Abstract: An apparatus comprising: a body having an aperture dimensioned to receive an air-borne particle of corresponding size; first and second electrodes positioned within the aperture between which a potential difference can be applied; and a measurement circuit configured to measure an electrical property between the first and second electrodes such that the presence of the air-borne particle within the aperture can be detected based on a change in the electrical property when the air-borne particle contacts both the first and second electrodes.

Abstract: An inertial sensor includes a substrate, a sensor element provided on the substrate, a lid that covers the sensor element and is bonded to the substrate, and a plurality of terminals positioned outside the lid and electrically coupled to the sensor element, in which the plurality of terminals include an input terminal to which an electrical signal is input and a detection terminal for detecting a signal from the sensor element, and L1>L2, where L1 is a distance between the input terminal and the lid, and L2 is a distance between the detection terminal and the lid.

Abstract: In accordance with an example embodiment, a system and method for obscurant mitigation is disclosed. The system comprises an obscurant assessor configured to characterize one or more characteristics of a detected obscurant and generate an obscurant model; an obscurant mitigator configured to perform one or more mitigation operations; and a controller communicatively coupled to each of the obscurant assessor and the obscurant mitigator. The controller is configured to receive an output signal from a vehicle sensor corresponding to a detected obscurant level and determine if the detected obscurant level exceeds a predetermined threshold. The controller generates an obscurant mitigation plan if the detected obscurant level exceeds the predetermined threshold based on the obscurant model generated by the obscurant assessor; and controls operations of an obscurant mitigator based on the obscurant mitigation plan to reduce the detected obscurant level.

Abstract: Infrared cloud detector systems and methods for detecting cloud cover conditions.

Abstract: A device includes a housing having a bore formed axially therethrough. The housing includes a stop that protrudes radially inward proximate to a lower end of the housing. The device also includes a lower piston positioned in the bore. The lower piston is configured to move axially within the bore in response to a pressure differential across the lower piston. The lower piston is prevented from passing out through the lower end of the housing by the stop. The lower piston has a lower piston hole formed therethrough. The device also includes an upper piston positioned in the bore. The upper piston is configured to move axially within the bore in response to a pressure differential across the upper piston. The upper piston has an upper piston hole formed therethrough. The device is configured to receive a fluid in the bore, between the upper and lower pistons.

Abstract: A sensor for measuring multiple properties of a fluid, such as oil, including level, temperature, water contamination, and dielectric where the sensing elements include two or more interdigitated electrodes, a capacitive relative humidity sensor, and a temperature sensing element.

Abstract: A method for configuring a logging module for logging sensors deployment based on a sensing data acquisition objective includes selecting a tool body, selecting at least one type of sensor, and selecting at least one type of roller. The method also includes incorporating the at least one selected type of sensor onto the at least one selected type of roller to provide at least one sensor roller, and mounting the at least one sensor roller into a compressible mounting assembly provided in the tool body to provide the logging module.

Abstract: In a system for measuring a fire suppressant or fire suppression propellant quantity, the system comprising: a base (102); a top plate (106) positioned to support a tank (22) of said fire suppressant or fire suppression propellant; a plurality of springs (112) positioned between the top plate and the base to support the top plate atop the base, the plurality of springs positioned to support the top plate along a range of motion between an extended condition and a retracted condition; a first magnetic member (142) mounted to the base; a second magnetic member (140) mounted to the top plate so that a spacing between the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member decreases as the top plate moves from the extended condition to the retracted condition. At least one of the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member is a permanent magnet. A magnetic field sensor (160) is positioned to detect changes in a magnetic field associated with changes in said spacing.

Abstract: A pressure sensor arrangement (1) for measuring a pressure of a fluid is described, the sensor arrangement (1) comprising a connector housing (2) having a fluid opening (3) and a fluid chamber (4) in connection with the fluid opening (3), at least one pressure sensitive element (5), a membrane (9) arranged between the pressure sensitive element (5) and the fluid chamber (4), and pressure attenuation means (10). Such a pressure sensor arrangement should be able to protect the measuring membrane from high frequency pressure pulsations with low costs. To this end the pressure attenuation means (10) are arranged in the fluid chamber (4) in direct contact with the membrane (9) separating the membrane (9) from the fluid in the fluid chamber and comprise a homogenous incompressible material having a mechanical loss factor of 0.1 or higher at frequencies of 200 Hz or higher.

Abstract: Various embodiments include an exemplary apparatus and method for insitu calibration of multiple flow-sensing devices within a dilution system. In one example, a calibration and dilution system includes a first mass-flow device to serve as a global reference, a second mass-flow device configured to be coupled to and provide a supply of clean gas to a primary diluter, and a third mass-flow device configured to be coupled to and provide a supply of clean gas to a secondary diluter, where the diluters are pneumatically coupled to one another through a gas-supply line. Multiple valves are coupled to at least the mass-flow devices and the diluters. The calibration and dilution system is arranged so that the mass-flow controllers can be calibrated in-situ without having to remove any of the mass-flow controllers from the calibration and dilution system. Other apparatuses, designs, and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A dynamic damage evaluation instrument of drilling fluid based on a glass core includes a controller and a support. A kettle body is provided on the support, a well for receiving drilling fluid is provided inside the kettle body, and a well cover is provided at an upper end of the kettle body. A core holding assembly communicating with the well is provided at a side of the kettle body, and a metering assembly is movably provided at the other end of the core holding assembly. A stirrer for stirring drilling fluid is provided inside the well, and a power component for driving the stirrer is provided outside the kettle body. A data detection hole for mounting a temperature and pressure sensor and a pressurization hole for mounting a pressurization device are formed on the well cover.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for detecting a faulty state of an FMCW-based fill level measuring device. For this, a correlation coefficient is ascertained by correlation, especially cross correlation, of the measurement signal with a reference signal. The faulty state is accordingly detected when the correlation coefficient subceeds a predefined minimum value. In this way, the functioning of the fill level measuring device can be monitored with a degree of safety allowing the fill level measuring device to be applied also in process plants and measuring environments, which require extremely reliable measuring apparatuses, and measurement data.

Abstract: A device and a method for detecting leaks of closed containers with an inspection apparatus configured to determine the curvature of the container closure of the closed containers, as well as an evaluation apparatus by means of which the curvature of the closure is compared with a predefined value. A pressure generating apparatus is used to press each container closure flat prior to inspection. The pressure-generating apparatus comprises an actuator with which pressure is applied locally to each container closure from the outside.

Abstract: An air pressure-machine vision based system for measuring a rheological property of a viscoelastic material includes a machine body, a lifting experiment table system, an air pressure generation control system, an image collection system, and a controlling and information processing system, where the lifting experiment table system, the air pressure generation control system, the image collection system and the controlling and information processing system are mounted on the machine body; the lifting experiment table system includes a lifting table stepping motor, an L-shaped lifting table and a lifting table motor driver, and the lifting table motor driver is connected to the lifting table stepping motor and configured to drive the lifting table stepping motor; and the lifting table stepping motor is connected to the L-shaped lifting table and configured to control lifting of the L-shaped lifting table.

Abstract: An apparatus is for use in viscoelastic analysis, for example in coagulation testing of sample liquids, such as blood and/or its elements. In the apparatus for use in viscoelastic analysis, the rotating means are provided below the cup, pin and cup receiving element. A capacitive detection means and temperature control devices may be used in the apparatus for use in viscoelastic analysis. A method of performing viscoelastic analysis, e.g. coagulation analysis, on a sample may use the devices and apparatuses.

Abstract: A tire wear state estimation system includes a CAN bus system disposed on a vehicle. A tire supporting the vehicle is mounted on a wheel. A wheel sensor unit is mounted on a structure adjacent the wheel, and the wheel sensor unit includes a longitudinal acceleration sensor to generate a longitudinal acceleration signal. The wheel sensor unit also includes a vertical acceleration sensor to generate a vertical acceleration signal, and transmission means to communicate the longitudinal acceleration signal and the vertical acceleration signal to the CAN bus system. A processor receives the longitudinal acceleration signal and the vertical acceleration signal. An extractor extracts a tire translational mode from the longitudinal acceleration signal and a tire vertical mode from the vertical acceleration signal. The tire translational mode and the tire vertical mode are input into a classifier to generate a wear state estimation for the tire. A method is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the identity, location, or level of one or more material phases or the location of an interface between two material phases within a defined volume having, a linear array of units configured to generate and detect electromagnetic radiation; an elongate enclosure containing the array of units, being at least partially transparent to the electromagnetic radiation generated by the units; the apparatus being configured to be at least partially submerged within the one or more material phases within the defined volume, the linear array of units being configured to generate transmission signals through the at least partially transparent elongate enclosure to the one or more material phases surrounding the enclosure at locations along the length of the enclosure, and to receive return signals through the elongate enclosure at locations along the length of the enclosure from the one or more material phases surrounding the enclosure.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic bearing fault prediction, detection, diagnosis, and response system for combustion ignition engines, machines and/or coupled components of a combustion ignition engine and/or machine; a plurality of transducers, each disposed proximally or about each of the engine/machine components or engine itself; with at least one transducer with capacitance sensing abilities, each of the transducers disposed to react to changes in the dielectric constant of a nanosuspension circulated about the monitored component.

Abstract: A method of determining an API gravity of a crude oil is provided. The method includes obtaining a reservoir sample containing the crude oil and heating the sample to a first temperature using an oxidative testing apparatus. The sample is then heated to a second temperature, which is greater than the first temperature, over a period using a fixed heating rate. The rate of carbon dioxide emission from the sample is detected during the period of heating to the second temperature. The peak rate of carbon dioxide emission from the sample is then determined and the peak carbon dioxide emission temperature associated with the peak rate of carbon dioxide emission is also determined. The API gravity of the crude oil in the reservoir sample is determined using an empirical correlation between API gravity and the peak carbon dioxide emission temperature associated with the fixed heating rate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and/or device for improving the separation behaviors and performance of aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) for the isolation and/or concentration of one or more target analytes from a sample. In one embodiment, the present method and device comprise ATPS components within a porous material and one or more phase separation behavior modifying agents that improve the separation behavior and performance characteristics of ATPS, including but not limited to the increasing the stability or reducing fluctuations of ATPS thought the adjustment of total volume of a sample solution that undergoes phase separation, volume ratio of the two phases of the ATPS, fluid flow rates, and concentrations of ATPS components.