Abstract: A selector circuit selects either a class upper-limit voltage or a class lower-limit voltage as a reference voltage of a comparator. A control logic controls the selector circuit, and generates a count-up signal or a count-down signal in accordance with the output of the comparator. An up/down counter counts up upon reception of the count-up signal from the control logic, and counts down upon reception of the count-down signal. A digital-analog converter outputs the class upper-limit voltage and the class lower-limit voltage in accordance with a digital value that is outputted by the up/down counter. A timer circuit is configured to be reset by the count-up signal from the control logic to the up/down counter.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein provide systems and methods for determining the health status of a sensed switch. In general, the embodiments described herein determine a measure of a health status of the sensed switch by comparing a voltage on the sensed switch, ascertaining a first comparator state under one test condition and ascertaining a second comparator state under a second test condition. The first comparator state and the second comparator state are and then compared to determine the measure of the health status of the sensed switch.

Abstract: In one aspect, a resistivity logging tool for a fluid-producing formation if provided. The resistivity logging tool includes at least one transmitter device connected to at least one excitation electrode, multiple receiver devices respectively connected to monitoring electrodes, and a controller. The transmitter can inject an excitation current into the formation via the excitation electrode. Each receiver device can determine a respective voltage level induced by the excitation current. The controller can determine whether a voltage level measured by at least one receiver device is within a specified range. Based on the measured voltage level, the controller can select a global amplitude adjustment algorithm for modifying excitation currents or a localized amplitude adjustment algorithm for modifying one or more gains of one or more receiver devices. The controller can modify the excitation current or gains by executing the selected algorithm.

Abstract: One or more embodiments are directed to semiconductor packages, including stacked packages, with one or more cantilever pads. In one embodiment a recess is located in a substrate of the package facing the cantilever pad. The cantilever pad includes a conductive pad on which a conductive ball is formed. The cantilever pad is configured to absorb stresses acting on the package.

Abstract: A solution for testing a set of one or more electronic device (105) is disclosed. A corresponding test board (100) comprises a support substrate (205), a set of one of more sockets (210) being mounted on the support substrate each one for housing an electronic device (105) to be tested with a main surface thereof facing the support substrate, for each socket a thermal conditioning element (235) for acting on the main surface of the electronic device, and for each socket biasing means (240) being switchable between an active condition, wherein the biasing means biases the thermal conditioning element in contact with the main surface of the electronic device, and a passive condition, wherein the biasing means maintains the thermal conditioning element separate from the main surface of the electronic device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for detecting tension on a tendon and/or mechanical deformation (e.g., breakage) of one or more steering tendon of a steerable and flexible articulating device. Theses apparatuses may have one or more tendons that are each electrically conductive and configured to steer the apparatus when tension is applied to the proximal end of the tendon. Tension and/or breakage (or other deformation) of one or more of these tendons may be detected by monitoring the electrical resistance of the tendons.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a signal associated with one or more sensors. The method also includes examining one or more parameters of a signal conditioning circuit to determine whether clipping of the signal has occurred. The method further includes, upon a determination that clipping of the signal has occurred, decreasing a gain of the signal conditioning circuit. In addition, the method includes, upon a determination that clipping of the signal has not occurred, determining whether a cut-off frequency of the signal conditioning circuit is within a range of a frequency response of an object measured by the one or more sensors. The method can further include changing the cut-off frequency of the signal conditioning circuit and increasing a resistance or a capacitance of the signal conditioning circuit.

Abstract: Fluid sensor and method comprising: an oscillator having operating characteristics. Permittivity sensing element coupled to the oscillator and arranged to alter the operating characteristics of the oscillator in response to changes in permittivity presented to the permittivity sensing element. Reference element comprising an electrical impedance having a real and imaginary component controllably coupled to both the oscillator and the permittivity sensing element and arranged to alter the operating characteristics of the oscillator. Method of measuring the composition of a fuel comprising the steps of: measuring a real permittivity of the fuel. Measuring an imaginary permittivity of the fuel. Determining a proportion of biodiesel in the fuel based on the measured real permittivity. Determining a proportion of unrefined oil in the fuel based on the measured imaginary permittivity.

Abstract: A centralized voltage control device connected, via a communication network, to local voltage control devices connected to voltage control apparatuses, including: a transmission and reception unit receiving the number of times a tap position is changed per fixed time of the voltage control apparatus from the local voltage control device; a dead-zone-width updating unit increasing a dead zone width when the number of times a tap position is changed in a voltage control apparatus of a transformer type is a threshold or larger; and a voltage-upper-and-lower-limit-value determining unit determining the voltage upper limit value and the voltage lower limit value for each local voltage control device and issuing a command regarding these values to each local voltage control device, and determining the voltage upper limit value and the voltage lower limit value of the voltage control apparatus of a transformer type on the basis of the dead zone width.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a portable detector for metal detection, the detector including: a head extending longitudinally and comprising an inductive transducer for generating a magnetic field and measuring a variation in inductance, a body including a controller programmed to control the activation or the deactivation of a standby function of the detector, and a sensor for measuring one or more of the displacement of the detector or the orientation of the detector, wherein the controller controls the activation of the standby function as a function of signals received from the inductive transducer and from the sensor.

Abstract: A testing environment may have at least one controller connected to at least first and second testing slots positioned in a housing. The first testing slot can be configured with a first thermal range capability and the second testing slot may be configured with a second thermal range capability that differs from the first thermal range capability.

Abstract: A printed circuit board (P) has an evaluation device (E) and an electrode configuration of a capacitive sensor, wherein the electrode configuration has at least two electrodes, one arranged above the other and spaced apart from each other, which each are formed by portions of at least one electrically conductive layer of the printed circuit board (P), and wherein at least one electrode of the electrode configuration is coupled with the evaluation device (E) via a conductor path of the printed circuit board (P). Furthermore, an electric handheld device may have at least one such printed circuit board (P).

Abstract: A switching device is controlled by a microprocessor to selectively configure the circuit between a current measurement mode and a calibration mode. When the switch is set to the “on” state, the circuit acts as a normal prior art circuit, with the output Vout being read by the microprocessor to determine the current to the load. However, when the switch is set to the “off” state, a small value resistor (which may be roughly three orders of magnitude greater than Rshunt) connects the inputs of the measuring circuit so that the circuit can generate an output Vout corresponding to the zero load current. By connecting the V+ and V? inputs together with a low resistance resistor, the no-load condition Vdiff=V+?V??0 applies. In this state, the no-load offset can be determined by measuring the output voltage of the circuit without turning off the load.

Abstract: A spinning unit and method for detecting changes of position of a shaftless spinning rotor (1) of an open-end spinning machine in a cavity of an active magnetic bearing, in which the position of the spinning rotor (1) is detected by a system of sensors (A, B) and on basis of the detected changes in the position of the spinning rotor (1) is adjusted controlling of the active magnetic bearing in order to eliminate undesirable changes in the position of the spinning rotor (1) in the cavity of the active magnetic bearing.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor, comprising a suspending mass block, a group of Y direction displacement sensors, a group of Z direction displacement sensors and a power supply; wherein the mass block, the Y direction displacement sensors and the Z direction displacement sensors respectively comprise a plurality of metal layers and a dielectric layer between two metal layers. In the mass block, a region corresponding to the Y direction displacement sensors and a region corresponding to the Z direction displacement sensors respectively comprise at least two metal layers connected by a via. The Y direction displacement sensors include two electrodes, each comprising at least two metal layers connected by a via; the Z direction displacement sensor includes two electrodes, each comprising at least two metal layers connected by a via; and the power supply provides a current flowing through the mass block selectively in X or Y direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is drum-type IC burn-in and test equipment including burn-in equipment. The burn-in equipment includes therein a first working platform, a second working platform, a drum-type burn-in device, and a parts pickup device. The first working platform includes a first parts disposition section and a parts feeding device. The second working platform includes a parts transferring device. The drum-type burn-in device is rotatably mounted between the first and second working platforms and includes multiple planar sections circumferentially mounted thereto with each planar section having at least one burner mounted thereon. This arrangement allows a parts feeding device to sequentially dispose unburned ICs and a parts transferring device to sequentially pick up completely-burned ICs. As such, the drum-type burn-in device helps increase the number of ICs disposed and also helps improve the throughput and increase the manufacturing speed.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are disclosed herein. The apparatus is disclosed that includes a probe head and a circuit board. The probe head includes a metal housing and pins. The pins penetrate through the metal housing. The circuit board is configured to test a semiconductor device and includes a ground pad. The ground pad is electrically coupled between the metal housing and the circuit board.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus for electrostatic discharges (ESD) events monitoring incorporating a charged device model event simulator (CDMES) unit comprises: at least one antenna positioned in a process area; an ESD detector coupled to said at least one antenna; said ESD detector wirelessly coupled to said CDMES unit; and said ESD detector calibrated for different discharge energies generated by said CDMES unit.

Abstract: A tester includes a level controller for independently restricting the central deformation and the peripheral deformation of a probe card. The level controller includes a single upper plate, a single first lower plate and a plurality of second lower plates. A first elastic force is applied to a central portion of the probe card by the first lower plate to restrict the central deformation. Second elastic forces are independently applied to peripheral portions of the probe card by the individual second lower plates to locally restrict the peripheral deformations.

Abstract: A system for testing over-current fault detection includes a first switch to connect a voltage to a load, a capacitor connected between the first switch and ground, a monitor circuit that monitors a current from the first switch to the load, and a microcontroller configured to detect an over-current fault condition based upon input from the monitor circuit. The microcontroller controls the state of the first switch to connect voltage to the load and verifies over-current detection based upon current generated during charging of the capacitor.