Abstract: Flexible insulated wires for use in a high temperature environment include a conductor and a coating over the conductor. The coating is formulated from a dielectric material and an organic binder having an organic component, wherein the organic component has been substantially decomposed from the coating during manufacture. The flexible insulated wire may be incorporated into a component.

Abstract: A system, and the method implemented thereby, determines the position of a hand-held laser welding wand relative to a surface and, based on the determined position, selectively inhibits laser emission from a laser source. The system includes a plurality of wave emitters, a plurality of receivers, a phase detector, and a position determination circuit. The wave emitters emit a wave including at least a predetermined frequency, the wave receivers receive the emitted waves and supply representative receiver signals. The phase detector determines the phase differences between a reference signal and each of the receiver signals, and the position determination circuit determines the position of the laser welding wand relative to the surface based on the determined phase differences.

Abstract: An object identification system and method includes a mechanical resonator that is configured to vibrate at one or more resonant vibration frequencies upon being excited with an electromagnetic field. A sensor circuit supplies the electromagnetic field to excite the mechanical resonator and a sensor signal that is modulated based on the one or more resonant vibration frequencies of the mechanical resonator. The modulated sensor signal is demodulated and analyzed to determine the resonant vibration frequencies of the resonator, which uniquely identify the resonator.

Abstract: A position sensing system uses a resonant transmission line having a moveable dielectric as a position sensor. The system includes circuitry that supplies a drive signal to the resonant transmission line, which reflects the drive signal. Based on a standing wave signal, which is generated from the drive signal and the reflected drive signal, the circuitry determines the frequency of the sensor drive signal relative to a resonant frequency of the resonant transmission line, and adjusts the sensor drive signal frequency to match a resonant frequency of the transmission line. The circuitry determines the relative position of the moveable dielectric based on the adjusted sensor drive signal frequency.

Abstract: A proximity sensor system uses a sensor coil as the frequency determining element of an oscillator circuit. The frequency of the oscillator circuit is thus modulated based on the proximity of the sensor coil to a conductive element, thereby supplying a frequency modulated sensor signal. A frequency modulation (FM) detector circuit demodulates the sensor signal, and supplies a signal having an amplitude that varies with, and is representative of, the proximity of the sensor coil to the conductive element.

Abstract: A sensor for use in an optic system to detect current conditions in an environment. The sensor has a crystal member with a first waveguide extending from a top surface and a second waveguide extending from a bottom surface of a core member. Polarized light waves from a source are simultaneously communicated to the first and second waveguides. A first pressure is communicated to the top surface of the crystal member and an unknown pressure corresponding to the pressure of the environment is communicated to the bottom surface of the crystal member. The first pressure and the unknown pressure develop a pressure differential which acts on the crystal member to deform the first and second waveguides. The deformation of the first and second waveguides modifies the polarized light waves to create first and second output waves which are communicated to an optical interface where differences therebetween are extracted.