetostrictive sensor, placed in the bottom of the cup. The sensor and/or cup are coupled to the plate structure, such that ultrasonic energy from the sensor is transmitted to the cup and the plate surface. The sensor is incrementally rotated in the cup, and sensor data is acquired at each incremental position.

Abstract: A conveyance apparatus is capable of detecting the presence or absence of multi feeding with high accuracy even when a received waveform varies due to a “noise from the circuit” and an “influence due to vibrations,” which are fixedly generated noise components. The conveyance apparatus includes an original conveying motor configured to convey an original; an ultrasonic transmitter, which is arranged at one of positions sandwiching a conveyance path along which the original is conveyed, and transmits an ultrasonic wave toward the conveyance path; and an ultrasonic receiver, which is arranged at the other one of the positions sandwiching the conveyance path, and receives the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the ultrasonic transmitter. The conveyance apparatus compares a received wave amplitude exhibited with sheet-presence against a threshold value determined based on a received wave amplitude exhibited with sheet-absence to determine whether the original is conveyed with multi feeding.

Abstract: A multi-stage MEMS accelerometer is disclosed that includes a MEMS sensor that has two suspended structures (proof masses) suspended by suspension members. The suspended structures move together in response to input acceleration when less the acceleration is less than a threshold value. When the input acceleration is greater than the threshold value, one of the suspended structures makes contact with a mechanical stop while the other suspended structure continues to move with increased stiffness due to the combined stiffness of the suspension members. The contact with the mechanical stop contributes a nonlinear mechanical stiffening effect that counteracts the nonlinear capacitive effect inherent in capacitive based MEMS accelerometers. In some embodiments, more than two suspended structures can be used to allow for optimization of sensitivity for multiple full-scale ranges, and for higher fidelity tuning of mechanical sensitivity with nonlinear capacitance.

Abstract: A biosensor has an underfill detection system that determines whether a sample of a biological fluid is large enough for an analysis of one or more analytes. The underfill detection system applies an excitation signal to the sample, which generates an output signal in response to the excitation signal. The underfill detection system switches the amplitude of the excitation signal. The transition of the excitation signal to a different amplitude changes the output signal when the sample is not large enough for an accurate and/or precise analysis. The underfill detection system measures and compares the output signal with one or more underfill thresholds to determine whether an underfill condition exists.

Abstract: Provided is a target driving object for carrying out a crash test with a colliding object for a crash prevention system test, and more particularly, a target driving object in which a sloped skirt is provided on the outside of a main body including a drive module and a communication module, thereby blocking a substantial impact and preventing occurrence of a breakdown.

Abstract: A weight estimation system for estimating weight of an aerospace vehicle while grounded, the weight estimation system comprising a measurement subsystem including at least one sensor configured to measure a physical property in an interface that interfaces at least one of a fuselage and a wing with an undercarriage of said aerospace vehicle, in at least one area exhibiting a measurable change in geometry that is at least partly due to said weight, said measurement subsystem configured to produce measured data indicative of said weight of said aerospace vehicle; and a processor for receiving at least part of said measured data, said processor configured to estimate said weight, by relating said measured data with predetermined physical-property-to-weight correspondence data associated with said aerospace vehicle.

Abstract: A structural health monitoring system comprises: a flexible substrate configured for attachment to a structure, the flexible substrate having a plurality of sensors affixed thereon. The flexible substrate comprises a first portion configured for attachment to the structure, a second portion extending in continuous manner from the first portion, and a third portion extending in continuous manner from the second portion and being configured for attachment to the structure. The second portion includes a first section extending in continuous manner from the first portion, a second section connected between the first section and the third portion and having an edge extending in a direction different from an edge of the first section.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a fault diagnosis and life testing machine for a flexible precision thin-wall bearing (16), including a rack, and an axial loading device, a main driving device, a bearing mounting device, a clamping tooling, a data acquisition device, a hydraulic and a pneumatic auxiliary device which are provided on the rack. The main driving device is connected to a rear side of the axial loading device, and the clamping tooling is arranged at a front side of the axial loading device, for clamping the thin-wall bearing (16) onto the bearing mounting device. The data acquisition device is arranged in the axial loading device and at a side of the rack, the hydraulic and pneumatic auxiliary device is arranged at a side of the rack, and the axial loading device and the main driving device are connected by a pipeline.

Abstract: A load cell assembly, including an adapter adapted to receive a vertical load, and having loaded and unloaded dispositions a load cell body including a spring element having a first cutout window defined by a top beam and a bottom beam, the window transversely disposed through the body, the spring element adapted such that responsive to a downward force exerted on a top face of the adapter, the beams assume a primary double-bending configuration a strain-sensing gage, attached to the spring element, the strain-sensing gage for measuring strain in the spring element; and an at least two-dimensional flexural member having a second cutout window, the second cutout window being transversely disposed through the body; the adapter disposed in mechanical relation to the flexural member such that, in the loaded disposition of the adapter, the flexural member assumes a secondary, substantially double-bending configuration.

Abstract: A calibration device is a calibration device configured to calibrate a load meter that measures an axle load of a vehicle. The calibration device includes a detector and a calibrator. The detector detects a displacement amount corresponding to displacement caused on a road by the axle load of the vehicle. The calibrator aggregates the displacement amounts detected by the detector to generate a histogram of the displacement amounts, and updates a displacement coefficient for calculating the axle load of the vehicle based on a shape of the histogram. The calibrator updates the displacement coefficient base only on the shape of the histogram corresponding to a first axle serving as a forefront axle of the vehicle.

Abstract: An improved version of the capillary bridge viscometer that compensates for the effect of solvent compressibility is disclosed. A novel, yet simple and inexpensive modification to a conventional capillary bridge viscometer design can improve its ability to reject pump pulses by more than order of magnitude. This improves the data quality and allows for the use of less expensive pumps. A pulse compensation volume is added such that it transmits pressure to the differential pressure transducer without sample flowing there through. The pressure compensation volume enables the cancellation of the confounding effects of pump pulses in a capillary bridge viscometer.

Abstract: A sensor is configured to measure the carbon dioxide concentration in a gas mixture. The sensor has a dielectric layer arranged between a layer-like first electrode and a layer-like second electrode. The second electrode is a composite electrode that has at least one carbonate and/or one phosphate as first material and at least one metal as second material. This sensor can be manufactured by a method comprising applying a layer-like first electrode to a substrate, applying a dielectric layer to the first electrode, and applying a layer-like second electrode to the dielectric layer. The second electrode is applied as a composite electrode that has at least one carbonate and/or one phosphate as first material and has at least one second material that has an electrical conductivity of more than 10-2 S/m.

Abstract: A liquid chromatography system includes a separation column, a trap column, and a first switching valve. The first switching valve is adapted to assume a first switching position for bringing a sample into the trap column in a first flow direction. The switching valve is also adapted to assume a second switching position for fluidly connecting the trap column with the separation column and providing a flow from the trap column to the separation column in a second flow direction. The second flow direction is opposite to the first flow direction. The first switching valve is adapted to assume a third switching position for fluidly connecting the trap column, with the separation column and providing a flow from the trap column to the separation column in the first flow direction.

Abstract: A multihead weigher that includes a feeder plate for receiving a product supply that has at least one feed outlet at an inner edge of the annular feeder plate. A plurality of staging hoppers is located beneath the outlet of the annular feeder plate. Each staging hopper has a staging inlet and a staging outlet. The staging inlet is located for receiving product from the annular feeder plate. A plurality of weigh hoppers are located beneath the plurality of staging hoppers. Each weigh hopper has an inlet and an outlet. The weigh hopper inlet is located beneath a respective staging outlet; and a collector is located beneath the weigh hoppers for receiving product from the weigh hopper outlets. The collector has a tubular element for receiving a weighed batch of the product from one or more weigh hoppers and the tubular element has a lower dispensing outlet.

Abstract: A method for measuring volatile organic compounds includes loading glass containers into an oven, heating the oven, purging the oven with dry clean air, collecting a volumetric portion of an oven exhaust, trapping volatile organic compounds from the volumetric portion, and measuring the volatile organic compounds trapped in the trap. The one or more glass containers are in-tact while measuring the VOCs of the coated glass container. An apparatus includes an oven having an interior volume that is capable of holding one or more in-tact glass containers, a flow meter fluidly connected to the first trap, and a pump fluidly connected to the flow meter. The first trap collects volatile organic compounds from a volumetric portion of the oven exhaust gas. The pump controls a flow rate of the volumetric portion of the oven exhaust gas across the first trap.

Abstract: An exemplary system for an interactive water supply management system for use in residential and commercial properties and a method of installation and use are provided. In the preferred embodiment is a system comprising a water consumption sensor capable of being externally mounted to a water meter, circuitry for the collection of water consumption data, a communication system allowing two way communication with a user and a water main valve shutoff. Remote vibration sensors on water pipes or acceleration sensors on manually articulated water valves provide feedback to the system to allow automatic identification of water consumed by each faucet or appliance. The communication system includes a means of two way communication through the manipulation of the water flow rate by the water shut off valve or by a user.

Abstract: A prefabricated mat-like structure having lengths of fiber mounted thereon or therein in a predetermined deployment pattern that provides a high spatial density of fiber to give increased spatial sensing resolution is described. The prefabricated mat-like structures may be very easily deployed by being placed against and/or wrapped around an object to be monitored, typically being fastened in place by clamps or the like. In addition, easy removal from the object is also obtained, by simply unfastening the mat-like structure, which may then be redeployed elsewhere. The prefabricated mat-like structure having the fiber already mounted thereon or therein therefore provides a very convenient and easily installable and removable solution.

Abstract: Described are a method and a system for injecting a sample into a flow of a liquid chromatography system. The method includes combining a flow of a sample and a flow of a mobile phase to create a diluted sample in the system flow. The volumetric flow rate of the sample is controlled to be at a value that yields a desired dilution ratio for the diluted sample. The particular value at which the volumetric flow rate is maintained can be determined from the desired value of the dilution ratio and the volumetric flow rate of the mobile phase. System embodiments include a syringe that can be used to provide a sample solution at a controllable volumetric flow rate for combination with a high pressure mobile phase.