Abstract: An apparatus for diagnosing automobile audio systems having a system integrity analyzer which includes speaker testing. The speaker testing includes a member for supplying an input to each of the positive and negative leads while supplying ground to the other of the positive and negative lead. This, in turn, facilitates diagnosis of the operation of the audio system of the vehicle. In addition, the apparatus comprises a system for analyzing vibrations comprising a frequency transmitter and an oscillator. The frequency transmitter is capable of transmitting a signal generated by the oscillator on a frequency that is receivable by a vehicle audio system. The oscillator includes altering the signal generated by the oscillator between the lower audible range and the upper audible range.

Abstract: A system for detecting imminent failure of rotatable equipment that has lost centerline control and is near catastrophic failure is housed in a linear tubular element within which is permanently potted a thin gage insulated wire protected by an optional fuse. The contact end of the wire is located immediately adjacent to a semiconductor disk and an optional abradable disk placed at close proximity to the rotatable equipment being monitored. The thin gage insulated wire return is connected between the fuse and the semiconductor disk providing an electrical return path for detection of a change in electrical continuity. The semiconductor and abradable disks between the contact wire and the rotatable equipment act as insulators from errant grounding. Loss of rotatable equipment centerline control will cause physical contact between the contact wire and rotatable equipment, breaking electrical continuity, the resulting ground path being instantly detected through the internally potted fuse.

Abstract: The resistance value and the leakage current of a load can be measured simultaneously. A load current is fed, mirrored by electrical power supplies (1, 3, 36), into a resistance measuring circuit (13, 30) and a leakage current measuring circuit (14 to 16). This permits rapid, precise measurement of a plurality of loads by a single measuring circuit connected via one multiplexer. The firing transistors can be distributed among different ASICs or provided jointly for a plurality of firing caps.

Abstract: A high-resolution apparatus and method provide direct digital measurement of electrical properties such as resistance, capacitance or inductance. An excitation signal derived from a high-frequency source is applied to a network containing an unknown device to produce a network output signal with an amplitude that corresponds to the electrical property to be measured. Amplitude variations in the network output signal are converted to corresponding phase variations in a third signal by adding the network output signal to a reference signal that is phase shifted by 90-degrees with respect to the excitation. The third signal is then applied to a phaselocked loop that employs the above-mentioned high-frequency source in combination with a pulse delete circuit to produce an output that multiplies phase information contained in the third signal by orders of magnitude.

Abstract: The sample measuring face of a dielectric resonator (20) is placed near a standard sample having a known dielectric constant at a fixed interval D. While appropriately varying the dielectric constant and thickness of the standard sample under the above condition, the variation of the resonance frequency of the dielectric resonator (20) is measured for each varied dielectric constant and thickness to draw a calibration curve of the varied resonance frequency depending on the dielectric constant and thickness. Under the same condition where calibration curve is drawn, the variation of the resonance frequency of the dielectric resonator (20) for a sample having a known thickness is measured. The dielectric constant of the sample is found from the measurement value and the calibration curve. The dielectric constant of not only a sheetlike sample but also a three-dimensional molded article or a liquid sample can be measured easily.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for measuring an antenna signal strength (X). The apparatus includes a first amplifier section (3) for receiving an antenna signal and having a first automatic gain control stage; a second amplifier section (8) having a second automatic gain control stage; an automatic gain control system (12; 16′) for generating automatic gain control signals (VRF AGC, VIF AGC) for the first and second amplifier sections in accordance with a delayed automatic gain control scheme with a take-over-point. In order to measure the antenna signal strength, the take-over-point is automatically shifted towards the actual antenna signal strength.

Abstract: An electrostatic capacitive encoder includes a scale and a sensor head, which is arranged opposing to and relatively movable to the scale. A plurality of protrusions for sliding, processed in a certain pattern, are located on a flat region surrounding a transmitting electrodes and receiving electrodes of the sensor head.

Abstract: An actual real-time reactive power output reserve of a generator is calculated by determining a real-time reactive power output of the generator at present operating conditions, determining a maximum reactive power output of the generator at the present operating conditions based on a maximum volt-ampere output capability of the generator, a real-time transmission voltage level of a transmission system connected to the generator, and a real-time maximum acceptable generator terminal voltage, and subtracting the real-time reactive power output from the maximum reactive power output.

Abstract: A method of testing an analog, or mixed analog and digital, circuit designed for operation at a clock frequency multiplexes a plurality of low frequency stimulus signals using a high frequency clock to produce a circuit input signal, applies the input signal to the circuit to obtain a circuit output signal; samples the circuit output signal synchronously with the high frequency clock at a frequency equal to the clock frequency divided by the number of the low frequency signals; stores the samples and measures properties of the signal samples to determine properties of the output signal of the circuit.

Abstract: A radio frequency bridge, useful for measuring complex values of an unknown impedance or associated complex reflection coefficient and VSWR value, which comprises an rf source, a novel asymmetrical bridge, a measuring device (comprising two logarithmic amplifiers, a difference amplifier and a phase detector), a computing device and a display or interface device. The complex impedance may be any two terminals of a general N-port network not to exclude an antenna with or without feed-line. The invention is more accurate than prior art when measuring complex impedance values having magnitudes from approximately five ohms to an upper value limited only by the dynamic range of the logarithmic amplifiers, normally greater than 4000 ohms. It has the great advantage of maintaining constant measuring accuracy over a wide measuring range and can be designed to operate over very wide bandwidths.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for measuring the instantaneous frequency of FM modulated signals, includes sampling, instantaneous frequency computing, and lowpass filtering. FM modulated signal are sampled at prescribed intervals to provide digitized FM signal. The instantaneous frequency is computed by manipulating the digitized FM signal mathematically using a new mathematical equation proposed in this invention to provide the instantaneous frequency based on digitized FM signal samples. More accurate instantaneous frequency values can be obtained by filtering the computed instantaneous frequency values using a lowpass filter.

Abstract: A phasing voltmeter having a high impedance AC voltmeter in series with two high impedance probes. Shielding surrounds and electrically isolates the voltmeter and probes. In parallel with the voltmeter and connected electrically with the shielding is an electrical circuit designed to add the capacitive current to a current detected by the probes. The capacitive current is added in such a way that the net effect on the measured current is zero. The electrical circuit comprises two impedance elements, such as resistors, that meet at a junction where they are connected to the shielding. The impedances on either side of the junction are matched either by careful selection of the elements or by selection of adjustable elements so that the junction is a null point.

Abstract: A voltage monitoring device for monitoring two different supply voltages to be received by an electronic component. The monitoring device has a ratiometrically operating analog/digital converter, whose reference input is supplied with the larger supply voltage and whose measurement input is supplied with the smaller supply voltage. An output signal of the analog/digital converter is supplied to a window comparator in which the output signal is compared with predetermined limit values. A reset signal for the electronic component is produced if the output signal is greater than the upper limit value or less than the lower limit value.

Abstract: A torque sensor includes a pair of detection coils having the impedances that change in opposite directions of each other corresponding to a torque generated in a rotation shaft. An AC voltage is applied on a bridge circuit including a pair of detection coils and a pair of resistors, a differential voltage between AC voltages that appear on both ends of the pair of detection coils is detected and sent out as the torque signal, and a failure of a circuit component of the torque detecting circuit is judged based on the phase difference between the waveform of the AC voltage applied on the bridge circuit and the waveform of the differential voltage between AC voltages that appear on both ends of the pair of detection coils.

Abstract: A particle measurement apparatus includes: a particle signal detector for detecting a particle signal; a false signal generator for generating a false signal corresponding to the particle signal; a selector for selecting the particle signal or the false signal, a non-linear amplifier; a first calculator for receiving the signal selected by the selector through the non-linear amplifier to calculate a characteristic parameter; a second calculator for receiving the signal selected by the selector not through the non-linear amplifier to calculate the characteristic parameter; a comparator for including the characteristic parameters calculated by the first and second calculators respectively when the selector selects the false signal; a memory for storing a comparison result of the comparator; and a compensator for compensating the characteristic parameter calculated by the first calculator on the basis of the comparison result when the selector selects the particle signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method using a power line conditioner having a conventional grounded plug disposed at one end of a short three-wire cord and a housing disposed at the opposite end for providing surge protection, voltage and current amplitude monitoring and indication, as well as visual indication of other singular conditions such as “power on,” “adequate ground,” etc., and outlets for receiving the connecting cord plugs of the electronic equipment to be protected.

Abstract: A current sensor assembly includes a plurality of symmetric current conductors that pass asymmetrically through an opening in a toroidal core having a sensing winding wound on the core. A blade is connected to each end of the conductors. Each of the conductors has the general shape of a “V” as viewed along a central axis passing through the opening in the toroidal core.

Abstract: It is possible to generate a resonance mode such that a dielectric resonator (20) can be resonated and an electric field vector leaking out from the resonator (20) exists by arranging antennas (22a and 22b) for the resonator (20). When a sample (22) has dielectric anisotropy, the resonance frequency of the resonator (20) varies when the sample (25) or resonator (20) is rotated. The dielectric anisotropy of the sample (25) is found from the variance of the resonance frequency. Thus the dielectric anisotropy of not only a sheet-like sample, but also such a sample as a three-dimensional molded sample can be measured.

Abstract: A method and apparatus determines the output voltage of a power source necessary to produce a desired lamp voltage at an incandescent lamp remote therefrom using voltage and current measurements at the power source for a circuit including a series resistor and a circuit without the resistor. Estimated circuit resistances are determined according to an algorithm that calculates the power source output voltage necessary to produce a desired lamp voltage at the lamp.

Abstract: A current sensing cell, using PCB trace-loops, with the loops either contained in a single layer—horizontal loops, or in two separate layers—vertical loops interconnected by vias into a single two-pole inductive component. The horizontal loop-sensor cell will be used sideways, next to a planar conductor carrying a current parallel to the sensor traces, so as to collect the magnetic field lines on the side of the planar conductor, where they come closer together. The vertical loop sensor cell will be used on top or bottom of a planar conductor carrying current parallel to the cell, so as to collect the magnetic field lines going across the conductor, or between two parallel conductors, carrying parallel current of opposite sense, so as to collect the magnetic field lines that run in between the two conductors, summing up the two fields.