Abstract: An integrated circuit facilitates a self test routine that verifies proper operation of an analog comparator. In response to entering the self test routine, the voltage provided to an input of a comparator is changed from being at an operating voltage supply to being at a self test voltage that is used to verify operation of the comparator. In response to the comparator operating properly, the self test voltage provided to the input of the comparator is replaced with the operating voltage supply, and normal operation resumes. The duration of the self test cycle is based upon the amount of time during which the self test voltage is provided to the comparator is asynchronous in nature, and therefore not a function of a clock signal.

Abstract: A pinch detection device at an opening/closing section has a very simple structure that can surely detect a pinch without faulty operation in a vehicle whose power supply voltage greatly fluctuates. The pinch detection device includes a sensor for detecting displacement of an opening/closing section of a vehicle to be opened/closed by a motor, and a time counter for counting a relative time adjusted according to a fluctuation in a power supply voltage. The pinch detection device also has a pinch detector for detecting a pinch of a foreign matter at the opening/closing section according to a change in a relative speed obtained based on a change in the displacement on a basis of the relative time.

Abstract: A loading state determiner for determining a loading state of an electric power source including a source impedance includes a voltage drop determination circuit which is implemented to provide, based on a detection of an instantaneous current provided under load by the power source to a load, an electric quantity describing a voltage drop at a source impedance of the power source. Further, the loading state determiner includes an evaluation circuit which is implemented to obtain, based on electric quantity describing the voltage drop at the source impedance of the power source and an electric quantity describing a terminal voltage of the power source, a load state signal carrying information on an instantaneous relation between the terminal voltage of the power source and a no-load voltage of the power source.

Abstract: The electrical potential of an object is determined by providing a mechanically oscillating electrode located at a distance from the object and making the electrode mechanically oscillate. A change in a state of electric charge of the electrode over time and amplitudes of at least two frequency components during the change in the state of electric charge over time are determined. Based on the amplitudes, at least one parameter that forms part of the value of a capacitance of an arrangement formed by the electrode and the object is determined, so that the capacitance of the arrangement formed by the electrode and object can be determined based on the parameter. Finally, the electrical potential is determined from the change in the state of electric charge and the capacitance.

Abstract: A radiator module system for automatic test equipment, wherein the automatic test equipment comprises at least one test arm, with the front end of the test arm being configured with a test head, and a closed-loop circulating cooling device is installed on the test arm. The closed-loop circulating cooling device includes a conduit which is in contact with the cooling device, internally contains an working fluid and is connected to the test head, a cooling device, a set of fans and a driving source for driving the working fluid. The closed-loop circulating cooling device can operate to circulate and exchange heat energy generated by a device under test (DUT) tightly stressed by downward pressure applied with the test arm, and brings up airflows by means of the fans to perform heat exchange on the cooling device thereby dissipating the generated heat energy.

Abstract: There is provided a connector inspection system. A connector housing to be inspected includes reference flat surfaces formed by straight extending in an insertion direction of a connecting terminal in a top side outer peripheral region of a terminal receiving part so as not to overlap with a mounting range of a packing attachment surface, and an inspection jig includes guide flat surfaces for slidably making surface contact with the reference flat surfaces in the case of inserting a detecting pin into a hole for inspection of the connector housing, and a position and a direction of insertion of the inspection jig into the connector housing are regulated by sliding contact between the reference flat surfaces and the guide flat surfaces.

Abstract: After the control system has been started, which system has two control paths that are used as alternatives for delivering a control electric current to an electrohydraulic member for transforming said current into hydraulic power that is delivered to the actuator, and before powering a starter-generator of the engine, the detection method comprises implementing the following steps for each of the control paths in succession: delivering a predetermined test electric current over said path; evaluating a difference between the test electric current and a measurement of the electric current as transformed into hydraulic power by the electrohydraulic member; and if said difference is greater than a predefined threshold, detecting an electrical failure on said path.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for detecting stray voltage anomalies in electric fields are provided herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus for detecting an electrical field may comprise: at least one sensor probe for generating data corresponding to an electrical field detected by the at least one sensor probe, wherein the at least one sensor probe comprises at least one electrode; a processor, coupled to the at least one sensor probe, for analyzing the data to identify a voltage anomaly in the electric field; and an indicator, coupled to the processor, for alerting a user to a presence of the voltage anomaly in the electric field.

Abstract: A method and system for mitigating transformer saturation in a communication interface is provided. The method may include detecting a change in impedance resulting from transformer saturation of at least one isolation transformer utilized in a network path of a network. The network may conform to an IEEE 802.3af specification where power may be delivered through the network. The method may further comprise generating a pulse at a one end of the network and measuring a reflection at that end to detect the transformer saturation. In response to the impedance change, a transmitter signal may be pre-distorted in order to compensate for the detected transformer saturation, or the power delivered over the network may be disabled.

Abstract: A sample measurement device (110), in which a biosensor (30) having an electrode is mounted, voltage is applied to the electrode, and the concentration of a specific component in a sample deposited on the biosensor (30) is measured, comprises a voltage source (19) configured to apply voltage to the electrode, a time measurement component (22), and a controller (18) configured to control the voltage to be applied and measure the concentration of the specific component. The time measurement component (22) measures a detection time, which is the length of time between the mounting of the biosensor (30) and the deposition of a sample on the biosensor (30). The controller (18) changes a set value for measuring the concentration of a specific component according to the detection time. Consequently, measurement accuracy can be improved regardless of the temperature of the biosensor (30).

Abstract: A process and apparatus for performing a ground fault test of a device is disclosed. A current level may be selected from a plurality of predetermined current levels. A ground fault current may be generated between a first power line and a ground at the selected current level until a ground fault interrupter within the device trips, or until expiration of an on-time period associated with the selected current level. The ground fault current may then be set to zero for an off-time period associated with the selected current level. The process may be repeated for each of the plurality of current levels. When the ground fault interrupter within the device trips, the current level and a time interval from an onset of the ground fault current at the selected level and a time when the ground fault interrupter tripped may be recorded.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for in-situ measurement of impurities on metal slugs utilized in electron-beam metal evaporation/deposition systems, and for increasing the production yield of a semiconductor manufacturing processes utilizing electron-beam metal evaporation/deposition systems. A voltage and/or a current level on an electrode disposed in a deposition chamber of an electron-beam metal evaporation/deposition system is monitored and used to measure contamination of the metal slug. Should the voltage or current reach a certain level, the deposition is completed and the system is inspected for contamination.

Abstract: The measuring device with electric voltage divider comprises a first measuring resistor connected between a voltage measurement input and a common point, and a second measuring resistor connected between said common point and a reference electric ground. A measurement output is connected to the common point. An outer shielding enclosure surrounds the first and second measuring resistors and is connected to the reference electric ground. An inner capacitive electrode surrounding the first and second measuring resistors is arranged inside said outer shielding enclosure. To improve the phase difference and passband, the device comprises a phase difference compensation circuit connected between said inner capacitive electrode and said common point.

Abstract: Provided is a measurement apparatus that measures an input signal, comprising a plurality of first comparators that each receive the input signal, have a common first reference level set therein, and compare a signal level of the input signal to the first reference level; and a level-crossing timing detecting section that detects a level-crossing timing at which the signal level crosses the first reference level, based on comparison results of the first comparators.

Abstract: A monitoring system including a reading device electrically connected to a probe via a wired interface. The probe has a physiological sensor/transducer configured as a Wheatstone resistive bridge balancing circuit. Integrated within the housing of the probe to prohibit separation during use by a user is a memory device arranged in parallel with the sensor. Communication between the reading device and the probe occurs via a wired interface utilizing a same number of electrical wires between the reading device and the Wheatstone as would be required without the memory device. Control circuitry selects between one of two modes for accessing either data detected by the sensor or the memory device.

Abstract: A system for measuring properties of a surface under test with surface waves includes a surface wave network including a dielectric substrate, a reactive grid of a plurality of metallic patches on a first surface of the dielectric substrate, a plurality of electronic nodes on the first surface of the dielectric substrate, and a ground plane on a second surface of the dielectric substrate permeable to RF fields of the surface waves, and a controller configured for causing a respective one of the electronic nodes to transmit at least one surface wave and configured for collecting data for signals received by at least one other of the plurality of electronic nodes.

Abstract: A power supply for a load control device generates a DC voltage and provides an asymmetrical output current, while drawing a substantially symmetrical input current. The power supply comprises a controllably conductive switching circuit for controllably charging an energy storage capacitor across which the DC voltage is produced. The energy storage capacitor begins charging at the beginning of a half-cycle and stops charging after a charging time in response to the magnitude of the DC voltage and the amount of time that the energy storage capacitor has been charging during the present half-cycle. The charging time is maintained substantially constant from one half-cycle to the next. The power supply is particularly beneficial for preventing asymmetrical current from flowing in a multiple location load control system having a master load control device supplying power to a plurality of remote load control devices all located on either the line-side or the load-side of the system.

Abstract: A rotation angle detector includes: a magnet attached to a rotating shaft and magnetized in a certain direction orthogonal to an axis of the rotating shaft; and a non-rotary magneto-electric transducer placed to be opposed to an end surface of the magnet, and configured to detect a rotation angle of the rotating shaft in cooperation with the magnet through magneto-electric transduction. A concave curved surface is formed in the end surface of the magnet in order to make a magnetic flux of a magnetic field facing the end surface of the magnet closer to the magnet and flattened. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a rotation angle detector which is compact in size and has a stable accuracy for detecting the rotation angle, by making the curvature of the magnetic flux near the end surface of the magnet small and placing the magneto-electric transducer in that location.

Abstract: A magnetically-based position sensor. The sensor includes a magnet assembly that moves along a path, a common collector, one or more magnetic sensing elements, a first variable collector, and a second variable collector. The one or more magnetic sensing elements are coupled to the common collector. The first and second variable collectors are coupled to one of the one or more magnetic sensors and are configured to collect a magnetic field. The first and second variable collectors are positioned to transmit some of the magnetic flux generated by the magnet assembly as the magnet assembly moves along the path. The first variable collector and the second variable collector have a geometry and orientation such that the flux collected by the first and second variable collectors varies as the magnet moves along the path.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining the configuration of a connection between two devices by measuring an electrical characteristic are provided. Using the measured electrical characteristic, a device is able to select an appropriate communication interface, such as serial, Universal Serial Bus (USB), FireWire, parallel, PS/2, etc., and configure itself appropriately. Systems and methods which determine the physical orientation of a connector with respect to another connector may also be provided alone or in combination with such systems and methods for selecting communication interfaces. The physical orientation of a connector can be determined by measuring an electrical characteristic and a device can then configure itself appropriately. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, device designs can decrease in size and cost as well as simplify operation for the end-user.