Abstract: The embodiments described herein provide systems and methods for determining the health status of a sensed switch. In general, the embodiments described herein determine a measure of a health status of the sensed switch by comparing a voltage on the sensed switch, ascertaining a first comparator state under one test condition and ascertaining a second comparator state under a second test condition. The first comparator state and the second comparator state are and then compared to determine the measure of the health status of the sensed switch.

Abstract: In one aspect, a resistivity logging tool for a fluid-producing formation if provided. The resistivity logging tool includes at least one transmitter device connected to at least one excitation electrode, multiple receiver devices respectively connected to monitoring electrodes, and a controller. The transmitter can inject an excitation current into the formation via the excitation electrode. Each receiver device can determine a respective voltage level induced by the excitation current. The controller can determine whether a voltage level measured by at least one receiver device is within a specified range. Based on the measured voltage level, the controller can select a global amplitude adjustment algorithm for modifying excitation currents or a localized amplitude adjustment algorithm for modifying one or more gains of one or more receiver devices. The controller can modify the excitation current or gains by executing the selected algorithm.

Abstract: An AC input voltage detecting device includes a first input, a second input, a determining unit, a first voltage-detecting unit, and a second voltage-detecting unit. The first input and the second input are electrically connected to a neutral line and a live line of an AC power, respectively. The determining unit includes a first power switch, a second power switch, and an output, the first and second power switch are electrically connected in series, and the output is coupled to the second power switch. The first voltage-detecting unit is electrically connected to the first input and the first power switch, the second voltage-detecting unit is electrically connected to the second input and the second power switch. A signal for indicating that the AC power supplies normally is generated from the determining unit while the voltages conducted by the live line and the neutral line are normal.

Abstract: A magnitude and direction of at least one of a reset current and a second stabilization current (that produces a reset field and a second stabilization field, respectively) is determined that, when applied to an array of magnetic sense elements, minimizes the total required stabilization field and reset field during the operation of the magnetic sensor and the measurement of the external field. Therefore, the low field sensor operates optimally (with the highest sensitivity and the lowest power consumption) around the fixed external field operating point. The fixed external field is created by other components in the sensor device housing (such as speaker magnets) which have a high but static field with respect to the low (earth's) magnetic field that describes orientation information.

Abstract: A device and method for limiting damage to a semiconductor device under test when the semiconductor device fails during a high current, or high power test is provided. The occurrence of a failure of the device under test is detected, and power applied to the semiconductor device is diverted through a parallel path element upon detection of failure of the semiconductor device.

Abstract: This application relates to a moisture ingress sensor. In particular, this application relates to a moisture ingress sensor that can detect liquid ingress into an electronic device. The moisture ingress sensor can include a resistor, an N-channel MOSFET, an operation amplifier, comparators, and an AND logic gate. The moisture ingress sensor is configured to provide a lower power means for accurately detecting moisture in an electronic device. Multiple areas of the electronic device can include the moisture ingress sensor in order to optimize the detection of moisture for at a variety of regions of the electronic device. Additionally, the electronic device can record signals from the moisture ingress sensor and shut down components of the electronic device that could be affected by the detected moisture. Furthermore, the moisture ingress sensor can be tuned to detect one or more types of liquids.

Abstract: An arrangement for use in a utility meter includes at least one circuit path, a three phase service switch, and a three phase monitoring unit. The at least one circuit path operably couples a source of electrical energy to a load. The service switch is operably coupled to the at least one circuit path and is configurable in an open state and a closed state. The monitoring unit is operably coupled to the at least one circuit path between the load and the service switch and is configured to detect a presence and an absence of line voltage on the load. The monitoring unit is further configured (i) to generate an open circuit signal responsive to the detection of the absence of line voltage on the load, and (ii) to generate a closed circuit signal responsive to the detection of the presence of line voltage on the load.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for detecting tension on a tendon and/or mechanical deformation (e.g., breakage) of one or more steering tendon of a steerable and flexible articulating device. Theses apparatuses may have one or more tendons that are each electrically conductive and configured to steer the apparatus when tension is applied to the proximal end of the tendon. Tension and/or breakage (or other deformation) of one or more of these tendons may be detected by monitoring the electrical resistance of the tendons.

Abstract: A multi-electrode conductive probe, a manufacturing method of insulating trenches and a measurement method using the multi-electrode conductive probe are disclosed. The conductive probe includes a base, a plurality of support elements, a plurality of tips and a conductive layer. The base has a surface and a plurality of protrusions. The protrusions are configured on the surface in a spacing manner, and an insulating trench is disposed between the two adjacent protrusions. The support elements are disposed at the base and protrude from the base. The tips are disposed on the end of the support elements away from the base. The conductive layer covers the surface of the base, the protrusions, the support elements and the tips. Portions of the conductive layer on the two adjacent support elements are electrically insulated from each other by at least an insulating trench.

Abstract: A centralized voltage control device connected, via a communication network, to local voltage control devices connected to voltage control apparatuses, including: a transmission and reception unit receiving the number of times a tap position is changed per fixed time of the voltage control apparatus from the local voltage control device; a dead-zone-width updating unit increasing a dead zone width when the number of times a tap position is changed in a voltage control apparatus of a transformer type is a threshold or larger; and a voltage-upper-and-lower-limit-value determining unit determining the voltage upper limit value and the voltage lower limit value for each local voltage control device and issuing a command regarding these values to each local voltage control device, and determining the voltage upper limit value and the voltage lower limit value of the voltage control apparatus of a transformer type on the basis of the dead zone width.

Abstract: A voltage sensor system for sensing voltage in a conductor, the voltage sensor system including a first plate, a first electrode disposed a first distance away from the first plate, a second plate, a second electrode disposed a second distance away from the second plate, a control unit structured to control one of the first plate and the second plate to be grounded and the other of the first plate and the second plate to be electrically floating, and a differential amplifier electrically connected to the first electrode and the second electrode and being structured to output an output voltage that is proportional to a difference in voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: A current sensing system constituted of: an impedance element; a switching network arranged to alternately couple a first end of the impedance element between a supply voltage and return, the impedance element arranged to develop a voltage there across reflecting a current flow to a load coupled to the second end of the impedance element; a first stage amplifier, a first and second input thereof respectively coupled to the first and second end of the impedance element, a power supply input thereof coupled to a voltage greater than the supply voltage and a return thereof coupled to the first end of the impedance element, the amplifier having a first and second output, the potential difference reflecting the impedance element voltage times a first stage gain; and a second stage amplifier, a first and second input thereof respectively coupled to a first and second output of the first stage amplifier.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a membrane film and a plurality of needle tips with cylinder shapes. The membrane film includes a plurality of signal traces. The needle tips are disposed on the membrane film and are electrically connected to the signal traces. The needle tips are configured to probe a device-under-test (DUT).

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor, comprising a suspending mass block, a group of Y direction displacement sensors, a group of Z direction displacement sensors and a power supply; wherein the mass block, the Y direction displacement sensors and the Z direction displacement sensors respectively comprise a plurality of metal layers and a dielectric layer between two metal layers. In the mass block, a region corresponding to the Y direction displacement sensors and a region corresponding to the Z direction displacement sensors respectively comprise at least two metal layers connected by a via. The Y direction displacement sensors include two electrodes, each comprising at least two metal layers connected by a via; the Z direction displacement sensor includes two electrodes, each comprising at least two metal layers connected by a via; and the power supply provides a current flowing through the mass block selectively in X or Y direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is drum-type IC burn-in and test equipment including burn-in equipment. The burn-in equipment includes therein a first working platform, a second working platform, a drum-type burn-in device, and a parts pickup device. The first working platform includes a first parts disposition section and a parts feeding device. The second working platform includes a parts transferring device. The drum-type burn-in device is rotatably mounted between the first and second working platforms and includes multiple planar sections circumferentially mounted thereto with each planar section having at least one burner mounted thereon. This arrangement allows a parts feeding device to sequentially dispose unburned ICs and a parts transferring device to sequentially pick up completely-burned ICs. As such, the drum-type burn-in device helps increase the number of ICs disposed and also helps improve the throughput and increase the manufacturing speed.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are disclosed herein. The apparatus is disclosed that includes a probe head and a circuit board. The probe head includes a metal housing and pins. The pins penetrate through the metal housing. The circuit board is configured to test a semiconductor device and includes a ground pad. The ground pad is electrically coupled between the metal housing and the circuit board.

Abstract: Provided is a differential transformer magnetic permeability sensor that accurately suppress a variation of output level of each sensor even if a position shift occurs in forming a detection coil, a reference coil, and a drive coil as planar coils. The differential transformer magnetic permeability sensor includes a first coil layer including a first drive coil constituted of a first wire of a flat winding and a detection coil constituted of a second wire of a flat winding, a second coil layer including a second drive coil constituted of a third wire of a flat winding and a reference coil constituted of a fourth wire of a flat winding. The first drive coil and the second drive coil are connected so that drive current have the same direction, while the detection coil and the reference coil are connected so that induced current have opposite directions.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor with a magnet is disposed proximate to a ferromagnetic target object having at least one ferromagnetic surface. The magnetic field sensor is operable to sense a relative location between the magnetic field sensor and the ferromagnetic target object along a movement line. In some embodiments, the target object is also spinning about a rotation axis parallel to the movement line. A corresponding method is described.

Abstract: A power up detecting system for generating one of a first power up detecting signal and a second power up detecting signal as the final power up detecting signal, according to power provided by a power supplier. The power up detecting system comprises: a power up detecting module, controlled by a control signal to generate the first power up detecting signal in a first mode and to generate the second power up detecting signal in a second mode, wherein a voltage level of the first power up detecting signal is transited when the power reaches a first predetermined voltage value, and the voltage level of the second power up detecting signal is transited when the power reaches a second predetermined voltage value; where the first predetermined voltage value is higher than the second predetermined voltage value.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for fluidic cell guidance for flow cytometry or analyte enrichment. This allows magnetically marked analytes, in particular cells (1), to be dynamically enriched and individually detected in the flow from a sample, in particular magnetoresistively. For cell guidance, guiding ridges (12) are arranged in a flow channel (100), and so, in addition to a magnetic enrichment force (10z) and the shearing force of the flow (10y), a deflecting force (10x) caused by the fluidic obstacles (12) also acts on the cells (1) to be detected.