Abstract: A method of detecting small changes to a complex integrated circuit measuring RF/microwave scattering parameters between every pin over a wide frequency range. The data from a characterization of a known good integrated circuit is stored and compared to each subsequent integrated circuit of unknown background.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for detecting an object near an electronic system, comprising steps of: forming electrodes around a central area, on an electrically insulating medium, determining measurements representative of the capacitance of the electrodes, and comparing the measurements with a detection threshold, and deducing whether or not an object is near the central area in a detection, the electrically insulating medium on which the electrodes are formed being deposited on an electrically conductive medium forming a shield, the capacitance measurements being taken by simultaneously activating all the electrodes.

Abstract: A resistance measuring circuit includes a current generating component, a current control component, and a voltage measurement component. The magnitude of a target resistance can be measured by connecting the target resistance between first and second measurement terminals of the resistance measuring circuit, applying a current generated by the current generating component to the target resistance, and determining the voltage across the target resistance. When no target resistance is connected between the first and second measurement terminals, the current control component controls the current generating component to reduce current consumption of the resistance measuring circuit.

Abstract: A conductivity meter for measuring the conductivity of a fluid is provided. The conductivity meter has a cell circuit and a control unit circuit. The cell circuit has a square wave drive amp, a cell, and a trans-impedance amplifier. The fluid flows through the cell. The control unit circuit and the square wave drive amp are configured to apply a square wave pulse train having a voltage to the fluid of the cell, thereby inducing a flow of current through the fluid in the cell. The cell circuit trans-impedance amplifier and the control unit circuit are configured to obtain a plurality of measurements of current flowing through the fluid in the cell and estimate a raw conductivity of the fluid in the cell using the current flow measurements. A method for measuring the conductivity of a fluid is also provided.

Abstract: A gradiometer for determining electrical conductivity of a medium contained in a containment, comprising: at least a first electrical coil, a second electrical coil and a third electrical coil, wherein the first coil is embodied as a transmitting coil, wherein the second and third coil are embodied as receiving coils; and a holding apparatus. The first, second and third coils are wound on the holding apparatus. The holding apparatus is arranged through a containment opening in a containment wall in such a manner that the first coil is positioned centrally with respect to the containment wall. The second and third coils are arranged mirror symmetrically to the first coil and are inductively coupled with the first coil.

Abstract: Methods for determining a ground fault or insulation degradation condition within energy conversion systems are described. A method for determining a ground fault within an energy conversion system may include, in part, a comparison of baseline waveform of differential current to a waveform of differential current during operation for a plurality of DC current carrying conductors in an energy conversion system. A method for determining insulation degradation within an energy conversion system may include, in part, a comparison of baseline frequency spectra of differential current to a frequency spectra of differential current transient at start-up for a plurality of DC current carrying conductors in an energy conversion system. In one embodiment, the energy conversion system may be a photovoltaic system.

Abstract: A spectrum analyzer that provides from below 9 kHz to above 20 GHz operation range while remaining hand-held. The spectrum analyzer includes an integrated precision stand-alone step attenuator that does not rely on printed circuit board (PCB) mounted circuit elements within the signal path. Further, a PIN diplexing switch separates signals into different base-band and highband paths. The baseband path includes a pre-amplifier for low frequency signals, while the higher frequency bands may not necessarily include a pre-amplifier. The highband path incorporates multi-throw MMIC PIN diode switches to selectively filter different bands of input signals.

Abstract: Analyzing a device under test (“DUT”) at higher frequencies. A phase shifter varies the phase of a standing wave on a transmission line coupled to the DUT. The standing wave magnitude is sampled at each of the phase shifts and one or more DUT characteristics are determined as a function of the sampled magnitudes and phase shifts. Further aspects include a related phase shifter comprising a waveguide having a plurality of sub-resonant slots formed therein and having active elements for loading the slots to control the phase shift applied to the signal.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, the threshold value generation unit generates a setting voltage and converts the setting voltage to a first current. One end of the first resistor is connected to a detection terminal. When a voltage applied to the detection terminal is greater than or equal to a predetermined factor times the voltage of the higher voltage source, the detection unit causes a constant detection terminal input current to flow from the detection terminal to the first resistor. When the voltage at the detection terminal is less than the predetermined factor times the voltage of the higher voltage source, a higher voltage source voltage is outputted to a detection output terminal, while the voltage at the detection terminal is greater than or equal to the predetermined factor times the voltage of the higher voltage source, a lower voltage source voltage is outputted to the detection output terminal.

Abstract: A sensor, particularly an impedance sensor, for example a soot sensor, is provided which has two mutually electrically insulated electrodes, wherein at least one external electrode is formed from a composite of metal and inorganic oxide as a film pattern having a film thickness of 0.5 to 20 ?m. The trace width of the film pattern and the spacing between the traces is 5 to 70 ?m and the border region around the conductor trace edge varies less than 10 ?m. Both electrodes can be arranged adjacent to each other as a film pattern in a plane. Preferably, the sensor has a heater. For mass production, electrodes are produced as a film pattern having a film thickness of 0.5 to 20 ?m on electrically insulating oxide bases and, following full-surface imprinting of a metal powder and oxide-containing paste, the electrodes are structured particularly accurately as traces from the printed film. In particular, the film thickness of the printed film is reduced.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for measuring the loss factor of an insulator (2) for medium or high voltages, equipped with a tap adapter (3) forming a point for picking up an electrical signal (4), comprises a reference capacitor (9) having a first electrode (10), which can be connected to the tap adapter (3), and a second electrode (11); a first voltage detection module (12) operatively connected to the first electrode (10) of the reference capacitor (9) for detecting a signal representative of the voltage applied to the reference capacitor (9); a generator module connected to the first electrode (10) of the reference capacitor (9) in order to inject a direct electric current into the insulator.

Abstract: The polarity detection circuit includes a first diode with anode receiving a first phase of the AC power supply voltage and a second diode with anode receiving a second phase, opposite the first phase. The detection circuit further includes a constant-voltage power supply outputting a positive constant voltage. A first reference-voltage output circuit outputs a voltage corresponding to the constant voltage when the AC voltage of the first phase is positive, and outputs a voltage at a cathode of the second diode when the AC voltage of the first phase is negative. The detection circuit also includes a first signal output circuit that compares a first voltage, corresponding to a voltage at the cathode of the first diode, and a voltage output from the first reference-voltage output circuit and that outputs a signal indicative of polarity of the AC voltage having the first phase according to a comparison result.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes a test circuit that is configured to generate a recurring simulated fault signal. A detection circuit is configured to generate a test detection signal in response to the recurring simulated fault signal. An end-of-life monitor circuit is configured to generate an end-of-life detection signal if the test detection signal is not generated within a first predetermined period of time. At least one indicator is configured to emit an indication signal in response to the end-of-life detection signal. A response mechanism is configured to decouple the plurality of line terminals from the plurality of load terminals after a second predetermined period of time has elapsed following the end-of-life detection signal.

Abstract: A device, apparatus and method for trapping metal ions and detecting metal ion contamination in a solution provide a semiconductor device formed on a semiconductor substrate and including an N-well formed over a P-type substrate and at least a contact portion of the N-well in electrical contact with the solution. When the semiconductor device is optically illuminated, a P/N junction is formed as a result of photovoltaic phenomena. Metal ions from the solution migrate to the contact area due to the voltage created at the P/N junction. The semiconductor device includes a conductive structure with conductive features separated by a gap and therefore in an initially electrically open state. When the ions migrate to the contact area, they precipitate, at least partially bridging the gap and creating conductance through the conductive structure. The conductance may be measured to determine the amount of metal ion contamination.

Abstract: A display device, which can prevent defects in a drive power transmission line and damage which is caused to a common electrode by such defects, and a method for detecting line defects of the display device are provided. The display device includes a plurality of drive power transmission lines for transmitting drive power to pixels, at least one defect detection line that crosses at least one drive power transmission line, and a defect detector for outputting a defect detection signal to the at least one defect detection line, collecting a feedback signal generated from the defect detection line according to the defect detection signal, and determining whether or not there is a defect in the at least one drive power transmission line based on comparison between the defect detection signal and the feedback signal.

Abstract: A low-voltage testing device for a high-voltage frequency converter of a serial superposition voltage type including a tap transformer, power portion, monitoring box, analog interface board, voltage detecting portion and remote control portion, in which the tap transformer is connected to the power portion, the power portion is connected to the voltage detecting portion, the monitoring box is connected to the power portion via an optical fiber and the analog interface board is connected to the monitoring box and the remote control portion respectively.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for measuring the permittivity and/or perviousness of a sample of a nonconductive material, said method comprising: a) measuring a value representative of an admittance Ytestco, b) measuring a value representative of an admittance Ytestcc only from the amplitude and the phase of the electromagnetic waves reflected onto an interface between the sample and the end of a second waveguide having at least one conductive web separated from a conductive sheath by a layer of dielectric material, said second waveguide also including a short circuit between the central web and the sheath at the interface with the sample, and c) calculating the permittivity of the sample from the values representative of the admittances Ytestco and Ytestcc and/or calculating the perviousness of the sample from the values representative of the admittances Ytestco and Ytestcc.

Abstract: Exemplary methods are directed to insulation monitoring of non-grounded electrical DC power supply systems and AC power supply systems which have a resistive (Rf) and capacitive (Cf) insulation impedance between the power supply system and ground. The method includes applying a pulsed AC voltage (U0) having alternately different pulsed voltage values to the power supply system to be monitored via a resistive system interface (Ri) between the power supply system and ground. The insulation impedance (Rf) between the power supply system and ground is determined using time profiles of transient processes of the measurement voltage (Vm) prior to transient recovery of the power supply system to the respective pulsed voltage value (U0) of two polarity-inverted pulsed voltage value application processes.

Abstract: The invention described relates to an apparatus and method for measuring the concentration of a low molecular weight alcohol, in an aqueous liquid feed solution, comprising a first sensor including a hydrophilic capillary tube having an inner diameter, being disposed between two electrodes to form a first capacitor, a second sensor including a hydrophobic capillary tube having the same inner diameter as a capillary tube of the first sensor; said hydrophobic capillary tube having a hydrophobic coating on the inner diameter, being disposed between two electrodes to form a second capacitor, wherein the first hydrophilic and second hydrophobic sensors are dipped to the same depth in the aqueous solution to measure the solution concentration, means for measuring the capacitance of the two capacitors, and control means including a control circuit driven by a computer, wherein the difference in capacitance between the two capacitors is a measure of the concentration of the solution, independent of the depth of dippi

Abstract: A first resistor, a second resistor, a transistor, and a third resistor connected in series between a ground potential and an output terminal of a power circuit are provided. In addition, a current-detecting resistor is inserted in series between a high-voltage site and an output terminal of a power circuit that supplies a predetermined direct voltage to the high-voltage site. A differential amplifier controls a current flowing through the transistor so that a potential difference generated between both ends of the third resistor becomes proportional to a potential difference generated between both ends of the current-detecting resistor. At this point, by measuring the voltage of a connection node of the first resistor and the second resistor, the value of a current flowing through the high-voltage site can be calculated from the measured value.