Abstract: A primary electrochemical cell including a cell housing, an anode including metallic lithium, a liquid SOCl2 cathode and a separator separating the anode from the cathode. The liquid SOCl2 cathode material includes a salt of a Lewis base with a Lewis acid dissolved in the SOCl2 to form an electrolyte solution and an amount of SnCl2 dissolved in the electrolyte solution. The cell has a higher TMV and lower cell impedance after extended periods of cell storage at room or higher temperatures as compared to similar prior art primary Li/SOCl2 cells that do not include the SnCl2 additive.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to nanotechnology, including field effect transistors and other devices used as sensors (for example, for electrophysiological studies), nanotube structures, and applications. Certain aspects of the present invention are generally directed to transistors such as field effect transistors, and other similar devices. In one set of embodiments, a field effect transistor is used where a nanoscale wire, for example, a silicon nanowire, acts as a transistor channel connecting a source electrode to a drain electrode. In some cases, a portion of the transistor channel is exposed to an environment that is to be determined, for example, the interior or cytosol of a cell. A nanotube or other suitable fluidic channel may be extended from the transistor channel into a suitable environment, such as a contained environment within a cell, so that the environment is in electrical communication with the transistor channel via the fluidic channel.

Abstract: In a method for automated determination of the relative position between a first hole on a first microsystem component, and a second hole on a second microsystem component, the two holes lie in a liquid medium. Under the supervision of a control device, the first and second microsystem components are displaced relative to one another into different relative positions. Electrical signals are delivered to one of the two microsystem components and are recorded on the other of the two microsystem components as measurement values which depend on the relative position of the two microsystem components with respect to one another. For different relative positions between the two microsystem components, measurement values are determined to determine that relative position in which the two microsystem components are positioned with respect to one another in such a way that their holes are mutually aligned.

Abstract: A measurement sensor for analyzing a nonpolar liquid contains a field effect transistor that has an exposed gate contact for wetting with the nonpolar liquid, and an electrical shield that surrounds the gate contact and has openings for inflow and outflow of the nonpolar liquid.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for sensing the electrical conductivity of fluid wherein when electrodes of the apparatus are exposed to fluid. When the electrodes are exposed to a fluid with a predetermined salinity, a voltage is developed on a capacitor which in turn fires a load, such as a resistive bridge wire. Also disclosed is a testing circuit, whereby the integrity of the circuit can be ascertained without the necessity of actually firing the circuit.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for sensing the electrical conductivity of fluid wherein when electrodes of the apparatus are exposed to fluid. When the electrodes are exposed to a fluid with a predetermined salinity, a voltage is developed on a capacitor which in turn fires a load, such as a resistive bridge wire. Also disclosed is a testing circuit, whereby the integrity of the circuit can be ascertained without the necessity of actually firing the circuit.

Abstract: The invention relates particularly to methods and apparatuses for characterizing water-in-oil or invert emulsion fluids for use in drilling well bores in hydro-carbon bearing subterranean formations. A fluid stability measurement method is described. The method includes placing a sample of an emulsion in a gap between electrodes, disturbing the sample, measuring the electrical stability of the sample, and establishing a relationship between electrical stability and time since the sample was disturbed.

Abstract: New methods and apparatus are described for assessing the integrity of a separation module or filtration system. A principle embodiment concerns use of a transient pulse of challenge species to probe a spiral wound module. The resulting time-dependent concentration of challenge species in the permeate is detected, recorded, and compared to a reference. An apparatus is further claimed for detecting permeate conductivity at multiple points within the permeate collection tube of a spiral wound module. Also disclosed is a process whereby the permeate stream from a filtration system is concentration by a high recovery membrane apparatus prior to measurement of challenge species concentration.

Abstract: The invention relates particularly to methods and apparatuses for characterizing water-in-oil or invert emulsion fluids for use in drilling well bores in hydro-carbon bearing subterranean formations. A fluid stability measurement device is disclosed. The device comprises a reference electrode and a second electrode coupled to an insulating body. A guard electrode is placed in the path between the reference electrode and the second electrode on the surface of the insulating body.

Abstract: A measurement sensor for analyzing a nonpolar liquid contains a field effect transistor that has an exposed gate contact for wetting with the nonpolar liquid, and an electrical shield that surrounds the gate contact and has openings for inflow and outflow of the nonpolar liquid.

Abstract: A system for measuring a mechanical property of a cell is provided. The system includes a body having a channel therethrough with a first end and a second end, the channel including at least one cell deforming feature configured to deform a cell passing through the channel. A first sensor system is positioned on the first end side of the cell deforming feature and a second sensor system is positioned on the second end side of the cell deforming feature, and the first and second sensor systems are configured to detect information about a cell as the cell travels across the cell deforming feature. A controller communicating with the first and second sensor systems is adapted to receive data from the first and second sensor systems and calculate a mechanical property of the cell.

Abstract: Motion is induced in a conduit that contains a fluid. The motion is induced such that the conduit oscillates in a first mode of vibration and a second mode of vibration. The first mode of vibration has a corresponding first frequency of vibration and the second mode of vibration has a corresponding second frequency of vibration. The first and the second frequencies vary with temperature. A first temperature that influences the first mode of vibration is determined and a second temperature that influences the second mode of vibration is determined. A property of the fluid is determined based on the first temperature and the second temperature such that the property is compensated for the first or second frequencies variation with temperature.

Abstract: The invention relates particularly to methods and apparatuses for characterizing water-in-oil or invert emulsion fluids for use in drilling well bores in hydro-carbon bearing subterranean formations. A fluid stability measurement device is disclosed. The device comprises a reference electrode and a second electrode coupled to an insulating body. A guard electrode is placed in the path between the reference electrode and the second electrode on the surface of the insulating body.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for measuring a streaming potential of a liquid containing solid matter. Said apparatus comprises a first electrode device relative to the direction of flow, said first electrode device being provided with a first rod-shaped electrode, as well as a second electrode device encompassing a second rod-shaped electrode, and a filter device located between the electrode devices. In order to improve the reproducibility and stability of the test results, the first electrode is embedded in a wall of a duct of the first electrode device so as to protrude into the duct by a maximum of half the diameter thereof perpendicular to the direction of flow.

Abstract: Improvements to the electrical sensing zone instrument are described that allow the good accuracy of this type of instrument to be applied to the measurement of the size of particles of carbon black. The improvements include a concentrated aqueous electrolyte containing KI or NaI, a surfactant soluble in the electrolyte capable of dispersing particles of carbon black, and an anode electrode that is made of silver at the surface touching the electrolyte. The silver anode electrode prevents the degradation of the electrolyte by light and electrolysis.

Abstract: A system for detecting fluids in a microfluidic component having at least one microchannel including a limitation wall which has two surfaces which, facing the microchannel in a transparent area, are inclined towards each other at an acute angle, with the system further including a photo transmitter and a photo receiver which are disposed outside the component and are directed to the inclined surfaces in the transparent area of the limitation wall in such a way that if a gas is waiting in the microchannel on the two surfaces, a light ray emitted by the photo transmitter impinges on the photo receiver following a total reflection on the two surfaces and, if a liquid is waiting in the microchannel, the light ray enters the microchannel on at least one of the two surfaces and, as a result, the incidence of light into the photo receiver is reduced or prohibited.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for analyzing a single electrical pulse, which device comprises an electrical circuit made up of a propagation line, including, in uniformly-distributed manner, optoelectronic switches constituted by photoconductor tabs, each of them being connected to a corresponding analysis line, and an optical device (34-1, 34-2, 34-3, 34-4, 34-5) making it possible to light the switches with a laser beam or with portions of a laser beam, any two adjacent switches being lit successively and not simultaneously.

Abstract: A new method is described that allows determination of the degree of molecular dissociation based on continuous, radio frequency (rf) and microwave driven discharges based on electrostatic probe and emission spectroscopy measurements only. Using this method costly laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (LIF) can be avoided. The method described is particularly applicable to hydrogen plasmas characterized by non-thermal electron energy distribution functions which are of great practical importance. A compact combined fiber optic/electrostatic probe facilitating the required measurements is described.

Abstract: A sensor cable for detecting the presence of electrically conductive liquids, e.g. water. The cable has decreased sensitivity to contamination and condensation than conventional cables which are covered by braids. First and second elongate conductors are positioned in first and second channels which partially surround the conductor and are part of first and second insulating support members; each channel has at least one shoulder which extends outwardly from the channel beyond the conductor. The channels are positioned so that when the cable is placed on a flat substrate in any position, neither the first nor the second conductor contacts the flat surface and at least one first shoulder and at least one second shoulder make intermittent contact with the flat surface. In a preferred embodiment, the first and second conductors follow a generally spiral path down the length of the cable.

Abstract: A microwave oven wattage detector having a visually and microwave transparent container holding a thermally homogeneous fluid having a wattage-indicating strip contained in the fluid with a plurality of different temperature-sensitive areas on the strip with indicia associated with each of the areas to indicate power levels when such container is heated within a microwave oven for a set time and one of such temperature-sensitive areas changes color to denote the indicia indicating the power level of the microwave oven.

Abstract: A liquid crystal applied voltmeter in which a nematic liquid crystal is filled between a pair of light transmitting electrodes at both sides of which polaroidal plates are provided and at least one of the light transmitting electrodes comprises an electric resistance film to which a constant voltage power supply is connected so that a voltage gradient occurs across both ends of the electric resistance film wherein a border between the light transmitting part and the non-light transmitting part of the liquid crystal moves in response to variation of the measured voltage when the measured voltage is applied across both the electrodes.

Abstract: The apparatus extracts samples of a fluid stream containing colloidal suspended solids at a detection station wherein the electrophoretic mobility (EM) of the colloidal suspended solids is determined. The detection station automatically measures the EM and provides such data to a computer, which computes the Zeta Potential. The computer also receives other information relating to the characteristics of the colloidal suspended solids, such as temperature, the percent of solids, and the flow rate of the fluid system. The computer is programmed to interpret the input data and to provide corrective signals to processing apparatus which automatically adjust and control the additives fed into the fluid stream to achieve automatic flocculation correction so that the agglomeration of the colloidal suspended solids in the fluid stream is optimized.