Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor module (10) for measuring an electrical variable, comprising at least one electrode (12, 13), which is arranged in a housing (58) made of an electrically insulating material and which can be connected to an electrical measuring device by means of a connecting cable, wherein the electrode has a sensor element, which is arranged between an inner and an outer contact plate (26,27) made of a carbon material and which is coupled to the connecting cable, wherein an outer contact plate (27) of the electrode is arranged in an outer face of the housing.

Abstract: A circuit integrity detection system for use in detecting the integrity of sensing wire in a heating pad wherein the integrity of the sensing wire is checking the inputs from a first and second A/D converter connected to opposite ends of the sensing wire.

Abstract: A power monitoring system includes a plurality of current sensors suitable to sense respective changing electrical current within a respective conductor to a respective load and a conductor sensing a respective voltage potential provided to the respective load. A power monitors determines a type of circuit based upon a signal from at least one of the current sensors and a signal from the conductor, wherein the type of circuit includes at least one of a single phase circuit, a two phase circuit, and a three phase circuit. The power meter configures a set of registers corresponding to the determined type of circuit in a manner such that the configuring is different based upon each of the single phase circuit, two phase circuit, and three phase circuit suitable to provide data corresponding to the determined type of circuit.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting a liquid. Detection a liquid may include detecting liquid at a boundary of an area and reporting the presence of the liquid. Reporting liquid at a boundary may prevent leaking of the liquid form the area. Detecting also includes detecting liquid inside the area. The amount of liquid detected inside the boundary may relate to a range of amounts of liquid. The minimum amount of the range may represent the minimum amount of liquid that is permissible in the area prior to taking action to deal with the liquid.

Abstract: An integrated circuit having normal and special operating modes includes a mode entry interlock (201) which is enabled by an initialization command and an externally supplied voltage at a first I/O terminal (204) to detect a conflict at the I/O terminal for reducing the likelihood of inadvertent entry into the special operating mode. The mode entry interlock also includes a second I/O terminal (212) for receiving a disassociated software command to enter into the special operating mode, and mode control logic (210, 216) for evaluating the received software command against any detected conflict at the I/O terminal to generate a special operating mode enable signal in response to receiving the first and second input signals only when the detected logic state conflicts with the first logic state.

Abstract: A method for characterizing the sensitivity of an electronic component with respect to a natural radiating environment. The safe operating area (SOA) voltage range beyond which destructive events occur is determined for the electronic component for given characteristics of a particle or incident beam. The electronic component is turned on and energized with the particle or incident beam having the given characteristics under the operating conditions that are close to the highest voltage value of the determined SOA voltage range. An efficient section of amplified transient events, which corresponds to an estimation of the destructive occurrences for the electronic component is determined. The characteristics of the particle or beam is modified and the method is repeated with the modified characteristics.

Abstract: A device for detecting a banknote thickness includes a transmission electrode and a reception electrode facing one another at a predetermined interval and forming an electric field when a driving voltage is applied thereto; a driving voltage applying unit configured to apply a driving voltage having a pre-determined frequency and form an electric field between the transmission electrode and the reception electrode; a current detecting unit configured to detect a current when a banknote is between the transmission electrode and the reception electrode; an antistatic device configured to remove static electricity from the banknote; and a controller configured to detect at least one of a changed current (e.g., when the banknote is present) and a corresponding voltage waveform, and to detect one or more of a state, a thickness and a type of the banknote based on the detected current change or voltage waveform.

Abstract: The embodiment of the present invention discloses a method for detecting the bright point in the liquid crystal display panel. The method comprises applying a cutoff voltage to a gate, remaining a thin film transistor TFT switch turning-off, applying a voltage higher than the voltage of a common electrode to a data line, and detecting a bright point under a black image based on the voltages applied to the gate and the data line. The present invention realizes the bright point detecting under a black image.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a diagnostic device (8) for identifying a defect in an LED light string includes a probe (18) and a polarity selector switch (16). The LED light string includes a conductor provided within an insulation layer. The probe (18) is configured to penetrate the insulation layer and contact the conductor of an LED light string. The polarity selector switch (16) is electrically coupled to the probe (18) and configured to control the polarity of an electrical waveform provided to the probe (18).

Abstract: Functional diagnostic testing of an electronic circuit board assembly with one or more embedded channels to be tested includes steps of: (a) connecting a channel under test; (b) imposing a known digital or analog voltage, as appropriate for a channel under test, that is generated by a digital or analog output of the electronic circuit board assembly; and (c) comparing data read by the channel under test with the stored value of the imposed voltage and required tolerance to determine whether the channel under test is within specifications. Diagnostic test implemented by digital logic and software residing onboard the electronic circuit board assembly. Execution of software or firmware code segment controls the diagnostic test sequence. Signal switching is facilitated by digital and analog multiplexers.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) sensor including a first capacitive element and a second capacitive element and an integrated circuit (IC). The IC includes a switch network circuit and a capacitance measurement circuit. The switch network circuit is configured to electrically decouple the first capacitive element of the MEMS sensor from a first input of the IC and electrically couple the second capacitive element to a second input of the IC. The capacitance measurement circuit can be configured to measure capacitance of the second capacitive element of the MEMS sensor during application of a first electrical signal to the decoupled first capacitive element.

Abstract: A current detector senses current flowing through a conductor, such as a conductive trace of a circuit board, without being placed in series with the conductor. A first magnetically conductive partial ring is located above the conductor, and a second magnetically conductive partial ring is located below the conductor. Ends of one of the partial rings may be inserted through holes of the circuit board to either side of the conductive trace. The partial rings, upon being contactively aligned with one another, form a magnetically conductive complete ring around the conductor. A Hall effect sensor disposed within one of the partial rings outputs a signal corresponding to the current flowing through the conductor.

Abstract: An alternating current detector with automatic judging of the amount of element under testing and monitoring, comprising a detecting input unit, a first output level unit, a second delay unit, a second output level unit and a cascade next element unit. The detecting input unit comprises a first delay unit and a first inverter. The first delay unit receives and delays an input signal. The input terminal of the first inverter is connected to the first delay unit and inverts the input signal. The first output level unit comprises a first NAND gate, a first diode and first resistor. The input terminal of the first NAND gate is connected to the alternating current signal of an element, another input terminal of the first NAND gate is connected to the output terminal of the first inverter.

Abstract: A technique utilizes the acquisition of data from desired subterranean regions via a logging system. The logging system is constructed for use in a wellbore and comprises a transmitter module having a transmitter antenna. Additionally, the logging system utilizes a receiver module spaced from the transmitter module and having a receiver antenna. The transmitter antenna and the receiver antenna are oriented to enable sensitivity in desired directions, such as ahead of the logging system.

Abstract: A method of using a sensor element includes: exposing a sensor element to an unknown analyte vapor; measuring a capacitance of the sensor element to obtain a measured capacitance; obtaining a true capacitance of the sensor element; exposing the semi-reflective conductive electrode to incident light and observing reflected light in order to measure a spectral change between the incident light and the reflected light; comparing the true capacitance and the measured spectral change, or at least one derivative thereof, to a reference library, the reference library comprising reference correlations between spectral change and true capacitance, or at least one derivative thereof, for a plurality of reference analyte vapors; and determining at least one of the chemical class or identity of the analyte vapor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for extracting the contents (39) of voids (13) and/or pores present in a semiconductor device to obtain information indicative of the nature of the voids and/or pores, e.g. to assist with metrology measurements. The method includes heating the semiconductor wafer to expel the contents of the voids and/or pores, collecting the expelled material (41) in a collector, and measuring a consequential change in mass of the semiconductor wafer (29) and/or the collector (37), to extract information indicative of the nature of the voids. This information may include information relating to the distribution of the voids and/or pores, and/or the sizes of the voids and/or pores, and/or the chemical contents of the voids and/or pores. The collector may include a condenser having a temperature-controlled surface (e.g. in thermal communication with a refrigeration unit) for condensing the expelled material.

Abstract: A capacitance based tactile array sensor is disclosed that provides for close resolution of sensing pixels by using insulated conductors as electrodes, and allows for eliminating the need for a joint or connection interface near periphery of the sensor array. Optional aspects of the invention include provision for allowing use of stretchable conductors, reduction of the burden of number of connections at one layer of conductors in the sensor, providing for differential sensing resolutions at different areas of sensing, and modularity in configuration allowing replacement of a defective sensor pixel in the array. The tactile array sensor may be integrated with surface of a robotic hand's finger, palm, or any other surface of a device that requires multi-point sensing of external contacts. The capacitance information is processed for useful display or control of systems based on the contact feedback.

Abstract: Systems and methods for making repeatable measurements of the dielectric constant and conductivity of a material, such as a liquid. In one example, a material property measurement system includes a measurement cell, a voltage measurement circuit, a capacitor, and a switch. The measurement cell is made of at least two conducting electrodes with liquid between the conducting electrodes. The switch is in a current path between the capacitor and the measurement cell. The capacitor is charged and then the switch is closed for a first time period and a first voltage measurement on the capacitor is performed. The capacitor is charged again and the switch is closed for a second time period and a second voltage measurement on the capacitor is performed. The two voltage measurements are used in a calculation to calculate a value related to capacitance between the at least two conducting electrodes of the measurement cell.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention describe an apparatus including an oscillator, a ramp generator, and an inverter. The oscillator is configured to generate a waveform comprising a low time and a high time. The inverter is configured to receive the waveform generated by the oscillator, and invert the waveform. The ramp generator is configured to increase a gate control voltage of a transistor connected to a solar cell, and rapidly decrease the gate control voltage of the transistor. During the low time, a measurement of a current and a voltage of the solar cell is performed. During the high time, a measurement of a current of a shorted cell and a voltage reference is performed.

Abstract: A current switch that can be reset when it is not powered automatically calibrates itself when the circuit monitored by the current switch is energized.