Abstract: A force sensing switch for use in an electronic device can include one or more dome switches disposed over a top surface of a deflectable beam. One or more strain gauges can be disposed over at least one surface of the deflectable beam. An electronic device that includes at least one force sensing switch can further include a processing device operatively connected to the one or more strain gauges. Alternatively or additionally, an electrode can be disposed under a bottom surface of the deflectable beam and a capacitance measured between the bottom surface and the electrode.

Abstract: A control panel for a vehicle includes a flexible trim element, a rigid supporting member, a piezoelectric sensor arranged between the trim element and the supporting member, and a flexible element arranged between the piezoelectric sensor and the rigid supporting member.

Abstract: A pressure port assembly and related components and methods are disclosed. In some instances, the pressure port assembly may comprise a pressure port body, including pressure port bodies composed of a continuous material. Pressure port bodies within the scope of this disclosure may be coupled to pressure sensing elements, including pressure transducers. Apertures or other flow paths may be provided across a pressure port body. Methods of integrally forming a pressure port body comprising a continuous material are also disclosed.

Abstract: A flow sensor circuit for a fluid flowpath having a self-heated thermistor situated in a fluid flowpath. The flow sensor circuit is configured to energize the thermistor sufficiently to heat the thermistor, calculate the slope of the leading edge of the rise in temperature of the thermistor when the thermistor is energized, and equate the slope to the state of the fluid flowing through the fluid flowpath. In another embodiment, the flow sensor circuit is configured to energize the thermistor, measure and calculate the average and standard deviation of the thermistor temperature, and determine the state of the flowpath using the thermistor temperature average and standard deviation.

Abstract: A measuring apparatus for contactlessly measuring vibration or displacement of a measurement target includes a light source configured to emit a continuous wave of light frequency-modulated to arrange a measurement site of the measurement target within a correlation peak, a divider configured to divide the continuous wave of light into first and second divided-waves of light, a light receiver configured to receive interfering light of the first divided-wave of light reflected by the measurement target and the second divided-wave of light, and a calculator configured to calculate the vibration or displacement of the measurement target using an electric signal output from the light receiver.

Abstract: A method for testing a high-pressure pump, particularly a high-pressure pump which is provided to inject fuel into a combustion engine, the method including filling the high-pressure pump with a fluid prior to switching it on.

Abstract: Disclosed is a monitoring probe for observing groundwater, which is put into an observation well for observing the groundwater to indicate a position of a fresh water-salt water interface of the groundwater. According to the present invention, both ends of a probe body are separated from an inner circumference of an observation well by a catch preventing portion having a convex curved portion or a dumbbell-shaped portion, so that the probe body can be smoothly moved up and down without being caught by a ground-water inlet port of the observation well, thus providing an exact position of a fresh water-salt water interface.

Abstract: Capacitive sensor assemblies for electronic devices, and methods of forming capacitive sensor assemblies. The capacitive sensor assembly may include a top component having an intermediate layer formed on the top component, a bottom component positioned opposite the top component, a silicone layer positioned between the top component and the bottom component, and a first electrical trace positioned adjacent the silicone layer.

Abstract: A sensor assembly includes: a base with an installation space; an electrical connection member disposed on the base; a sensing unit including at least two physical sensors and one integrated circuit board; and a contact member disposed at one end of the base. The sensor assembly is a combination of the temperature sensor and the vibration sensor, the main physical parameters (including back clearance, collision, thermal displacement and lubrication) regarding the operation of the linear motion transmission device can be calculated based on the temperature signal and vibration signals, without requiring the installation of separate different sensors. Therefore, installation space is reduced. The sensor assembly is directly abutted against the linear motion transmission device to detect the change of various physical values in a most direct manner.

Abstract: A sensor device for detecting a property of a fluid medium flowing in a channel includes: (a) a channel piece through which a fluid medium is able to flow, the channel piece having (i) an inlet; (ii) an outlet; (iii) a channel piece wall including an inner wall, an outer side connecting the inlet and the outlet, and an insertion opening; and (iv) areas having electrical conductivity; (b) at least one sensor having a sensor housing and a sensor element situated in the sensor housing, the sensor housing being insertable through the insertion opening in the channel piece wall into the channel piece. The entire channel piece wall of the channel piece is completely made of electrically conductive plastic, the channel piece wall being at fixed electrical potentials.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for conducting an engine off natural vacuum test in a vehicle in order to indicate the presence or absence of undesired evaporative emissions. In one example, a vehicle fuel system and evaporative emissions system are sealed from atmosphere, and responsive to a pressure increase below an expected threshold, the fuel system and evaporative emissions system are actively pressurized via circulating hot engine coolant to a heater core and blowing hot air through the vehicle cabin to the fuel system via a three way ventilation valve in the rear of the vehicle. In this way, false failures of EONV test procedures due to environmental factors and vehicle operator drive habits may be reduced, and unnecessary engine service may be avoided.

Abstract: Methods, compositions, and techniques for enhancing the production of hydrocarbons such as crude oil from subterranean hydrocarbon bearing formations are disclosed. In some embodiments, the invention relates to processes for evaluating enhanced oil recovery mechanisms in carbonate based reservoirs at both the rock-fluid and oil-water interfaces using spectroscopic and interfacial techniques. In further embodiments, the spectroscopic and interfacial techniques include microscopic, rheometric and tensiometric measurements. In preferred embodiments, the disclosed methods and techniques provide reservoir based details at that allow for optimized “smart water” flooding practices and correspondingly higher oil recovery rates.

Abstract: The sampling point valve, with a valve body that is movable in a valve housing between a closed position and an open position of the sampling point valve, wherein the valve body has a sample fluid channel, characterized in that the valve body is made of a material with a high thermal conductivity coefficient, preferably metal, that a signal unit with an essentially pot-shaped housing part made of a material with a high thermal conductivity coefficient, preferably metal, is in contact with the valve body, and that the signal unit includes a signal button that can be advanced out of a housing by a shape memory spring device when this device is warmed.

Abstract: A rotation transmission device includes a one-way clutch which is provided between an output shaft of a speed increaser and an input shaft of a generator, which makes a connection between the output shaft and the input shaft to be rotatable integrally in a state in which a rotation speed of the output shaft is higher than that of the input shaft, and which cuts off the connection between the output shaft and the input shaft in a state in which the rotation speed of the output shaft is lower than that of the input shaft. The rotation transmission device further includes: a measurement section which measures a state of the one-way clutch which changes depending on a load exerted to the one-way clutch; and an acquisition section which acquires the load exerted to the one-way clutch on a basis of a measurement result of the measurement section.

Abstract: [Problem] To provide: an electroconductive resin composition which can be produced at low cost and is suitable as a material for the electrical conductors of a pressure sensor; and a pressure sensor including electrical conductors constituted of the electroconductive resin composition. [Solution] The present invention provides a pressure sensor (1) which includes an insulator (10) having a hollow portion (13) and a plurality of electrical conductors (11) that have been disposed apart from each other along the inner surface facing the hollow portion (13) of the insulator (10), the plurality of electrical conductors (11) comprising an electroconductive resin composition that includes both a styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer and carbon.

Abstract: Conductive cooled gimbaled inertial measurement units are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes an inertial measurement unit, a gimbal assembly in which the inertial measurement unit is disposed, the gimbal assembly having gaps between each gimbal of the gimbal assembly, the gaps including a gas to conduct heat from the gimbal assembly, and an isothermal dome at least partially surrounding the gimbal assembly, the isothermal dome having a cooling tube disposed on an external surface of the isothermal dome to transfer heat from the gimbal assembly via conduction.

Abstract: A capacitive tactile sensor for measuring location and force of touch from an external object includes a drive electrode layer separated from a sense electrode layer by a dielectric substrate, which may be a two-sided FPCB. A first deformable conductive shield layer is further provided and is separated from either the drive electrode layer or the sense electrode layer by a first compressible dielectric layer. A control electronics are operatively connected to all of the drive electrode layer, sense electrode layer, and the first conductive shield layer. The control electronics may be configured to measure a change in capacitance upon the external object imparting local mechanical compression onto the first conductive shield layer and the first compressible dielectric layer. The tactile sensor improves reliability of interconnections between drive and sense electrodes and the control electronics.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a pressure sensor for measuring a fluid pressure, in particular a vacuum pressure. The pressure sensor contains a first and a second diaphragm connected to one another such that they enclose and hermetically seal a fluid space. Fluid can enter and exit the fluid space through a fluid supply element, which is connected to an exterior opening of the sensor. Each of the diaphragms is proximal to a reference electrode and forms a variable capacitor, the capacitance of which depends on the position of the diaphragms, which in turn depends on the pressure in the fluid space.

Abstract: Osmolarity-responsive hydrogel sensors, particularly biosensors, containing quaternary ammonium functionality, which are useful for, inter alia, continuous osmolarity monitoring with no pH interference, are disclosed. Methods of using the osmolarity-responsive hydrogels are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system of a plurality of ultrasonic consumption meters 100 each arranged in a utility network 1 for measuring consumption data of a utility in terms of a supplied fluid, the utility network 1 further comprising a data collector 2 for collecting the consumption data is provided, wherein: Each of the ultrasonic consumption meters 100 are arranged to measure a flow rate of the supplied fluid and a pressure of the supplied fluid, the consumption meters 100 comprising: A flow tube 110 with a through-going opening 112 for passage of a fluid between an inlet and an outlet, the flow tube having a wall with an outer surface 114; two ultrasonic transducers 120, 122 arranged at the outer surface 114 of the flow tube 110, so that ultrasonic signals are transmitted through the wall; a control circuit 30 arranged for operating the two ultrasonic transducers 120, 122 and to generate a signal indicative of the flow rate of the fluid; and a communication module 140 connected to the control circuit 130 and arranged for commu