Abstract: An apparatus for combustion condition diagnosis has an ionic current detecting circuit for measuring a voltage at the secondary side of the ignition coil of an engine during a plurality of time periods during one operation cycle including a period in which an internal pressure of a cylinder of the engine becomes maximum, under a normal combustion condition. A window generation circuit is provided for establishing the time periods, an integration circuit is provided for integration processing of the measured voltage during each time period, a ROM stores a list indicating combustion condition corresponding to the integrated value for the each time period, and a CPU diagnoses the combustion condition based on the integrated value for the each time period and the list of combustion conditions, in order to decrease erroneous judgement and perform more adequate combustion condition diagnosis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring sheet resistivity of a layer manufactured under the influence of a plasma, wherein a current is generated using two voltage or current sources in a circuit that is composed of a first current branch, a sheet resistivity, and a second current branch. The current includes the parasitic current I.sub.P injected into the layer by the plasma, this having a first and second part which are symmetrically supplied into the two current branches which respectively have an identical resistance overall. The currents I.sub.A and I.sub.B thus actually flowing in the first and second current branch are respectively directly measured, or measured on the basis of the voltage drop-off at known precision resistors. A measured current I.sub.M which is independent of the plasma influence is calculated therefrom by averaging, and the sheet resistivity is calculated from I.sub.M and by measuring the voltage drop-off at the sheet resistivity.

Abstract: A capacitive position sensor has a scale (10), having hollow or raised topographical features, and a cursor (20) having an electrode array comprising at least two transmitting electrodes (21a, 21b) and at least one receiving electrode (21c) separated by shielding electrodes (21g). The coupling capacitances (Cac, Cbc) between transmitting and receiving cursor (20) electrodes are modified as a function of the position (x) of the scale topographic feature (11) relative to the cursor, the evaluation of the variation of the signals picked up by the receiving electrode permitting a precise measurement of the relative displacement between scale and cursor.

Abstract: An apparatus for recognizing a frequency of an electric power being applied to an electric/electronic device for preventing an error operation of the electric/electronic device generated when the frequency of power supply to be applied differs from the operating frequency determined at the time of manufacture of the electric/electronic device. The apparatus has a power transformer for transforming commercial alternating current power supply to a driving voltage of the device, a period detecting section for shaping a wave form of output of the power transformer, and simultaneously generating a period detecting signal at every period of that output wave form, and a control section for counting a number of times said period detecting signal is generated during a predetermined time period, whereby the frequency of the applied power supply on basis of the number of times.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the complex impedance of a load, such as an antenna in an RF transmission system. The system samples both the voltage and current of the signal passing through a transmission line and directly derives digitally the impedance parameters independently of the amplitude or phase of the signal.

Abstract: A method for monitoring the operating condition of an inductive load including applying a control pulse to a control line coupled to the inductive load, generating a verification pulse indicating the operating condition of the inductive load, applying the verification pulse to the control line and sampling the verification pulse to determine the operating condition of the inductive load.

Abstract: When textile materials are treated with wet processes, attempts are usually made to detect organic and inorganic contaminant substances retained in the cloth either by allowing conductivity-measuring or other electrodes placed on the cloth to travel with it during transport, or by analyzing the fluid squeezed out of the cloth. The data obtained by these methods are extremely unreliable and subject to interfering factors. As a substantial improvement, it is proposed that the loading of the cloth with extraneous substances be measured in the interior of the cloth, between or at its surfaces. This can be achieved by applying and collecting solvent to extract samples of the extraneous substances from the cloth, section by section, and measuring the extraneous substances in the collected solvent quantitatively and/or qualitatively.

Abstract: A potentiometry apparatus for measuring a periodic electrical waveform existing proximate the surface of a sample such as a semiconductor wafer is disclosed herein. The potentiometry apparatus includes a pulse generator for generating a sequence of electrical pulses at a pulse frequency offset from the frequency of the surface waveform by a mixing frequency. A cantilever coupled to the pulse generator serves to carry the electrical pulses to a position proximate the surface of the sample. In a capacitive displacement mode the cantilever is mechanically displaced so as to generate a time-expanded representation of the electrical surface waveform having a repetition frequency equal to the mixing frequency. During displacement mode operation an optical detection circuit may be employed to monitor deflection of the cantilever. In a tunneling current mode the cantilever is again employed to carry the electrical pulses to a position proximate the surface of the sample.

Abstract: Disclosed is a combined fluid-stream misdirection detector and fluid-level flow detector on a single printed circuit board; each detector comprising a pair of parallel printed circuit segments adapted to be "shorted" by interposition of conductive liquid and coupled to register this event in an associated detect-logic stage.

Abstract: A low profile battery tester uses tapered apertures to located batteries in a thin tablet shaped body for testing. In one embodiment for conventional dry cells, the taper is in openings through the body, and in another embodiment for button cells the aperture does not extend through the body and the taper is in the plane of the body. A display of battery condition is provided by an array of light emitting diodes mostly driven by comparators, voltage references for the comparators being provided by a circuit including one of the light emitting diodes.

Abstract: An impedance transformation circuit for transforming a two-pole electrical impedance (Z) includes a first controllable current source for producing a current (I.sub.1) flowing through the impedance during operation. An operational amplifier is coupled to the first current source for providing a control signal (V.sub.0) corresponding to the impedance current (I.sub.1). A second controllable current source is coupled to the operational amplifier for providing at an input terminal of the circuit a further current (I.sub.2) proportional to the impedance current (I.sub.1) as a function of the control signal (V.sub.0). As a result of using a first and second controllable current source and applying the control signal delivered by the operational amplifier to the control inputs of the two current sources, an impedance transformation is obtained which is dependent on similar parameter ratios. The circuit is suitable for use as an integrated semiconductor circuit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the depletion level (depth of discharge) of a lithium-iodine battery in an implantable medical device. A first set of measurements are made to determine the internal impedance of the battery, and a second set of measurements are made to determine the geometric capacitance of the battery, which has been found to correlate closely to the depth of discharge of the battery. The measurements are all made while the pacemaker is first temporarily decoupled from the medical device circuitry. The first measurements are made during a time window following a known change in resistive load across the terminals of the battery, and are capable of being correlated with 1-kHz qualification testing data made on the battery at the time of manufacture. The second measurements are made when the known load is periodically coupled and decoupled to the terminals of the battery at a rate of 80-kHz.

Abstract: Disclosed is a Device Under Test (DUT) fault detection and location circuit. A first circuit port is connected to the DUT for fault detection and location. A signal source for generating a series of signals across the operating frequency range of the DUT is connected to a second circuit port. A divider divides each signal generated by the source so as to provide first and second fractions of the signal, the second fraction passing to the device under test. A fault detection section provides a DUT fault detection voltage for each respective frequency. The circuit also has a branch including an impedance section and a fault location section. The branch receives the first fraction, and the fault location section provides a DUT fault location voltage for each respective frequency.

Abstract: A memory cell system is disclosed with properties of asymmetrical operation such that the occurrence of memory error due to certain environmental disturbances is detectable. The asymmetry of operation can be adjusted to set the level at which the disturbance is detected. Detection of memory error in the system can be used to shut off access to an associated memory array in order to prevent error in the array.

Abstract: The combination of a main electrochemical cell (or battery cell) and a battery tester connected to the cell is disclosed. The battery tester is moisture sensitive, typically of the electrochemical type having a film-like construction comprising an anode layer, a cathode layer and electrolyte layer therebetween. The tester may be applied against the cell's outer surface. A moisture vapor barrier film is applied over the tester and adhesively secured to the cell's surface. The moisture barrier film is flexible, optically clear or at least translucent, and has a very low moisture vapor transmission rate. The moisture vapor barrier is preferably composed of mica film, but may desirably also be a film of polyparaxylylene or glass coated polymer. A hydrophobic hot melt, solvent-based or reactive thermosetting adhesive may be employed to bond the moisture vapor barrier film to the cell's surface. The moisture barrier film prevents ambient moisture from passing to the tester and interfering with its operation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining a characteristic of a resistor and/or an environment occurring as a voltage across a measuring resistor (e.g., a voltage across a temperature-dependent resistor) by comparing it with a reference value that occurs as a voltage across a reference resistor (e.g., a voltage across a temperature-stabilized reference resistor) to determine, for example, temperature. A total of four voltages are measured. That is, positive and negative currents are passed through the measuring resistor and the resulting first and second voltages across the measuring resistor are detected. Positive and negative currents then are passed through the reference resistor and the resulting third and fourth voltages across the reference resistor are detected. The difference between the first and second voltage and the third and fourth voltages is determined to eliminate the effect of thermo-electric voltages in the lines to the resistors and the lines of the contact terminals in the switches.

Abstract: A system and method for testing underground electric cables, while in service, for active corrosion and degree of neutral loss. The method is conducted by applying a non-harmonic selected frequency signal to the neutral(s) of the underground cable connecting a pair of structures, e.g., power transformers, from a variable frequency generator of the system. The test is conducted by a surveyor wearing foot electrodes which contact the earth as the surveyor walks along the earth over the cable in a close interval steps. At each step, direct current (DC) potentials are monitored by a voltmeter between a copper-copper sulfate electrode carried by the surveyor and brought into contact with the ground at each step and the transformer ground. The potential of the gradients between the foot electrodes at the selective frequency and at the native alternating current (AC) is also measured by the voltmeter. These measurements are recorded at a stationary location on a digital data logger and/or computer.

Abstract: A humidity detection circuit includes a bridge circuit containing temperature sensing elements. The bridge circuit is connected in series to a current limiting resistance, a current controlling element and a power supply. There is a set of resistances arranged in parallel with the current limiting resistor and the bridge circuit. A voltage comparing circuit is operatively connected to the bridge circuit the current limiting resistance and the set of resistances. A control section is provided to detect the potential of a junction between the bridge circuit and the current limiting resistance. Based upon the detector potential, the humidity detection circuit changes resistance value of a resistor in the set to an optimal level so that temperature drift does not occur.

Abstract: A bidirectional, transconductance, DC amplifier exhibiting a compliance voltage exceeding either of the DC power supply voltages nearly double the compliance voltage of conventional circuits. The circuit uses a differential input operational amplifier. A voltage divider has its first resistor connected between the amplifier input and the noninverting input of the operational amplifier. The second resistor of the voltage divider is connected between the noninverting input and a common ground. A third resistor is connected between the amplifier input and the inverting input of the operational amplifier. A feedback circuit branch is connected between the inverting input and the output of the operational amplifier and includes a pair of output terminals for connecting the load in series in the feedback circuit branch.

Abstract: A Langmuir probe system for measuring plasma internal discharge parameters in a radio frequency excited plasma processing system includes an electrically tuned resonant circuit. The electrically tuned resonant circuit includes a semiconductor variable capacitor. Specifically, an inductor and FET are connected in parallel to form a resonant circuit used to electrically tune the Langmuir probe. The tuning circuit is placed within a moveable, electrically floating, probe housing and is electrically tuned to improve tuning accuracy and to reduce detuning during operation.