Abstract: A chamber monitoring system may include a parallel architecture in which a single sensor control system is coupled to a number of different processing chamber control board sensor lines. In an illustrative embodiment, a single rotation sensor such as a tachometer may reside in a central control unit remote from the processing chambers such that rotation data may be processed by a single system and thereafter routed according to a variety of different network communication protocols to the main system controller, a factory interface, or both. In this and other embodiments, pull-up networks in the central control unit and the chamber control boards are matched so as to reduce electrical signal anomalies such as crowbar effects. The central control unit may be programmed via a main system controller to operate according to user defined parameters, which in turn may enable the system to differentiate between certain operating states.

Abstract: A testing device determines values of various electrical variables associated with a device within a process system. The testing device provides bi-directional electrical communication with a device to be monitored and automatically provides a connection configuration between a processing unit and a set of input/output ports. The processing unit outputs a test signal and a configuration control signal to the input/output port control circuitry. The input/output port control circuitry provides a connection configuration to direct the test signal to the device to be monitored and directs a return signal from the monitored device to the processing unit. The processing unit measures an electrical characteristic of the return signal and determines at least two electrical variables associated with the monitored device based upon the measured electrical characteristic of the return signal.

Abstract: The invention relates according to a first aspect to an interferometric inversion method for measuring a characteristic variable of a radiation source and/or of a medium through which the radiation passes between the source and an interferometer, the interferometer being capable of generating an interferogram of the radiation by creating a finite number of optical step differences between two rays that have followed the same path between the source and the interferometer, characterized by the implementation of the steps whereby a quantity characterizing an improvement in the inversion is determined, step differences that contribute mainly to optimizing the quantity characterizing an improvement in the inversion are selected without sampling regularity constraints, and a free interferogram is generated using only the selected step differences. According to a second aspect, the invention provides an interferometer for implementing the method according to the first aspect of the invention.

Abstract: Apparatus for identifying rock properties in real-time during drilling, are provided. An example of an embodiment of such an apparatus includes one or more acoustic sensors positioned to detect drill sounds emanating from the drill bit and the rock encountered during drilling operations, connected to select components of a drilling rig to maximally pick up the drill sounds of the drill bit engaging rock during drilling operations. The apparatus also includes an inductive telemetry, wireless telemetry, or wired transmitting system. The apparatus also includes a computer to analyze the acoustic signals received from the acoustic sensors through the respective transmitting system for lithology type and petrophysical properties.

Abstract: This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus for remotely monitoring an elevation, or change in elevation, of a fluid surface, such as that of molten sapphire. The remote monitoring can be performed by measuring positions of a pair of reflected laser beams off the fluid surface as detected on an imaging sensor. As the surface elevation falls, the positions of the pair of reflected laser beams move relative to each other, and this positional change can be converted into a change in the fluid surface elevation.

Abstract: A wireless IC device has a resonant frequency that is hardly altered or affected by external influences and reliably communicates with a reader/writer. The wireless IC device includes a wireless IC chip arranged to process a radio signal, a feeder circuit board coupled to the wireless IC chip and including a feeder circuit, and a radiation electrode arranged at least one principal surface of the feeder circuit board. The feeder circuit board includes a magnetic material and has the feeder circuit disposed therein. The radiation electrode is disposed on at least one principal surface of the feeder circuit board so as to be electromagnetically coupled to the feeder circuit and includes at least two open ends. The wireless IC chip is coupled to the radiation electrode through the feeder circuit and communicates with a reader/writer using HF band frequency.

Abstract: An electromechanical device for measuring the inclination of a support plane with high resolution, high accuracy and low sensitivity to outside disturbances, comprising a first electromechanical pendulum system, controlled in a closed loop to measure the static rotations of an inverted pendulum pivoted to a supporting structure which can be associated with the support plane whose inclination is to be measured. The measurement is performed by measuring the mechanical torque required to keep the inverted pendulum in a neutral position, i.e., in a position which is substantially perpendicular to the support plane. This is made possible by a first motor which is associated with the inverted pendulum and turns it as a function of its angular deviation from the neutral position measured by a first position sensor associated with the inverted pendulum.

Abstract: A method and system includes generating a first coded acoustic signal including pulses each having a modulated signal at a central frequency; and a second coded acoustic signal each pulse of which includes a modulated signal a central frequency of which is a fraction d of the central frequency of the modulated signal for the corresponding pulse in the first plurality of pulses. A receiver detects a third signal generated by a non-linear mixing process in the mixing zone and the signal is processed to extract the third signal to obtain an emulated micro-seismic event signal occurring at the mixing zone; and to characterize properties of the medium or creating a 3D image of the properties of the medium, or both, based on the emulated micro-seismic event signal.

Abstract: A system comprises a vibration sensor for generating a vibration signal on a turbomachine, a signal conditioner for conditioning the vibration signal, and a test signal generator for calibrating the signal conditioner. The test signal generator calibrates the signal conditioner with a test signal having a base frequency and a modulation frequency. The signal conditioner introduces a phase error into the vibration signal, and the signal conditioner introduces a phase shift into the test signal. A processor compensates for the phase error in the vibration signal by correcting the vibration signal based on the phase shift in the test signal, where the processor determines the phase shift in the test signal based on harmonic analysis of the modulation frequency.

Abstract: There is provided an electric power generation amount estimation device, including a solar power generation device identification portion that identifies a solar power generation device that generates electric power by receiving irradiation of sunlight, a sunlight amount calculation portion that estimates and calculates an amount of sunlight, and an electric power generation amount calculation portion that calculates an amount of electric power to be generated by the solar power generation device, based on information about the solar power generation device identified by the solar power generation device identification portion and about the amount of sunlight calculated by the sunlight amount calculation portion.

Abstract: Systems and devices for, and methods of, delayed meter reporting to a remote site via a local data-gathering device. The local data-gathering device is configured to: (a) sample, at a first sample rate, energy consumption related data of the local site; (b) store, at the data store, energy consumption related data of the local site; (c) filter the stored data based on the defined rule; and (d) transmit, at a second sample rate, the filtered data, wherein the first sampling rate is equal to or higher than the second sampling rate.

Abstract: Certain embodiments herein are directed to a differential scanning calorimeter comprising a sample holder thermally coupled to a first furnace, a reference holder thermally coupled to a second furnace, and a processor electrically coupled to the first furnace and the second furnace, the processor configured to receive data during a scan of a sample to provide a heat flow trace and further configured to subtract a calculated baseline from the heat flow trace, the calculated baseline comprising the sum of an isothermal baseline function, a scanning baseline function and a transient baseline function. Calibration methods are also described.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a flood risk score may be determined for a property point that provides a comprehensive assessment of the property point's risk of flooding. Determining the flood risk score may include determining a flood risk characteristic for the property point and assigning a flood risk score that corresponds to the flood risk characteristic. In some embodiments, flood risk characteristics may include a difference in elevation between the elevation of the property point and an elevation of a calculated point (e.g., on a known flood risk zone boundary). Flood risk characteristics may also include a flood zone determination for the property point and/or proximity of the property point to a known flood risk zone boundary or a flood source. In some embodiments, flood risk scores may be provided on flood risk score reports.

Abstract: A method includes determining a location of a first monitoring device used while performing an activity. The first monitoring device is worn by a first user. The method includes determining a location of a second monitoring device used while performing an activity. The second monitoring device is worn by a second user. The method further includes determining whether the locations of the first and second monitoring devices are within a range and whether the activities are similar. The method includes sending a prompt to the first monitoring device upon determining that the activities are similar and the locations are within the range. The prompt includes a request for permission from a first user account to allow a second user account to access information from the first user account regarding the activity performed using the first monitoring device.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes an first storage unit to store a value output by a communication unit, a second storage unit to store positional data indicating a place the modules, an third storage unit to store an output model indicating the relationship between a sunshine condition and an electrical output, a estimation unit to estimate a sunshine condition for each module based on the value and the output model, a forth storage unit to store the sunshine condition estimated, a correction unit to correct the sunshine condition, and a detection unit to calculate an expected electrical output for each module based on the corrected sunshine condition and the output model, and to detect a fault in the modules.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to measure and analyze electromagnetic emissions from implanted electronics to accomplish at least one of: detect and identify an active implant comprising electronics implanted in a biological host, diagnose the health of individual electronics as well as their health as an ensemble, and predict probable degradation of individual electronics, degradation of the electronic ensemble, and of the active implant in an automated fashion. The methods comprise filtering techniques to extract the information about the active implant's electronics by filtering out relevant biological effects induced by the active implant's biological situation. Said detection, identification, diagnosis, and prognosis are based on the measurement of intentional and unintentional electromagnetic emissions that emanate from the implant electronics of the active implant in a given biological situation.

Abstract: A pedometer for determining the length of a route traveled on foot includes an acceleration sensor for ascertaining a number of steps as well as a pressure sensor for ascertaining a change in geographic elevation, and an evaluation unit being configured to adapt the step length to the measured average elevation change per step.

Abstract: A apparatus for monitoring a downhole component is disclosed. The apparatus includes: an optical fiber sensor including a plurality of sensing locations distributed along a length of the optical fiber sensor; an interrogation assembly configured to transmit an electromagnetic interrogation signal into the optical fiber sensor and receive reflected signals from each of the plurality of sensing locations; and a processing unit configured to receive the reflected signals, select a measurement location along the optical fiber sensor, select a first reflected signal associated with a first sensing location in the optical fiber sensor, the first sensing location corresponding with the measurement location, select a second reflected signal associated with a second sensing location in the optical fiber sensor, estimate a phase difference between the first signal and the second signal, and estimate a parameter of the downhole component at the measurement location based on the phase difference.

Abstract: A method for improving the chromatographic detection limit for an analyte including a) producing a chromatogram with a peak of the analyte, b) calculating a regression straight line for a baseline from measured values of a section without a peak in the chromatogram, c) calculating a regression function from measured values of the peak of the analyte, d) subtracting the regression function from the chromatogram, e) calculating a regression polynomial for the baseline from the values of the chromatogram which have been changed in step d), f) calculating a further regression function from the measured values of the peak in the produced chromatogram, g) calculating a peak area between the regression polynomial and the further regression function, h) repetition of step d) with the further regression function instead of the regression function and of steps e), f) and g), until the calculated peak area changes by less than a predetermined amount.

Abstract: Thermal Acoustic Imaging (TAI) methods and systems are provided for detecting defects in an object. The TAI system may include a plurality of acoustic wave transceivers (AWTs), which are positioned around the object at different locations, and a broadband frequency signal generator, which is coupled to each of the AWTs. The system may further include an acoustic processor configured to utilize the AWTs to gather acoustic data pertaining to the object, process the acoustic data to generate spectral response data, and then process the spectral response data to determine an optimized setup. The optimized setup may include optimized excitation frequencies and optimized inspection positions for positioning a plurality of infrared imaging devices at different locations around the object. A plurality of infrared imaging devices may then be selectively positioned with respect to the object at the optimized inspection positions and utilized to further inspect the object for defects.