Abstract: Magnetoquasistatic through-the-wall non-line-of-sight coupling between a mobile transmitting device located within a building, or indoor, and a fixed receiving device located outside the building, outdoor, enables positioning of the transmitting device through the wall of the building and in non-line-of-sight environments. Systems based on magnetoquasistatic coupling can separately sense the distance and orientation of the transmitting device accurately even in heavy non-line-sight environments such as steel-reinforced buildings. The approach permits sensing and determination of location and attitude of mobile devices in buildings and can be used to locate rescue workers, first responders, or law enforcement officers inside a building.

Abstract: An electronic feeler gauge comprises a sensor blade, a transmitting system, and a receiving system. The sensor blade comprises transmission induction coils, reception induction coils, and measurement sites, spaced in two dimensions about the sensor blade. Each of the measurement sites is associated with at least one of the transmission induction coils and at least one of the reception induction coils. The transmitting system is configured to drive modulated signals across the transmission induction coils to produce transmitted probe signals from the transmission induction coils. The receiving system is configured to receive response signals from the reception induction coils due to the transmitted probe signals.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for the examination of a predetermined volume portion of an object with a magnetic resonance (MR) fingerprinting procedure, an MR signal curve for voxels of the volume portion is acquired, and a comparison of the MR signal curve of the respective voxel is made with stored MR signal curves in order to determine the stored MR signal curve that conforms most closely to the MR signal curve, with the result of the comparison then being made available as an output. The comparison with the MR signal curve of the voxel is (initially) performed with a specific number of signal points of the MR signal curve. A quality measure is determined with which the quality of the most closely conforming stored MR signal curves is determined. The performance of the comparison for the respective voxel is repeated if the quality measure is below a predetermined quality threshold value, with the number of signal points being first increased by a difference number.

Abstract: Systems and methods of detecting failures in an assembly that uses a variable differential transformer sensor. In one embodiment, a signal processor receives an excitation signal applied to the sensor, and detects a zero-crossing of the excitation signal. The signal processor receives an output signal of the variable differential transformer sensor in response to the excitation signal, and detects a zero-crossing of the output signal. The signal processor detects a fault in the assembly responsive to a determination that the zero-crossing of the output signal is separated from the zero-crossing of the excitation signal by more than the detection threshold.

Abstract: A device for surveying the condition of a substrate, in particular a soil sensor, having at least one transmitting coil and at least one, preferably four, receiving coils. The transmitting coil is arranged to generate an electromagnetic primary field and the receiving coil is arranged to receive the electromagnetic secondary field induced in the substrate by the primary field. The transmitting coil and the receiving coil are arranged in a housing which includes electromagnetic radiation shielding material. Also disclosed is an agricultural driven machine including a soil sensor and a method for operating a driven machine.

Abstract: An imaging system includes determination of a first range of values of an imaging parameter, determination of a cost function expressing a difference between a first pulse profile and a second pulse profile, the second pulse profile generated based on respective values of each of a set of pulse parameters, identification of first coefficient values of each function of a set of functions which substantially minimize the cost function over the first range of values of the imaging parameter, where each of the set of functions determines a value of a respective one of the set of pulse parameters based on a value of the imaging parameter, and storage of the first coefficient values of each function of the set of functions in association with the first range of values.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry generates a plurality of cross-sectional images for setting a sectional position to be collected in main imaging based on a characteristic portion of a target detected in three-dimensional data. The processing circuitry lists the cross-sectional images on a display and superimposes a mark corresponding to the characteristic portion on at least one of the cross-sectional images. The processing circuitry receives a setting operation to determine the sectional position. The processing circuitry causes, when the mark is selected in the setting operation, a cross-sectional image to be emphasized a sectional position of which is defined using the characteristic portion corresponding to the mark among the listed cross-sectional images. The processing circuitry performs main imaging based on the sectional position after the setting operation.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and devices for NMR spectroscopy analyzing sealed containers e.g., food and beverage containers and other containers, and particularly according to specific embodiments sealed containers made of a conducting but generally nonferromagnetic metal or other conducting material. As discussed in above referenced applications, many current strategies for contaminant detection require a container to be violated, a process that can destroy the container or product and is impractical in large scale applications. The present invention overcomes these and other problems by providing methods and devices for the detection of contaminants and/or contraband in metal or conducting containers by NMR spectroscopy.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to determine a plurality of regions, each of the plurality of regions having a detected change in sensor value that meets or exceeds a threshold value, fit a three dimensional shape to the plurality of regions, and determine a position of an object.

Abstract: An electronic device incorporating a magnet and a Hall-effect sensor to determine a location of a portion of the electronic device. The electronic device comprises a magnet mechanically coupled to a first portion of the electronic device and a Hall-effect sensor coupled to a second portion of the electronic device where the first portion and the second portion are moveable with reference to each other and where the Hall-effect sensor receives a magnetic field of the magnet. The device further comprises an electronic stage that outputs a comparison threshold signal based on peak detecting an output of the Hall-effect sensor using a long term adjustment and resetting the long term adjustment to a current output of the Hall-effect sensor in response to a short term adjustment and a switch electronic stage that switches in response to the output of the Hall-effect sensor exceeding the comparison threshold output.

Abstract: An operation voltage testing circuit includes a voltage generating circuit, a current-to-voltage conversion circuit, and a processing circuit. The voltage generating circuit is configured to generate a first voltage signal according to a first current signal, such that a photoelectric conversion unit generates a second current signal corresponding to the first voltage signal. The current-to-voltage conversion circuit is configured to generate a second voltage signal corresponding to the second current signal. The processing circuit is configured to receive the second voltage signal and to selectively adjust and output the first current signal according to the second voltage signal and a threshold value, such that the voltage generating circuit selectively adjusts the first voltage signal according to the first current signal.

Abstract: In a magnetic resonance (MR) navigator-based method and apparatus, MR data are acquired from a large joint of a patient, which is not modelable as a whole based on a single rigid body model. The field of view which the MR data are acquired is divided in a processor into multiple sub-sections, with each sub-section being modelable based on a rigid body model. MR navigator signals are acquired from each of the sub-sections, and these navigator signals are used in a motion tracking algorithm that is based on a rigid body model in order to generate a modeling result that tracks the movement of the overall joint within the field of view. The modeling result can be used for prospective or retrospective motion correction of the MR data.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for measuring temperatures and pHs of a sample in situ using NMR spectroscopy, and for sealing one or more ends of a capillary tube after a reference material has been added to the capillary tube, which is used in an in situ NMR temperature measurement device. A method for measuring a pH of a sample in situ using NMR spectroscopy includes providing an in situ NMR pH measurement device. This device includes a sample housing member configured to house a target sample, at least one pH sensor configured to exhibit an NMR spectral change due to a change in pH value of the target sample, and a pH sensor containment member configured to house the at least one pH sensor. The target sample is added to the sample housing member. NMR spectra are obtained to then determine the pH of the target sample.

Abstract: A method for ascertaining an inner resistance of a supply network for supplying energy to an occupant protection system of a vehicle. The occupant protection system includes a charging unit connected to the supply network using a primary interface and to an energy buffer store using a secondary interface for the temporary storage of energy for activating occupant protection devices system and for supplying the system after being separated from the supply network. The method includes impressing a first charge current value at the secondary interface, and a first current/voltage at the primary interface during the impression. Further, a second, different, charge current value is impressed at the secondary interface. The method also includes determining a second current/voltage at the primary interface during the impression, and ascertaining the inner resistance of the supply network, using the detected first current and second current and/or the first voltage and the second voltage.

Abstract: What is described is a system for estimating a ripple component of an input signal. The system includes a first module configured to remove a direct current (DC) component from the input signal and output an alternating current (AC) signal that includes the ripple component and a low frequency component of the input signal. The system also includes a second module configured to determine a period and an amplitude of the AC signal and output an estimated ripple signal based on the period and the amplitude of the AC signal.

Abstract: A magnetic shield cover for an encoder of magnetic detection type includes a soft magnetic section and a non-magnetic section. The soft magnetic section is formed to cover a magnetic detection element and a magnet and has an opening for avoiding a situation that a part of the soft magnetic section prevents a magnetic field from the magnet from passing through the magnetic detection element. The non-magnetic section is provided in the opening of the soft magnetic section.

Abstract: Electrically conductive columns of intertwined carbon nanotubes embedded in a mass of material flexible, resilient electrically insulating material can be used as electrically conductive contact probes. The columns can extend between opposing sides of the mass of material. Terminals of a wiring substrate can extend into the columns and be electrically connected to an electrical interface to a tester that controls testing of a device under test. A pair of physically interlocked structures can coupling the mass of material to the wiring substrate. The pair can include a receptacle and a protrusion.