Abstract: A radar transducer has a planar array antenna mounted on a plate portion of a housing with the microwave transceiver mounted on the opposite side of the plate and carrying a PCB defining the processing section for supplying an output to a cable. The plate portion slides into a plastic receptacle defining the radome for the antenna with a potting compound sealing the open face of the receptacle. The electrical processing section is shielded from extraneous electromagnetic waves without additional metallic shielding elements. The processor is programmable in response to signals received through the output cable so as to re-configure the program thereof so as to change the output to the output cable for different end use controllers and for compatibility with communications protocols. The processor is programmed to carry out a test of the operation of the transceiver and to provide a failure output signal to the cable in the event that the operation is found to be outside predetermined parameters.

Abstract: A signal indicative of a distance from a first element to a second element, such as the end face of a piston from the end wall of its cylinder, is generated by providing an optical imager carried on a housing that is fixed on the end wall with the optical imager pointed to the end face. An image processor is arranged to identify image components, such as the end nut on the piston, from the acquired images of the first element. From the location of the nut the processor can identify the location of the outer edge of the circular end face and can determine the area of the end face in the image by counting pixels within the area. From the measured area as it appears in the image the distance can be calculated. The end face is illuminated by a light source shining through a light pipe passing through a drilled hole in the end wall. Characteristic markings can be applied on the end face for measuring distance when the nut is too close to be visible.

Abstract: An electric power distribution and control apparatus has a stack of conductive plates each having a plurality of spaced contact pads and conductive traces connecting the contact pads to others of the pads. At least one of the plates has contact terminals for connection to electrical components for supply of electrical current. An array of contact pins pass through holes in the plates at a respective one of the contact pads such that the array of pins provides connection between selected contact pads of different selected conductive plates. An electronic system for connection to a communication bus is added to the above known system by providing a main circuit board having the electronic components thereon, a mapping circuit board having a plurality of contact pads thereon arranged for connection to respective ones of the array of pins and a header having a male pin array and a female socket array connecting the main printed circuit board and the mapping circuit board.