Abstract: An electrically conductive contact element can include a first base and a second base with elongate, spaced apart leaves between the bases. A first end of each leaf can be coupled to the first base and an opposite second end of the leaf can be coupled to the second base. A body of the leaf between the first end and the second end can be sufficiently elongate to respond to a force through said contact element substantially parallel with the first axis and the second axis by first compressing axially while said force is less than a buckling force and then bending while said force is greater than the buckling force.

Abstract: A capacitive distance sensor is provided. The distance sensor includes a sensor element having an electrically conductive, elongated, flat sensor area which in turn contains a number of holes. The sensor area is completely surrounded by an electrically non-conductive insulating body, with the result that the insulating body completely covers the edge regions of the holes. The sensor element is produced, in particular, by first of all making the holes in the sensor area. In a subsequent step, the sensor area is completely encased by the insulating body which also completely fills the holes in the sensor area.

Abstract: An embodiment of a capacitive sensor array may comprise a first plurality of sensor elements and a second sensor element comprising a main trace that intersects each of the first plurality of sensor elements to form a plurality of intersections. A unit cell may be associated with each of the intersections, and each unit cell may designate a set of locations nearest to a corresponding intersection. A contiguous section of the main trace may cross at least one of the plurality of unit cells. The capacitive sensor array may further comprise a plurality of open zones, where each of the plurality of open zones is staggered relative to an adjacent open zone.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor having a Hall sensor with a first terminal contact and with a second terminal contact and with a third terminal contact and with a fourth terminal contact and with a fifth terminal contact, whereby a first switch with a control input is provided between the first terminal contact and the fifth terminal contact, and the first switch connects or disconnects the first terminal contact to/from the fifth terminal contact, and a control unit is provided and the control unit is connected to the control input of the first switch.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for measuring the resistance of a component with measurement circuitry that is electrically coupled to the component via one or more electrical conductors (e.g., one or more bond wires). The resistance measurement techniques of this disclosure may measure a resistance of an electrical conductor, and generate a value indicative of a resistance of a component other than the electrical conductor based on the measured resistance of the electrical conductor. The electrical conductor for which the resistance is measured may be the same as or different than one or more of the electrical conductors that the couple the measurement circuitry to the component to be measured. Using an electrical conductor resistance measurement to determine the resistance of a component may improve the accuracy of the resistance measurement for the component.

Abstract: A current sensor device includes a casing having a cavity and a conductor fixedly mounted to the casing. A semiconductor chip configured to sense a magnetic field is arranged in the cavity. An electrically insulating medium is configured to at least partially fill the cavity of the casing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for treating surfaces of objects with rounded cross sections and at least one partially electrically conductive outer wall, comprising a plurality of treating stations; and a feed device including support devices for supporting objects to be treated, wherein the feed device is configured to transport the objects supported by a respective support device in a timed sequence from one treating station to another treating station, wherein one of the treating stations is a test station and includes a voltage source, an electrode coupled with the voltage source and a processing unit, wherein the processing unit is configured to detect voltage changes between the electrode and a respective object disposed at the respective test station.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to predictive output switching threshold determination systems and methods for sensors, for example magnetic field sensors. In embodiments, at least one individual switching threshold is determined predictively, rather than reactively, for each tooth or pole of a ferromagnetic tooth or pole wheel, respectively. For example, in one embodiment, the number of teeth or poles is programmed, and an optimal threshold for each tooth or pole is determined during a rotation of the wheel. The determined optimal threshold for each tooth is then used for that tooth in at least one subsequent rotation of the wheel, with calibration optionally taking place in future subsequent rotations. Thus, in embodiments, thresholds are predictive for each individual tooth or pole rather than reactive to an adjacent tooth or pole.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes a plurality of magnetic field sensing elements, wherein the plurality of magnetic field sensing elements is configured to generate a plurality of magnetic field signals, each magnetic field sisal responsive to a magnetic field. The magnetic field sensor additionally includes a sequence switches circuit coupled to the plurality of magnetic field sensing elements. The sequence switches circuit is configured to sequentially select from among the plurality of magnetic field signals to generate a sequenced output signal representative of sequentially selected ones of the plurality of magnetic field signals. The magnetic field sensor also includes a variable potentiometer coupled to the sequence switches circuit. The magnetic field sensor additionally includes a gain circuit coupled to receive a signal representative of the offset attenuated sequenced output signal. A corresponding method is also provided.

Abstract: A method of material analysis, including; placing an electrode in proximity to the material; applying a voltage signal to generate plasma, preferably Dielectric Barrier Discharge in Air, between the material and the electrode; moving the electrode relative to the surface; monitoring an electrical signal associated with the microdischarge; and detecting a change in a physical characteristic of the material through variation in the monitored signal.

Abstract: In the method of electrically characterizing a composite material for manufacturing an aircraft, the following steps are performed: compressing two spacers against at least one test piece made of a composite material; determining an electrical resistance value for the assembly formed by the spacers and the test piece; and deducing from said value a value for the electrical resistance of the composite material.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method for tracking energy consumption. An energy tracking system comprises at least one switching element, at least one inductor and a control block to keep the output voltage at a pre-selected level. The switching elements are configured to apply the source of energy to the inductors. The control block compares the output voltage of the energy tracking system to a reference value and controls the switching of the switched elements in order to transfer energy for the primary voltage into a secondary voltage at the output of the energy tracking system. The electronic device further comprises an ON-time and OFF-time generator and an accumulator wherein the control block is coupled to receive a signal from the ON-time and OFF-time generator and generates switching signals for the at least one switching element in the form of ON-time pulses with a constant width ON-time.

Abstract: A resonator for sensing a physical or an environmental parameter includes a support having a top surface that provides a ground plane, and a polymer-derived ceramic (PDC) element positioned on the top surface including a PDC layer, and a metal patch on the PDC layer. The metal patch is electrically isolated from all surrounding structure, and the resonator has a resonant frequency that changes as a function of the physical or environmental parameter. A system for wirelessly sensing a physical or environmental parameter includes at least one resonator and a wireless RF reader located remotely from the resonator for transmitting a wide-band RF interrogation signal that excites the resonator. The wireless RF reader detects a sensing signal retransmitted by the resonator and includes a processor for determining the physical or environmental parameter at the location of the resonator from the sensing signal.

Abstract: A sensor of magnetic fields along a direction of measurement comprising N magneto-resistive transducers TMi, a resistance of each transducer TMi varying linearly to within ±xi% as a function of an intensity of a magnetic field to be measured within a maximum range [ai; bi] of intensity of the magnetic field to be measured and non-linearly outside of this range, the index i being an identifier of the transducer TMi. The sensor further comprises a generator which generates N magnetic fields CMi using at least one permanent magnet, where each magnetic field CMi exhibits an intensity Ii in the direction of measurement. The intensity Ii being constant and independent of the intensity of the magnetic field to be measured and each transducer TMi being placed inside a respective magnetic field CMi.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a design for a single-chip dual-axis magnetic field sensor, based on magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) elements and permanent magnets integrated on a semiconductor substrate to produce two types of sensor bridges that detect orthogonal magnetic field components. The orthogonal magnetic field component detection capability results from the different types of sensor bridges that can be produced by varying the shape of the MTJ elements and the bias fields that can be created by permanent magnets. Because the permanent magnets can create orthogonal bias fields on the different sensor bridges, it is possible to use a single pinned layer to set direction for both sensor bridges. This is advantageous because it permits the two-axis sensor to be fabricated on a single semiconductor chip without the need for specialized processing technology such as local heating, or deposition of multiple magnetoresistive films with different pinned layers setting directions.

Abstract: A power-monitoring system and method is disclosed. The power monitoring system can comprise a surge arrester, a voltage-monitoring relay, a K1 relay, a reset switch, a K1 switch, a K2 relay, an F1 switch, a K2 switch, and a machine communication port. The K1 relay can activate when voltage-monitoring relay detects an electrical issue. The K2 relay can activate when surge arrester detects a current spike. A method for monitoring power is also disclosed. A surge arrestor and power-monitoring relay can monitor a supply line. The voltage-monitoring relay can activate K1 relay when it detects an electrical issue. The surge arrester can activate K2 relay when it detects a current surge.

Abstract: A utility meter configured for connection to an AC power line includes a meter housing with a plurality of electronic components arranged within the meter housing and configured to provide consumption data. A power supply is also arranged within the meter housing. The power supply is configured to receive an AC voltage from the AC power line and supply a DC voltage to the electronic components. An AC line voltage booster is positioned connected to the power supply. The AC line voltage booster is configured to increase the voltage from the AC power line received by the power supply.

Abstract: A current detecting device includes an exciting coil (3) wound around a magnetic core (2) enclosing a conductor through which flows a measurement current, and an oscillator circuit (4) that generates a square wave voltage which is supplied to the exciting coil (3). Furthermore, the current detecting device includes a duty detector circuit (5) that detects the measurement current based on variation in the duty ratio of the square wave voltage output from the oscillator circuit (4), a frequency detector circuit (7) that detects an overcurrent of the measurement current based on the frequency of the square wave voltage output from the oscillator circuit (4), and an oscillation amplitude detector circuit (6) that detects an overcurrent of the measurement current based on the magnitude of the square wave voltage output from the oscillator circuit (4).

Abstract: Disclosed is a capacitance sensor including: a capacitance-voltage/current converter which converts a capacitance value of a sense capacitor into a voltage signal or a current signal by using an input signal; a multiplier which applies a weight to an output signal of the capacitance-voltage/current converter and outputs the weighted output signal; and an accumulator which accumulates continuously the output signal of the multiplier.

Abstract: The present invention relates to squib connectors, for instance for airbag ignition systems, which allow the electrical or electronic monitoring of the correct coupling of a squib plug connector with its corresponding counterpart. According to the invention, a squib connector has at least two terminals having corresponding signal lines. In order to allow an electrical monitoring of the correct coupling of the plug connector, the terminals are in electrical contact with each other in the uncoupled or incorrectly coupled condition of the plug connector. This electrical contact between the terminals is configured to be separated upon correct coupling to a corresponding counter-connector either automatically or by an actuating action. The disconnecting of the terminals may then be monitored by any suitable monitoring means.