Abstract: A probe having a pair of closely spaced electrodes is immersed in the lubricant and one electrode is excited with a relatively low voltage AC current. The frequency is swept over a range of about 1-10,000 Hertz and the current and phase angle measured at selected frequency intervals. The reactive (Z?) and resistive (Z?) impedances are computed for each current measurement and values of Z? plotted as a function of Z? as a Nyquist plot. The center of curvature of the plot between the origin and the minimum value of Z? is located; and, the angle of depression of a line from the origin through the center of curvature ? is determined from the plot. Samples of lubricant having known concentration of soot are measured and the angle ? determined for each sample. The angle is then plotted as a function of soot concentration and a smooth curve fitted to the data plots. The curve may be programmed into a microcomputer to be used with the sensor for real time determination of soot concentration.

Abstract: In an arrangement for processing digital video data there is provided for the most universal use of the arrangement and for a fast data exchange between components inside the arrangement. The arrangement utilizes at least one video data computer, at least one video data interface and at least one standard computer and/or one video hardware component, between which the video data can be exchanged through a fiber channel. The video data computer and the video interface(s) are controlled by at least one control computer via an Ethernet bus.

Abstract: A plug for insertion through the wall of a vessel filled with fluid to be monitored has an extension immersed in the fluid which has a pair of wire electrodes helically wound thereon in spaced arrangement. The electrodes are wound at a uniform pitch in one embodiment and wound with regions of closely and widely spaced pitches in another embodiment. In a third embodiment, the electrodes are helically wound in spaced parallel arrangement at a pitch greater than the spacing of the pair. A thermistor is disposed on the extension for providing a fluid temperature signal. The electrodes are excited sequentially by a low voltage at a fractional Hertz (low) frequency and a (high) frequency of at least one Hertz and the current and temperature are measured. The impedance and differential impedance are computed from the measured currents.

Abstract: This invention relates to an on-line statistical process control device for solder paste and residues. The invention consists of electronics hardware, software, and probing systems. The electrical hardware of the invention provides voltage and current measurements of solder paste materials, the software of the invention controls the hardware, provides real-time complex, non-linear least squares curve fitting for equivalent circuit analysis, data storage and retrieval of circuit parameters and behavior, and statistical process control tracking and charting. The probing systems of the invention allows for 2, 3, and 4 probe surface and bulk measurements of the solder paste and residues.

Abstract: A fluid condition monitor suitable for real time monitoring of a fluid in a fluid system such as on-board vehicle monitoring of engine oil and transmission fluid to determine contamination. A capacitive spaced array electrode probe is immersed in the fluid and an oscillating voltage is applied at a first frequency of at least one hertz and the current IB measured as an analog of the bulk fluid impedance. The voltage is also applied to the probe at a second frequency of less then one hertz and the current Is measured as an analog of the electrode surface impedance. The difference in measured currents &Dgr;I is determined electrically compared with a predetermined threshold value; and, the measured first frequency current IB is compared with an upper and lower limit value for IB determined empirically for the known baseline fluid.

Abstract: A gas bag module, in particular for head protection in case of a side impact, has an elongated mounting housing (10) having two opposing side walls (12, 14) running spaced apart from each other and a cross-piece (16) connecting the side walls (12, 14), and has a gas bag (20) accommodated in folded state in the mounting housing (10). Further provided is at least one spacer spaced apart from the cross-piece (16), which spacer extends between the side walls (12, 14) and connects them with each other such that a moving apart of the side walls (12, 14) is at least largely avoided when the mounting housing (10) is open and the gas bag (20) unfolds.

Abstract: A gas generator including a housing, at least one pipeline connected to the housing and directing generated gas to an airbag, a coupling piece which connects the housing with the pipeline, and at least one elastic seal. The seal is arranged between the coupling piece and the housing and also between the coupling piece and the pipeline. The seal has projections penetrating into recesses in the housing.

Abstract: This invention relates to an on-line statistical process control device for solder paste and residues. The invention consists of electronics hardwa software, and probing systems. The electrical hardware of the invention provides voltage and current measurements of solder paste materials, the software of the invention controls the hardware, provides real-time complex, non-linear least squares curve fitting for equivalent circuit analysis, data storage and retrieval of circuit parameters and behavior, and to statistical process control tracking and charting. The probing systems of the invention allows for 2, 3, and 4 probe surface and bulk measurements of the solder paste and residues.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for automatically recognizing the line number of a video sync signal in accordance with the 525 or 625 line standard, this circuit arrangement automatically generating a control signal corresponding to one of the relevant line numbers. To recognize the line number, a line counter (14) clocked with horizontal frequency pulses is provided, this line counter receiving the frame-frequency sync pulse signal as a reset signal. Moreover, a decoding stage (15) is arranged at the output of the line counter (14), which supplies a signal for changing the line standard hitherto used and a signal characterizing the corresponding line standard. In a subsequent signal evaluation circuit (16), these two signals are checked and a control signal either corresponding to the current line standard or to the new line standard is applied to the output (17).

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for deriving horizontal frequency and vertical frequency pulses from a synchronizing signal, in which all clocked components are provided with the same clock during the digital processing of the synchronizing signal. Too derive the horizontal (H) pulse signal, a logic circuit 2 is provided which combines the sync signal with a masking pulse signal derived from the clocked sync signal. To derive the vertical (V) pulse signal in the clock raster, a counting flip-flop 14 is driven by the clocked sync signal after combination with the vertical pulse signal via an interference pulse signal suppression circuit 10. To derive the 2V pulse signal, a logic circuit 17 is provided which combines the V pulse signal with a pulse signal derived from the clocked sync signal.

Abstract: A system to sense changes in the state of an ion exchange resin bed which includes first and second current electrodes spaced from each other, a first electrical circuit electrically connecting the current electrodes and designed to be connected to a source of alternating current, and also including first and second voltage probes spaced from each other and located approximately between said first and second current electrodes with a wire connecting voltage probes. A second electrical circuit consists of the first and second voltage probes, the wire and the portion of the resin bed lying between said voltage probes so that when the first electrical circuit is energized by the source of alternating current a voltage is induced in the second electrical circuit which corresponds to the state of the resin bed located between the first and second voltage probes.

Abstract: This invention relates to an on-line statistical process control device for solder paste and residues. The invention consists of electronics hardware, software, and probing systems. The electrical hardware of the invention provides voltage and current measurements of solder paste materials, the software of the invention controls the hardware, provides real-time complex, nonlinear least squares curve fitting for equivalent circuit analysis, data storage and retrieval of circuit parameters and behavior, and statistical process control tracking and charting. The probing systems of the invention allows for 2, 3, and 4 probe surface and bulk measurements of the solder paste and residues.

Abstract: Synchronizing pulses are separated from a video signal played back from a magnetic tape recording. The individual synchronizing pulses are then inspected in a digital inspection circuit containing two generic array logic (GAL) units and a counter, operating in conjunction with a gate pulse generated from a electrically programmable read-only memory (EPROM) which is controlled by a counter reset by every validated synchronizing pulse. The inspection is in terms of phase and width of the synchronizing pulse. The pulses that pass inspection are utilized for the playback of the video signal, as are also other timing signals generated by the EPROM. The detection of a dropout in the playback demodulator interrupts the provision of inspected synchronizing signals and also prevents false clamping of the final sync separator, but clock pulses driving the counter that addresses the EPROM, together with a reset signal from the EPROM, maintain certain timing signals during the dropout.