Abstract: A method of producing a reference voltage through a ferro-electric capacitor. A ferro-electric capacitor for determining logic level of data is charged so that the amount of electric charges within the ferro-electric capacitor is between the amount of electric charges signifying logic ‘1’ and the amount of electric charges signifying logic ‘0’. The electric charges are transferred to a capacitor so that a voltage is produced. The voltage produced by the capacitor is used as a reference for accurately determining logic level of data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assessing standing tree stems for readiness for harvesting, or for determining cutting points for processing of felled tree stems, logs, or wood pieces, or for assessing stems, logs, or wood pieces for a particular end use, includes scanning with short-wave or microwave electromagnetic energy and processing the scan data to produce an image indicating the external shape or dimensions of the stem or log and hidden internal characteristics and their position, and assessing the image. Knots and/or whorls, which are not visible from the exterior and the depth of the clear wood sheath from the surface, may be determined.

Abstract: A method of testing cache memory is used in a memory system having a primary memory unit and a cache memory unit. The method first writes a block of test data into the cache memory unit. Then, the test data is converted by a first encoding process into a first block of encoded data. The first block if encoded data is written into the primary memory unit. Data from the primary memory unit is fetched. The fetched data from the primary memory unit is converted by a second encoding process into a second block of encoded data. The second block of encoded data is stored into the cache memory unit. Either the first block of encoded data or the second block of encoded data is compared with a predetermined block of reference data to check whether the read/write operation to the cache memory unit is normal.

Abstract: Inductive safety sensor for monitoring the condition of doors and gates, particularly of elevators, having a sensor device for sensing a target which is designed such that it emits a signal only when sensing a target made of a defined material and switches from a first constant current to another constant current when the target is sensed.

Abstract: Apparatus for localizing production errors in a photovoltaic element which is formed substantially by a semiconductor substrate in the form of a wafer, on opposite main surfaces of which are arranged electrical conductors for transporting electrical charge carriers. The apparatus includes at least one first electrode in electrical contact with a first main surface of the substrate and displaceable over the substrate, and a second electrode to be arranged in electrical contact with the conductors on the second main surface. A voltage measuring device is provided for measuring the voltage between the at least one first and the second electrode subject to the position of the first electrode on the first main surface, and a device for adjusting a bias over the electrical conductors on the opposite main surfaces of the substrate.

Abstract: The invention discloses a detection- and recording system for high intensity electric currents such as lighting currents in a lighting conductor in a wind turbine. The system comprises a detector (6) containing a power supply (7), a measuring circuit (8), and a converter means (9) and furthermore a recording means (11) non-galvanically coupled to said converter means (9) and a measuring coil (5) to be inductively coupled to an electric conductor (2) carrying the high intensity electric current. The power supply (7) receives its electrical energy directly from the lighting current via the power coil (4) which makes the system non-sensitive to mains supply drop-outs.

Abstract: A transducer interface circuit (10) for use with a capacitive sensor (20). The interface circuit (10), provided on application specific IC, includes numerous trims and adjustments that permit it to operate with a differential, balanced-pair sensors (20A) or a singled-ended sensor (2013). In particular, the circuit (10) provides a capacitive adjustment section (100) and a capacitive trans-impedance amplifier section (200) that are configured with capacitor adjustment controls (110) and gain adjustment controls (210) that, along with other controls, are provided as control registers. The capacitive trans-impedance amplifier section (300) periodically reverses the voltages across the sensor (20), and the capacitive adjustment section (200), after blanking a feedback capacitance (CF) that is used to integrate excess charge caused by a difference in capacitance. A low pass filter section 300 provides bandwidth adjustment without requiring any external components.

Abstract: A test pin for an electrical receptacle having a conductive terminal, a non-conductive housing affixed to an end of the conductive terminal, and a receptacle affixed within the housing adjacent an end of the housing opposite the terminal. The receptacle is electrically connected to the conductive terminal. The conductive terminal is a tubular member having an end threadedly engaged with the housing. The receptacle is of an electrically conductive material and mounted entirely within the non-conductive housing. A wire has a first end affixed to the receptacle and a second end affixed to an end of the housing. The test pin is suitable for slidable receipt within the interior of a sleeve of the electrical receptacle.

Abstract: A test circuit is provided on a probe card or a wafer on which semiconductor chips to be tested are formed. The test circuit and each of the semiconductor chips to be tested are electrically connected to each other to perform testing, whereby the test can be carried out without using a tester. Conducting a test in such a wafer stage within an aging device allows the simplification or omission of a test subsequent to packaging.

Abstract: A thermal conduction vacuum gauge using a Peltier tip is provided. The vacuum gauge for measuring the pressure in a vacuum chamber includes: a signal generator that drives an electric current; an ammeter connected to the signal generator for measuring the current; a bridge circuit consisting of junctions of thermocouple wires, which is connected to the ammeter, wherein one junction of the dissimilar metallic wires is made in the form of a Peltier tip inserted into the vacuum chamber; and a lock-in amplifier connected to the two symmetrical points of the bridge circuit for detecting a voltage signal due to the temperature oscillation at the Peltier tip and thus measuring the pressure in the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: A fill-level detector operating by the radar principle gauges the fill-level of the lower of two substances layered one atop the other in a container. The detector incorporates first and second essentially straight, parallel electrical conductors having a signal generator and a transducer mounted to the upper ends of the conductors with the lower ends of the conductors protruding into the lower substance. The generator delivers a signal to the first conductor which signal is conducted into the lower substance with a portion of that signal being reflected at the interface of the two substances which signal portion is captured by the transducer. The detector is able to determine to fill level of the lower substance even when the upper substance displays a high dielectric constant.

Abstract: A resistance-type liquid level measuring apparatus which suppresses a detection voltage error due to silver sulfide within a permissible range in practical use and enables measurement indication with accuracy, and comprises a resistance-type sensor including a float 9 floating according to a liquid level, an insulating substrate 6 having a plurality of conductor electrodes 4 connected with a resistor 5, and a movable contact interlocked with a movement of the float 9 to come in contact with the conductor electrodes 4 on the insulating substrate 6, in which a material containing silver is used as a material of the conductor electrodes 4 or the movable contact, a voltage dividing resistance 11 is connected with a power source BA in series with the resistor 5, and a voltage of a connection point between the voltage dividing resistance 11 and the resistor 5 is outputted as a signal corresponding to the liquid level, and resistance values of the voltage dividing resistance 11 and the resistor 5 are set so that a v

Abstract: The present invention relates to a moving dipole source electromagnetic induction device and method for carrying out geophysical surveys. The device is useful to locate deeper sub-surface bodies under poor electrical conducting surfaces and for mapping sub-surfacial conductivity changes due to salinity or pollution. The device includes a transmitter coil forming a series resonant circuit with tuning capacitor producing primary electromagnetic field and a receiver set. The receiver set up picks up resultant time varying feeble secondary electromagnetic field produced by transmitter components and a target. The secondary field amplitude is improved by increasing power of the transmitter coil. The transmitter and receiver set up produces an analog signal which is fed to A/D converter to obtain a digital signal to display the obtained data on an LCD display and storing the same data in a digital computer.

Abstract: A programmable after-package, on-chip reference voltage trim circuit for an integrated circuit having a plurality of programmable trim cells generating a programmed sequence. A converter is provided to convert the bit sequence into a trim current. The trim current is added to an initial value of a reference voltage to be trimmed, as generated by the integrated circuit. Once the correct value of the trim current is determined, isolation circuitry is programmed to isolate the trim circuitry from the remainder of the IC, thereby freeing the logic and package pins associated with the IC for use by users of the IC. The preferred trim circuitry includes fuses which are blown in accordance with a bit value supplied to the trim cell to permanently fix a trim current value, once a best fit value is determined.

Abstract: A method for testing an integrated circuit (IC) for open defects in a printed wire connected to an IC pin of the IC, the method includes measuring the capacitance of the IC pin; comparing the value of the measured capacitance to an expected IC pin capacitance value for the pin unconnected, and determining that an open defect exists proximate the pin when the measured capacitance is less than a predetermined value based on the expected IC pin capacitance value.

Abstract: A protective relay determines frequency of an AC signal of an electric power system. The protective relay includes a circuit measuring the AC signal period between zero crossings to provide a measured period value. A microprocessor includes a random access memory having a five-element array, which collects five consecutive values of the measured period values. A microprocessor routine chooses a median from the measured period values and generally determines the frequency based upon the median. The median is ignored and the previously determined line cycle period is adjusted to determine the new line cycle period if: an absolute value of a difference between a last value of the measured period values and a previously determined line cycle period is not less than a predetermined value; and the last value of the measured period values is within the limits of the array.

Abstract: A method for remotely monitoring the magnitude and direction of net electrical power and current flow to or from a facility over a prolonged period of time. The method includes detecting and measuring the magnetic field emanating from the monitored line(s), and detecting a signal synchronized to the power system frequency, typically the electric field, emanating from the power lines. The method further includes evaluating, storing, and transmitting the data on the electromagnetic (EM) fields that are recorded.

Abstract: A voltage generator coupled to a capacitor is provided. In one embodiment, the voltage generator includes an input that receives a control signal that indicates a desired current level output, and further includes circuitry adapted to generate a selected voltage, activate a first current path for an output of the voltage generator when a first current level is desired, and activate a second current path for the output of the voltage generator when a second current level is desired.

Abstract: A non-contact capacitive displacement measurement gage that provides high accuracy displacement measurements of well-connected targets and poorly-connected targets. The capacitive displacement measurement gage includes a capacitive probe, first and second amplifiers, and a signal generator. The capacitive probe includes a sensor electrode, a guard electrode, and a compensating electrode. The signal generator provides a predetermined voltage signal directly to the sensor electrode, to the guard electrode through the first amplifier having unity gain, and to the compensating electrode through the second amplifier having a predetermined transfer function. The second amplifier assures that substantially zero current is driven into the target element by the probe during gage operation, thereby allowing highly accurate displacement measurements of target elements having unknown or poorly controlled impedance.

Abstract: An oscillatory or pulsed first signal is applied to a seat heating element that is operatively connected to first and second impedances that isolate the first signal from the source and sink of power to the heating element. In another embodiment, third and fourth impedances are connected to the first an second impedances at respective nodes, and a second signal substantially equal to the first signal is operatively coupled to the nodes. In another embodiment, the first signal is applied to an electrode, and the second signal is applied to the heating element, which shields the electrode from influence by the seat. In another embodiment, the first signal is applied to a first electrode that is shielded from the heating element by a second electrode operatively coupled to the second signal. The impedances may, for example, be provided by inductors or electronic switches.