Abstract: A vibratory sensor (5) includes a vibratory element (104), a receiver circuit (134) that receives a vibration signal from the vibratory element (104), and a drive circuit (138) that generates a drive signal. The drive circuit (138) includes a closed-loop drive (143) and an open-loop drive (147). The meter electronics (20) vibrates the vibratory element (104) commencing at a commanded first frequency and in an open-loop manner to achieve a first target phase difference ?1 for a fluid being characterized and determines a corresponding first frequency point ?1, vibrates the vibratory element (104) commencing at a commanded second frequency and in the open-loop manner to achieve a second target phase difference ?2 and determines a corresponding second frequency point ?2, and determines a viscosity of the fluid being characterized using the first frequency point ?1 and the second frequency point ?2.

Abstract: Methods and system for multi-dimensional environmental monitoring, systematic dissection of interpretive relationships and extensive computational analysis, which can be displayed in a visual real-time data-rich web-based configuration called AdviroGuard™ interpretive analysis. By means of building data subsets and in harmonization with the laws of physics contained within a particular environmental medium, strict statistical analysis are applied to produce significant and pertinent information for key decision makers.

Abstract: A dynamic yield monitor system includes a plurality of instruments to measure harvested crop characteristics while a crop is in-flow within a harvester elevator. The system includes a volume instrument that measures a harvested crop volume from the in-flow harvested crop within the harvester elevator, and a weight instrument that measures a harvested crop weight from the in-flow harvested crop within the harvester elevator. Optionally, the system includes other instruments including a moisture and temperature instrument. A receiver and processing node communicates with the instrument. The receiver and processing determines variable harvested crop test weight based on at least the measured harvested crop volume and measured harvested crop weight of the in-flow crop. The receiver and processing node further determines a variable yield of the harvested crop based on the measured harvested crop volume, the measured harvested crop weight, and the variable harvested crop test weight.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge protected device for conducting a fluid through at least one lumen includes a tubing having a hollow interior defining the at least one lumen. The tubing includes an electrically conductive section configured for conducting electric charge, generated within the at least one lumen when the fluid flows through the at least one lumen, away from the at least one lumen.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reflectance imaging using visible and/or non-visible light and optical sensors in a probe for use in a fluid transport pipeline are provided. One or more light beams may be emitted towards a bore-defining surface of a pipe wall. One or more first optical sensors may sense first image data based on light scattered by incidence of the light beams on the bore-defining surface. The first image data may be used to determine a first distance value corresponding to a distance of the bore-defining surface from a first reference point. The first image data may be used to determine a plurality of speckle patterns from the first image data, each speckle pattern associated with light scattered from light-scattering particles contained in the fluid at a corresponding time, and to determine a flow direction of the fluid based on the plurality of speckle patterns.

Abstract: Sheet metal processing machines having a chip suctioning device and a control device are provided. The chip suctioning device has a chip space connected to a die orifice of a punching die for collecting chips, wherein the chip space is provided with a chip flap and a extraction line, and the extraction line comprises at least one sieve, a vacuum generator, e.g., an extraction fan, connected to the extraction line for generating a vacuum in the chip suction device, and a vacuum sensor, connected to the extraction line between the downstream last sieve and the vacuum generator, being configured to supply signals to the control device.

Abstract: A device with weighing capability (or “scale feature”) and also anvil capability (or “tapping feature”) allows accurate and precise filling of an espresso portafilter with coffee grounds for use in beverage preparation. Some versions switch between a protected mode for anvil use, and a weighing mode for accurate weighing of the portafilter and its grounds, by pivoting the entire load cell into and out of a protected location wherein tapping/shocks do not flex/strain the load cell free end. In other versions, one or more stop(s)/limit(s) are near the load cell free end or associated elements, and the free end/elements move during said tapping/shocks but only to the stop(s)/limit(s), corresponding to a safe amount of strain for the load cell. Also, this way, weighing the portafilter and its contents may continue between taps without switching to a separate protected mode.

Abstract: An analog sensor with digital compensation function includes a deformation part generating a deformation relating to a pressure sensed by the analog sensor; a strain gauge connected to the deformation part and generating a change in resistance relating to the deformation; a strain gauge bridge connected to the strain gauge and transferring the change in the resistance of the at least one strain gauge to output a first analog signal; and an analog-to-digital conversion module converting the first analog signal to a first digital signal, representative of weight. A signal processing and output circuit compensates the first digital signal and converts it into a second analog signal.

Abstract: A weighing and labeling system has a scale, label printer, and at least one controller. The controller stores information about incoming food packages and drives the printer to produce labels based on the stored information and the weight of the food packages. The labels are transferred to the food packages.

Abstract: Meter electronics (20) and method for obtaining a flow fluid viscosity at a predetermined reference temperature are provided. The meter electronics (20) includes an interface (201) configured to exchange communications, a storage system (204) configured to store a predetermined reference temperature (211), a measured fluid viscosity (214), a measured fluid temperature (215), and a temperature-viscosity relational data (218) that relates temperature to viscosity over a predetermined range of flow fluid temperatures, and a processing system (203) coupled to the interface (201) and to the storage system (204), with the processing system (203) configured to obtain the measured fluid temperature (215), obtain the measured fluid viscosity (214), and generate a reference temperature viscosity (227) using the measured fluid viscosity (214) and the temperature-viscosity relational data (218), with the generated reference temperature viscosity (227) corresponding to the predetermined reference temperature (211).

Abstract: A particulate sensor includes: an inner metallic member which is maintained at a first potential and which has a gas introduction pipe into which a target gas is introduced; a tubular outer metallic member which surrounds the radially outer circumference of the inner metallic member and which is attached to a gas flow pipe to thereby be maintained at a ground potential; and an insulating spacer which is interposed between the inner metallic member and the outer metallic member so as to electrically insulate them from each other and which has a tubular gas contact portion which is exposed to the interior of the gas flow pipe and comes into contact with the gas under measurement. The insulating spacer has a heater for heating the gas contact portion. The heater includes a heat generation resistor embedded in the insulating spacer.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a weighing system includes a base, a platform structure movable with respect to the base, at least one flexure fixedly attached to the platform and the base, the at least one flexure configured to inhibit movement of the platform structure along a horizontal plane relative to the base, and a plurality of load cell assemblies, each of the plurality of load cell assemblies including an upper portion pivotably supported by the base through a first pivot assembly and a lower portion pivotably supporting the platform structure through a second pivot assembly, wherein an axis of rotation of the first pivot assembly is parallel to an axis of rotation of the second pivot assembly.

Abstract: A conveyor belt and a sensing system for sensing various conditions on a conveyor belt. The belt includes an array of sensing elements embedded in the belt to measure belt conditions. The sensing elements form parts of passive resonant circuits that each include a capacitor and an inductive coil. The capacitor or the inductive coil can be a sensing element. Measuring circuits external to the belt are inductively or capacitively coupled to the resonant circuits in the belt as they pass closely by. The sensing elements change the resonant frequency of their resonant circuits as a function of the sensed conditions. Frequency detectors in the measuring circuits measure that frequency change and convert it into a functionally related value used to determine a belt condition. Exemplary conditions include temperature, pressure, humidity, spillage, and product weight.

Abstract: An engine includes an exhaust gas system which flows exhaust gasses through an aftertreatment device. A method is provided for detecting the aftertreatment device during a transient operating condition. The method includes sensing temperature of the exhaust gas at an inlet and at an outlet of exhaust aftertreatment system. The inlet temperature is filtered and an inlet temperature difference between the filtered and unfiltered inlet temperatures is calculated. If the absolute value of the inlet temperature difference is greater than the predetermined threshold, then an outlet temperature difference is calculated. If the absolute value of the outlet temperature difference is greater than the second threshold, then a fault signal is generated, indicating that an aftertreatment device is missing. The aftertreatment device includes an SCR catalyst and an ammonia oxidation catalyst.

Abstract: An elongate device for dispensing a measured quantity of a paste-like resinous nutritional substance for consumption, injection, or topical use has an integral, outwardly directed hook at a first end. In one case, the elongate device is curved along its length from the hook to a second end and has a concave front face and a convex rear face, with a metered end portion on the front face or on both faces extending from the second end and having one or more scale markings for indicating an amount of paste-like substance adhered to the end portion between a scale marking and the second end. The dispensing device may alternatively be used for dissolving a measured quantity of the material in a liquid by engaging the hook over the rim of a container to suspend the device into the container with the metered end portion submerged in liquid in the container.

Abstract: A high-precision pressure sensor with two or more pressure ranges is formed from multiple micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) pressure transducers mounted inside a housing and coupled to sense a pressurized fluid. The non-linear outputs of the MEMS pressure transducers are linearized by a corresponding number of processors, preferably DSPs, each processor being coupled to a corresponding MEMS pressure transducer and receiving the MEMS pressure transducer output signal there from. Each processor generates an applied pressure output signal, which is representative of a pressure applied to the MEMS pressure transducer, which is a linearized and digitized version of output signal from the MEMS pressure transducers. The data that is output from multiple processors, each of which outputs pressure data pertaining to a different range of pressures, is transmitted serially on a serial data bus.

Abstract: A sub-quantity scale and method for transferring a sub-quantity are provided. The scale includes a product feeding device, a product distributing device and a plurality of sub-quantity storage containers for transferring the sub-quantities to a weighing device, from which the sub-quantities pass into a packaging container. The product is fed into the sub-quantity storage containers by using vibration conveyor devices, each of which has a conveying channel and is assigned to one of the sub-quantity storage containers. A nozzle device subjects a conveying surface of the conveying channel to an air flow oriented in the conveying direction. The nozzle device is arranged in a transfer area between the product distributing device and the conveying channel.

Abstract: Crossflow between two adjacent reservoir layers through leaky cement sheaths in offset wells during transient-pressure tests in one of the two reservoir layers is diagnosed and quantified. The obtained measures are determined based on individual well and layer properties. The pressure drawdown in the reservoir layer in which pressure transient testing is being performed is measured as a function of time. The longitudinal conductivity of a leaky cement sheath in an offset well and the pressure drawdown in the tested reservoir layer simultaneously control the crossflow rate to the tested reservoir layer from the adjacent reservoir layer at a given time.

Abstract: A multi-layer wireless sensor construct is provided. The construct includes a first dielectric layer adapted to be attached to a portion of a first surface of an electrically-conductive material. A layer of mu metal is provided on the first dielectric layer. A second dielectric layer is provided on the layer of mu metal. An electrical conductor is provided on the second dielectric layer wherein the second dielectric layer separates the electrical conductor from the layer of mu metal. The electrical conductor has first and second ends and is shaped to form an unconnected open-circuit that, in the presence of a time-varying magnetic field, resonates to generate a harmonic magnetic field response having a frequency, amplitude and bandwidth.

Abstract: An occupant detection method includes detecting a load applied to a seat for a vehicle, detecting that an occupant is seated at the seat, holding a local maximum of the load which is detected when the occupant becomes seated, setting a standard value of the load in a state in which the occupant is seated at the seat, and estimating a body height of the occupant on the basis of a comparison between the local maximum of the load and the standard value of the load, wherein when the body height of the occupant is estimated, the larger a difference between the local maximum of the load and the standard value of the load is, the higher body height of the occupant is estimated.