Abstract: An RF voltage probe is adapted to have a long coaxial cable to permit a measuring device to be connected remotely from the probe without distorting the voltage measurement.

Abstract: A MEMS component is monitored to determine its status. Sensors are deployed to sense the MEMS component and produce detection signals that are analyzed to determine the MEMS component state. An indicator device alerts a user of the status, particularly if the MEMS component has failed. Additionally, the MEMS component monitoring system may be practiced as a design structure encoded on computer readable storage media as part of a circuit design system.

Abstract: The signal source generates a signal of a frequency higher than the vibration frequency of the slider of the hard disk drive, and supplies it to one end of the slider and the disk of the hard disk drive. The detector detects a signal output from the other end of the slider and the disk, and outputs a change in the capacitance between the slider and the disk as a voltage when the hard disk drive receives an impact.

Abstract: The invention disclosed a sensing element integrating silicon nanowire gated-diodes with microfluidic channel, a manufacturing method and a detecting system thereof. The sensing element integrating silicon nanowire gated-diodes with a microfluidic channel includes a silicon nanowire gated-diode, a plurality of reference electrodes, a passivation layer and a microfluidic channel. The reference electrodes are formed on the silicon nanowire gated-diodes, and the passivation layer having a surface decorated with chemical materials is used for covering the silicon nanowire gated-diodes, and the microfluidic channel is connected with the passivation layer. When a detecting sample is connected or absorbed on the surface of the passivation layer, the sensing element integrating silicon nanowire gated-diodes with the microfluidic channel can detect an electrical signal change.

Abstract: In a method for operating a power tool with a diagnostic device, wherein the power tool has an internal combustion engine, a generator as an energy supply, and an electronic control unit, wherein a diagnostic device is connectable to the electronic control unit, and wherein the electronic control unit has an operating mode and a diagnostic mode, a non-uniform voltage signal is supplied by the generator as an energy supply and a uniform voltage signal is supplied by the diagnostic device as an energy supply. The electronic control unit evaluates the voltage signal that is being supplied as an energy supply and switches to diagnostic mode when the voltage signal is the uniform voltage signal supplied by the diagnostic device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cable diagnostics is disclosed for deployment as part of an Ethernet communication system to conduct diagnostics. The system transmits one or more pulses which are Ethernet compatible and of finite duration. Reflections are detected and through processing and measurement of the amplitude and round-trip delay of the pulse's reflection, cable faults are located. In one embodiment, this innovation uses an IEEE 802.3 compliant transmit pulse, such as an auto-negotiation signal (AN pulse), to conduct cable diagnostics. The benefits of a standard compliant allow for use with any vendor on the far-end and the signal requires no special hardware or software to produce and, therefore, reduces system complexity and cost. To reduce incorrect measurements, the apparatus measures cable length and termination with multiple AN pulses. It then applies non-linear filters to redundant measurements in such a way that it produces accurate cable diagnostics information.

Abstract: A gauge head (10) for an ionisation vacuum gauge includes an electrical device (12, 28, 54) operable to provide an electrical discharge in a gas whose pressure is to be measured to initiate ion discharge in the gas.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for correcting alignment of a product on a tool and, more particularly, to a system and method for correcting alignment of a wafer on a chuck of a tool. The system is a tool that includes at least one contact near a circumference of the tool and a grounded contact proximate to the at least one contact.

Abstract: A solar photovoltaic panel test platform includes a test section and a signal processing section. The test section has a frame, a light-emitting unit disposed on the frame, a first angle adjustment unit and a second angle adjustment unit arranged on the frame, an air-cooling unit mounted on the first angle adjustment unit for connecting with a first solar photovoltaic panel, and a water-cooling unit mounted on the second angle adjustment unit for connecting with a second solar photovoltaic panel. The signal processing section is connected to the first and second angle adjustment units, the light-emitting unit, the air-cooling unit, the water-cooling unit, and the first and second solar photovoltaic panels. The signal processing section serves to receive sensing signals and transmit control signals. The solar photovoltaic panel test platform can provide different illuminations, angles of incidence and heat dissipation modes to test the efficiency of the solar photovoltaic panels.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for the capacitive measurement of the quality and/or deterioration of a fluid, wherein the device includes a sensor encapsulated in a perforated case, wherein the sensor is connected to the encapsulation so as to be mechanically uncoupled therefrom.

Abstract: Disclosed are a measurement method and a measurement apparatus both of which can measure the content of water or an organic acid in a polar organic solvent with high accuracy even when water or the organic acid is contained in the polar organic solvent at a low content. The content of water or an organic acid in a polar organic solvent can be measured by using, as a work electrode, an ISFET electrode in which a thin film comprising an oxide or nitride of a metal or metalloid element belonging to Groups 3 to 15 is formed on a gate.

Abstract: A method of inline inspection of photovoltaic material for electrical anomalies. A first electrical connection is formed to a first surface of the photovoltaic material, and a second electrical connection is formed to an opposing second surface of the photovoltaic material. A localized current is induced in the photovoltaic material and properties of the localized current in the photovoltaic material are sensed using the first and second electrical connections. The properties of the sensed localized current are analyzed to detect the electrical anomalies in the photovoltaic material.

Abstract: Techniques for calibrating non-linearities of ADCs are described, which can be applied whether or not the non-linearities change with frequency. When the non-linearities do not change (are static), the frequency of a calibrating signal is first estimated coarsely in a calibration mode, then a fine estimate is determined using the coarse estimate. These estimates are then used to predict the sinusoidal signal using a linear predictor. A Look Up Table (LUT) containing corrections to the ADC is derived from this result. The LUT is then used in a normal operating mode to correct the output of the ADC. In a case where the characteristics of the non-linearities of the input signal are dynamic and thus change with frequency, a frequency spectrum of interest is broken into several regions. In each of these regions, a frequency is identified and used as a calibrating signal to generate the corresponding LUT.

Abstract: A device may include a first layer, a second layer, a third layer, a capacitive sensing component coupled to the first layer, and a force sensing component coupled to the first layer and the third layer and configured to detect the amount of force applied to the second layer. A method may include monitoring capacitance and voltage at one or more input sensors configured to detect changes in capacitance and to detect changes in applied force, detecting a change in capacitance, activating a capacitance response in response to detecting a change in capacitance, detecting a change in voltage, and activating a force response in response to detecting a change in voltage.

Abstract: A resonator arrangement has a conductive, semi-open outer housing, at an interior of which a conductive bar is provided disposed coaxially to the housing. At one end of the bar in a direction of a housing bottom, the bar has a die and, together with a dielectric and the housing bottom, forms a capacitor. The bar is short-circuited to the housing at another end, so that the bar and housing together form an LC oscillator circuit. Also disclosed is a method for analyzing a sample using a resonator arrangement.

Abstract: A device for detecting interruptions in a ring bus has a first interface configured so that it permits connection of a first free end of a line of the ring bus so that the device transmits data to bus elements of the ring bus via the first interface, a second interface configured so that it permits connection of the second free end of the line of the ring bus, and the device detects a creeping interruption of the line of the ring bus.

Abstract: An assembly (1) for detecting an electric discontinuity that includes an exciter (6) connected, via at least one capacitor, to two contacts (2, 3) normally connected between them by an electrically conducting member (4). The circuit outside the exciter defines a resonating circuit having an impedance that changes upon the opening of one of the contacts. The frequency of the detection circuit, which varies between two values corresponding to the two open or closed states of the contacts, is used by an electronic processing module (8) that generates a dysfunctional signal upon opening of one of the contacts. The invention can be used in numerous fields, such as transport, handling, storage, etc.

Abstract: Methods and systems method for sensing a position of an object in a body include positioning a probe in the body, making measurements of mapping electrical currents passing between at least a first electrode on the probe and a plurality of second electrodes on a surface of the body, calibrating the measurements so as to compensate for one or more non-ideal features of the measurements including effects of system-dependent electrical coupling to one or more devices other than the first electrode and the second electrodes, and computing the position of the probe in the body using the calibrated measurements.

Abstract: A generator generates electricity by non-combustion means. A battery stores the generated electricity. An electrical appliance is powered by the stored electricity. A metering device tallies an operating parameter indicative of the amount of electrical energy consumed by the appliance. A housing supports the generator, the battery, the appliance and the metering device. A device, including the generator, the battery, the metering device and the housing, is manually portable.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring and measuring the electrical, thermal and mechanical operating parameters of high voltage power conductors. A toroidal shaped housing, which can be mounted onto an energized conductor, contains all of the necessary electrical instruments to monitor the parameters associated with the conductor. Moreover, the housing includes the processing capability to analyze disturbance and fault events based on these parameters.