Abstract: A method for controlling the non-uniformities of plasma-processed semiconductor wafers by supplying the plasma with two electrical signals: a primary electrical signal that is used to excite the plasma, and a supplemental electrical signal. The supplemental signal may be composed of a plurality of electrical signals, each with a frequency harmonic to that of the primary signal. The phase of the supplemental signal is controlled with respect to the phase of the primary signal. By adjusting the parameters of the supplemental signal with respect to the primary signal, the user can control the parameters of the resultant plasma and, therefore, control the non-uniformities induced in the semiconductor wafer.

Abstract: A method for determining resistances at a plurality of interconnected resistors in an integrated circuit and a resistor configuration in which the resistors are interconnected to form a ring structure. Two measurement pads are in each case provided at the nodes between two resistors. The measurement pads can be used for feeding in current and for measuring voltage according to the known four-point measurement method. The effect of the ring structure is that fewer measurement pads are required, in contrast to the customary series circuit of resistors. By way of example, in the case of a ring structure with four resistors, two measurement pads are advantageously saved. The consequently reduced chip area required for the ring structure is advantageous particularly in the case of test circuits, which can be arranged for example in the narrow sawing frame between two chips.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the inductance of a wire-loop with noise-cancellation, auto-calibration and wireless communication features, or detector circuit. The apparatus measures the effective change in inductance induced in a wire-loop as a vehicle passes over the wire-loop to produce an inductive signature corresponding to a vehicle.

Abstract: A wheel-speed sensor for generating signals representative of the wheel-speed of an individual wheel on a vehicle. Unlike known wheel-speed sensors, the wheel-speed sensor in accordance with the present invention is readily serviceable without disassembly of major components of the wheel assemblies and is relatively simple, and thus less expensive to manufacture, than known wheel-speed sensors. Two embodiments of the wheel-speed sensor in accordance with the present invention are disclosed. One embodiment relates to a “between-the-rows” wheel-speed sensor which includes a magnetic exciter ring that is adapted to be affixed to a rotating axle between rolling element rows of a wheel bearing. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the wheel-speed sensor is configured to form a grease seal which typically inserts into the end of an axle tube. A wheel-speed sensor utilizes a multiple pole magnetic exciter ring that is adapted to be attached to a rotating axle shaft.

Abstract: A method comprises generating first and second current levels and measuring the first and second current levels. The method further comprises alternately generating the first and second current levels repeatedly to generate a periodic current waveform, and measuring the voltage at at least one port in a system a plurality of times to obtain a plurality of sets of voltage measurements. The plurality of sets of voltage measurements are averaged. The method further comprises alternately generating the first and second current levels repeatedly at a predetermined number of different clock frequencies, determining a Fourier component of the averaged voltage measurements to determine clock frequency-dependent noises, removing the clock frequency-dependent noises to generate a filtered average voltage, and determining an impedance by dividing a Fourier component of the filtered average voltage by a Fourier component of the periodic current waveform having alternating first and second current levels.

Abstract: The invention provides a device for accurately locating ends of cords, wires cables or conduits, in particular in the fields of electricity, electronics, telephone and computer. The device includes an optical fiber disposed on a cord and extending from a first end to a second end of the cord. The optical fiber includes a first fiber end disposed at the first end of the cord and a second fiber end disposed at the second end of the cord. The device further includes a means for injecting light disposed proximate the first fiber end, the first fiber end being accessible so as to be illuminated by the means for injecting light and the second fiber end being accessible so as to recover the light injected at the first fiber end. Said device is useful for locating computer switching cords.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting moisture. An oscillatory electrical signal S1 generated by an oscillator is propagated into a body that includes an electrically insulative material. A signal due to S1 emerges from the body as an oscillatory electrical signal S2. The signals S1 and S2 differ in phase by ??, wherein ?? is indicative of moisture along a path traversed by S1 within the insulative material, and wherein the conductance ? of the insulative material is also indicative of the moisture along the path traversed by S1 within the insulative material. S2 is received at a sensing surface of a sensing part (e.g., probe, sensing antenna, etc.) and then transmitted to a moisture detecting device. The moisture detecting device determines from S1 and S2 a measure M of the moisture as a function of ?? or as a function of ?.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus and associated method for the testing of a laminated core (100) for an electrical machine. The apparatus supplies an excitation signal to the winding (102) of the electrical machine which is of a frequency higher than the rated operating frequency of the machine. There is also provided a phase sensitive detector (110) which receives, from the laminated core (100), a signal in response to the excitation signal. The phase sensitive detector (110) resolves the received signal into a number of components. These components are resolved relative to a reference signal. The size of the components determines the severity of any fault that exists within the laminated core (100.

Abstract: A circuit for measuring mechanical stress impressed on a printed circuit board includes a number of electrically conductive pads formed on at least one outer surface of the printed circuit board, and a resistive material applied in a pattern to the printed circuit board and defining a resistor between first and second ones of the number of electrically conductive pads. The resistive material exhibits an electrical resistance that varies as the resistive material is deformed so that the resistor exhibits an electrical resistance value that varies as a function of mechanical stress impressed on the printed circuit board sufficient to deform the resistive material defining the resistor. Any number of such resistors may be formed on or within the printed circuit board, and any such resistor may form part of an external resistor bridge network configured to monitor changes in its resistance value.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for improving the accuracy of circuits. The apparatus includes a replicate circuit and a trim determination circuit. The trim determination circuit includes a measurable circuit element and determines the state of the measurable element. The replicate circuit includes a replicate circuit element which has similar electrical characteristics as the measurable element, and is configured to aid in determining an adjustable test current. The trim determination circuit generates a test current which is proportional to the adjustable test current. The test current is passed through the measurable element such that a first voltage drop occurs across the measurable element. A measured current is generated at a current level dictated by the voltage drop across the measurable element, such that the state of the measurable element is determined by the difference between the measured current and a scaled reference current.

Abstract: The invention relates to a locator, in particular a handheld locator for detecting inclusions in walls, ceilings and/or floors, having a capacitive sensor device disposed in a housing, having means for generating a detection sensor of the at least one capacitive sensor device, having a control and evaluation unit, communicating with the sensor device, for ascertaining measurement values from the detection sensor, and having an output unit for reproducing measurement values of the capacitive sensor device. According to the invention, it is proposed that a measuring capacitor (16) of the capacitive sensor device (10) has a first electrode (21), which includes one face of the housing (14) of the sensor device (10).

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for measuring an electrical parameter through electrically-conductive casing, said device including a current injection electrode (3) and a measurement electrode (7) on one side of the wall of the casing (1). According to the invention, the injection electrode (3) is associated via a first magnetic coupler (4) with a current source (2) and the measurement electrode (7) is associated via a second magnetic coupler (6) with a measurement device (5) situated on the other side of the wall.

Abstract: A transmitter system for a Ferraris motion transmitter, includes a magnetic measuring arrangement including at least one magnetic field generator for generating a magnetic field and an electrically conductive measuring body, with the magnetic field generator and the measuring body movable relative to one another in operation. Coupled to the magnetic measuring arrangement is a magnetic field sensor for providing an output signal commensurate with a velocity or acceleration of the measuring body. At least one of the magnetic field generator and the magnetic field sensor includes at least two magnetic members interlocking one another in concentric relationship to the measuring body for guiding the magnetic field as a result of eddy currents forming during operation.

Abstract: The present invention is a remotely actuated emergency stop (E-stop) switch, with equipment control circuitry, providing a method for testing the E-stop switch and control circuitry to assure circuit and switch integrity, anytime, without equipment operational interruption, and without negating the manual actuation function of the E-stop switch to immediately cut all power to the equipment. The E-stop switch includes a first relay governing a first control circuit and a second relay governing a second control circuit. Each control circuit governs a motor source control contactor, which, when closed, provides power to the equipment. Transferring energization, and motor control, from the first control circuit to the second control circuit, and vice-versa, allows testing, in turn, of the de-energized components of the E-stop switch and control circuitry while the equipment remains operational. Remote actuation and circuit monitoring and testing is controlled by a Program Logic Controller (PLC).

Abstract: An identification and organization system using color coding and alphanumeric labels for matching components of a proximity measurement system includes: (1) a color code system to identify the type or series of proximity probe used with the proximity measurement system, and (2) an alphanumeric labeling system to identify the system length (i.e., the length of the extension cable plus the length of the proximity probe). Installation and maintenance of proximity measurement systems can be more reliably performed by the color code and alphanumeric labeling system.

Abstract: A circuit protection device connected between two lines of an AC power source self checks for an introduced simulated ground fault every half cycle during a period when a trip SCR cannot conduct. If the self check fails, the device is tripped on the next half cycle of different phase. Possible responses to the self check failure include lighting an indicator lamp and locking out the device reset mechanism.

Abstract: A differential probe is scanned along a stator core tooth portion to detect lamination faults. The probe utilizes two magnetic flux injection yokes arranged side-by-side in relatively close proximity, each yoke having two arm portions and two core-tooth flux-injection surfaces, each yoke being wound with an excitation coil winding and at least one yoke-arm of each yoke having a magnetic flux sensor. Current is supplied to the excitation coil windings on each yoke to inject magnetic flux into the stator core laminations while the probe is moved in a scanning process along the core teeth across the laminations. The magnetic flux differential detected at adjacent regions in the core by flux sensors on each of the two yokes is used to incrementally evaluate the core for laminations faults. The output produced by the differential probe may be converted to a digital signal and provided to a computer system for storage and future analysis.

Abstract: A preferred method for identifying a type of abnormality in an insulation system of a power transformer comprises measuring dielectric losses in a section of the insulation system, calculating theoretical dielectric losses for the section based on the material properties, geometry, and temperature of the section, and generating a graphical representation of a percent difference between the measured and calculated dielectric losses. The preferred method also comprises comparing a shape of the graphical representation with a shape of one or more graphical representations of a percent difference between measured and theoretical dielectric losses in one or more other sections of insulation each known to have a specific type of abnormality.

Abstract: Soot content in Diesel engine lubrication oil is determined using electrical resistance measurements of the oil at high frequency. A sensor in the form of a capacitor is immersed in the oil, wherein the oil serves as a dielectric between the plates. The capacitance and resistance between the plates change as a function of engine oil condition. An inductor is placed in series with the sensor, and high frequencies are sweeped over a range to find resonance where the capacitive and inductive reactances cancel. At this frequency, the resistance of the oil is measured and the condition of the oil thereby determined.

Abstract: A displacement sensor precisely detects displacement of a moving body in a rectilinear movement direction even if the moving body rotates. The sensor includes a detector and a magnet. The cross sectional area of the permanent magnet in a plane perpendicular to an axis, which extends in the rectilinear movement direction, varies in the direction of movement. The permanent magnet is magnetized in the rectilinear movement direction. The detector is located so that magnetic flux passes through a detection face of the detector substantially perpendicularly.