Abstract: A probe card is provided for contacting an electric componet with raised contact elements. In particular, the present invention is useful for contacting a semiconductor wafer with resilient contact elements, such as springs. A probe card is designed to have terminals to mate with the contact elements on the wafer. In a preferred embodiment, the terminals are posts. In a preferred embodiment the terminals include a contact material suitable for repeated contacts. In one particularly preferred embodiment, a space transformer is prepared with contact posts on one side and terminals on the opposing side. An interposer with spring contacts connects a contact on the opposing side of the space transformer to a corresponding terminal on a probe card, which terminal is in turn connected to a terminal which is connectable to a test device such as a conventional tester.

Abstract: A detection device for analyzing charged particles. The charged particle analyzer comprises a source of charged particles and a charged particle detector spaced from the source and immersed within the source in an ionizable gas. The detector comprises at least one pair of electrodes, characterized in that the electrodes of the pair are spaced apart by a distance that is substantialy less than the spacing between the source and detector. The electrodes of the pair are maintained at different potentials, and the source is maintained at a potential different from the potentials of the electrodes. The potentials are selected such that charged particles emitted by the source are attracted from the source toward each of the pair of electrodes and such that charged particles adjacent the detector are accelerated to energies sufficient to ionize the gas.

Abstract: An air-core current transducer measurement system is provided for measuring current flow in a high voltage transmission line. The system includes a high voltage end including an electrically conductive case for the circuitry at that end and an isolated low voltage end which is coupled by a fiber optic cable to the high voltage end and which provides a scaled output signal. A current transducer located at the high voltage end includes a coil for sensing current flow in the transmission line and for producing a time derivative output signal. An electrostatic shield connected to the electrically conductive case provides electrostatic shielding of the coil.

Abstract: A fault indicator for three phase sheathed cables includes a flexible collar unit which fits over the cable. Magnetic pole pieces within the collar unit having associated magnetic windings are aligned with the three conductors within the cable to produce signals indicative of the current level in each conductor. An alarm unit receives the signals and sounds an alarm in the event the current in any conductor exceeds a predetermined threshold level to indicate the occurrence of a fault. The voltage level of the current indicating signals may be utilized to align the magnetic core assemblies with the conductors.

Abstract: The pneumatic cylinder is fixed on between the lower member of the upper unit and the lower member of the lower unit. As the shaft of the pneumatic cylinder extends, the upper unit starts lowering by its own weight at first. When the upper unit reaches to the point limited by the stopper, the lower unit then starts rising and the lower unit stops in a state where the shaft has extended to its full length. In this state, the probes and are in contact with the printed wiring board as applying a specified pressure to it.

Abstract: In an IC testing apparatus which executes a function test and a DC test, a resistor having a high resistance is connected to the output side of a DC tester such that the connection of the resistor allows a function test to operate normally if the DC tester is left connected to the function tester, thus allowing the DC test to be interrupted into the execution of the function test to enable a concurrent execution of the function test and the DC test. As a result, the time required to change switches in the DC tester, for example, can be executed during the function test, thus preventing the time interval required to change the switches from increasing the time interval required for the test, thereby reducing the testing time interval.

Abstract: Liquid conductivity and temperature are measured in respective sensitivity fields that are collocated—i. e., in volumes that nearly match by mathematical, geometrical, or functional criteria. Collocation is as distinct from mere adjacency or proximity; and is with respect to measurement volumes, not measuring hardware. Preferably pressure too is measured with sensitivity very generally collocated to the conductivity and temperature sensitivity. Preferably, respective temporal/spatial bandwidths of the two (or three) sensors are matched. Preferably the pressure sensor is a MEMS transducer, the conductivity sensor is a four-terminal device, the thermometer is a thermistor encapsulated in a silkscreened glass wall, and circuits (1) compensate for time lag between conductivity and temperature measurement, (2) remove artifacts due to detritus in or near either sensor, and (3) derive secondary parameters of the liquid.

Abstract: A Hall effect sensor or device may be used in a variety of embodiments, such as measuring current within an associated conductor by helping to measure flux density within a gap of a ferromagnetic power meter core, such as in a power meter. A high linearity interface for a Hall effect device is provided for minimizing offset effects without using complicated electronic circuits. First and second levels of modulation relative to line frequency are used to synchronize Hall effect device input switching circuits and feedback loops for improved elimination of offset signals or noise from the ultimate system output. The substrate of the Hall effect device may be connected electrically to an output pin of the Hall device or to a separate virtual ground to eliminate any effects caused by asymmetry of the voltage appearing in the channel relative to the substrate.

Abstract: A method and device for monitoring insulation and fault current in an electrical alternating current network. The differential current formed by vectorial addition is detected between at least two network conductors. Load-cut occurs when the differential current exceeds a specific threshold value. In order to increase safety and to protect human beings, the amount of alternating current contained in the differential current is detected as a first network variable, and the network alternating current between at least both network conductors and between at least one network conductor and an equipotential bonding conductor or a neutral conductor is detected as a second network variable.

Abstract: Characterizing the value of a particular property, for example, seismic velocity, of a subsurface region of ground is described. In one aspect, the value of the particular property is represented using at least one continuous analytic function such as a Chebychev polynomial. The seismic data may include data derived from at least one crosswell dataset for the subsurface region of interest and may also include other data. In either instance, data may simultaneously be used from a first crosswell dataset in conjunction with one or more other crosswell datasets and/or with the other data. In another aspect, the value of the property is characterized in three dimensions throughout the region of interest using crosswell and/or other data. In still another aspect, crosswell datasets for highly deviated or horizontal boreholes are inherently useful.

Abstract: A plug for insertion through the wall of a vessel filled with fluid to be monitored has an extension immersed in the fluid which has a pair of wire electrodes helically wound thereon in spaced arrangement. The electrodes are wound at a uniform pitch in one embodiment and wound with regions of closely and widely spaced pitches in another embodiment. In a third embodiment, the electrodes are helically wound in spaced parallel arrangement at a pitch greater than the spacing of the pair. A thermistor is disposed on the extension for providing a fluid temperature signal. The electrodes are excited sequentially by a low voltage at a fractional Hertz (low) frequency and a (high) frequency of at least one Hertz and the current and temperature are measured. The impedance and differential impedance are computed from the measured currents.

Abstract: A method for testing a plurality of integrated circuits. In one embodiment, a plurality of integrated circuits are arranged on a wafer. The integrated circuits are separated on the wafer across the boundary region. Testing interconnects are disposed across the boundary region to test switchable couplings included in each of the integrated circuits on the wafer. After the integrated circuits are tested on the wafer using the testing interconnects across the boundary region, the boundary region is removed, which separates the wafer into individual integrated circuit dice and severs the testing interconnects.

Abstract: The invention includes an apparatus for determining geo-electric data and the density of a porous material. A resistivity-measuring device applies an electrical current through an electrode array to that is part of a non-electrical conductive test cell that is used to measure the resistivity of the porous material that is the test cell. The test cell is a made of a rigid non-electrically conductive material and is a standard shape and dimension. The material that is the test specimen is compacted into the test cell using a standard technique so that the physical properties of the test specimen my calculated. In addition to making a set of standard physical measurement (material unit density and unit moisture content) the test cell is used to measure electrical properties of the test specimen so that a set of electrical constants can be determined for the material under test.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for processing, optimization, calibration, and display of measured dielectrometry signals. A property estimator is coupled by way of instrumentation to an electrode structure and translates sensed electromagnetic responses into estimates of one or more preselected properties or dimensions of the material, such as dielectric permittivity and ohmic conductivity, layer thickness, or other physical properties that affect dielectric properties, or presence of other lossy dielectric or metallic objects. A dielectrometry sensor is disclosed which can be connected in various ways to have different effective penetration depths of electric fields but with all configurations having the same air-gap, fluid gap, or shim lift-off height, thereby greatly improving the performance of the property estimators by decreasing the number of unknowns.

Abstract: A device for sensing moisture in moving hay bales has a pair of star-shaped wheels situated to have points penetrate into the bale and be driven by the bale. The points establish electrode surfaces within the bale between which resistivity or conductivity of an electrical current may be measured and scaled to moisture content of the hay of the bale.

Abstract: A method for real time monitoring fluid in a vessel with a probe having a pair of electrodes immersed in the fluid. The disclosed probe has the electrodes arranged helically on a rod, sized and configured for insertion in an engine dipstick hole. Preferably, the probe has spiral electrode winding up regions different pitch to provide improved impedance response at low fractional Hertz and high (at least one Hertz) frequencies of excitation. In one version with alternating voltage the difference in current magnitude measured at the low and high frequencies is compared with stored known values for known fluid conditions and an electrical signal indicative of fluid condition is generated. Examples with engine drain oil and heavy duty transmission lubricant fluid are presented. The impedance properties measured can determine the percentage remaining useful life (RUL) of the fluid.

Abstract: A method of detecting an abrupt variation in a periodic electrical quantity, where a criterion for the occurrence of the abrupt variation is formed from samples of the periodic quantity. To be able to carry out such a method in such a way that the abrupt variations in the periodic quantity can be detected with a high sensitivity, the periodic quantity is weighted in an FIR filter with a transfer function with a double zero position at the nominal frequency; the output signal of the FIR filter is monitored for whether it reaches a threshold indicating that an abrupt variation in the periodic quantity has occurred.

Abstract: A relay test set of reduced size and weight includes a small, highly efficient voltage and current source. The test set incorporates a Class D switching amplifier design that greatly reduces the size of the power source needed to inject the correct voltage and current into the secondary inputs of a protective relay. To further reduce the size, weight and cost of the relay test set, a single voltage amplifier is used to drive both voltage and current secondary inputs of a protective relay. In so doing, this test set then becomes both a voltage transformer and current transformer simulator utilizing a single voltage power source at reduced size, weight and cost. To make the power source variable while maintaining accuracy, a microcomputer module is used to monitor both current and voltage being injected into the protective relay.

Abstract: An interface circuit board (20) for high test point density electronic testing equipment has a first thickness signal portion (20c) in which all the signal traces (20e) are routed and a second, thicker integrally formed transfer portion (20d) which transfers the signal traces to a respective test pad (20g) on the lower surface of the transfer portion. The transfer portion is made thicker to strengthen the board and is made integral with the first signal portion to eliminate the need for intermediate solder joints.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a high-resolution measurement apparatus and method determine the position and motion of an object such as a human hand relative to a sensor array. Capacitance transferred to the array by the object within a sensor field produces minute phase changes in a fixed-frequency reference signal applied to the several elements of the array. The phase changes are measured by first heterodyning the phase-shifted reference signal with a second reference signal to obtain a low frequency intermediate signal, and then employing a phaselocked loop to multiply the phase information in the intermediate signal by orders of magnitude, thereby permitting the use of conventional methods to measure the resulting greatly magnified phase changes. Other embodiments provide direct digital measurement of unknown electrical properties, such as capacitance, inductance, and resistance.