Abstract: An integrated circuit includes one or more central processing unit (CPU) cores configured to cause a first ultrasonic transducer to generate ultrasonic signals into a fluid moving in a pipe and the first or a second ultrasonic transducer to receive the ultrasonic signals from the fluid. The CPU core(s) also compute a first value indicative of at least one of a standard deviation and a time correlation based on the received ultrasonic signals. The CPU core(s) further determine a second value indicative of a volume of gas bubbles in the fluid using the computed first value indicative of the at least one of the standard deviation and time correlation.

Abstract: A management method of managing a purity of a chemical liquid containing an organic solvent by sensing impurities in the chemical liquid. The management method includes Step 1 of preparing a target chemical liquid containing an organic solvent; Step 2 of bringing the target chemical liquid into contact with a crystal oscillator sensor including an adsorption layer that adsorbs the impurities and a crystal oscillator and obtaining an amount of change in a resonance frequency of the crystal oscillator resulting from contact of the target chemical liquid; and Step 3 of managing the purity of the chemical liquid by comparing whether or not the obtained amount of change falls within a permissible range based on a preset purity of the target chemical liquid. In Step 2, at least a part of a liquid contact portion coming into contact with the target chemical liquid is made of a fluorine-based resin.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided whereby a directional property of an ultrasound transducer element, such as a steering direction, is controlled according to a first driving waveform that is delivered to opposing propagation electrodes and a second driving waveform that is delivered to opposing lateral electrodes. The directional property may be controlled according a phase difference and/or relative amplitude between the first and second driving waveforms, and/or the selective actuation of one or more lateral electrodes when the lateral electrodes are defined in an array. The ultrasound transducer element may be a ring-shaped transducer element and a directional property associated with a focal region may be controlled. In some example embodiments, array elements of an ultrasound transducer array may each include propagation and lateral electrodes, with each array element being driven by respective first and second driving waveforms to focus the ultrasound energy emitted by the ultrasound transducer array.

Abstract: A load sensor element includes a substrate made of a ceramic material; an inorganic layer having a surface configured to receive a load, the inorganic layer covers a portion of the substrate; a thin-layer resistance body whose resistance value changes in accordance with the load received by the inorganic layer, the thin-layer resistance body having a main body portion and a pair of end portions, the main body portion mounted on the covered portion of the substrate and sandwiched between the substrate and the inorganic layer, the pair of end portions mounted on an exposed portion of the substrate, and the exposed portion free of the inorganic layer; and a pair of electrodes electrically connected to the pair of end portions of the thin-layer resistance body and separated away from the inorganic layer and on one side of the substrate.

Abstract: A system for estimating both thickness and wear state of refractory material of a metallurgical furnace, including at least one processor including a database of simulated frequency domain data named simulated spectra representing simulated shock waves reflected in simulated refractory materials of known state and thickness, each simulated spectrum being correlated with both known state and thickness data of the considered simulated refractory material, wherein the at least one processor is configured to record a reflected shock wave as a time domain signal, and to convert it into frequency domain data named experimental spectrum, and are further configured to compare the experimental spectrum with at least a plurality of simulated spectra from the database, to determine the best fitting simulated spectrum with the experimental spectrum and to estimate thickness and state of the refractory material of the furnace using known state and thickness data correlated with the best fitting simulated spectrum.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for generating an aroma map is disclosed. The computer-implemented method includes learning one or more aromas associated with one or more items. The computer-implemented method further includes identifying a presence of an item within a venue based on comparing one or more aromas detected by one or more sensors located within the venue with one or more learned aromas associated with the item. The computer-implemented method further includes identifying a micro-location of the item based, at least in part, on a location of the one or more sensors which detected the aroma. The computer-implemented method further includes generating an aroma map geospatially indicating the micro-location of the item within the venue.

Abstract: A test and calibration system of electronic torque wrench includes a base, a sensing device, a force imposing device, and a calibrating device. The sensing device is disposed on the first end of the base and includes a receiving socket to receive the driving portion of the wrench. The force imposing device is disposed on the second end of the base for holding the handle portion of the wrench, such that the wrench imposes the torque on the sensing device which measures the actual torque value. The calibrating device is signally connected with the sensing device and the wrench. When a predetermined torque value is different from the actual torque value, the calibrating device generates a calibrating signal to the electronic torque wrench for the calibration operation. Also, the calibrating device includes a displaying unit for displaying the actual torque value.

Abstract: A toner cartridge includes a customer replaceable unit monitoring (CRUM) apparatus to store error information of a toner injection process of the toner cartridge using a toner refill apparatus. Based on the error information not being stored in the CRUM apparatus, an availability of a refill operation of the toner cartridge is identified based on a predetermined first reference value and an amount of toner detected in the toner cartridge, and, based on the error information being stored in the CRUM apparatus, the availability of the refill operation of the toner cartridge is identified based on a predetermined second reference value and the amount of toner detected in the toner cartridge.

Abstract: A test fixture is provided for dropping an article from a height to a floor, with the article oriented in relation to the floor at a select angle. The fixture includes a column frame, an overhead beam, a carriage, first and second guy wires, first and second spools, and first and second chains. The frame supports first and second guide arms on opposing sides. The overhead beam has a distance span substantially parallel to the floor. The guy wires attach to the beam separated the span and pass through the guide arms. The spools receive the corresponding guy wires. The chains suspend the article from the carriage above the floor. Upon release of the guy wires, the carriage falls until contact with the guide arms while the article contacts the floor.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a variable soil sampling device which may be customized with respect to sampling rate and sorbent material used. Multiple variable sampling devices may be attached to each other to simultaneously sample different components or contaminants in the same time period.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which forms an image by using toner from a toner container mounted thereto. Consumption data is acquired, related to a toner consumption amount of the image forming apparatus, and based on the consumption data there is a determination of the number of remaining days until a predicted date in which a replacement of the toner container mounted onto the image forming apparatus is predicted. The number of the remaining days is displayed; however, the number of the remaining days is not displayed until a condition is satisfied related to the number of sheets on which images are formed by the image forming apparatus, wherein the condition is satisfied in a case where the number of sheets on which images are formed by the image forming apparatus is more than a predetermined number of sheets.

Abstract: A coulter assembly for collecting soil samples from an agricultural field in one embodiment comprises an annular collection blade configured for penetrating soil to capture a sample, an annular cam ring configured for stationary mounting to a frame of an agricultural vehicle and comprising a cam track, a blade hub coupled to the blade for rotatably supporting the annular collection blade from the annular cam ring, and a movable sample collector mounted to the annular collection blade. The moveable sample collector is configured and operable for extracting a soil sample as the annular collection blade is rotated through the soil. The moveable sample collector in one embodiment comprises a piston mechanism including a cylinder and rod movably disposed therein which actuated by the annular cam ring to alternatingly open and close a collection end of the cylinder as the annular collection blade rotates through the soil.

Abstract: A sound inspection apparatus that includes at least three microphones, a removing unit, and an estimation unit. The removing unit calculates an impulse response based on a sound pressure of a radiation sound collected via a reference microphone and a first microphone, calculates an impulse response based on the sound pressure of the radiation sound collected via the reference microphone and a second microphone, and removes a component corresponding to the vibration sound from the calculated impulse response. The intensity calculation unit calculates an intensity of the radiation sound based on the impulse response from which the vibration sound is removed, and the estimation unit estimates, based on the calculated intensity, a site where an abnormality in the inspection target object has occurred.

Abstract: A loosening detection device according to the present embodiment includes multiple washers having holes that allow bolts to pass therethrough, and including metals insulated from each other, a transmission line that electrically connects between the metals and between the metals of the washers, and a transmission line that includes a terminal pair at one end thereof, and that has the other end electrically connected to the metals of the washer. A resonance frequency is measured from the terminal pair to detect loosening of the bolts on the basis of a change in the resonance frequency.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring air quality of a geographic area are provided. Digital signage units include an electronic display and an air quality monitoring device located along an open loop pathway for ambient air. A monitoring subsystem receives air characteristic measurement data from the air quality monitoring devices of the digital signage units, which are installed at discrete locations within the geographic area, and subsequently generates a data summary of air characteristic measurements from the air characteristic measurement data from some or all of the digital signage units.

Abstract: A method for automated cleaning of a filter basket in a bioreactor includes determining permeability of the filter basket. A control unit controls a suction unit for suctioning a residual liquid from the liquid tank, a liquid metering unit for dispensing a liquid having a predetermined liquid volume into the filter basket controls the suction unit to empty the liquid tank by suctioning a filtered liquid volume, measures the volume of the suctioned liquid volume, and sending a first measurement signal to the control unit. The control unit determines a permeability quotient from the volume of the extracted filtered liquid volume to the volume of the dispensed predetermined liquid volume and compares the permeability quotient with a permeability threshold. The control unit then controls a cleaning unit to perform a cleaning process of the filter basket if the permeability quotient is below the permeability threshold.

Abstract: A sensor device includes a first sensor including a heating element configured to heat up the first sensor in a controllable manner and a second sensor thermally coupled to the heating element of the first sensor such that the heating element is further configured to heat up the second sensor in a controllable manner.

Abstract: Sensing devices are described. A sensing device includes an inertial sensor, a read-out circuit configured to determine first data indicative of an acceleration of the structure using an output of the inertial sensor, an energy harvester configured to capture energy, and a power management unit. The power management unit comprises a plurality of energy storage components coupled to the energy harvester and a plurality of switches coupled to respective energy storage components of the plurality of energy storage components. The power management unit monitors energy levels stored in the energy storage components, selectively charges the plurality of energy storage components by selectively activating the plurality of switches, and provides power to one or more of the inertial sensor and the read-out circuit based on the monitored energy levels.

Abstract: A deformable sensor comprises an enclosure comprising a deformable membrane, the enclosure configured to be filled with a medium, and an imaging sensor, disposed within the enclosure, having a field of view configured to be directed toward a bottom surface of the deformable membrane. The imaging sensor is configured to capture an image of the deformable membrane. The deformable sensor is configured to determine depth values for a plurality of points on the deformable membrane based on the image captured by the imaging sensor and a trained neural network.

Abstract: A device that includes a piece of armor made from a material that has a domain of plastic deformation under bad before breaking and an elastic deformation domain. The plastic deformation domain represents less than 1% of the elastic deformation domain. The device includes a deformation sensor fixed to the piece of armor and configured to deform plastically under the effect of at least a stress applied to the piece of armor and leading to damage of the piece of armor.