Abstract: In an embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a method of sensing an analyte in a sample by: (1) exposing the sample to an electrode that includes a covalent-organic framework with a plurality of metal-coordinated aromatic units that are linked to one another by aromatic linkers; (2) detecting a change in a property of the electrode; and (3) correlating the change in the property to the presence or absence of the analyte. In an additional embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to said covalent-organic frameworks. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of making the covalent-organic frameworks.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method includes forming a metal layer on a substrate, wherein the metal layer comprises a first coil, forming a planarized insulator layer on the metal layer, forming at least one via in the planarized insulator layer, depositing a magnetoresistance (MR) element on the planarized insulator layer, and forming a second coil extending above the MR element. The at least one via electrically connects to the metal layer on one end and to MR element on the other end.

Abstract: An electric utility meter including a Hall Effect sensor configured to sense a magnetic field proximate the electric utility meter. The electric utility meter also includes a controller having an electronic processor, the controller configured to receive a signal indicative of a magnitude of the magnetic field proximate the electric utility meter from the sensor, determine whether the magnitude of the magnetic field exceeds a first magnitude threshold and whether a threshold flag has been set, set the threshold flag when the threshold flag has not been set and the magnitude exceeds the first magnitude threshold, determine an amount of time for which the magnitude has exceeded the first magnitude threshold when the threshold flag has been set, and generate an alert indicative of a magnetic tamper event when the amount of time exceeds a time threshold.

Abstract: A position sensing system has a trim unit to trim hall voltages generated by a first sensor and a second sensor in response to an excitation current, to compensate a non-orthogonality of the first sensor and the second sensor.

Abstract: Described herein are dielectric fluid testers for determining dielectric breakdown of fluid samples, systems comprising such testers, and methods using thereof. A dielectric fluid tester comprises a container and two electrodes. The test heads of these electrodes protrude inside the container and face each other, forming a gap. In some examples, one or both electrodes are movable for adjusting the gap and/or the volume inside the container available for a fluid sample. For example, the container includes two internal seals, one of which has a fixed position and is slidably coupled to a respective electrode. The other seal is slidably coupled to the container and moves together with the corresponding electrode. The container comprises an access port, providing a fluid communication between the fluid sample and an external pressure-controlling source. In some examples, the access port is used to deliver and remove the fluid sample from the container.

Abstract: A device that includes a sensor unit and a processing unit. The sensor unit is configured to detect at least one measured value at a predetermined point in time. The processing unit is configured to carry out a self-calibration of the device as a function of the detected measured value. A method for self-calibration of a device is also described.

Abstract: A magneto coupler for magnetic coupling of signal lines. The magneto coupler includes a circuit board including a first and second electrical connecting devices for connecting a first and second signal lines, respectively, and a semiconductor chip situated on the circuit board. The magneto coupler includes at least one transmitter coil situated in the area of the semiconductor chip, designed to generate a magnetic field based on an electrical signal received via the first electrical connecting device, and a magnetic field-sensitive sensor situated on the semiconductor chip and electrically insulated from the transmitter coil using an insulation barrier, for detecting the magnetic field generated by the transmitter coil and for outputting an electrical signal as a function of the detected magnetic field on the second electrical connecting device. The transmitter coil is situated on the circuit board, while the semiconductor chip is situated above the transmitter coil.

Abstract: A method and device for compensating for an influence of a magnetic interference source on a measurement of a magnetic field sensor in a device. In the method, a magnetic flux density M1 measured with the magnetic field sensor at a measured ambient temperature Tk is compensated for with a compensation factor Minterference of the magnetic interference source according to M=M1?Minterference, where Minterference=M0+aM0(T?k?T0) and M0 is a magnetic reference flux density relative to a reference temperature T0, a corresponding to a material parameter, which is defined for a used magnet material of the magnetic interference source, and the measured ambient temperature Tk being corrected using a non-linear delay parameter to a temperature of the magnetic interference source T?k. The method is used for the axis-based compensation of a temperature drift, the material parameter a being determined individually for each Cartesian axis.

Abstract: A method and system for diagnosing a squib loop in a restraint control module using a transient response is disclosed in the present application. The system may be used with a low energy actuator (LEA) which is primarily an inductive device. A diagnostic current may be applied to the squib loop for a diagnostic test period and the voltage between the feed line terminal and the return line terminal or the voltage between the return line terminal and the feed line terminal can be monitored at a specific time or times during the test period for the expected response (e.g. peak voltage, rise rate, etc). The current may also be reversed to check the correct polarity of a diode in the LEA.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor system comprising a first magnetic field sensor, one or more second magnetic field sensors and an amplifier and all magnetic field sensors are connected in series so that the respective output signals can be added up to a common input signal of the amplifier.

Abstract: A system and method for use in environment with electrical equipment is provided. The system including a housing and at least one light source located on an exterior of the housing. The light source being activated when the system is in a switching mode of operation. At least one sensor is operably coupled to the housing and configured to measure at least one parameter associated with the electrical equipment. A computing device is disposed within the housing and coupled to communicate with the at least one light source and the at least one sensor.

Abstract: A system and method for direct and/or active detection and monitoring of civil engineering or other infrastructural structures, and in a preferred embodiment, for hydrocarbon leakage in oil and gas pipelines, storage structures, and/or transportation structures. Particularly, the system and method relate to various nanocomposite sensor coating and data gathering systems. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a single measurement sensor coating (thin film) sensor. Other embodiments relate to multiple measurement sensor coating systems. The sensor is comprised of either a discrete conductive filament layer, or a single or multiple mesh of interwoven filaments of conductive material in one direction and nonconductive material in a perpendicular direction, as a substrate coated with sensitive coating materials to form a sensor grid. Various embodiments of the sensor coating and their applications are also disclosed.

Abstract: A structure for magnetic flux sensor conditioning is presented which partitions an input analog signal of unknown integrity into two: susceptible and insusceptible. The structure scrutinizes the susceptible signal partition, in view of additional guard sensor information, through a mixed-signal processing side-chain that employs a non-invasive physical magnetic attack detection algorithm. The side-chain either validates, or replaces with a best estimate, the susceptible signal partition, depending upon the absence or presence of attack, respectively. The structure finally recombines the scrutinized susceptible signal partition with the insusceptible signal partition. The result is an analog magnetic flux sensor signal that is robust against skillful, surreptitious, spoofing attacks. If unmitigated, such attacks may induce catastrophic consequences into systems relying upon the magnetic flux sensor.

Abstract: Methods and systems for activating electric vehicles are provided. One method includes, in response to a first command to activate the vehicle, transitioning the vehicle from an inactive state to a wake state where a controller of the vehicle is activated and the vehicle is prevented from being propelled by an electric motor of the vehicle. The method also includes, in response to receiving a second command to activate the vehicle after receiving the first command, transitioning the vehicle from the wake state to a ready state where the vehicle is permitted to be propelled by the electric motor.

Abstract: A diaper wetness detection system includes a diaper, a wetness sensor, an RFID unit, and a transceiver unit. The RFID unit is a battery-less device that receives an interrogation signal transmitted by the transceiver unit. The RFID unit or the transceiver unit are configured to determine if a measurable characteristic, as sensed by the wetness sensor, indicates if the diaper is wet. The measurable characteristic can be a voltage or current indicative of a resistance, capacitance, or impedance at an area sensed by the wetness sensor. The value of the measurable characteristic is different when the diaper is wet versus dry. Comparing the measurable characteristic value to a threshold value or to one or more previously sensed measurable characteristic values enables a determination to be made as to whether or not the diaper is wet. The RFID unit can be detachably coupled to the diaper for simple attachment and removal.

Abstract: A sensor system for measuring a physical quantity includes: a bridge sensor having at least two terminal pairs, a current source for applying a bias current between the bias terminal pair, resulting in a differential sensor signal on a readout terminal pair, wherein the differential sensor signal is indicative for the physical quantity, and an amplifier comprising a first input node and a second input node for receiving the differential signal and at least one output node, wherein the amplifier is configured for amplifying the differential sensor signal and putting the resulting signal on the at least one output node, wherein the sensor system is configured such that, in operation, the amplifier is powered by at least part of the bias current.

Abstract: A control device controls a magnetic field generated by a magnetic field generator, and includes a magnetic field controller that controls the magnetic field generator based on a detected value by a magnetic field sensor. The magnetic field controller receives a command value generated by the magnetic field generator, and the detected value. The magnetic field controller generates an error signal based on an error between the command value and the detected value and outputs to the magnetic field generator a control signal amplified by a control gain against the error. The control gain includes: a first gain that becomes smaller as a frequency of the error signal gets higher; and a second gain that gets larger as an amplitude of the error signal gets larger.

Abstract: A circuit device includes an HS driver that is a USB HS-mode transmission circuit and a disconnection detection circuit that performs disconnection detection of USB. The disconnection detection circuit includes a holding circuit that measures and holds first voltage level information that is voltage level information of one signal out of a DP signal and a DM signal of the USB when the HS driver is transmitting a host chirp, a determination voltage generation circuit that generates a first determination voltage based on the first voltage level information, and a detection circuit that performs disconnection detection of the USB based on the first determination voltage and outputs a disconnection detection signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a sensor including a series of tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) pillars and a heatsink adjacent to at least one of the TMR pillars, where the heatsink comprises Titanium Nitride (TiN).

Abstract: A semiconductor device in which a transistor has the characteristic of low off-state current is provided. The transistor comprises an oxide semiconductor layer having a channel region whose channel width is smaller than 70 nm. A temporal change in off-state current of the transistor over time can be represented by Formula (a2). In Formula (a2), IOFF represents the off-state current, t represents time during which the transistor is off, ? and ? are constants, ? is a constant that satisfies 0<??1, and CS is a constant that represents load capacitance of a source or a drain.