Abstract: Methods and apparatus for detecting moisture that includes at least three conductors. One of the conductors has a different resistance than the other conductors. A liquid extends between the conductors. The difference between the impedance through a pair of conductors and the liquid and the impedance of through another pair of conductors and the liquid may be used to determine the position of the liquid along a length of the conductors. Similar methods may be used to determine an area of a liquid with respect to the conductors.

Abstract: A capacitive proximity switch has a fiber composite body, which has an electrically non-conductive matrix and a multiplicity of fibers embedded in the matrix. The capacitive proximity switch includes at least one first capacitive proximity sensor, at least one second capacitive proximity sensor and one or more sensor evaluation devices. The first capacitive proximity sensor has at least one sensor electrode, which has at least one electrically conductive fiber, which is embedded in the matrix. The second capacitive proximity sensor has at least one further sensor electrode, which has at least one electrically conductive fiber, which is embedded in the matrix. The sensor electrode of the first capacitive proximity sensor and the further sensor electrode of the second capacitive proximity sensor are each connected to a sensor evaluation apparatus.

Abstract: A capacitive sensor including a sensor electrode connected to a signal generation circuit and a signal evaluation circuit. The signal generation circuit contains a signal generator that is a noise generator or a pseudo-noise generator, the signal evaluation circuit includes a synchronous rectifier. The synchronous rectifier is connected for synchronization to the signal generator.

Abstract: A method for key predictors and machine learning for configuring battery cell performance may include providing a cell that includes a cathode, a separator, and a silicon-dominant anode; measuring a plurality of parameters of the cell; and using a machine learning model to determine cycle life based on the plurality of measured parameters, where one of the measured parameters includes second cycle coulombic efficiency. The plurality of parameters may include initial coulombic efficiency, cell impedance values, open-circuit voltage, cell thickness, and impedance after degassing. A first subset of the plurality of parameters may be measured before a formation process. A second subset of the plurality of parameters may be measured during a formation process, where the plurality of parameters may include a voltage reached during a first 10% of a first formation cycle. A third subset of the plurality of parameters may be measured during cycling of the cell.

Abstract: A method for battery capacity estimation is provided. The method includes, within a computerized processor, monitoring a sensor operable to gather data regarding a battery, determining a voltage-based state of charge for the battery based upon the data from the sensor, determining a capacity degradation value for the battery based upon the data from the sensor, determining an integrated current value through Coulomb counting based upon the data from the sensor, determining a predicted battery state of charge for the battery based upon the capacity degradation value and the integrated current value, processing the voltage-based state of charge and the predicted battery state of charge using a Kalman filter to generate an updated overall battery capacity estimate, and using the updated overall battery capacity estimate to control management of the battery.

Abstract: A sensor includes a substrate, a reference electrode provided above the substrate, a lower electrode provided above the reference electrode via an insulating film, and an upper electrode provided above the lower electrode via a physical quantity detecting film. The upper electrode and the lower electrode form a parallel-plate-type detection capacitor, and the lower electrode and the reference electrode form a parallel-plate-type reference capacitor.

Abstract: A method for detecting failure of a battery cell due to an unknown discharge current, including connecting a detector in series between the battery cell and a power supply for supplying a charging power, determining whether the charging of the battery cell progresses by the charging power in excess of a predetermined battery cell specific charging reference time, measuring a current value of the battery cell in real time if the charging of the battery cell progresses in excess of the battery cell specific charging reference time, determining whether the current value of the battery cell measured in real time exceeds a predetermined battery cell specific failure determination reference current range value, and determining a state of the battery cell as a failure state if the current value of the battery cell exceeds the predetermined battery cell specific failure determination reference current range value.

Abstract: A method for key predictors and machine learning for configuring battery cell performance may include providing a cell that may include a cathode, a separator, and a silicon-dominant anode; measuring a plurality of parameters of the cell; and using a machine learning model to determine cell performance based on the plurality of measured parameters. The plurality of parameters may include initial coulombic efficiency and/or second cycle coulombic efficiency. Cells may be classified based on the determined cell performance and similarly performing cells may be binned together. A battery pack may be provided with a plurality of cells. The plurality of cells may be assessed during cycling using the machine learning model. One or more of the plurality of cells may be replaced when the assessing determines a different performance of the one or more of the plurality of cells. The battery pack may be in an electric vehicle.

Abstract: A monitoring apparatus for monitoring of an electrical energy source features one measuring circuit for each pole of the energy source, which is designed to connect the particular pole via a voltage divider to the reference potential. An evaluating device is provided to detect a particular voltage value at the particular voltage divider and based on the detected voltage values, determines a source voltage datum for the source voltage of the energy source. For at least one of the measuring circuits the total electrical resistance is dependent on a switch state of a particular switching element, and the evaluation device is designed, by switching of the particular switching element, to adjust at least two different switching constellations of the measuring circuits, and based on the voltage values detected for the switching constellations, determines overall resistance data for isolation resistances of the energy source.

Abstract: A method may determine a remaining capacity of a cell that includes a lithium-alloying material in an electrode using a controller. The method includes receiving a temperature signal representing a temperature of a partially discharged cell and receiving a voltage signal representing a voltage of the partially discharged cell. The method further includes determining a time-dependent fade component and a cycle-dependent fade component of the cell. The time-dependent fade component of the cell is determined based on the temperature, the voltage, and an operating time of the cell. The cycle-dependent fade component of the cell is determined based on a depth of discharge of the partially discharged cell and cycle count data representing cycle-dependent fade from previous cycles of the cell. The method further includes determining a remaining capacity of the cell based on the time-dependent fade component, the cycle-dependent fade component, and a reference capacity of the cell.

Abstract: A method of determining an aging level of a battery includes utilizing a first charging device to charge a first battery; utilizing a second obtaining device to obtain a plurality of first steady open-circuit voltages (OCVs) of the first battery when a charging state of the first battery respectively reaches a plurality of first stop-charge conditions; utilizing a second charging device to charge a second battery; utilizing a third obtaining device to obtain a stop-charge parameter of the second battery and a second steady OCV of the second battery corresponding to the stop-charge parameter of the second battery; and utilizing an aging level determining device to determine an aging level of the second battery relative to the first battery according to the second steady OCV of the second battery and one of the first steady OCVs of the first battery corresponding to the stop-charge parameter of the second battery.

Abstract: Dynamically monitoring of an electrically-isolated power bus for a DC power system is described, and includes dynamically monitoring voltage and current on the power bus to determine a variation in the voltage on the power bus. When the variation in the voltage on the power bus is less than a threshold, an active positive isolation resistance term and an active negative isolation resistance term are determined. A first voltage balance term is determined based upon a ratio of the active positive isolation resistance term and the active negative isolation resistance term. A dynamic positive isolation resistance term and a dynamic negative isolation resistance term are determined based upon the active negative isolation resistance term. A fault associated with the power bus is determined based upon the dynamic positive isolation resistance term and the dynamic negative isolation resistance term.

Abstract: A secondary battery inspection apparatus includes a support unit configured to support a secondary battery set including at least one secondary battery, an X-ray source configured to radiate an X-ray beam to the secondary battery set, and an X-ray detector configured to detect the X-ray beam generated from the X-ray source and passing through the secondary battery set, wherein the secondary battery set is divided into an interest area and a non-interest area, the support unit rotates the secondary battery set in place, and at least one selected from a division angle between a plurality of X-ray radiation points and an X-ray radiation time is differentiated depending on whether the X-ray source photographs the interest area or whether the X-ray source photographs the non-interest area.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for detecting holidays, e.g., defects, in surface coatings applied to metallic assets like a pipe. The system comprises a detection circuit with a test probe having a conductive tip which is moved along the coating during inspection and a DC voltage input signal generator which supplies a switched DC voltage input to the test probe. The detection circuit can be configured to operate using a low and/or high voltage switched DC input voltage signal. A measurement component comprising a sensing resistor and measurement tool is configured to measure a signal response of the detection circuit during inspection and detect holidays based on changes in the signal response caused by electrical properties of the coated surface. The detection circuit is configured such that the probe provides the only area of contact between the circuit and asset and enables detection of holidays without a separate ground connection.

Abstract: An apparatus is configured to determine the leakage resistance in respect of the positive and/or negative terminals of a vehicle battery. The apparatus includes a first pair of serially arranged resistors connected between the terminals with a first switch connected between the resistors and a second pair of serially arranged resistors connected between the vehicle chassis/nominal ground and the negative terminal or the positive terminal, with a second switch connected between the resistors. A further fifth resistor is connected between the vehicle chassis/nominal ground, and the negative terminal or the positive terminal via a third switch, and a controller is configured to selectively control the switches during processing steps.

Abstract: A method for introducing electric conductors into an overmolding of a steering wheel frame is provided. The electric conductors are used for heating and shielding purposes and for sensing contact on a steering wheel. In a first step, at least one cut is introduced into the overmolding using a cutting tool. In a second step, both a first layer of an electric conductor and a second layer of an electric conductor are simultaneously introduced into the cut that has been created. The first layer forms both a heating layer for heating the steering wheel and a guard layer which, together with the second layer acting as a sensor layer, allows the capacitive sensing of hand contact.

Abstract: An optocoupler is placed in series between the field ground pin of digital input circuitry and the field ground of an industrial controller. A capacitor to field ground is provided for each digital input. A resistor is provided to the input pin of the digital input circuitry. To detect a broken wire a test pulse is provided to the optocoupler connected in the ground path. This test pulse isolates the digital input circuitry from field ground. As current is always being provided from the field when the wire is not broken, the capacitor connected between the input and ground charges. After the test pulse has completed, the output signal of the digital input circuitry is examined. If the level indicates the input is high, the wire is not broken. If, however, the output remains low indicating that the input is low, the wire has broken.

Abstract: A method includes measuring first travelling wave power of a microwave having a single frequency peak and second travelling wave power having a single frequency peak, acquiring duty ratios of the first travelling wave power and the second travelling wave power based on measured values and a first determination threshold value, measuring third travelling wave power of a microwave having a bandwidth and fourth travelling wave power having a bandwidth, acquiring duty ratios of the third travelling wave power and the fourth travelling wave power based on measured values and a second determination threshold value, approximating a pulse width error between the first travelling wave power and the third travelling wave power and a pulse width error between the second travelling wave power and the fourth travelling wave power with linear functions, and determining the correction function based on the linear functions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a ground-wall insulation aging monitoring and locating method for a converter transformer. A neutral lead of three-phase windings on a valve side of a converter transformer is adjusted, an insulation leakage current of a certain phase winding on the valve side before aging is measured, a common-mode component and a differential-mode component in the insulation leakage current before aging are extracted, and a common-mode equivalent capacitance and a differential-mode equivalent capacitance before aging are calculated; a common-mode equivalent capacitance and a differential-mode equivalent capacitance after aging are calculated in the same way.

Abstract: Non-biological objects, biological specimens and living tissues are examined using electric fields to identify regions of differing permittivity and conductivity. Substantially parallel electrodes are deployed in capacitive alignment with an object and energization pulses are generated for application to any of the electrodes as a transmitter. Output signals from any remaining electrode are monitored, in which a peak value of an output signal is indicative of permittivity and a decay rate of an output signal is indicative of conductivity. A first set of n electrodes (one to fifteen) is selected, each of which is capacitively coupled with a second set of m electrodes (two to eight) that are the nearest neighbouring electrodes to an electrode selected from the first set.