Abstract: A characteristic of edible oil may be evaluated using a spectrometer. For example, optical reflectance data may be obtained from edible oil in situ in a frying apparatus housing the edible oil, the reflectance data corresponding to a specified range of infra-red wavelengths. A model profile corresponding to the characteristic being assessed may be obtained, such as from a repository housing a secured library of such profiles. The model profile may define a regression vector for use in transforming the reflectance data to generate a value corresponding to the characteristic being assessed. A criterion may be applied to the value to establish a simplified representation of the characteristic for presentation to a user for assessment of oil quality.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and storage media for robust monitoring a gauge are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, a digital image of a gauge may be received to identify an analog value indicator of the gauge and to form an indicator representation corresponding to the analog value indicator. Robust optical character recognition and image filter may provide enhanced gauge reading and/or monitoring. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.

Abstract: A control system for calibrating a wind turbine sensor placed on a component of a wind turbine and related methods are disclosed. The wind turbine includes a rotor having at least one wind turbine blade. The method comprises pitching one or more of the at least one of the wind turbine blades according to a predetermined pitch movement which induces a vibratory motion in the at least one turbine blade. A wind turbine sensor measures a vibratory response signal at least partly caused by the vibratory motion. A characteristic sensor response value is determined from the vibratory response signal. The characteristic sensor response value may be compared to a predetermined sensor calibration parameter to determine whether a difference is greater than a predefined tolerance parameter. In this manner, the wind turbine sensor may be calibrated.

Abstract: An inertial sensor calibration method and inertial sensor calibration apparatus. One or more diffraction patterns are generated by one or more fixed and/or moveable gratings (inertial sensors) illuminated by an atomically stabilized source attached to a base and detected by an imager. The grating and/or inertial sensor has a designed parameter value and an actual respective parameter value, such as motion or distance that can be determined upon ultra-precise measurement. Such ultra-precise measurement can be used to calibrate the grating or inertial sensor.

Abstract: A system, computer readable storage medium and method for calibrating sensors of a human interface device having a first accelerometer and a second accelerometer and the method includes calibrating the first accelerometer, calibrating the second accelerometer and calibrating a combined-sensor output that includes contributions from the first accelerometer and the second accelerometer to generate combined-sensor conversion values. The method further includes adjusting the calibration of the first accelerometer in accordance with the combined-sensor conversion values.

Abstract: An angular position measurement system including a continuous angular position sensor configured to provide a first signal representative of a continuous angular position of a rotating shaft, an incremental angular position sensor configured to provide a second signal representative of incremental angular positions of the rotating shaft, and a controller configured to calibrate the first signal based on the second signal to provide a third signal representative of a calibrated continuous angular position of the rotating shaft.

Abstract: Methods are provided for calibrating a tachometer or generator device to reduce residual errors associated with the tachometer-generator device. A shim structure is positioned within the air gap of the tachometer-generator device. A physical characteristic or location of placement of the shim structure is selected to reduce variation in an output voltage of the tachometer-generator device.

Abstract: A versatile vehicle speed sensor compactly disposed on the outside in a radial direction of a gear. A motorcycle includes a power unit having a torque take-out shaft for outputting a torque generated by an internal combustion engine as a drive torque for driving a rear wheel, a torque transmission mechanism T which includes a gear pair consisting of bevel gears and a drive shaft and which transmits the drive torque to the rear wheel, and a vehicle speed sensor such that teeth of a driven gear constituting the gear pair constitute a portion to be detected. The vehicle speed sensor includes a main body portion having a detecting portion opposed to the addendum of the teeth in the direction of a normal to the addendum cone surface of the driven gear, and the main body portion extends along the normal direction.

Abstract: An optical flow sensor is presented that directly measures the translational component of the optical flow experienced by the sensor while it is on a moving platform. The translational optical flow is measured by using a gyro to measure the platform's angular rates and then incorporating these angular rates in the optical flow computations in a manner that bypasses lags in the optical flow sensor measurement. In one embodiment, individual “velocity report” optical flow measurements have their rotational component removed before these velocity reports are utilized in the remainder of the optical flow algorithm. In another embodiment, a movable window and shifting techniques are used to form a windowed image that has no rotational optical flow components. In another embodiment, an optical flow sensor is mounted on a gimbal and held to point in one direction even as the platform on which the optical flow sensor is mounted moves.

Abstract: A system for measuring and controlling the concentration of a chemical agent in a solution has a reaction cell for receiving a sample, a titrant dropper for releasing one or more drops of titrant into the sample, a first photosensor for sensing disruptions of light for every drop of titrant released, and a controller that communicates with the photosensor and computes the concentration of the chemical agent based on the number of disruptions of light at the photosensor. The present invention also includes a method for sensing and controlling the concentration of a chemical agent in a solution. The method includes having a sample containing the chemical agent, triggering the release of a number of drops of titrant into the sample, detecting the number of drops released into the sample, and computing the concentration of the chemical agent in the sample based on the number of drops of titrant released into the sample.

Abstract: A method and system for orienting and calibrating a magnet for use with a speed sensor. A magnet can be mapped two or more planes thereof in order to locate the magnet accurately relative to one or more magnetoresistive elements maintained within a speed sensor housing. An optical location of the magnet with respect to the magnetoresistive element and the sensor housing can then be identified in response to mapping of the magnet. Thereafter, the magnet can be bonded to the speed sensor housing in order to implement a speed sensor thereof maintained by the speed sensor housing for use in speed detection operations.

Abstract: A metal rod guide (30) supports a metal rod (1) that can be inclined at an arbitrary angle, the support is instantaneously released to produce a free fall state, and during the release period, a first end surface (2) of the metal rod is impacted by a projectile (3) at the same angle as the metal rod, generating an elastic wave pulse in the metal rod. A direct current acceleration sensor (23) detects an acceleration arising when the elastic wave pulse reflects at the other end surface (22) of the metal rod. A strain gauge (25) provided on a side surface of the metal rod and/or a laser interferometer (24) measure strain and end surface motion and the measured values are processed to obtain a frequency response of the direct current acceleration sensor and measure frequency characteristics of the direct current acceleration sensor.

Abstract: A method for servicing companies associated with a spray device operating under guidelines of a regulatory body includes capturing in vitro actuation data associated with operation of the spray device and distributing the data to a company associated with an aspect of the spray device. The company may use the data for testing the spray device to ensure continued compliance with prior approval of the spray device by the regulatory body. The method may also include converting the data to parameters and distributing the parameters. Capturing the in vitro actuation data may include sorting the data based on in vitro age groups. Distributing the data may include providing the data in a format executable by an automated actuation system. The company receiving the data may be a drug development company, spray device manufacturer, or testing service. The regulatory body may be the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for controlling an SRM (Switched Reluctance Motor) switching angle by an analog encoder system that can perform a precise control of the switching angle of the SRM by comparing an analog sensor signal detected by the analog encoder system with a switching-on/off command signal. During a rotation of an encoder rotor having rotary slits formed at the same intervals on the encoder rotor and continuous contrast patterns formed between the respective rotary slits, analog sensor signals ?a to ?d detected in proportion to the contrast patterns are compared with a switching-on/off command signal controlled by a digital-to-analog (D/A) converter. A switching-on angle ?on is set to a crossing point of the switching-on command signal Von and a slope between the sensor signals ?a and ?o, and a switching-off angle ?off is set to a crossing point of the switching-off command signal Voff and a slope between the sensor signals ?o and ?d.

Abstract: An automatic surveying system includes a telescopic optical system; an image pickup device for picking up an image of a graduated face of a level rod, to which the telescopic optical system is to be collimated, and converting the image into image data; a memory which stores therein recognition data of at least one of a pattern, numbers, and scale calibrations, provided on the graduated face of the level rod; and an analyzing device for analyzing and recognizing the picked-up image of the at least one of the pattern, numbers, and scale calibrations of the level rod, based on the image data of the level rod picked up by the image pickup device and the recognition data of the pattern, numbers, and scale calibrations, read from the memory, to obtain a measurement.

Abstract: The Bragg grating device for measuring an acceleration, has at least two optical Bragg gratings (11, 12), each formed in elastic material, for supplying optical radiation (S) and at least one deflectable mass (M) connected to both gratings for generating an inertial force that is dependent on the acceleration which acts upon the device, in order to produce elastic extension of one of the two gratings and simultaneous elastic contraction of the other grating. The device is also suitable for vibration frequency measurement.

Abstract: A speed sensor for a marine vessel includes a correction circuit to correct any sensor non-linearities so that the sensor produces an output with a pulse stream having a constant pulse rate, and reduces the pulse-to-pulse variations of the pulse stream. The circuit can standardize the pulse stream to have a frequency corresponding to a standard rate.

Abstract: An improved microsystems testing and characterization system which allows the system user to identify specific structures, and thereby to initiate an automated testing sequence to be applied to that structure or a series of structures. The integrated control system that governs the present invention automates the power supply to the device under test, the precision motion control of all components, the sensor operation, data processing and data presentation. Therefore operation is autonomous once the microstructure is in place and the testing sequence is specified. The integrated testing system can be used to perform tests on an entire wafer or on a single die.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting rpm signal errors, in which pulses (t0, t2, t4, t6, t8 and t10) and pulse intervals (t1, t3, t5, t7, t9) are generated by poles that generate rpm signals and are disposed on the circumference of a pole wheel. To ascertain a change in speed, pulse intervals (t1, t3, t7, t9) within a first allowable tolerance range are compared in a first step for equality and in a second step for inequality in terms of duration, during one wheel revolution.

Abstract: The present invention discloses methods of manufacturing mechanical resonator microgyroscopes using focused ion beam machining and the mechanical resonator gyroscopes produced therefrom. An exemplary method of tuning a mechanical resonator gyroscope, includes the steps of mounting a mechanical resonator gyroscope in a vacuum chamber with a controllable focused ion beam where the gyroscope includes exciting and sensing elements for measuring a resonant frequency of the gyroscope. The exciting and sensing elements are activated to measure the resonant frequency of the mechanical resonator gyroscope and the resonant frequency of the gyroscope is adjusted to a desired resonant frequency value by controlling the focused ion beam to remove material of the gyroscope.

Abstract: The present invention is an acceleration sensor chip comprising a support frame part and a sensor structure. The sensor structure includes a displaceable weight part with a magnetic thin film formed on the surface and at least one beam part for connecting the weight part to the frame part. The support frame part and sensor structure are formed on a silicon substrate through an insulating layer. The insulating layer between the sensor structure and the silicon substrate is removed and a coil is formed to surround the weight part on the support frame part at the periphery of the weight part. In some embodiments, the accelerator sensor chip comprises a plurality of such sensor structures.

Abstract: Microfluidic devices and systems having enhanced detection sensitivity, particularly for use in non-fluorogenic detection methods, e.g., absorbance. The systems typically employ planar microfluidic devices that include one or more channel networks that are parallel to the major plane of the device, e.g., the predominant plane of the planar structure, and a detection channel segment that is substantially orthogonal to that plane. The detection system is directed along the length of the detection channel segment using a detection orientation that is consistent with conventional microfluidic systems.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vibration measurement method and apparatus utilizing a self-mixing type laser Doppler vibrator meter. The vibration measurement method includes steps of: oscillating a laser beam of a predetermined wavelength and applying the laser beam to an object to be measured; mixing the reflected laser beam from the object and the oscillated laser beam for outputting a beat wave; calculating ratio of a beat wave amplitude for the turning point of the vibrating object, with respect to a predetermined reference amplitude; and calculating a displacement amount for the turning point of the vibrating object, according to the calculated ratio. This enables to detect the vibration of the object to be measured, with a high accuracy.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for passing a focused laser beam through a thin ferrofluid cell creates a spatial distribution in the refractive index of the ferrofluid and generates a diffraction ring patterns. Using a pair of perpendicularly placed ferrofluid cells, two sets of diffraction ring patterns can be produced on two viewing screens. Deformations in the diffraction patterns due to an acceleration can be viewed on the screens, providing a ferrofluid accelerometer. By applying an electric or a magnetic field on a thin ferrofluid sample, the light passing through the sample can be modulated by the field, providing a light modulator. The apparatus and method has applications for detecting acceleration information within a gyroscope and for use in toys.

Abstract: A measuring apparatus is provided, in which a machined part is measured very simply and rapidly without affecting the effect unique to a machining center and the correction work with the measuring work can be immediately performed. The apparatus comprises a base mounted removably on a spindle of a machining center A, a slider provided in the axial center of the base in such a manner as to be slidable by operation of an operating unit exposed outside of the base, probes adapted to slide into and out at equidistant positions on the outer peripheral surface at the forward end of the base and adapted to protrude through an appropriate interlocking mechanism when the slider slides in one direction, and a display unit arranged outside of the base for detecting, through a detector, the size of the portion of the probe protruded with the sliding of the slider and displaying the measurement of the detector, wherein the machined part is measured immediately after machining.