Abstract: A method of testing a haptic device that includes an actuator and has a first weight includes placing the haptic device on a test fixture that has a second weight that is greater than the first weight. The haptic device is placed on the test fixture so that the actuator within the haptic device is substantially close to the center of gravity of the test fixture. The method further includes causing the haptic device to generate haptic effects via the actuator, and measuring the acceleration of the test fixture during the haptic effects.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a filter installed in a fluid system. The steps include providing a reference region in the fluid system, the region including a chamber having a known volume and releasing a fluid from the chamber configured to flow through the reference region. The method further includes measuring pressure and temperature values at predetermined locations at predetermined time intervals and determining filter permeability values in response to measured pressure and temperature values. The method further includes comparing the filter permeability values to predetermined filter permeability values.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the monitoring of gas concentrations possible in very low ranges (i.e., low ppb and even ppt ranges) and especially use thereof in environmental monitoring, exposure assessment, bomb detection, and health studies. The invention can use a spatial and temporal assessment of gas concentrations that enables the sources of the gas in question to be located and identified which is useful in environmental and health field but can also be applied to other fields an example of which is detecting and locating explosives. This technology can uses small, light weight, and low power components that allow for the monitor to be portable and even worn on a person as a personal monitor. This technology can be used in a stationary monitors as well.

Abstract: A method for inspecting a part by a non-destructive ultrasound inspection, the part is immersed in an acoustic wave conducting medium and an incident ultrasound wave having a wide beam of section ? is emitted into the ultrasound-conducting medium towards the part. The characteristics of the waves reflected by faces of the part to be inspected are measured on at least a small section ?, the characteristic dimensions of which are substantially less than those of the section ?. The location of the section or sections ? is determined such that, despite the possible variations of the position of the part and the relative slopes of its faces, the section ? is always located in the volumes passed through by the reflected waves, for example substantially in an area close to the axis of the incident beam when the incident beam is controlled to be oriented substantially in a direction perpendicular to a face of the part.

Abstract: A method of determining whether a liquid amount and/or quality of a liquid reagent held in a reagent holding portion are/is normal or not in a microchip that includes the steps of measuring each liquid reagent held in the reagent holding portion with a first measuring portion, mixing, at least, two or more types of measured liquid reagents in a first mixing portion, and evaluating the liquid amount and/or quality of obtained liquid mixture and determining, based on the evaluation, whether or not the liquid amount and/or quality of the liquid reagents are/is normal, as well as a liquid-reagent-containing microchip are provided. A method of easily determining whether a liquid amount and/or quality of liquid reagents in a microchip are/is normal or not and a microchip in which the method can be performed are provided.

Abstract: Implementations of the present invention relate to a scanning probe microscope, which includes a base frame to which a probe holder with a probe as well as a probe support are, or can be fixed. The probe and the sample mount can be moved relative to one another in order to obtain information about the surface of the sample by scanning a sample which is arranged on the sample mount. Furthermore, a reaction chamber can be attached to the base frame of the scanning probe microscope, with the sample mount arranged therein. The reaction chamber has an opening on its side facing the probe, through which the probe can enter the reaction chamber. The reaction chamber can enable treatment of the sample's surface by the specific influence of fluids within the reaction chamber when the reaction chamber is closed.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus relate to a glass reference plate panel; to a modular glass reference plate assembly; and to creation of the modular glass reference plate assembly, which may include providing a plurality of glass reference plate panels, arranging the plurality of glass reference plate panels into an array of adjoining glass reference plate panels, and adhering together the adjoining glass reference plate panels. One or more embodiments may include 6.8 mm-thick borosilicate glass, ground, and polished, with reference marks on a top side and a PVD aluminum coating on a bottom side, perforated with holes, arranged in a 4×4 array of 16 glass reference plate panels, each approximately 810 mm2 in size, abutting at interfaces formed by lap joints, and bonded together with a UV-curable adhesive into a contiguous piece.

Abstract: Disclosed is a bi-directional piston displacement type volumetric fluid flow rate delivery and metering system (calibration standard) and operational method for calibration of fluid flowmeters. The present invention provides reduced uncertainty of delivered volumetric fluid flow rate at meters under test relative to the uncertainty of volumetric fluid flow rate at meters under test provided by prior art bi-directional piston displacement type volumetric fluid flow rate standards given the same nominal cylinder diameters and working fluid and equal dimensional, timing and temperature measurement uncertainties by employing a plurality of metering pistons and cylinders to minimize the connecting volume piping between the metering piston cylinder outlet and meters under test, providing open access to one side of each metering piston to accomplish installation of temperature probes through the pistons into the working fluid and by operational method which minimizes the connecting volume to standard volume ratio.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide alcohol monitoring devices, and methods for using such. As one example, an alcohol monitoring device is disclosed that includes a device body, an alcohol sensor, and a liquid cartridge. The alcohol sensor is associated with the device body, and relies on a liquid supply to perform an alcohol measurement on a subject. The liquid cartridge is replaceably coupled to the device body and provides the liquid supply to the alcohol sensor.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system for determining a fluid level in a vessel. The system comprises a first differential pressure transducer, a second differential pressure transducer, a pressure delivery system, and a fluid passage. The first differential pressure transducer includes a first side and a second side. The first side is selectively in fluid communication with a portion of the vessel above the fluid level. The second differential pressure transducer includes a third side and a fourth side. The third side is selectively in fluid communication with a portion of the vessel below the fluid level. The fluid passage is in fluid communication with the second side of the first transducer, the fourth side of the second transducer, and the pressure delivery mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing a predetermined amount of adhesive weighted tape includes a controller adapted to receive a request for a desired amount of adhesive weighted tape and an elongated track member adapted to receive a supply of the adhesive weighted tape. A sensor is mounted adjacent a second end of the track member. The sensor in communication with the controller is operable to transmit a signal to the controller corresponding to a measured amount of weighted tape passing thereby. A motive apparatus in communication with the controller is adapted to move the weighted tape from a first end to the second end of the track member in response to the signal from the sensor. A cutting member disposed adjacent the second end of the track member is in communication with the controller and is adapted to cut the weighted tape in response to the signal from the sensor.

Abstract: An art of hydrogen concentration measurement in which the hydrogen concentration of any given location of an object to be measured can be nondestructively obtained is provided.

Abstract: A apparatus and process for quantifying of contaminants, wherein the apparatus comprises a container that includes a housing to support a sample, and a gel elastomer inside the enclosure. The gel elastomer is capable of absorbing the contaminants that are leached from the sample. The gel may be a PDMS gel, and is preferable coated on a, or the side wall of the apparatus. After a period of time, the gel is analyzed for the presence and amount of contaminants.

Abstract: The detection device for measuring the quantity of hot water remaining inside a storage reservoir and more particularly inside a tank (2) of a water heater (3, 30), comprises a capillary tube (10) containing a heat-carrying fluid which is placed either inside, or outside the tank (2) of the water heater (3, 30) and an indicator device (12) coupled to said capillary tube (10), said indicator device (12) comprising an amplifying device (15) disposed outside said tank (2) and making it possible to transmit under the effect of the expansion of the fluid contained in the capillary tube (10) either a motion to a member (16), or a variation in resistance to an electronic measurement card (24) in such a way as to continuously indicate the quantity of hot water available remaining in the tank (2) of the water heater (3, 30).

Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting ventilation of filter cigarettes FT has a plate-like packing 18a. The packing 18a covers the opening of a movable cylinder 10 and is relatively pressed with the end face of a filter cigarette FT. The packing 18a includes a hole 18c positioned to coincide with the center of the end face against the packing, an inner circular area 18f surrounding the hole 18c, and an outer circular area 18g surrounding the inner circular area 18f. The outer circular area 18g is elastically deformed more easily than the inner circular area 18f and is brought into tight contact with the outer circumferential edge of the end face pressed against the packing.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the filling level in a liquid vessel, in particular in a reactor vessel of a nuclear-engineering plant, with a plurality of elongate, spaced-apart measurement tubes. Each measurement tube has a number of thermocouples which are distributed in the longitudinal direction. A thermocouple, which acts as a primary signal transmitter, is heated by a heating element and is arranged on a first measurement tube, has assigned to it on the signal side an unheated thermocouple, which acts as a reference signal transmitter and is arranged on a measurement tube which is different from the first measurement tube.

Abstract: A system of measuring oxygen levels based on the intensity of a sensor material. Through use of intensity-based measurement techniques and improved light rejection, less excitation light and system gain are required as compared to certain conventional lifetime/phase shift techniques. One embodiment applies an intensity-based measuring system for taking measurements, and on an intermittent basis, using a lifetime/phase shift-type sensor in order to automatically calibrate the intensity-based measuring system in situ. A single sensing membrane may be provided while still allowing the system to be used in both the lifetime/phase-shift mode and the intensity mode. The system of the present invention may also include use of a variable thickness sensor for an oxygen sensing system, such as a portable handheld sensor and/or a sensor or controller at a fixed location.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the filterability of fluids, in particular of transmission oils, has a test filter device (21) through which a sample amount of the fluid can flow, and a line system which forms a circulation circuit (1) for the fluid. The line system includes a foam tester (3) receiving the sample amount of the fluid. A circulating pump (23) removes fluid from the sample amount situated in the foam tester (3) and conveys it through the filter device (21) and back to the foam tester (3).

Abstract: A method of detecting defects in a welded metal structure, comprising mounting an ultrasonic transducer at or adjacent to a weld seam, and emitting ultrasonic signals so that the signals are propagated in the weld seam acting as a wave guide, and detecting reflections of the signals that may be indicative of defects in or adjacent to the weld seam. Waveguiding occurs within the weld principally because it is thicker than the plate, and thus the phase velocity in the plate is greater than that in the weld. This results in total internal reflection within the weld. In addition, an evanescent wave propagates in a region adjacent to the weld. The common problem with non destructive testing of excitation and reception of unwanted modes is greatly reduced, since it has been found that for certain frequency regions, transmitted waves will propagate only in a single mode at a predetermined frequency. As preferred the fundamental symmetric Lamb wave mode S0 is employed.

Abstract: A heat radiation coefficient C [=Ph/(Th?To)] from a microheater is calculated in accordance with a power Ph applied to the microheater which is supported in air and provided in an ambient gas, a heater temperature Th, and an ambient temperature To at this moment. Further, a thermal conductivity ?(T) of the ambient gas is obtained from the calculated heat radiation coefficient C based on a proportional relation [C=K·?(T)] between a thermal conductivity ?(T) of the ambient gas and the heat radiation coefficient C at a measurement temperature T [=(Th?To)/2].