Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems for providing offset calibration and fault monitoring are disclosed herein. An example controller component may comprise: a resistance-based bridge circuit; a signal conditioning circuit configured to condition an output of the resistance-based bridge circuit; a first diagnostic circuit coupled to the signal conditioning circuit configured to monitor an output of a first branch of the resistance-based bridge circuit; and a second diagnostic circuit coupled to the signal conditioning circuit configured to monitor an output of a second branch of the resistance-based bridge circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for use in determining one or more fluid flow properties of a fluid in a conduit is disclosed. The apparatus includes a substrate including a barrier, a first flow sensor coupled to the substrate and a second flow sensor coupled to the substrate. The first flow sensor is located at a first sensor distance from a first barrier surface, and the second flow sensor is located a second sensor distance from the second barrier surface. The first sensor distance is substantially equal to the second sensor distance. In operation, the first flow sensor produces a first sensor signal, and the second flow sensor produces a second sensor signal. The direction of flow for the fluid is determined by comparing the first sensor signal to the second sensor signal.

Abstract: A sensor includes a heater, a thermal insulator between two thermometer layers, the heater generating a thermal gradient within the thermal insulator. The thermometers give an indirect measurement of fluid flow around the sensor, based on their temperature readings. The thermometers are flexible layers including gels.

Abstract: In some examples, a system includes an airflow sensor disposed at least partially within an air intake system for an engine. The airflow sensor may be configured to measure a flow rate of air flowing past the airflow sensor in the air intake system, and includes a sensor element and a heater associated with the sensor element. A heater control circuit may control the heater to control a temperature of the sensor element. Further, a processor may be configured by executable instructions to cause the heater control circuit to, in a first operation mode, maintain the sensor element at a higher temperature range, and, in a second operation mode, maintain the sensor element at a lower temperature range that is above an ambient temperature and that is lower than the higher temperature range.

Abstract: To provide a flow sensor having improved responsiveness compared to the prior art, the flow sensor of the present invention includes an insulation board, a flow-rate detection resistance element, and a temperature compensation resistance element. Each of the flow-rate detection resistance element and the temperature compensation resistance element is arranged on the insulation board such that a terminal temperature of the temperature compensation resistance element approaches a terminal temperature of the flow-rate detection resistance element. Accordingly, responsiveness can be improved.

Abstract: An air flow meter capable of rapidly following a change of a pulsation state of an input signal includes: an air flow rate detection element that generates an input signal Qsen relating to an air flow rate to be measured; and a calculation unit that performs calculation to generate an output signal Qout in response to the input signal Qsen. The calculation unit includes: the output signal calculation unit that performs calculation including exponentiation of raising the power of the output signal Qout by more than one; the input signal calculation unit that performs calculation on the input signal Qsen; the subtractor that obtains the difference between the calculation results by the output signal calculation unit and the input signal calculation unit; and the integrator that integrates the difference obtained by the subtractor, and the output signal Qout is generated based on the output from the integrator.

Abstract: To obtain a thermal flow meter capable of providing thermal insulation without degrading responsiveness of a temperature detection element.

Abstract: A flowmeter of the thermal type, having a heated flow-sensing probe and a temperature-sensing reference probe, in which the flow is passed through nozzles to form two jets and those jets are directed at the heated portion of the heated probe and the temperature-sensing portion of the reference probe, while flow around the supporting portion of the heated probe is minimized. Such a flowmeter allows low gas flows to be measured without the use of capillary elements that are subject to plugging and can create unwanted pressure drops.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a stack of electrochemical cells, a sensor, and a microcontroller. Each cell of the stack includes an electrode plate having a face in electrical contact with an electrolyte. At least one tube is connected to the face of each cell in a circuit for exchanging a gas with an area exterior to the stack. The sensor is sensitive to a concentration of the gas in air surrounding the stack. A sensitive unit of the sensor is exposed directly to an in situ quantity of a component of the gas. The microcontroller generates and outputs an analog signal corresponding to concentration information, based on a concentration measurement, and generates and outputs an analog signal indicating an operation status of the sensor.

Abstract: A temperature sensor comprising a housing having a housing body and a housing chamber, in which housing chamber are arranged terminally two temperature sensor elements, which are especially embodied as thin-film resistance thermometers, one of the temperature sensor elements is heatable, and from each temperature sensor element at least one connection wire leads away, which is connected with a circuit board. The circuit board is arranged in the housing chamber. The circuit board is positioned in the housing chamber by a snap-in connection. A connection wire of a first temperature sensor element is led with strain relief in a first direction through the circuit board and connected with such. The housing chamber contains at least a first elastic body. The circuit board has a first number of cavities, for connection of connection wires and/or cables and a second number of cavities, for reducing thermal expansion of the circuit board. Also presented is a thermal, flow measuring device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a millimeter-wave transmitter on a chip comprising at least one transmit path coupleable to an oscillator, and an on-chip power sensor to measure at least a portion of a transmit power transmitted over the at least one transmit path. The present invention further relates to a method of calibrating a millimeter-wave transmitter on a chip and an on-chip power sensor coupleable to at least one transmit path of a millimeter-wave transmitter. The embodiments of the present invention provide a direct measure of transmit power provided within an individual one of the transmit paths of the millimeter-wave transmitter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a millimeter-wave transmitter on a chip comprising at least one transmit path coupleable to an oscillator, and an on-chip power sensor to measure at least a portion of a transmit power transmitted over the at least one transmit path. The present invention further relates to a method of calibrating a millimeter-wave transmitter on a chip and an on-chip power sensor coupleable to at least one transmit path of a millimeter-wave transmitter. The embodiments of the present invention provide a direct measure of transmit power provided within an individual one of the transmit paths of the millimeter-wave transmitter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a temperature measurement method using a thermometric resistance-type temperature probe (1) comprising at least two electroconductive sensitive elements (3, 4) on the same substrate (2), wherein different parameters representative of the strength of the electric current circulating in one of said sensitive elements (3, 4) are measured, and a correction, according to said strength of the electric current circulating in said sensitive element (3, 4), is applied to a signal representative of a temperature measurement generated from the other one of said sensitive elements (3, 4), in order to correct an error created as a result of the self-heating by the Joule effect of said sensitive element (3, 4) affecting the other one of said sensitive elements (3, 4).

Abstract: A flow rate measuring device with high precision is provided. The flow rate measuring device includes a sub-passage that takes a part of the fluid flowing in a main passage, first temperature measuring means for measuring a temperature of the fluid flowing in the passage, second temperature measuring means for measuring a temperature of a fluid flowing in the sub-passage, detecting means for detecting a flow rate of the fluid flowing in the sub-passage, and measuring means for measuring a flow rate of the fluid flowing within the main channel on the basis of an output of the first temperature measuring means, an output of the second temperature measuring means, and an output of the detecting means.

Abstract: A tire pressure measuring device is configured with a plurality of communication protocols. Tire pressure information is sensed using the tire pressure measuring device. The tire pressure information is transmitted from the tire pressure measuring device to an external receiver device according to each of the plurality of communication protocols.

Abstract: A flow sensor includes a fluidic component, such as a tube, a heat source, an upstream temperature sensor, and a downstream temperature sensors. The fluidic component defines a flow path having inlet and outlet ends disposed closer to each other than to a mid-point of the flow path. The heat source and the upstream and downstream temperature sensors are disposed in thermal communication with a fluid in the flow path.

Abstract: An anemometer and method for analyzing fluid flow is described. In one embodiment, a transistor sensor is heated by applying power to cause its base-emitter junction to rise from an ambient first temperature to a second temperature. The power is removed, and the Vbe is measured at intervals as the junction cools. The Vbe equates to a temperature of the junction. The temperature exponentially decreases, and the time constant of the decay corresponds to the fluid flow velocity. A best fit curve analysis is performed on the temperature decay curve, and the time constant of the exponential decay is derived by a data processor. A transfer function correlates the time constant to the fluid flow velocity. The transistor is thermally coupled to a metal rod heat sink extending from the package, and the characteristics of the rod are controlled to adjust the performance of the anemometer.

Abstract: The flow of a fluid of unknown composition is measured by leading the fluid over a first temperature sensor, a heater and a second temperature sensor. The temperature difference DTP between the temperature sensors is measured, as well as the temperature T of at least one of them. In addition, calibration data is used to store the temperature Tref of a known reference fluid. The offset T?Tref at a given temperature difference DTP is a direct measure of the composition of the fluid and allows to retrieve any parameter depending on the same.

Abstract: A pulsed-laser beam detector with improved sun and temperature compensation. The detector includes a plurality of photo detectors, an ambient temperature sensor, a sun exposure filter and a mirroring circuit, a microcontroller unit that includes pre-stored values in a database and an algorithm—decision logic, a time base circuit that feeds microcontroller, an adjustable gain amplifier, a threshold setting circuit, a peak detector circuit, a comparator circuit, and a noise cancellation circuit. The gain of the amplifier is adjustable in real time to predetermined values, and the gain depends on the measured values from the detectors, and temperature sensor, that are preprocessed if necessary, and compared with the values already stored in the microcontroller unit and subjected to the program logic stored in the microcontroller that determines the gain of the amplifier.

Abstract: In order to provide a robust, weather resistant, portable, low-noise, relatively inexpensive, wind direction detection device, disclosed herein is a method and device for detecting fluid flow direction based on sensing a temperature variation transmitted from a temperature variation source to one or more temperature sensors. One or more indicators are utilized to communicate the measured fluid flow direction to a user. An implementation of the fluid flow direction detection device utilizes a resistance heater as the temperature variation source, thermistors as the temperature sensors, and light emitting diodes (LEDs) corresponding to each thermistor as the indicators. The thermistors and LEDs are arranged in a circular fashion around the resistance heater to accurately detect the direction of a thermal plume generated by the resistance heater.

Abstract: An RFID device includes an analog block, a digital block, and a memory block. The analog block receives a radio frequency signal in order to output an operating command signal. The digital block outputs an address, an operating control signal, a temperature sensor activating signal, and a temperature compensating signal in response to the operating command signal. The memory block reads/writes data in a cell array having a plurality of nonvolatile ferroelectric capacitors. The memory block also has a temperature treating unit that sets a parameter value for temperature compensation in response to the temperature compensating signal, detects a temperature change state in an RFID tag in response to the temperature sensor activating signal, and compares the temperature change state with the parameter value. The parameter value is changed according to the comparison result and outputs a digital code value corresponding to the temperature change state.

Abstract: A method of dispensing a volatile material comprises the steps of providing power to a volatile material diffuser having a diffusion element. The method further includes the step of operating the diffusion element for a randomly determined period of time, wherein the diffusion element is continuously activated and deactivated during the period of time at a randomly determined duty cycle.

Abstract: An average-temperature compensated field device comprises a field module, a temperature-averaging sensor, a microprocessor, and an interface. The field module is configured to characterize a process parameter. The temperature-averaging sensor is configured to generate a compensation signal characterizing an extended region of the field device. The microprocessor is configured to compensate a process signal as a function of the compensation signal. The interface is configured to communicate the process signal via a field device communication protocol.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving accuracy of measurement of fluid pressure at a fluid port, such as at a supply port or control port of a fluid control valve, involves a closed-loop precision pressure measurement method with barometric pressure and temperature compensation.

Abstract: An orthopedic simulator is provided with a temperature control arrangement for controlling the temperature of a plurality of baths of test stations that are configured to contain a sample under test within a specimen bath. The temperature control arrangement includes fluid circulation tubing that carries temperature control fluid to the baths to control the temperature of the baths through heat exchange.

Abstract: A temperature compensating fluid flow sensing system is provided that comprises a resistance-based sensor element that is included in a constant voltage anemometer circuit configured to establish and maintain a command voltage across the first sensor element and to provide a constant voltage anemometer (CVA) output voltage corresponding to the resistance change in the first sensor element due to heat transfer between the first sensor element and the fluid. A controller is configured to establish the command voltage based on a desired overheat across the sensor and an actual overheat across the first sensor element. A power dissipation (PDR) module is configured to determine at least one fluid flow parameter and an actual overheat value based at least in part on the CVA output voltage and to transmit to the controller the actual overheat for use by the controller in updating the command voltage.

Abstract: A method and device for a liquid media parameters determination, wherein an extended heater oriented along the fluid flow is installed in the fluid flow. Fluid flow temperature is measured. The heater is heated up and the temperatures at the interfaces “heater front surface?flow zone” and “heater rear surface?flow zone” are measured; for the both interfaces, measured values are used for calculating temperature difference between the said heater and the flow, while the water-to-oil relationship is determined through calculations by using either mathematical or graphic relationships. The device for determining the parameters of fluid flow comprising a heater, characterized in that the heater has an extended shape and is oriented along the fluid flow direction, with two thermal sensors located at the opposite ends of the heater, which are capable of transmitting measured data remotely.

Abstract: A flowmeter having a vortex type detection means with a measurement tube provided in a flow passage that allows passage of a fluid therethrough, and having a vortex generator provided in the measurement tube that is opposed to a flow of the fluid. The flowmeter also includes a vortex detector detecting a change based on a Karman vortex generated by the vortex generator, a thermal type detection means having a temperature sensor and a heating temperature sensor protruding into the flow passage, and a flow rate converter controlling a power supply amount related to heating of the heating temperature sensor for attaining a fixed difference in temperature between the temperature sensor and the heating temperature sensor and calculating a flow rate of the fluid from the power amount. The flow rate converter also calculates the flow rate of the fluid from a detection value obtained by the vortex detector.

Abstract: A fluid flow rate sensor includes a detection circuit which generates a first signal corresponding to an output voltage of a bridge circuit, and a second signal corresponding to a fluid temperature. A control module can more accurately and quickly determine the fluid flow rate based on the first signal, the second signal and a look-up table. The look-up table includes a plurality of curves plotted according to data, indicating relationship among the fluid temperature, the output voltage and the fluid flow rate. The fluid flow rate sensor is inherently temperature compensated and has a shorter response time.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for measuring a gas consumption by means of a gas meter. A gas meter with thermal mass flow sensor for determining mass flow signals (SM) and with a calibration as energy meter for outputting energy value signals (SE) is known. According to the invention, a gas type is determined by the gas meter insofar as combustible and non-combustible gas mixtures are differentiated. The gas meter is operated, in the case of a non-combustible gas mixture, with calibration in mass or standard volume units (I/min) and, in the case of a combustible gas mixture, with calibration in energy units (kWh). Embodiments concern inter alia: measurement of a gas parameter (?, ?, c, ?) of the gas or determining the gas type; gas quality sensor with an identical construction to thermal flow sensor; measuring intervals lengthened in the case of non-combustible gas and shortened in the case of combustible gas.

Abstract: Method comprising providing a signal tube extending generally from an engine component disposed on a hot side of a firewall in a gas turbine engine to at least one engine control mechanism disposed on a cool side of the firewall. A fuse in the signal tube is operable responsive to a breach in the signal tube to change from a first condition to a second condition to prevent an over-temperature situation on the cool side of the firewall. The engine control mechanism operates the engine according to a first operating logic utilizing a pressure signal related to a static pressure of a fluid in the signal tube. Loss of the pressure signal causes the engine control mechanism to change to a second operating logic which does not utilize the pressure signal.

Abstract: A vortex flowmeter has a vortex sensor and terminals that receive a thermal junction output from a thermowell assembly that is remote from the vortex flowmeter. The vortex flowmeter has a data input that receives data representing a thermal property of the thermowell assembly. The vortex flowmeter has a circuit that receives the first thermal junction output and the vortex sensor output, and that provides a flowmeter output that is compensated for temperature and for the thermal property.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a circuit that employs heated semiconductor elements to sense fluid flow speed and direction based on the cooling of the semiconductor element. The fluid flow speed and direction is determined by measuring the changes in the forward voltage drop across the semiconductor. The present invention improves on the previous art by enabling a single circuit to operate in either a constant-current or hybrid (constant-current/constant-temperature) mode where advantageous aspects of both modes are employed.

Abstract: A sensor system for monitoring cryogenic gas flow through a tube/pipe has at least one sensor coupled to the tube/piping. An alarm circuit is coupled to the sensor for receiving measurement signals from the at least one sensor and for sending an alarm signal when the measurement signal deviates from a predetermined level.

Abstract: Temperature compensation methods for physical property sensors are disclosed herein, based on a simple bridge circuit. An imbalance of the bridge circuit can be driven to a zero value, while a supply voltage thereof is simultaneously driven to a level required to bring the heating element to the temperature rise above ambient temperature that optimally compensates for a number of temperature-dependent effects. The heating element can be configured as a thin-film heating material. The resulting total temperature dependence of the measuring system, which includes the heating element, the bridge-circuit with amplifier and the fluid to be measured, can be reduced to a level at which the need for additional digital temperature compensation circuitry and its associated costs may be reduced.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and method for providing precise temperature control using inexpensive temperature controllers and/or thermostats. Specifically the invention provides modifications to either a temperature controller and/or a thermostat that enables precise temperature control using inexpensive components. The series rheostat type differential eliminator (SRDE) is an inexpensive circuit that interfaces between a temperature controller and a thermistor or other temperature sensor element. The SRDE is essentially a circuit that switches the thermistor between a shunt and a rheostat in a manner that reduces or eliminates the temperature differential, while preventing the system from going into “chatter.

Abstract: A device for measuring the flow-rate of gas in a duct, particularly for burners. The device includes a gas flow-rate sensor generating a first output signal proportional to the flow-rate detected, a temperature-compensation circuit receiving the first output signal and generating a second output signal proportional to the gas flow-rate detected by the sensor and independent of the temperature of the gas and/or the flow-rate sensor. The compensation circuit has a temperature sensor. The device also includes a calibration circuit receiving the second output signal. The calibration circuit generates a third output signal proportional to the gas flow-rate detected and independent of structural parameters of the flow-rate sensor and/or of the temperature sensor so that the third output signal is correlated with the flow-rate detected and independent of the temperature of the gas, the temperature of the flow-rate sensor, and the structural parameters of the flow-rate sensor.

Abstract: In a gas-flow measuring instrument for measuring a gas flow in an intake gas passage for sucking gas, an abnormal output, deterioration per hour, stain, and breakage of a flow measuring element caused by fluid and foreign materials contained in intake gas are reduced. A gas-flow measuring instrument disposed in an intake gas passage for sucking gas for measuring a gas flow includes a bypass passage for bringing gas flowing along the intake gas passage, a bypass passage inlet opened to the upstream side of a main stream direction of gas in the intake gas passage, and a flow measuring element disposed in the bypass passage.

Abstract: A flow sensor, which can detect flow velocity in a wide range including high flow velocity area with simple structure. A flow sensor includes a substrate having a hollow portion; and a thin film structure portion provided above the hollow portion. The thin film structure portion is provided with a heater formed in a center portion, an upper and a lower stream temperature detectors for detecting temperature of the fluid, a fluid thermometer for detecting temperature of the fluid, and thermal couple films provided on the substrate at a portion, where is between the heater and both temperature detectors. According to this structure, the thermal couple films enhance thermal coupling between the heater and the temperature detectors.

Abstract: A thermal flowmeter is provided with a flow rate detecting unit (4) containing a heating element, a flow rate detecting temperature sensing element and a flow rate detecting electroconductive fin plate (44) extending into a fluid flow passage (3), which are disposed so as to enable heat transfer therebetween, the flow rate detecting temperature sensing element varying in electrical characteristic value in accordance with the flow of the fluid in the fluid flow passage (3); and, a fluid temperature detecting unit (6) containing a fluid temperature detecting temperature sensing element and a fluid temperature detecting electroconductive fin plate (44′) extending into the fluid flow passage (3), which are disposed so as to enable heat transfer therebetween, the fluid temperature detecting temperature sensing element varying in electrical characteristic value in accordance with the temperature of the fluid.

Abstract: An air flow rate measuring apparatus generates a flow rate signal with a nonlinear characteristic from a flow rate detecting unit provided with a heat generating resistor and converts that into a signal with a linear characteristic by a linearizing circuit. Then, the flow rate signal is smoothed by a filter circuit to obtain a signal in which the measurement error due to a flow rate ripple is suppressed. Thereafter, the flow rate signal is again formed into a signal with a nonlinear characteristic by a nonlinear-form converting circuit to suppress resolution lowering due to analog-to-digital conversion.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for accurately controlling the amount of NH3 to be applied to a field by measuring the NH3 flow rate without condensing or cooling the NH3. The system includes a control station 12 on the vehicle with a tachometer 12A or a GPS system for providing a vehicle speed signal to a control panel 13. The control panel includes a toggle switch 17 for adjusting the opening or closing of a valve 52 in the flow line to regulate the flow through the system, although the control panel alternatively may automatically control the valve 52. The vehicle transports a tank 20 containing liquid NH3 and a tool bar 30 for distributing the NH3 to the soil. After flowing through the flow meter 40, 60, 130, the NH3 is conducted to the soil through a series of hoses, fittings, a distributor, and tubing. The flow meter transmits a signal to the control panel, which is converted to a corrected flow rate signal in response to a fixed value vaporization correction factor.

Abstract: A response-adjustable temperature sensor (306, Rext), particularly for a transponder (102, 200, 400) capable of measuring one or more parameters (e.g., temperature, pressure) and transmitting a data stream (FIGS. 3C, 4B) to an external reader/interrogator (106). The transponder typically operates in a passive mode, deriving its power (Vxx, Vcc, Vdd) from an RF interrogation signal received by an antenna system (210, 410), but can also operate in a battery-powered active mode. The transponder includes memory (238, 438) for storing measurements, calibration data, programmable trim settings (436b), transponder ID and the like.

Abstract: In flow detection by a thermal-type flow measuring instrument, a flow rate valve with reduced measurement error due to temperature variation can be obtained even under environment where a fluid temperature and a circuit temperature are different. A measurement error due to temperature variation of the fluid of the thermal-type flow measuring instrument can be corrected on the basis of a temperature of the fluid by adjusting the measurement error to be constant ratio irrespective of the flow rate. On the other hand, a temperature characteristic of the circuit is adjusted to be substantially zero %.