Abstract: Objects in a cargo shipping container are detected by measuring vibration resonant frequency peaks of the container. The mass of an object on the floor of the container effects the vibration resonance of the container, enabling the object to be detected. A vibration source and a plurality of accelerometers are either attached to the steel structure of the container, or are disposed on a supporting structure, such as a cargo crane or lift, so that they contact the container. The vibration source causes the container to vibrate, and the accelerometers detect the vibration resonance of the container. A mismatch between a cargo manifest and an observed cargo, or detection of an object having relatively high mass, e.g., due to lead shielding, can justify a manual inspection. The process uses synchronous processing to achieve the sensitivity needed, is unobtrusive, and does not slow the flow of cargo through a facility.

Abstract: A method is provided for de-embedding measurements from a given network containing mixtures of devices with known and unknown S-parameters given a description of the network and the known S-parameters of the overall system.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods and apparatus for testing an electrical system (e.g., of an electric vehicle) that includes a high voltage (HV) energy storage system, HV contactors, one or more energy consuming components, one or more energy supplying components, an HV bus, discharge circuitry, and a control system. The control system is adapted to perform a method that includes performing a first diagnostic test to test the functionality of the HV contactors, and performing a second diagnostic test to test the functionality of the discharge circuitry. When the first and second tests have passed, the control system allows the HV contactors to be closed to enable an exchange of energy between the HV energy storage system, the one or more energy consuming components, and the one or more energy supplying components.

Abstract: An architecture for the connection and communication of a plurality of passive sensors to a measurement and control system employs an analog communication bus made of two physical wires only. A method for reading the same sensors is also provided.

Abstract: Core samples may be easily, quickly, and safely split using a fluid cutter, such as a water jet. Cutting may take place upon exit of the sample from the drill tube, or core samples may be placed in core carriers for cutting. Core samples may also be stored and transported in the core carriers. Assessment of core samples is facilitated by scanning the core samples, with the results stored to produce a virtual core sample. Virtual core samples may be displayed on a computing device, including a core sample display device which simulates the appearance of a section of an actual core.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the mass fractions of water and oil in a flowing mixture of oil and water through a pipe includes a sensor portion that measures sound velocity and temperature of the flowing oil water mixture at a first time and at a second time. The apparatus includes a temperature changer in thermal communication with the flowing fluid which changes the temperature of the flowing oil water mixture by a measurable amount between the first time and the second time. A method for measuring water mass fraction in a flowing mixture of oil and water through a pipe includes the steps of measuring sound velocity and temperature of the flowing oil water mixture at a first time with a sensor portion. There is the step of changing the temperature of the flowing oil water mixture by a measurable amount with a temperature changer in thermal communication with the flowing fluid.

Abstract: An electronic device can include an inertial measurement unit (IMU) operative to monitor the movement of the electronic device. The IMU used in the device can be inaccurate due to the manufacturing process used to construct the IMU and to incorporate the IMU in the electronic device. To correct the IMU output, the electronic device in which the IMU is incorporated can be placed in a testing apparatus that moves the device to known orientations. The IMU output at the known orientations can be compared to an expected true IMU output, and correction factors (e.g., sensitivity and offset matrices) can be calculated. The correction factors can be stored in the device, and applied to the IMU output to provide a true output. The testing apparatus can include a fixture placed in a gimbal movable around three axes.

Abstract: Techniques for airflow analysis are provided. In one aspect, a mobile sensing device is provided. The mobile sensing device includes an airflow sensing system having a plurality of airflow sensing units arranged in a grid. Each airflow sensing unit includes a first air passage that contains at least one first airflow sensor; a second air passage perpendicular to the first air passage, wherein the second air passage contains at least one second airflow sensor; and a third air passage perpendicular to the first air passage and the second air passage, wherein the third air passage contains at least one third airflow sensor.

Abstract: A system is described for monitoring the energy efficiency of a technology component. The system may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The memory may store a baseline power consumption value for a plurality of operating states of a technology component. The interface may communicate with a device of a user. The processor may monitor the technology component to determine a current power consumption value and a current operating state of the technology component. The processor may determine the baseline power consumption value corresponding to the current operating state. The processor may determine whether the current power consumption value is within a threshold of the baseline power consumption value. The processor may provide an alert to a device of the user if the current power consumption value of the technology component is not within the threshold of the baseline power consumption value.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a flowmeter including a vibrating element configured to be inserted in a measured fluid; a driver circuit to vibrate the vibrating element in its natural frequency of oscillation; one or more additional technology flow meters configured to measure an additional property of the fluid; a data acquisition circuit configured to measure signals effected by the flow of a multi-phase fluid; and a computer suitable to solve non-linear simultaneous equations. The fluid may include gas, oil and/or water. The fluid may also include solids.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for measuring a flow rate of a gas/liquid flow. The method and system for measuring the flow rate include flowing a swirling gas/liquid flow separated into a gas core and a liquid outer layer through a conduit containing a constriction having a reduced conduit cross-section, measuring the differential gas core static pressure between a position upstream of the constriction and a position at the constriction, measuring a further quantity which provides the flow rate of the gas, the flow rate of the liquid, or a correlation between the flow rate of the gas and the flow rate of the liquid, and determining the flow rates of the gas and the liquid from the differential gas core static pressure and said measured further quantity.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for life management and monitoring of a high temperature gas turbine including components having a thermal barrier coating is disclosed. The method, system and computer program product uses design, monitoring and diagnostics, and inspection data to determine the cumulative damage and remaining useful life of gas turbine components and unit risk and classification probability to determine thermal barrier coating damage probability, remaining useful life, and inspection recommendations.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and circuits for detecting and recording timestamps for multiple events (222/322, 224/324) using a single input pin (252, 352) on a real time clock (RTC) (250, 350). Signals associated with each of the events are modulated to create a multiple level composite signal (240). The RTC includes a multiple signal level detection circuit to distinguish from among the various signal levels so that each event can be separately flagged and timestamped. For example, the opening of two or more covers (112, 114) on the housing (110) of an electronic device (100) can be monitored, distinguished, and separately flagged using a single RTC input port.

Abstract: Provided is a method and device for assessing and monitoring voltage security in a power system. More specifically, a method and device for assessing and monitoring the value of reactive power load when changes in reactive power outputs of at least some of the generators in the electrical power system cause all of the generators in the system to reach the combined operating limit of their reactive power output. In response thereto, the method and device are further adapted to initiate suitable control measures such as switching of transformer banks and/or capacitor/reactor banks, as well as shedding loads whenever necessary to mitigate an impending voltage stability problem.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for determining the static gas pressure in a gas/liquid flow. The apparatus and method may be non-invasive relative to the flow to be analyzed. The apparatus and method may include swirling a multiphase flow so that the flow is separated into a gas core and a liquid outer layer, measuring flow parameters, including the liquid layer tangential velocity, the liquid holdup, and the static pressure of the flow at the wall of conduit, and determining the static gas pressure in the gas core from the measured flow parameters.

Abstract: A blade monitoring system for calculating average threshold crossings from interpolated threshold crossings of digital waveform samples is disclosed. Each digital waveform sample is converted by an analog-to-digital converter from one of two split analog signals. Each split analog signal is received from a signal splitter that receives each analog signal from an analog signal transmitter. Each analog signal is from a sensed blade passing signal from at least one row of a plurality of blades on a compressor of a turbine.

Abstract: A method and system of automatically correlating data measured by monitoring devices that monitor first and second electrical grids. The second electrical grid producing alternating current signals that are electrically isolated from alternating current signals produced by the first electrical grid. An example power monitoring device includes a controller, a first monitoring device interface and a second monitoring device interface. The first monitoring device interface is coupled to a first monitoring device in the first electrical grid and the second monitoring device interface is coupled to a second monitoring device in the second electrical grid. A first counter stores data counts of occurrences from the first electrical grid. A second counter stores data counts of occurrences from the second electrical grid.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a clustering device may determine one or more sensor clusters having a plurality of sensor devices that report similar data of a same data type in a sensor network. Accordingly, the clustering device may select a subset of the sensor devices in each respective sensor cluster as one or more representative devices, such that a sensor sink obtains data from only the representative devices.

Abstract: Responsive to a recalibration trigger event, magnetometer data output by a magnetometer can be compared to historical magnetometer data previously output by the magnetometer. If a match is determined, a confidence of the match can be determined using theoretically constant data related to Earth's magnetic field. The constant data can be calculated from the historical magnetometer data. If the confidence of the match exceeds a confidence threshold level, historical calibration data can be used to calibrate the magnetometer. If the confidence of the match does not exceed the confidence threshold level, a calibration procedure can be performed to generate new calibration data, and the new calibration data can be used to calibrate the magnetometer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a monitoring system and method for accumulator banks including at least two pressure accumulators, the accumulator bank is coupled to a device and being adapted to provide a pressurized fluid into the device at pressure reductions in said device. The monitoring system comprises at least one sensor for detecting a chosen parameter in the accumulator bank at chosen intervals of time, and a recording unit for recording the sampled measured parameters, a storage device for storing predetermined characteristic information related to the pressure development in the accumulator bank during pressure reductions at the device and representing different numbers of active accumulators in the accumulator bank, and calculation means for comparing the recorded measured parameters with the stored characteristic information, and determining from this comparison the number of active accumulators in the accumulator bank.