Abstract: A capacitive humidity sensor includes a first electrode, a humidity sensitive dielectric layer, and a second electrode. The humidity sensitive dielectric layer is between the first and the second electrodes. The humidity sensitive dielectric layer is etched at selected regions to form hollow regions between the first and second electrodes.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the present invention is an improved measuring cup comprising a straight transfer edge for facilitating transfer of dry materials from a flat surface into the cup as well as a rounded segment and spout for pouring wet materials out of the cup. The cup further includes one or more sets of volume indicia which may permit measurement of solids or liquids or both.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor, comprising a sensor element (1) that operates without contact, an electronic component (5), and a housing (2) having an electrical/electronic connection. The sensor element (1) is part of the housing (2) and is used to close and seal the housing (2) with respect to the measurement side (3).

Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein may be useful for use in landing identification. In this regard, a method is provided comprising receiving pulse information over a first time period, wherein the pulse information is indicative of an angular distance traveled by a first wheel, comparing the pulse information to a threshold value, and determining a likelihood of a landing event based upon the comparison. In various embodiments, a system is provided comprising a monstable multivibrator in electrical communication with a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET), a resistor-capacitor network in electrical communication with the MOSFET, and a comparator that receives a voltage from the resistor-capacitor network and a reference voltage.

Abstract: Various examples include microelectromechanical die for sensing motion that includes symmetrical proof-mass electrodes interdigitated with asymmetrical stator electrodes. Some of these examples include electrodes that are curved around an axis orthogonal to the plane in which the electrodes are disposed. An example provides vertical flexures coupling an inner gimbal to a proof-mass in a manner permitting flexure around a horizontal axis.

Abstract: Various examples include microelectromechanical die for sensing motion that includes symmetrical proof-mass electrodes interdigitated with asymmetrical stator electrodes. Some of these examples include electrodes that are curved around an axis orthogonal to the plane in which the electrodes are disposed. An example provides vertical flexures coupling an inner gimbal to a proof-mass in a manner permitting flexure around a horizontal axis.

Abstract: An inertial sensor with stress isolation structure includes a substrate, a suspension bridge, a guard ring and an electromechanical conversion mechanism. The substrate has a housing trough and an annular wall surrounding the housing trough. The suspension bridge is located in the housing trough and connected to the annular wall. The guard ring is connected to the suspension bridge and suspended in the housing trough. The suspension bridge is located between the substrate and guard ring. The electromechanical conversion mechanism is connected to and surrounded by the guard ring. Through the guard ring, interferences of applied forces to the electromechanical conversion mechanism can be reduced, precision of the inertial sensor can be improved, and performance impact caused by succeeding element package process can also be reduced. Thus package, test and calibration processes can be simplified to lower production cost.

Abstract: An inertia MEMS sensor and a manufacturing method are provided. The inertia MEMS sensor includes a main body and a weight block relatively removable. The main body includes a first main body with a first surface and a second main body vertically connecting with the first surface. A first electrode parallel to the first surface is in the first main body. A second electrode perpendicular to the first surface is in the second main body. The weight block is suspended in a space defined by the first and second main bodies. The weight block includes a third electrode parallel to the first surface, a forth electrode is perpendicular to the first surface, and a weight layer. The third electrode connects with the forth electrode to form a U-shaped groove for accommodating the weight layer, thereby increasing the weight block weight, improving precision and reducing the cost.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a three-dimensional micro-electro-mechanical-system sensor. The sensor includes movable first electrodes, plural movable second electrodes, plural fixed third electrodes, and plural fixed fourth electrodes. The first electrodes and their adjacent third electrodes form at least one first capacitor and at least one second capacitor, and the second electrodes and their adjacent fourth electrodes form at least one third capacitor. The capacitance change of the first capacitor reflects the displacement of the proof mass along a first axis, the capacitance change of the second capacitor reflects the displacement of the proof mass along a second axis, and the capacitance change of the third capacitor reflects the displacement of the proof mass along a third axis. The first, second, and third axes define a three-dimensional coordinate system.

Abstract: A sensing system which comprises a material (30) formed of a matrix and a plurality of non-insulating particles (40) substantially equally spaced within the matrix such that the material has coherent electrical periodicity in at least one dimension; and a receiver (10), the receiver arranged to receive a source RF signal and a returned RF signal, the source RF signal being reflected by the non-insulating particles to produce the returned RF signal. A change in the position of one or more of the non-insulating particles causes the returned RF signal to change, such that a change in a property of the material can be determined from the returned RF signal.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for non-contact detection techniques of mechanical vibrations utilizing a radio frequency system incorporating multiple carrier wavelengths. The new detection method measures multiple harmonic pairs at a carrier frequency and improves the detection accuracy and reliability by first inspecting the Bessel function coefficient of each harmonic and then determining the harmonic amplitude. The original mechanical vibration can then be reconstructed. Embodiments can be used to realize sensing of complex non-sinusoidal vibrations using a wavelength division sensing technique and allow non-contact detection through walls, smoke, fog or other low visibility environments with the advantage of longer range detection and easy integration at a low cost.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying an inconsistency. A number of waves that propagate through a structure are generated. A response signal is generated in response to detecting at least a portion of the number of waves that propagate through the structure. A determination is made as to whether the response signal includes a reflected component. A presence of the inconsistency in the structure is indicated when the response signal includes the reflected component.

Abstract: This disclosure describes an apparatus for sensing a target using a sinc function, a surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor system including the same, and a method of measuring a target using a sinc function. The apparatus for measuring a target using the sinc function may measure an output signal from a SAW sensor with high precision and reliability.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting gunfire is provided which uses distributed acoustic sensing to provide the gunfire detection. The method comprises interrogating an optical fibre with electromagnetic radiation to provide a distributed acoustic sensor comprising a plurality of sensing portions of the optical fibre, and analysing a measurement signal from said sensing portions to detect gunfire events. A gunfire event will typically be relatively intense but of short duration and affect multiple sensing channels. The method may detect a characteristic 602 of a muzzle blast and/or a characteristic 601 of pressure wave from a supersonic round and may determine the location of the gunfire and the location at which the round crosses the sensor.

Abstract: An inflation device for airbags has an inflation tube insertable through the airbag inflation valve, the inflation tube having a distal end. A handle mounts the inflation tube and is connected to an inflation gas source. A delivery valve controls inflation gas flow through inflation tube. A pressure gauge has an input and conduit extending therefrom along the inflation tube and to the end of the inflation tube for ascertaining inflation pressure within the airbag. The delivery valve is operated to achieve a desired inflation pressure. The inflation tube has gas delivery openings through its side walls laterally delivering inflation gas to the airbag. The inflation tube and pressure gauge conduit are inserted together through the airbag inflation valve, so that inflation pressure is monitored substantially concurrently with inflation.

Abstract: A device for detecting pressure and/or temperature changes in a fluid-channel and method thereof are disclosed. The device includes a main duct with an inlet and an outlet, a branch ductwork with a first branch end branching off the main duct downwards the inlet and with a second branch end discharging into the main duct upwards the outlet, and at least one dead-end channel with a first end that branches off the branch ductwork and a second closed end. The dead-end channel is adapted to trap a gas bubble within the dead-end channel when the device is primed or filled with a liquid fluid, wherein the gas bubble changes its size or position if a change in pressure or temperature occurs in the device.

Abstract: A jointless pressure sensor port which includes a body portion, a flange portion integrally formed with the body portion, and a cylindrical portion integrally formed with and extending away from the flange portion. The port also includes an aperture having a first area, where the aperture is formed as part of the cylindrical portion. A channel is located along an axis and has at least one channel region. The channel at least partially extends through the cylindrical portion, the flange portion, and the body portion. A diaphragm includes a second area which is larger than the first area, the diaphragm also has a top surface and a bottom surface. A pressure sensor is disposed on the top surface, and the diaphragm is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the channel. The body portion, flange portion, and cylindrical portion form a jointless and seamless pressure sensor part.

Abstract: The bolt tension monitoring system provides remote monitoring of the tension of a bolt, thus allowing for remote monitoring of general structural health and integrity of the fastener. The bolt tension monitoring system includes a housing adapted for being retained on a head of a bolt to be monitored. The system further includes a force transducer positioned between the head of the bolt and a workpiece surface in which the bolt is fastened and measures tension between the head of the bolt and the surface. A controller circuit disposed within the housing calculates a difference between a currently measured tension between the head of the bolt and the workpiece surface and an initially measured tension. A wireless transponder mounted in the housing transmits an alert signal if the calculated difference exceeds a pre-defined threshold value. Actuation and power are provided through radio frequency power harvesting.

Abstract: A device, inserted in a running shoe is used to track the accumulation of destructive compression cycles within the shoe and to indicate this information to the user through a series of integrated indicators. The device has an advantage of being able to be placed in any shoe without compromising the construction or performance of the shoe. An additional advantage of the invention is the improved accuracy of the information by improving both the stability and longevity of the sensor system and the ability to distinguish destructive, partially destructive and nondestructive compressions. Another advantage of the invention is the reduction of the cost of construction while achieving a lifetime in excess of the shoe. Yet another advantage of the invention is the user interface, which is contained completely within the device allowing the user to view the information within the shoe.

Abstract: Optical fiber anchors accomplishing low creep confinement or fixing of a section of optical fiber in an assembly compact enough to be used conveniently as an anchor or as an enabling part of a strain or temperature sensor while retaining low optical losses and the original buffer coating to prevent the fiber from being exposed to abrasion and other influences that could lead to breakage. A rigid body is used that is mechanically stiff and hard enough to prevent said fiber from cutting into it or distorting said medium or substrate when subjected to stress, even over a long period of years. Trapping can be accomplished by molding the bent fiber into the substrate or body, adhesively bonding or soldering the optical fiber into a confining curved groove in a body or substrate.

Abstract: A water flow detector has a spring driven mechanical timer responsive to the movement of a lever. The lever is connected to a paddle. The paddle is responsive to the flow of water in a pipe. The detector via the spring driven timer responds to the flow of water in the pipe after a predetermined delay.

Abstract: A flow meter comprising a magnet, a substantially non-magnetic conduit adapted to convey conductive fluid flowing in said conduit, said conduit arranged proximate to said magnet, and a sensor for sensing distortion of lines of force created by said magnet when said fluid flows in said conduit. Neither the magnet nor the sensor need be in physical contact with the conduit that carries the conductive fluid.

Abstract: This velocimetre for measuring the speed of flow of an electrically conducting fluid comprises: —two sensors (16, 19) disposed in such a way that, in the absence of flow of the electrically conducting fluid (4), the difference between the current strengths measured by the two sensors (16, 19) is non zero, —a processing unit (18) is able to calculate the speed of flow of the CD fluid in a direction parallel to the first measurement direction (7) on the basis of the difference between the current strengths measured by the two sensors (16, 19).

Abstract: The invention relates to an ultrasonic flow meter housing and to an ultrasonic flow meter comprising a housing. The housing is a monolithic polymer structure being cast in one piece. The monolithic structure includes a straight flow tube and a cavity separated from the flow tube, where a shared wall part forms part of the wall of the flow tube and of an inside surface of the cavity. The cavity is arranged for housing at least one ultrasonic transducer at the shared wall part, and a measurement circuit operationally connected to the at least one ultrasonic transducer. In an embodiment, the cavity only has a single opening which can be sealed off by a cover.

Abstract: A vortex flow meter having a measurement tube through which a medium can flow, an obstacle provided in the measurement tube for generating vortices in the medium, and a deflection body located in the region of action of the obstacle and which is deflectable by pressure variations associated with the vortices in the medium. A vortex flow meter without cabled connection between the medium-filled space in the measurement tube and the medium-free space outside the measurement tube is produced by at least one magnetic field generating device being arranged outside of the measurement tube for generating a magnetic field near the deflection body, by the deflection body having a different magnetic permeability from the medium and influencing the magnetic field, and by at least one magnetic field registering device for registering the magnetic field in the region of the deflection body being arranged outside the measurement tube.

Abstract: A Coriolis mass flow meter (1) which has at least two curved measurement tubes (2), at least one actuator arrangement, at least one sensor arrangement and comprising at least one housing structure (5), the measurement tubes (2) being connected at their inlet end portion and an outlet end portion with at least a first oscillation node plate (3) and a second oscillation node plate (4). The flow meter achieves increased measurement accuracy and a reduced susceptibility to perturbing oscillations by at least one of the oscillation node plates being connected at the inlet end and the outlet end of the housing structure (5). A third oscillation node plate (6) can be additionally arranged on the inlet end portion and the outlet end portion of the tubes, the third oscillation node plate being connected to the housing structure.

Abstract: A curved tube vibrating flow meter (5) includes a flow tube temperature sensor TT (190) and a plurality of case temperature sensors TC (303) affixed to one or more case locations of a case (300) of the curved tube vibrating flow meter (5). The plurality of case temperature sensors TC (303) generate a case temperature signal, wherein a plurality of case temperature sensor resistances at the one or more case locations form a combined case resistance related to thermal importances of the one or more case locations. Meter electronics (20) receives the flow tube temperature signal, receives the case temperature signal, and compensates the curved tube vibrating flow meter (5) for thermal stress using the flow tube temperature signal and the case temperature signal.

Abstract: An exemplary component torquing method includes applying torque to a component during an evaluation pass and collecting data during the evaluation pass. The method uses the data to customize a torque procedure for the component that will help ensure the component has a desired clamp load after the torque procedure. The method then torques the component according to the torque procedure.

Abstract: Disclosed is a strain gauge type force-torque sensor and a method for manufacturing the same. More specifically, a first sensor structure having a convex part on a bonding surface thereof and a second sensor structure having a concave part bonded to the convex part of the first sensor structure are formed. The gauge film is formed by installing a strain gauge on a flexible film. The gauge film is compressively interposed between the bonding surface of the first sensor structure having the convex part and a bonding surface of the second sensor structure having the concave part to initially deform the gauge film. The first sensor structure and the second sensor structure are fixed to each other in a state where the gauge film is initially deformed.

Abstract: Provided is a sample processing apparatus management system, sample processing apparatuses and a management apparatus, and a management method that can accurately and easily adjust the respective sample processing apparatuses irrespective of their individual differences. When abnormality has occurred in a sample analyzer, the sample analyzer requests approval for self-adjustment from a management server. The management server determines whether to permit performance of the self-adjustment, and when having determined to permit the self-adjustment, notifies the sample analyzer of the approval for the self-adjustment. When the approval for the self-adjustment has been notified of, the sample analyzer performs the self-adjustment.

Abstract: A sample container and filtration apparatus includes a sample container portion with an interior volume and a fluid path passing through a bottom wall. The sample container may also include a valve casing connected to and moveable relative to the sample collection portion between a first and second position. A valve secured to and moveable with the valve casing may close the fluid path of the sample collection portion when in a first position and open the fluid path when in a second position. The apparatus may also include a vacuum base coupling portion that is distal to the valve casing, and includes a filter membrane support surface for supporting a filter membrane.

Abstract: The sensing device (12) includes support and fixing elements (13), elements (14) for capturing the parameter, fixed rigidly to the support and fixing elements (13), including a sensing face (14a), situated in a chamber (17), a solid internal chamber end wall (30) disposed transversely, an open part (18) made in the chamber peripheral wall (27), the chamber (17) being a holding chamber (17) able to ensure confinement of the content (C) therein, and being isolated from the inside space (3a) of the container and safeguarded from the agitation prevailing therein, by the internal end wall (30) of the chamber so as to minimize the impact of this agitation on the measurement of the parameter of the content (C) by the sensing face (14a).

Abstract: A continuously variable transmission includes: an input movement, a control system, a continuously variable reciprocating movement, a first holder, a second holder, a chain, an output sprocket, and a freely rotatable sprocket. The holders having the reciprocating movement. Each of the holders having a linearly movable teeth. The movable teeth are perpendicularly movable to the reciprocating movement. Each of the movable teeth having an internal end and an exposed end. The exposed end having a first slope and a second slope. The first slope having a greater slope than the second slope.

Abstract: A drive unit includes an output shaft, a drive source, which causes the output shaft to rotate in a reciprocating manner within a first angular range, an arcuate movement portion, which performs arcuate movement about the axis of the output shaft as the shaft is rotated, a pivot shaft, and a lever member, which is rotational about the axis of the pivot shaft. As the arcuate movement portion performs arcuate movement, the lever member is rotated, in a reciprocating manner within a second angular range, while changing the engaging position with the arcuate movement portion.

Abstract: A push & lock unit includes cam sections mounted on an outer wall of a rotary body that is disposed on an underside of an operating body, and each one of the cam sections contacts a saw-tooth section disposed on a lower end of a rib on an inner wall of a cover and a projection disposed at a bottom center of a housing in response to an up and down movement of the operating body, whereby the rotary body is rotated. When the operating body is pushed, a push face thereof is locked at a position almost flush with an outer face of a panel. When the operating body is pushed once more, it is released from the lock, and restores to a state where the operating body projects from the outer face of the panel.

Abstract: A moving device is disclosed. A moving device includes a driving unit comprising a rotary shaft that is rotatable in a forward direction and a reverse direction by air pressure, a power delivery unit connected to the rotary shaft and adapted and configured to convert rotary motion of the rotary shaft to linear motion.

Abstract: An entertainment button device includes: an entertainment button; and a button-up-and-down mechanism including: a bias member to bias the entertainment button in a moving-up direction; a shaft member extending in a moving direction of the entertainment button; a rotating mechanism to rotate the shaft member; an engagement part to move up and down with the entertainment button; a convex portion having an inverted trapezoid shape and a concave portion having a trapezoid shape formed on an outer periphery of the shaft member; a spiral guide part on one end of the convex portion in a circumferential direction; a straight part formed on the other end of the convex portion in the circumferential direction. The straight part extends in parallel with a direction of a central axis of the shaft member; and a smoothing guide part extending in a direction orthogonal to the central axis of the shaft member.

Abstract: An entertainment button device includes: an entertainment button that a player can push; and a button-up-and-down mechanism configured to move the entertainment button up and down from a predetermined normal operation position to a protruding position in which the entertainment button protrudes upward from the normal operation position. The button-up-and-down mechanism includes: a shaft member extending in a moving direction of the entertainment button; a rotating mechanism configured to rotate the shaft member; an engagement part configured to move up and down together with the entertainment button; a convex portion having an inverted trapezoid shape and a concave portion having a traperized shape that are formed on an outer periphery of the shaft member; a spiral guide part formed in a spiral manner on one end of the convex portion in a circumferential direction.

Abstract: An entertainment button device includes: an entertainment button that a player can push; a button-up-and-down mechanism configured to move the entertainment button up and down from a predetermined normal operation position to a protruding position in which the entertainment button protrudes upward from the normal operation position; a stopper plate configured to hold the entertainment button in the protruding position; and a protruding position detector configured to detect the entertainment button being held by the stopper plate.

Abstract: The invention is an electric vehicle subassembly that has a drive with a front wheel drive multi-speed transmission with independent suspension mounted in the rear of the vehicle. The front wheel drive transmission is not steerable. The invention is also an electric vehicle drive subassembly with a drive having an electric motor, an input shaft of a multi-speed transmission, a driven gear cluster, a differential, and the axles of the vehicle all arranged in parallel. The invention also comprises methods for efficiently manufacturing such electric vehicles.

Abstract: A shift mechanism that provides a shift mechanism for enabling smooth gear shifting by a transmission, and a vehicle equipped therewith. With this mechanism, a shift drum, to which shift forks are connected via grooves on an outer periphery, is held every predetermined rotation angle. When differences are produced in the degree of rotation between a third rotating member that rotates by motor rotation and a second rotating member that rotates in accordance with the third rotating member, bias is accumulated in a torsion spring. Bias that is accumulated is released when the rotation angle of the third rotating member equals or exceeds a predetermined angle of rotation, rotating a first rotating member via a second rotating member, and rotating the shift drum quickly.

Abstract: A method forms ball recirculation and rolling grooves at an inner circumferential surface of a nut for ball screw use in a state free of deviation in axial, circumferential, and radial nut directions. A flange end face is formed with a concave part, then an inner circumferential surface of a blank and an end face and outer circumferential surface of the flange are continuously ground. Due to this, the coaxiality of the blank inner circumferential surface and the flange outer circumferential surface, and the perpendicularity of the flange end face to the blank inner circumferential surface, are made smaller. The blank is plastically worked to form the ball recirculation groove and is cut to form the ball rolling groove while using the concave part as a phase reference, the end face as an axial direction reference, and the outer circumferential surface as a radial direction reference.

Abstract: The rolling element screw device includes: a screw shaft having a rolling element raceway groove; a nut member, which has a loaded rolling element raceway groove opposed to the rolling element raceway groove and is threadingly engaged with the screw shaft through intermediation of the rolling elements; and the circulation component, which includes a pair of the first circulating portions passing through a peripheral wall of the nut member, and the second circulating portion coupling the pair of first circulating portions together, to thereby form the endless circulation path for the rolling elements. Each of the first circulating portions includes a first cylindrical portion fitted into a circulation component mounting hole of the nut member, and a second cylindrical portion which has an outer diameter larger than an outer diameter of the first cylindrical portion. The first cylindrical portion includes a rolling element introducing hole.

Abstract: Gear-shaped resin sheets Sa are laminated such that tooth portions 2b are aligned in an axial direction, thereby preparing a spur gear-shaped net-shape body 4. The net-shape body is accommodated in a net-shape body holder 14 having a spur gear-shaped holding space 14a. A spur gear-shaped pushing member 15a provided in an upper die 15 is lowered to heat and compress the net-shape body 4, while tooth portions of the resin gear formed in a lower die 12 are pressed in a helical tooth-shaped molding space to deform the tooth portions 4a of the net-shape body 4 into a helical tooth tilted relative to the axial direction, and the direction of reinforcement fibers at the tooth portions 2b of the molded resin gear 1 is tilted relative to the axial direction. A resin gear that hardly causes peeling off of resin by a load applied to a tooth surface can be obtained, and a production apparatus suitable for producing such resin gear is provided.

Abstract: A facial expression control device is provided. The facial expression control device of the present invention provides multiple structures and links, wherein the links are connected to the linking assembly; therefore varies facial expressions are expressed according to the combination of the structures and links. In this way, the facial expression is changed by means of the least actuators under the condition of maintaining the number of facial expression and imitation.

Abstract: An activation device for selecting shift stages of a shift-by-wire vehicle transmission comprises a housing and an activation knob which can be moved in a translatory fashion and a latching device with a latching pin and latching contour as latching elements for generating latching forces and restoring forces. The activation device is defined by a latching gearwheel which is in engagement with a toothing arrangement on the activation knob. In this context, one of the two latching elements is connected to the latching gearwheel and in this way forms a rotatable latching element. The second latching element is directly or indirectly connected to the base housing and forms the fixed latching element.

Abstract: An oil supplying assembly for a transmission of a vehicle, which may supply oil to a clutch and a pulley of a transmission, may include a base member which is mounted to a transmission main body, and includes a first oil path supplying the oil to the clutch and an oil supply column which is integrally formed to the base member and of which a second oil path for supplying the oil to the pulley is formed thereto.

Abstract: A bicycle transmission control apparatus includes an inclination sensor and a controller. The controller outputs a shift signal to shift a bicycle transmission to a prescribed shift position based on an inclination detected by the inclination sensor while a bicycle equipped with the bicycle transmission is determined to be in a state corresponding to at least one of stopping to a rest state and beginning to move from the rest state.

Abstract: A gear-shifting mechanism for vehicles has a crankcase, a gearbox and a reserved room. Because the reserved room is formed between a first case of the crankcase and a body of the gearbox, a shift lever can protrude out of the first case and is mounted into the reserved room to connect to a transmission between the crankcase and the gearbox. Besides, the shift lever also can protrude out of a second case to connect to a transmission opposite to the gearbox. As a result, the shift lever can output in two directions, applicable for the gearbox in left or right of the crankcase. An engine connected to the gear-shifting mechanism can be adapted for various vehicles.

Abstract: A rotary actuator equipped with a sensing mechanism includes a motor and a reducer concentrically disposed inside a cylindrical housing; a scale for detecting the rotational position of a rotary arm, the scale being disposed on the circular outer face of the cylindrical housing; and a position sensor mounted in the facing section of the rotary arm that rotates along the circular outer face, the facing section being in a facing arrangement with the circular outer face. A detection mechanism includes the scale and the position sensor detects the rotational position of the rotary arm capable of rotating within a finite angular range along the circular outer face of the cylindrical housing. The components are concentrically disposed. The actuator is suitable for use as a digital joint unit.