Abstract: A semiconductor pressure sensor is manufactured by integrally encapsulating a semiconductor pressure, sensor chip, a pedestal, leads, wires and a die pad in an outer package except for the surface of a diaphragm of the semiconductor pressure sensor chip and the reverse side of the die pad. The ratio of the thickness of the pedestal to the thickness of the semiconductor pressure sensor chip is 7.5 or less, while the ratio of the diameter of an opening formed in the outer package at the surface of the diaphragm and the diameter of the diaphragm is 1 or more. The thermal stress generated in the semiconductor pressure sensor chip can freely be reduced to a desired value, and a semiconductor pressure sensor exhibiting a desired accuracy can therefore be obtained. Furthermore, since the semiconductor pressure sensor can be manufactured by an ordinary IC manufacturing process, a semiconductor pressure sensor with reduced cost and having high quality can be produced.

Abstract: A capacitive pressure sensor suitable for making highly sensitive, low pressure measurements is disclosed. The sensor may be mounted into a 0.5 mm OD catheter suitable for multipoint pressure measurements from within the coronary artery of the heart. The sensor employs a transducer which consists of a rectangular bulk silicon microdiaphragm several hundred microns on a side by two microns thick, surrounded by a supporting bulk silicon rim about 12 microns thick. Both the diaphragm and the rim are defined by a double diffusion etch-stop technique. The transducer fabrication process features a batch wafer-to-glass electrostatic seal followed by a silicon etch, which eliminates handling of individual small diaphragm structures until die separation and final packaging. An addressable read-out interface circuit may be used with the sensor to provide a high-level output signal, and allows the sensor to be compatible for use on a multisite catheter having only two electrical leads.

Abstract: An method and apparatus for providing a spectrally correct image representation is disclosed. Incoming scene light is divided into a plurality of micro-spectra and imaged onto an electronic image sensor unit by a grating and a light dispersing system. Digital image data produced by the electronic image system represents a spectrally correct image.

Abstract: A dual capacitor device for utilizing dependent capacitances for measurement purposes where a first capacitor base member and a second capacitance base member are arranged with parallel capacitor surfaces in parallel planes and where the parallel capacitor surfaces are located on opposite sides relative to a central transverse plane to define first and second capacitors. The second capacitor base member has a centrally located section connected to an outer section of the second capacitor base member by a torsion beam and the centrally located section is attached to the first capacitor base member by a coupling member. Angular displacement of the outer section relative to the centrally located section about the displacement axis produces a capacitance change in the first and second capacitors.

Abstract: An angle of attack sensor is provided with ports for sensing flow angles in desired planes based upon differential pressure at the ports when a longitudinal or reference axis of the sensor changes relative to the flow stream. Impact pressure is also measured with the same probe, or with a separate probe, and the angle of attack is calculated by subtracting the pressures at the angle sensitive ports, and dividing by the measured impact pressure (q.sub.cm). At higher angles of attack, the denominator q.sub.cm approaches and passes through zero. When this quantity, q.sub.cm, approaches zero, the angle of attack signal becomes undefined. The problems encountered as q.sub.cm approaches zero has been a limitation of useful angle of attack range of angle of attack sensors for many years. It has been discovered that if the angle of attack ratio, where q.sub.cm is the denominator, is inverted at some point when the denominator q.sub.

Abstract: A pressure sensor including at least two ceramic layers formed as elongated sheets and bonded together with a gap therebetween at one end so as to form a diaphragm of a portion of one of the ceramic layers that faces the gap and that receives on an outer surface thereof the pressure to be measured, a pressure-sensitive electrode portion from which an electric output corresponding with the pressure to be measured is generated on the basis of the amount of strain of the diaphragm that develops under the pressure to be measured, the pressure-sensitive electrode portion being provided on or around the diaphragm, and a plurality of conductor paths that are connected to the pressure-sensitive electrode portion and that extend along the length of the ceramic layers, the conductor paths having terminals at the other end of the bonded ceramic layers for connection to an external electric circuit.

Abstract: An improved wind tunnel six component balance having an outer shell assembly that receives a tubular inner rod and an axial member that is received within the interior of the tubular inner rod. The forward and aft ends of the outer shell assembly are connected to the inner rod. The loads imposed on the forward and aft ends of the outer shell assembly are transferred to the inner rod and into the tunnel support system. The central annular section of the outer shell assembly is connected to the axial adapters (four each and into the central disk of the axial member. The principal areas of the axial element are the central disk member, the flexures (two sets forward and two sets aft), the forward and aft gauged sections, and the forward and aft disk members. Normal force, side force, and rolling moment are carried by the outer forward webs of the outer shell assembly. The axial member will transfer the majority of the axial force then the forward and aft outer shell webs.

Abstract: A conventional pressure transducer is provided on an adaptive connector wh fits either of two "wet side" bulkhead fittings on the breech door of a torpedo tube. The transducer is electrically connected to a recording device in the submarine by means of a cable with an adaptive connector that is configured to be received on either of the two "dry side" bulkhead fittings.

Abstract: A pressure sensor for determination of pressure in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, particularly for motor vehicles has a housing, a membrane associated with the housing, a sensor element, a plunger supplying a pressure to be determined to the sensor element and located in the housing. The housing has at least one housing opening and a shaft and the membrane closing the opening of the housing and is connected with the shaft of the housing in the region of a side wall so that a bottom of the membrane is flexible and a pressure to be determined is transferable to the plunger, a counter bearing for the plunger. A support is provided for a hybrid and composed of ceramic material and located on the counter bearing for the plunger. The sensor element is a piezoresistive measuring element and located on the hybrid so as to produce an electrical signal corresponding to the pressure.

Abstract: In a rotor wheel assembly for a tire testing drum comprising a hub and a testing drum portion which is supported relative to the hub by support means, the support means consists exclusively of discs, with at least three discs arranged symmetrically relative to a central plane passing radially through the hub. The support discs may comprise first and second conical discs and at least one flat disc.

Abstract: The present invention provides compensation for temperature in a transducer by connecting the adjustment resistors to the transducer itself to provide a correct transducer output. A number of switches are used to couple the adjustment resistors to the transducer circuit. An individual resistor may be coupled in parallel or in series with a transducer resistance. The control input for the switches are each coupled to a separate bit output of a multiple bit memory. The memory is programmed to control the duty cycle of the switches when addressed.

Abstract: A regulator for pneumatic system comprising a connecting bracket for connecting other air conditioning units to a regulator body. Because of this connecting bracket, the air conditioning units to be connected to each other can be modularized. The connecting bracket has, at its both ends, a pair of projection-like pawl sections which are engageable respectively with engaging sections formed respectively on outer peripheral surfaces of the other air conditioning units. Incorporated in the connecting bracket is a pressure gage for detecting secondary pneumatic pressure within the regulator body. The pressure gage comprises a pressure detecting section, a pressure display section, pressure setting section and an abnormality alarm section.

Abstract: In pressure sensor systems based upon a micromachined silicon pressure sensor comprising a resonantly vibratable beam supported on a diaphragm, the beam is excited into resonant vibration by directing an optical excitation signal at the beam resonant frequency, via an optical fibre 26, onto a part of the sensor other than the beam, preferably the diaphragm. To detect the vibrations, the underside of the beam 16 and the adjacent upper surface of the diaphragm 18 are together arranged to define a Fabry-Perot cavity, and a continuous optical detection signal is directed at this cavity, also via the optical fibre 26. The optical detection signal is thus modulated at the vibration frequency of the beam 16 by the cavity, and the modulated signal is reflected back into the optical fibre 26.

Abstract: A miniaturized pressure sensor for physiological in situ measurements has an elastic material shell having an outer surface with an opening extending therethrough. The opening is covered by an elastic diaphragm and a light conductor having an end surface is disposed inside the shell and connected thereto by a glue joint. A body of silicon or gallium is disposed inside the shell and has a thin, cantilevered, short beam portion and a reflecting surface connected to and perpendicularly projecting from a free end of the short beam portion. The reflecting surface is proximate to the end surface of the light conductor so that when the diaphragm is subjected to a pressure differential, it is forced to move thereby causing a corresponding movement of the short beam portion so that the reflecting surface is positioned opposite to the end surface of the light conductor.

Abstract: A lever force gauge, for measuring the force necessary to pivot a lever, includes a connector for attaching the device to the end of a lever, and a positioner to which a load cell is attached for producing an electrical signal indicative of the force exerted by the operator to move the lever. The positioner is pivotally attached to the connector in such a way that it can be pivoted to any of three positions to orient the load cell in the desired direction to exert a force on the load cell to move the lever and measure the force exerted before the lever moved. The load cell is connected via an electrical cable to an instrument that records and displays the peak force exerted on the load cell to move the lever.

Abstract: A device for continuously monitoring the difference in pressure of fluid in two closed spaces and separated by a dividing wall comprises an open-ended tubular housing which is secured to a rigid tube passing through and rotatably mounted in a horizontal passage in the wall with their axes inclined at an angle to one another. By rotably adjusting the housing with respect to the wall, the housing can be arranged to lie at a desired angle to the horizontal. The housing has a length three times its internal diameter and is transparent in end parts and opaque in a central part, each part being equal to a third of the total length of the housing. Two balls, each of a diameter slightly less than the internal diameter of the housing, are retained and free to roll within the housing, the ball remote from the wall being green and the other red.

Abstract: A pressure sensor circuit (10A) is disclosed which preferably utilizes a piezoresistive pressure transducer (11A) having a substantial temperature coefficient of resistance to provide an inherent temperature variation which is used to implement offset temperature compensation for the circuit. Two operational amplifiers (OA1, OA2) are configured along with selectable resistors (R.sub.1, R.sub.9, R.sub.7, R.sub.8, R.sub.5, R.sub.6 and R.sub.4) to implement four adjustments of the circuit (10A) to adjust span (gain), offset and temperature variation of both span and offset to achieve a desired result. All this is achieved while implementing a common mode gain for the circuit (10A) which is less than 5 and preferably no more than 2.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring the tire interior by supplying electric power from a power source on a chassis side to a tire-side sensor via a power-supplying coil and a power-receiving coil, and by transmitting a sensor output via a signal-transmitting coil and a signal-receiving coil. The signal-transmitting coil and the power-receiving coil, as well as the signal-receiving coil and the power-supplying coil, are respectively arranged to be substantially concentric in a respective substantially identical plane, and an electromagnetic shielding is provided so as to prevent noise from being mixed in the sensor output. The arrangement makes compact a coupling portion on the chassis side and a coupling portion on the tire side.

Abstract: A hand-held instrument adapted selectively to provide a sportsman, such as a mountain climber, with readily-readable indications of the existing altitude or direction. The instrument includes a magnetometer which yields an analog signal as a function of direction and a pressure sensor which yields an analog signal as a function of atmospheric pressure. These analog signals are converted into corresponding digital signals and applied to a microprocessor which acts to control an LCD display having two display modes--one providing a numerical readout of altitude, the other a 360 degree readout of direction. When the microprocessor is switched to the altitude mode, it then processes the signal derived from the pressure sensor to yield a digital output for operating the display to indicate the existing altitude. When the microprocessor is switched to the direction mode, it then processes the signal derived from the magnetometer to yield a digital output for operating the display to indicate the existing direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a measured value pickup for vacuum measurements, with the pickup including a sensor as well as electronic circuits for supplying the sensor with voltage, and a signal processing device. In order to be able to employ the measure value pickup independently of the location of the measured value processing system, it is proposed to configure it as a transmitter.