Abstract: A tire tread depth measurement system includes a scanner and smart phone that fit into the palm of a user either directly or attached to a glove. The technician obtains tread depth data by moving her hand holding the scanner over a tire profile. The scanner communicates with a nearby control box that uploads the data to a server for determination of tread depth, tire wear pattern and wheel alignment. The tire tread analysis is downloaded to the control box and reported to the technician via the smart phone. The smart phone is programmed to identify the vehicle and related information about it based on the license plate or vehicle identification number by interpreting the license number or VIN and interrogating various data bases via the internet. Wear and analysis results are forwarded for printing the entire report.

Abstract: Provided is a pressure measuring device including a first electric resistor that is exposed to gas; a second electric resistor that is exposed to gas and has the same structure as that of the first electric resistor; a first measuring unit that measures a first voltage drop generated across the first electric resistor; a second measuring unit that measures a second voltage drop generated across the second electric resistor; a third measuring unit that measures a third voltage drop generated across the first electric resistor; a calculating unit that calculates a correction value that corrects the third voltage drop, based on a difference between the first voltage drop and the second voltage drop; and an output unit that corrects the third voltage drop using the calculated correction value and outputs a pressure value according to the third voltage value after the correction.

Abstract: Flow through pressure sensors for use in fluid chromatography systems include a planar device formed from diffusion bonding of a plurality of metallic sheets and at least one sensing element. The planar device has a top surface, a bottom surface and a flow through channel. A diaphragm formed from a portion of one of the top or bottom surfaces is located adjacent to a sensing region of the flow through channel and is attached to the sensing element. The diaphragm is sized to deflect a distance in response to fluid pressure in the sensing region, which has an internal volume of less than about 25 microliters. The diaphragm and attached sensing element form a pressure sensor that measures strain or deflection of the diaphragm to calculate a pressure within the sensing region.

Abstract: Provided is a failure detection sensor which, when attached to structural members of various structures such as buildings can easily detect the risk of the failure of the structural members, and thus the structure, before such failure occurs and has a simple structure, which leads to realization at a low price. The failure detection sensor comprises: the first member 10 and the second member 20 provided in parallel with the first member 10 such that one end of the second member 20 is fixed to or restricted by the first member 10 and the other end of the second member 20 is not fixed to or restricted by the first member 10, having fracturing characteristics such that the second member 20 fractures during elastic deformation or plastic deformation of the first member 10. The failure detection sensor may have a compression coil spring 40 which applies a tensile force to the other end of the second member 20 on the opposite side of the one end.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods described herein provide for boundary layer flow sensor and corresponding determination of the flow characteristics of an ambient airflow over an aerodynamic surface. According to one aspect of the disclosure provided herein, the boundary layer flow sensor includes a body configured for mounting within or below the aerodynamic surface, a pressure port configurable between an open state for taking pressure measurements within the boundary layer of the ambient airflow and a closed state that protects the pressure port from contaminants when not in use.

Abstract: A first tire pressure sensor module is configured to provide information related to a pressure of a tire of a vehicle and comprises a pressure sensor configured to determine the information related to the pressure of the tire. The pressure module further includes a controller configured to selectively operate the tire pressure sensor module in an active state and in an inactive state, wherein an energy consumption of the tire pressure sensor module is lower in the inactive state than in the active state. The controller is further configured to control an output of the information related to the pressure of the tire in the active state, and operate the tire pressure sensor module in the inactive state based on determining that information related to a velocity of the tire indicates a velocity above a threshold.

Abstract: A motion base for displacing a force measurement assembly is disclosed herein. The motion base includes a base assembly; a support structure configured to be coupled to the force measurement assembly; a rotatable coupling device, the rotatable coupling device rotatably coupling the support structure to the base assembly; and an actuation system, the actuation system including one or more actuators operatively coupled to the support structure, the one or more actuators configured to displace the support structure relative to the base assembly. In one or more embodiments, greater than 50% of the weight of the support structure is supported by the rotatable coupling device. Also, in one or more embodiments, the motion base may be used for displacing objects other than a force measurement assembly, such as for displacing a flight simulator or a virtual reality simulator.

Abstract: A sensor unit including a measuring cell with a section-wise heat-conducting surface, a housing in which the measuring cell for the most part is contained, and an access channel to the measuring cell. The sensor unit includes a cavity that is confined for the most part by an outer surface of the measuring cell and by a wall of the housing facing towards the surface of the measuring cell. The cavity is closed in itself.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a sensing subassembly for use with a downhole tool comprises a housing, a cavity extending into the housing, a sensor disposed at least partially within the cavity, a shock mitigating member disposed between at least one end of the sensor and the housing, and at least one seal member disposed between the sensor and the housing. At least a portion of the sensor is in fluid communication with an exterior of the housing, and the shock mitigating member is configured to attenuate at least a portion of a shock wave between the housing and the sensor.

Abstract: A machine is disclosed for wind sensing on sailboats. Wind is important for sailing, but sailboats lean away from the wind when under sail. Vertical wind angles reduce the accuracy of existing anemometers. The cup blades disclosed here do not lose rotation speed when heeling over. Since it is now easy to have a sophisticated chartplotter display on a mobile device in waterproof case even on small boats, this waterproof wind sensor is a wireless “appcessory” that can talk to smartphones, tablets, computers, e-readers and marine electronics. The circuit board is encapsulated and is itself the wind direction arrow. A fluxgate compass on the circuit board provides wind direction. The apparatus is solar-powered, so there is no wiring to install or chafe. This allows a further inventive step for raising the anemometer using the mast track without needing to climb up or lower the mast.

Abstract: There is disclosed a high temperature pressure sensing system which includes a SOI, silicon carbide, or gallium nitride Wheatstone bridge including piezoresistors. The bridge provides an output which is applied to an analog to digital converter also fabricated using SOI, silicon carbide, or gallium nitride materials. The output of the analog to digital converter is applied to microprocessor, which microprocessor processes the data or output of the bridge to produce a digital output indicative of bridge value. The microprocessor also receives an output from another analog to digital converter indicative of the temperature of the bridge as monitored by a span resistor coupled to the bridge. The microprocessor has a separate memory coupled thereto which is also fabricated from SOI, silicon carbide, or gallium nitride materials and which memory stores various data indicative of the microprocessor also enabling the microprocessor test and system test to be performed.

Abstract: Pressure sensing systems comprising bulk-solidifying amorphous alloys and pressure-sensitive switches containing bulk-solidifying amorphous alloys. The bulk-solidifying amorphous alloys are capable of repeated deformation upon application of pressure, and change their electrical resistivity upon deformation, thereby enabling measurement of the change in resistivity and consequently, measuring the deformation and amount of pressure applied.

Abstract: Technologies for analyzing and deactivating an explosive device include electrically connecting an analysis device to a pair of trigger wires of the explosive device, performing a number of electrical measurements, and determining a deactivation action to be performed on the explosive device based on the electrical measurements (e.g., based on the calculated resistance between the trigger wires). In a disclosed embodiment, a primary lead of the analysis device is electrically coupled to a first trigger wire of the explosive device and a pair of secondary leads are each electrically coupled to a second trigger wire of the explosive device. The analysis device measures a voltage between the primary lead and at least one of the secondary leads. The analysis device also measures a current flowing through the secondary leads after a link of trigger wire extending between the leads has been cut or broken.

Abstract: An apparatus for the maintenance of wheels of vehicles, like a balancer or a device for mounting/dismounting tires, comprises a support adapted to support a rim of a wheel of a vehicle. A device for detecting the eccentricity of a tire of the wheel is mounted on the support. Such device comprises an optical system configured to capture a light beam reflected by a tread of the tire and focus it on a point of an optical sensor. The optical sensor emits a signal indicative of an average value of a radial distance of the linear portion from the main axis. A control unit processes a plurality of average values corresponding to different linear portions of the tread and obtained during the rotation of the tire, and detects the eccentricity of said tire.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tidal current meter that measures the velocity of a tidal current. The tidal current meter includes an oscillator, a calculation section, a depression angle setup section, and a drive section. The oscillator is capable of transmitting an ultrasonic wave into water and receiving the reflection of the transmitted ultrasonic wave. The calculation section calculates the velocity in accordance with the Doppler shift frequency of the reflection received by the oscillator. The depression angle setup section sets a depression angle, that is, the angle formed by the transmission direction of the ultrasonic wave and a horizontal plane. The drive section drives the oscillator in such a manner as to transmit the ultrasonic wave and receive the reflection of the transmitted ultrasonic wave at the depression angle set by the depression angle setup section.

Abstract: Disclosed is a passive, in-situ pressure sensor. The sensor includes a sensing element having a ferromagnetic metal and a tension inducing mechanism coupled to the ferromagnetic metal. The tension inducing mechanism is operable to change a tensile stress upon the ferromagnetic metal based on a change in pressure in the sensing element. Changes in pressure are detected based on changes in the magnetic switching characteristics of the ferromagnetic metal when subjected to an alternating magnetic field caused by the change in the tensile stress. The sensing element is embeddable in a closed system for detecting pressure changes without the need for any penetrations of the system for power or data acquisition by detecting changes in the magnetic switching characteristics of the ferromagnetic metal caused by the tensile stress.

Abstract: A tire module for attachment to an inside of a pneumatic tire for vehicles includes a device for measuring and/or monitoring the air pressure in the tire. A transmitter for transmitting radio signals, which contains information regarding the air pressure in the tire, includes a mechanical-electrical transducer having a flexible piezo-electrical element, which converts alternating changes in shape of the piezo-electric element caused by the rolling tire into electric energy and includes a storage unit for the electric energy, which is connected to the transducer. The transducer may contain a circular, disc-like, piezo-electric element, which in the following is described as piezo disc and on which an electrical voltage generated through the piezo effect is tapped off on contact points which are located on opposite sides of the piezo disc.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method may comprise attaching a plurality of wireless sensors to a pump jack; receiving time-stamped data from at least some of the plurality of wireless sensors attached to the pump jack, at least one of the plurality of wireless sensors comprising an accelerometer and a gyroscope and being attached to a crank arm of the pump jack; synchronizing the received time-stamped data; from the synchronized time-stamped data, calculating and generating information related to: a downhole load versus polished rod position of the pump jack; a relative balance of a counterweight of the pump jack relative to a horse head of the pump jack; deviations from a nominal acceleration profile of a bridle of the pump jack; and an angle of inclination of the bridle of the pump jack; and selectively generating, on a computing device, visualizations of the generated information.

Abstract: An inspection device for holding and turning a tire includes a centering structure which centers a first bead of the tire, a locking structure which locks the first bead in a centered position, a rotational driver which turns the tire about a tire axis, and at least one centering gripper module which interacts with a second bead of the tire. Each centering gripper module is provided with an internal spacing roller, an external holding roller, and a centering roller. The internal spacing roller is able to press axially against an internal face of the second bead. The external holding roller is able to bear axially against an external face of the second bead opposite the internal face. The centering roller is able to bear radially against the second bead and extends substantially axially. The internal spacing roller and the external holding roller extend substantially radially.

Abstract: A module (25) for measuring at least one parameter of a tire of a wheel of a motor vehicle, the wheel having a wheel rim (1). The measurement module (25) includes an inflation valve (30) designed to be assembled on the wheel rim (1) and including a deformable body (32) and a hollow rod (31) passing through the body (32) including an assembly notch (36) and a sensor device (40), mounted slidingly on the hollow rod (31), including at least one sensor for measuring the value of the parameter and an element (42) for immobilizing the sensor device (40) in the assembly notch (36). The assembly notch (36) has a setting range enabling the movement of the immobilizing element (42) in the assembly notch (36) between a first setting position and a second setting position to adapt to the thickness of the wheel rim (1).