Abstract: A device is disclosed for sensing a fluid, such as in a ventilation duct. In at least one embodiment, the device includes a sensing element, a housing accommodating the sensing element, and a supply duct and a discharge duct, which ducts at one end commucicate with the housing and which ducts at the other end communicate with an object that is to be sensed. In at least one embodiment, the housing is formed with a first passage portion for the fluid that is to be sensed; that the sensing element is positioned in the first passage portion; and that the supply duct opens into said first passage portion and that the discharge duct is connected to a discharge opening formed in the first passage portion and positioned at a considerable peripheral distance from the mouth of said supply duct in the first passage portion, so that the fluid that is to be sensed is actively made to pass the sensing element.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention are directed to methods and apparatus for dispensing liquids to and aspirating liquids from a container. In particular, one aspect is directed to a liquid level sensing system that includes a probe constructed and arranged to be moved relative to a liquid sample, a signal source coupled to the probe to apply an applied signal to the probe, at least one detector coupled to the probe to detect at least one detected signal, the detected signal being related to the applied signal and having a rising edge and a falling edge, and a controller coupled to the detector and configured to detect presence of a noise signal based on at least one of the rising edge and the falling edge of the detected signal.

Abstract: A parachute opening shock emulator including a seat structure and a catching mechanism. The seat structure includes a seat for holding a manikin, the seat is movable such that the manikin can be pulled from the seat simulating the parachute opening shock phase of an ejection. The catching mechanism is for catching the manikin after it is pulled from the seat.

Abstract: A universal air bubble detector allows for use with a variety of sizes and types of tubing. The detector maintains proper alignment of a sensor emitter and receiver with different sizes of tubing. The detector may be mounted on existing equipment or may be used to monitor a tubing at any position along the tubing, and may operate in a stand alone mode or in combination with existing equipment.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for packaging and operating a gas sensor for use in high temperature gas environments. A gas sensor can be configured, which includes a sensor element and a housing in which the sensor element is located. A parallel gas path can be configured form said housing, wherein said parallel gas path is based on the natural differential pressure with respect to the velocity of said gas. The parallel gas path is preferably vertical to provide a sufficient friction to soot particles compared to the gas, such that when a partial quantity of said gas reaches said sensor element, said soot particles are avoided by said sensor element.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a fiber optic seismic sensing system for permanent downhole installation. In one aspect, the present invention includes a multi-station, multi-component system for conducting seismic reservoir imaging and monitoring in a well. Permanent seismic surveys may be conducted with embodiments of the present invention, including time-lapse (4D) vertical seismic profiling (VSP) and extended micro-seismic monitoring. Embodiments of the present invention provide the ability to map fluid contacts in the reservoir using 4D VSP and to correlate micro-seismic events to gas injection and production activity.

Abstract: A sensor circuit has a first input terminal, a second input terminal and an output terminal, a capacitive sensor connected between the first input terminal and the output terminal, a field-effect transistor coupled to the output terminal at one of a source and a drain terminal and coupled to the second input terminal at the other one of the source and drain terminals, and a driver implemented to set a potential at a control terminal of the field-effect transistor such that in sensor operation the field-effect transistor is operated in a sub-threshold voltage range.

Abstract: Certain disclosed embodiments provide sensing devices of the type useable to obtain measurements from a plurality of positions of a substrate, such as in a well, body of water, soil, snow pack, or ice pack. In a particular implementation, the sensing device includes a housing having a length. A plurality of digital sensors are disposed at a plurality of positions along the length of the housing. A communication bus is in communication with each of the plurality of sensors. A data collection or transmission device is in communication with the communication bus. Further implementations provide sensing devices having a housing formed from a plurality of modular sections. Sensors are disposed in at least one of the modular sections. Also disclosed are networks formed from a plurality of the disclosed devices.

Abstract: An accelerometer and rate sensor package to aid gravity gradiometers is provided. The accelerometer and rate sensor package is mounted directly on or within a gravity gradiometer instrument (GGI). Outputs from the sensors can be used to reduce unwanted noise due to angular rotational rates, angular accelerations and linear accelerations that may be coupled to the GGI. Since the sensor assembly is directly mounted on or within the GGI, the sensor assembly is coupled to the GGI and senses the acceleration and angular rates as seen by the GGI. Thus, outputs from the GGI can be corrected more effectively using the sensor assembly's outputs.

Abstract: An inspection device 1 is provided to inspect a headrest return prevention mechanism 50 that prevents return of a headrest at a position supporting the head of a seated person by moving forward at a rear collision. The headrest return prevention mechanism 50 is provided with a bracket 52 and an engagement piece 51 which can return to a normal position again after being displaced from the normal position to a fixed position. The inspection device 1 comprises a base 11, a clamp mechanism 12 that fixes the bracket 52 to the base 11, a load applying mechanism 13 that applies a load to the engagement piece 51 so as to displace it from the normal position to the fixed position, a displacement sensor 14 that measures the fixed position when the engagement piece 51 is displaced from the normal position to the fixed position, and a computer 15 that determines whether the engagement piece 51 has been displaced to a predetermined fixed position or not based on the fixed position measured by the displacement sensor 14.

Abstract: Methods and systems for an in-situ inspection system includes at least one source of an inspection fluid, a source of an atomizing fluid, a control panel configured to control a flow of at least one of the inspection fluid and the atomizing fluid, and a mixing box configured to mix the inspection fluid with the atomizing fluid.

Abstract: The invention is a method and device for measuring the minimum miscibility pressure of two phases having application for enhanced oil recovery or CO2 geologic storage. In a pressure cell, gas is bubbled into a liquid, or conversely, liquid is dripped into a gas. The presence of bubbles or of drops is detected through the differential pressure variation measured between the inside of the cell and an injected phase injection line. This measurement is performed by means of a very accurate differential pressure sensor, for various pressures imposed within the cell. A relation between the number of bubbles or of drops formed per time unit and pressures within the cell is deduced therefrom. The minimum miscibility pressure of the two phases then corresponds to the pressure for which the inverse of the number of bubbles or of drops is zero, which is deduced by extrapolation of the relation.

Abstract: An apparatus for liquid chromatography which detects ingredients by an electrolytic device, wherein the apparatus can detect many kinds of substances in high sensitivity by making possible to apply a wider range of electrolyzing voltage than former apparatus. The electrolytic device provided in the apparatus for liquid chromatography has a working electrode which is formed an electrically conductive diamond film on at least one side surface of an electrically conductive plate, a spacer plate of electrical insulating material which is 0.05 to 0.5 mm in thickness and has a hole, and a counter electrode which is facing to the diamond-formed surface of the working electrode while being put the spacer between the electrodes. Furthermore, an eluate inlet hole, an eluate outlet hole and a reference electrode are opened to a cavity formed by the hole of the spacer plate, and the eluate in the electrolytic device is pressurized to 1.0 to 15.0 kg/cm2.

Abstract: A method for controlling the dispensation of a liquid volume sample when metering amounts of liquid by sucking into a tube, probe or tip a volume of a liquid to be displaced and ejecting the sample to a different vessel. According to the method the metering act is performed normally and the liquid to be metered is displaced thereafter in a desired vessel. During the metering act and after a desired amount of liquid is sucked into the metering line, a supplementary suction step is performed wherefrom the success of the metering act can be deduced. The pressure function of the supplementary suction step is measured and this function is compared with a calibration function.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining forces on a downhole drilling tool is provided. The downhole tool is provided with a drill collar operatively connectable to the drilling tool, and a sensor mounted about the drill collar. The sensor is adapted to measure deformation of the drill collar whereby forces on the drilling tool are determined. The sensor may be part of a force measurement system, a strain gauge system or a drilling jar system. The drill collar is adapted to magnify and/or isolate the deformation applied to the drill string.

Abstract: In one embodiment, air is automatically sampled within a zone of interest in response to an event caused by a mammal. The release of material from the mammal may be induced by directing an increased velocity airflow at the mammal or by introducing a sneezing agent into the zone of interest and capturing the air sample after the mammal has sneezed. Materials contained within the sampled air may include organic material such as skin, hair, saliva, or mucus, and gases such as CO2 and methane. The materials may be forensically analyzed to confirm the presence or to determine the identity of the mammal. The organic materials may contain DNA, in which case the forensic analysis may include a DNA analysis to determine the identity of the mammal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for in-process integrity test of a filter. The method may comprise the steps of: coupling a gas source to an input side of a filter without removing the filter from a dispenser system, the gas source supplying a gas and controlling a pressure of the gas; coupling a tube to an output side of the filter, the tube being filled with a liquid; increasing the pressure while monitoring the tube, with a light beam, for a displacement of the liquid by one or more gas bubbles; and determining a value of the pressure at which the displacement of the liquid is detected.

Abstract: A fluid detector for determining a presence of a fluid within a container includes a piezoelectric element that outputs a first ultrasonic signal in response to an input electrical signal and a lens with an upper portion and a lower portion. The piezoelectric element is coupled to the upper portion of the lens so that, when the lens is disposed adjacent the outer surface of the wall such that the lens is intermediate the piezoelectric element and the wall, the lens focuses the first ultrasonic signal toward the wall so that the first ultrasonic signal enters the wall.

Abstract: There is disclosed methods and apparatus for compensated measurement of angular displacement within an instrument (600), such as a total station. Improved and compensated measurement of angular displacement is obtained by using a combination of e.g. an angular resolver (145) and an inertial sensor (645). A compensated angular position measurement is produced by combining at least portions of the output signals obtained from the angular resolver and the inertial sensor, respectively.

Abstract: Methods for measuring thickness of an epitaxial layer of a wafer. An example method applies photoresist over the epitaxial layer, and then portions of the photoresist within a sacrificial region of the wafer are removed. Next, the epitaxial layer is isotropically etched through the removed portions of the photoresist until a portion of the silicon handle layer is exposed. The remaining photoresist layer is removed. Then, the silicon handle layer is anisotropically etched to form a well. Profile information of the epitaxial layer and the etched handle layer generated. Next, the thickness of the epitaxial layer is determined based on the profile information. The acceptability of the epitaxial layer may be determined based on the determined thickness of the epitaxial layer. If the epi layer is acceptable, then the geometry of devices that are to be etched into the epitaxial layer are determined based on the determined thickness.