Abstract: Accelerometers have a number of wide-ranging uses, and it is desirable to both increase their accuracy while decreasing size. Here, millimeter or sub-millimeter wavelength accelerometers are provided which has the advantage of having the high accuracy of an optical accelerometer, while being compact. Additionally, because millimeter or sub-millimeter wavelength signals are employed, cumbersome and awkward on-chip optical devices and bulky optical mediums can be avoided.

Abstract: Circuitry is described for compensating leakage currents in capacitive sensing circuits. A single active leakage compensation circuit may sense a representative leakage current and drive a plurality of output transistors, each of which provides a compensating current to a respective capacitive sensing circuit. The leakage compensation circuit may sense current flow through a device substantially equivalent to a device exhibiting leakage current in a capacitive sensing circuit, and in response, provide a signal to drive one or more output transistors to supply approximately equivalent currents to a plurality of circuit nodes. For embodiments having multiple similar capacitive sensors and capacitive sensing circuits, only one transistor need be added to each capacitive sensing circuit to compensate for leakage current.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of detecting an LED failure in a series-connected string of LEDs using a parameter indicative of a voltage difference between a voltage across the string at a predetermined relatively high current and a voltage across the string at a predetermined relatively low current. The disclosure extends to controllers configured to detect an LED failure in a string of LEDs, to LED lighting units comprising such controllers, and to lighting subsystems, for instance automobile lighting subsystems.

Abstract: Detection of a fault in an ungrounded electric power distribution system that includes a plurality of feeders and buses is disclosed herein. Embodiments consistent with the present disclosure may monitor an electrical parameter associated with each of a plurality of feeders and buses in the ungrounded electric power distribution system. An incremental change in the monitored electrical parameters may be determined using the monitored electrical parameter. Further, the incremental change may be associated with a first sub-set of the plurality of feeders. Torque values for the feeders may be calculated using a reference quantity from the bus first exhibiting an incremental change above a threshold. A feeder having the largest incremental change in the first sub-set of the plurality of feeders may be identified. A fault may be identified based on the torque and the incremental change.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for measuring stress or strain in a conductive material without physical contact with the material are provided. The device comprises an inductor circuit configured to induce an alternating current into the material along a first path; and a detector configured to detect a signal representative of the stress in the material along the first path when current is induced in the material.

Abstract: A system has an extended dynamic range for measuring distortion in an output signal of a device under test (DUT), the output signal having at least a first fundamental signal. The system includes a first combiner and a test receiver. The first combiner is configured to inject a first cancellation signal generated by a first signal source into the output signal from the DUT, at least one of a first magnitude and a first phase of the first cancellation signal being adjustable for suppressing the first fundamental signal. The test receiver is configured to receive and measure the output signal having the suppressed first fundamental signal.

Abstract: A system is provided for measurement with one or more sensors including at least one signal conductor and at least one pearl, wherein the pearl a device configured to change an impedance mismatch with an external environmental effect.

Abstract: A proximity sensor includes a relatively simple health monitoring circuit. The proximity sensor includes a variable gain oscillator, a feedback circuit, and a proximity determination circuit. The variable gain oscillator has a gain that varies with the proximity of a target to a sensor coil, generates an oscillating electrical signal having a substantially constant amplitude magnitude, and generates an energy signal representative of the electrical energy needed to sustain oscillations. The feedback circuit supplies feedback to the oscillator, and the proximity determination circuit, based on the energy signal, supplies a proximity signal representative of target proximity to the sensor coil. The health monitor circuit also receives the oscillating electrical signal and supplies a health status signal representative of proximity sensor health.

Abstract: A proximity sensor includes a relatively simple temperature compensation circuit, and includes a variable gain oscillator, a temperature sensor circuit, and a proximity determination circuit. The variable gain oscillator has a gain that varies with the proximity of a target to a sensor coil, generates an oscillating electrical signal having a substantially constant amplitude magnitude, and generates an energy signal representative of the electrical energy needed to sustain oscillations. The temperature compensation circuit senses proximity sensor temperature and supplies a temperature signal representative thereof, and the proximity determination circuit, based on the energy signal, supplies a proximity signal representative of target proximity to the sensor coil. The proximity determination circuit includes a comparator and a fixed resistor network. The comparator circuit supplies the proximity signal.

Abstract: A device for measuring a geometry of a fluid meniscus includes a fluid chamber storing a first electrically conductive fluid and a second electrically insulating fluid. The fluids are mutually immiscible and define a fluid meniscus in between them. The device further includes a main electrowetting electrode and auxiliary electrowetting electrodes for controlling the geometry of the fluid meniscus. A voltage source provides a voltage between the main electrowetting electrode and the auxiliary electrowetting electrodes and a measurement circuit separately measures capacitances between the main electrowetting electrode and at least two of the auxiliary electrowetting electrodes. The measurement circuit includes a multiplexer for demodulating a signal indicative for the capacitances.

Abstract: A method includes generating a pulse, transmitting the pulse on a first cable of a multi-cable communication system, monitoring a second cable of the multi-cable communication system for the pulse or a reflection of the pulse on the second cable, and, if the monitoring detects the pulse or the reflection on the second cable, outputting a notification of a short between the first cable and the second cable.

Abstract: An electromagnetic opening/closing device comprises: a measurement part that measure a change associated with opening/closing of a contact (the number of times the contact has been opened or closed); a life determining part that determines a state of the contact, based on the change (the number of times the contact has been opened or closed) measured by the measurement part; and an output part that outputs the determined result by the life determining part to outside. Accordingly, differently from the conventional technique, an apparatus, equipped with the electromagnetic opening/closing device, has no need to count the number of times the contact has been opened or closed in order to manage the lifetime of the device, and it is possible to easily manage the lifetime compared with conventional devices.

Abstract: A system and method for incorporating occupancy-detecting technology into furniture is provided. More particularly, the invention relates to detecting occupancy using a detection pad coupled a portion of a bed. The detection pad may include an aluminized polymer material, a metalized and/or conductive fabric, an aluminum sheet, a metal screen, an aluminum tape, a wire grid, or other metalized material or fabric. A controller determines the corresponding response based on single-occupancy or dual-occupancy detection by one or more detection pads. A processor receives information regarding changes in capacitance and determines when a change in voltage satisfies a threshold. Based on a determination of occupancy, or lack thereof, a variety of corresponding features of the adjustable bed may be activated.

Abstract: A measuring device provides a synthesizer device, at least two controlling devices and at least two controlled oscillators. The synthesizer device contains at least one direct digital synthesizer and generates at least two signals of known phase ratio. Signals generated by the synthesizer device form reference signals of at least one controlling device. Signals formed by the controlling devices control the controlled oscillators. The measuring device contains only frequency splitters, which divide by integer division factors.

Abstract: The invention refers to an apparatus for monitoring the operation of an electrically conductive tool (120) of a machine tool (100, 400) having at least one electrically conductive spindle (110) for holding the tool (120) and a detector (140, 545, 645) which determines an electrical resistance (190, 290, 390) between the spindle (110) and the electrically conductive work piece (130) to be processed, and wherein the spindle (110) is electrically isolated from the machine tool (100, 400) and/or the apparatus is adapted to electrically isolate the work piece (130) to be processed from the machine tool (100, 400).

Abstract: A transconductance amplifier mirror circuit is connected to an electrode for sensing the capacitance of the electrode with reference to ground, or the capacitance between the electrode and another electrode. A voltage level change is produced on the electrode connected to the transconductance amplifier mirror circuit to cause the transconductance amplifier mirror circuit to supply charges to or drain charges from a charge calculation circuit. The charge amount variation is converted to a signal for calculating the sensed capacitance.

Abstract: A condition estimation device includes a voltage measurement circuit, memory, and a controller. The voltage measurement circuit measures an open circuit voltage (OCV) of an electric storage device. The memory is configured to store first information on a correlation between a positive electrode potential and an electric storage capacity and second information on a correlation between a negative electrode potential and an electric storage capacity. The controller is configured to: measure an OCV under charge or discharge; calculate an electric storage capacity of the electric storage device having the OCV equal to a reference voltage; correct at least one of the first information and the second information such that a potential difference at the calculated capacity is equal to the reference voltage; and generate an OCV characteristic based on the first and the second information after the at least one of the first and the second information is corrected.

Abstract: An integrated circuit structure can include a plurality of solder bumps coupled in series forming a chain and a plurality of diodes, wherein each diode is coupled to one of the plurality of solder bumps. The integrated circuit structure also can include a first pad coupled to the solder bump of the plurality of solder bumps at an end of the chain. The first pad can be configured to provide a test current responsive to application of a forward bias voltage to each diode of the plurality of diodes.

Abstract: There is provided a capacitor sensor capable of controlling sensitivity, wherein the capacitor sensor measures the magnitude and direction of a shear force applied to the sensor, as well as the magnitude of a normal force applied on the surface of the sensor, and consists of a single cell including a pattern electrode capable of varying its shape to control the sensitivity of the sensor.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of evaluating electric joints includes: partially separating a terminal portion from a busbar portion of a joint formed between a battery cell terminal and an interconnector busbar; and measuring electric resistance between the terminal portion and the busbar portion. In another embodiment, the step of measuring includes connecting the terminal portion of the joint to a first clip of a first polarity and connecting the busbar portion of the joint to a second clip of an opposing polarity.