Abstract: The present invention relates to MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) accelerometers, in particular to an accelerometer designed to reduce error in the accelerometer output. The MEMS accelerometer includes a proof mass, which is capable of movement along at least two perpendicular axes and at least one measurement structure. The proof mass is mechanically coupled to the measurement structure along the sense axis of the measurement structure, such that movement of the proof mass along the sense axis causes the moveable portion of the measurement structure to move, and is decoupled from the measurement structures along an axis or axes perpendicular to the sense axis of the measurement structure, such that movement of the proof mass perpendicular to the sense axis of the measurement structure does not cause the moveable portion of the measurement structure to move.

Abstract: A method and device of providing a customized drink and/or printing on a drink.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) accelerometer comprises a compliant spring structure with a first beam, a second beam, and a rigid structure. One end of the first beam and one end of the second beam are coupled to the rigid structure and a proof mass is coupled to another end of the second beam. Further, a spring anchor is coupled to another end of the first beam. In response to the proof mass moving, an extension coupled to the rigid structure moves in an opposite direction to motion of the proof mass to contact the proof mass and stop the movement of the proof mass.

Abstract: A device for positioning a garment on a printing platen for printing, comprises a gripper to controllably grip onto a first edge of the garment at a first side of the platen; and a sliding mechanism connected to the gripper to slide the gripper from the first side of the platen to a second side of the platen opposite the first side, thereby to pull the garment edge to the second side across the platen and position the garment across the platen for printing. The use of the device may prevent back pain related to repeated loading and unloading of platen-based textile printing devices.

Abstract: The disclosure describes techniques to damp the proof mass motion of an accelerometer while achieving an underdamped resonator. In an example of an in-plane micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) VBA, the proof mass may contain one or more damping combs that include one or more banks of rotor comb fingers attached to the proof mass. The rotor comb fingers may be interdigitated with stator comb fingers that are attached to fixed geometry. These damping comb fingers may provide air damping for the proof mass when the MEMS die is placed into a package containing a pressure above a vacuum. The geometry of the damping combs with a reduced air gap and large overlap area between the rotor comb fingers and stator comb fingers. The geometry of resonator of the VBA of this disclosure may be configured to avoid air damping.

Abstract: There is provided a tape drive. The tape drive comprises first and second spool supports on which spools of tape may be mounted. The tape drive further comprises an optical sensing system. The optical sensing system comprises a radiation emitter and a radiation detector, said radiation emitter and radiation detector having a fixed positional relationship in use with respect to said first and second spool supports. The tape drive further comprises a controller. The controller is operative to, energise the radiation emitter to emit radiation, and determine a diameter data indicative of a diameter of a spool mounted on one of the first and second spool supports based on a radiation signal generated by the detector.

Abstract: A pressure sensing assembly configured to be attached to a bicycle wheel having a tire and a rim mounted to the tire. The pressure sensing assembly includes a housing, a pressure transmitting member, a sensing chamber defined by the housing and the pressure transmitting member, and a sensing element. The pressure transmitting member is coupled the housing and has a central portion offset from the plane in a first direction. The sensing element is offset from the plane in a second direction opposite the first direction. The pressure transmitting member is configured to transmit a pressure in the tire to the sensing element via the sensing chamber.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device includes a substrate and a movable element at least partially suspended above the substrate and having at least one degree of freedom. The MEMS device further includes a protrusion extending from the substrate and configured to contact the movable element when the movable element moves in the at least one degree of freedom, wherein the protrusion comprises a surface having a water contact angle of higher than about 15° measured in air.

Abstract: Provided is a printing apparatus including: a holder unit provided with a holding member, a contact portion, and a shaft member, and an apparatus body provided with a support portion, and a fixing portion, wherein the shaft member is configured to be detachably attached to the support portion, the holder unit is configured to be rotatable between a first position and a second position with reference to the shaft member in a state where the shaft member is supported on the support portion, the first position is a position where the shaft member is attached to the support portion, and the second position is a position where the apparatus body fixes the holder unit by the fixing portion, the second position being a position where the contact portion is separated from the installation surface.

Abstract: An inertial sensor includes a substrate, a first inertial sensor element provided on the substrate, a lid bonded to the substrate so as to cover the first inertial sensor element, a first drive signal terminal that is provided outside the lid and is for a drive signal to be applied to the first inertial sensor element, and a first detection signal terminal that is provided outside the lid and is for a detection signal output from the first inertial sensor element, in which, in plan view of the substrate, the first drive signal terminal and the first detection signal terminal are provided with the lid interposed therebetween.

Abstract: A device for measuring tread depth of tyres, wherein in use a tyre can be driven over the device in a first direction, the device comprising: a light source arranged to illuminate the tyre; an obstruction extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and arranged to partially block the light emitted from the light source such that a shadow is cast on the tyre when the tyre is located above the device, and such that the shadow is cast on the tyre in a direction substantially perpendicular to the tread of the tyre; and a camera arranged to view an illuminated section of the tyre.

Abstract: A micromechanical device includes a semiconductor body, a first mobile structure, an elastic assembly, coupled to the first mobile structure and to the semiconductor body and adapted to undergo deformation in a direction, and at least one abutment element. The elastic assembly is configured to enable an oscillation of the first mobile structure as a function of a force applied thereto. The first mobile structure, the abutment element and the elastic assembly are arranged with respect to one another in such a way that: when the force is lower than a force threshold, the elastic assembly operates with a first elastic constant; and when the force is greater than the threshold force, then the first mobile structure is in contact with the abutment element, and a deformation of the elastic assembly is generated, which operates with a second elastic constant different from the first elastic constant.

Abstract: A gyroscope comprises four Coriolis masses arranged around a center point where a lateral axis crosses a transversal axis orthogonally in the device plane. The first and second masses are aligned on the lateral axis, and the third and fourth masses are aligned on the transversal axis. The gyroscope further comprises four pairs of elongated mass elements. The mass elements of the first pair are transversally aligned on opposite sides of the lateral axis outside of the first mass. The mass elements of the second pair are transversally aligned on opposite sides of the lateral axis outside of the second mass. The mass elements of the third pair are laterally aligned on opposite sides of the first transversal axis outside of the third mass. The mass elements of the fourth pair are laterally aligned on opposite sides of the first transversal axis outside of the fourth mass.

Abstract: An accelerometer including: a housing having an internal cavity; a piezoelectric material disposed in the internal cavity; a mass movable disposed in the internal cavity; and a spring disposed between the piezoelectric material and a portion of the housing, the spring being compressively preloaded against the piezoelectric material; wherein the mass is movable when the housing experiences an acceleration such that the mass acts upon the spring and the spring acts against the piezoelectric material, the piezoelectric material outputting a signal corresponding to a magnitude of the acceleration.

Abstract: The disclosed technology is a pressure transducer with a bleed valve built into the body of the transducer for purging liquid systems. The transducer assembly includes a body, a bleed valve port defined in the body and configured to accept a bleed valve, an interface port attached to the body, an adapter attached to a portion of the interface port, a header attached to the adapter and the body, a pressure transducer mounted to the header, and an internal cavity in communication with the interface port, the pressure transducer, and the bleed valve port. The bleed valve port is configured to vent a gas from the internal cavity. A bleed valve disposed in the bleed valve port is configured to controllably vent a gas from the internal cavity.

Abstract: Tools, processes, and systems for in-situ fluid characterization based on a thermal response of a fluid are provided. The thermal response of a downhole fluid may be measured using a downhole thermal response tool and compared with thermal responses associated with known fluids. The properties of the downhole fluid, such as heat capacity, diffusivity, and thermal conductivity, may be determined by matching the thermal response of the downhole fluid with a thermal response of a known fluid and using the properties associated with the known fluid. The composition of the downhole fluid may be determined by matching the viscosity of the downhole fluid to the viscosity of known fluid. A downhole thermal response tool for cased wellbores or wellbore sections and a downhole thermal response tool for openhole wellbores or wellbore sections are provided.

Abstract: A method for the rotary blind embossing of a substrate, a device for the rotary blind embossing of a substrate, a female die and/or a male die for use in a device, and to a method for producing a female die and/or a male die. The method for the rotary blind embossing of a substrate in a work station including an embossing roller and a counter-pressure roller includes the following steps: a) preparing the substrate; b) blind embossing the substrate by means of at least one female die provided on the embossing roller and at least one male die provided on the counter-pressure roller. The device for the rotary blind embossing of a substrate has a work station having an embossing roller and a counter-pressure roller, at least one female die being provided on the embossing roller and at least one male die being provided on the counter-pressure roller.

Abstract: An inflation viewing device has a main body which is externally provided with a transparent viewing portion and internally provided with an inner passage where an air path assembly is arranged. An air entrance connector is operatively connected to an external air source and to a first end of the main body. An air exit connector is connected to a second, opposed end of the main body and to an inflation valve. A guide spacer is provided between the air entrance connector and the main body. The guide spacer has an inner passage having a wider section in communication with the inner passage of the main body and a reduced section defining a communication opening with the air entrance connector. A filter is arranged in the communication opening. A plunger, biased by a spring, is slidably arranged within the inner passage of the guide spacer and guide section of the main body inner passage.

Abstract: Apparatus for picking a garment having a front and a back and placing the garment over a pallet such that the front and the back of the garment are on the front and the back sides respectively of the pallet. The apparatus comprises a picking arm to approach the garment and then withdraw towards the pallet; and one or more adherence locations on the picking arm, the adherence location being smaller than the first side, the adherence location for contacting the garment using sticky material and causing adherence of the garment via the sticky material at the contact location, thereby causing the picking arm to pull the front of the garment over the front of the pallet, the back of the garment sliding under the first side onto the back of the pallet.

Abstract: A tape support arrangement comprises a tape take up core (220) suitable for supporting a tape; and a tape supply core (210) suitable for supporting a tape (230). The supply core (210) comprises an inner surface (212), the inner surface defining an internal volume (240) of the supply core and being configured for engagement with a tape drive support. The take up core (220) is sized and shaped such that it can be located in the internal volume (240) of the supply core (210). Refer to FIG. 2.