Abstract: A temperature sensor system for a vehicle includes a temperature sensor assembly having a thermally insulating body, a temperature sensing element thermally insulated within the body, and a thermally conductive contacting element exposed externally of the body and in thermal communication with the temperature sensing element. The thermally conductive contacting element is urged into contact with an interior cabin side of a windshield of the vehicle for sensing the temperature of the vehicle windshield. A controller, responsive to the temperature sensing element and another temperature sensing element and a humidity sensing element of the vehicle, is operable to calculate an ambient dew point and to control a cabin climate control system of the vehicle responsive to the calculated ambient dew point. The other temperature sensing element is mounted in the vehicle away from the vehicle windshield.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for testing a prosthetic heart valve leaflet. The apparatus comprises a vertical post; a horizontal bar; a linear actuator; a light source; a gauge; and a detector. The vertical post has a longitudinal axis. The horizontal bar has a bar-axis that lies on a vertical bar-plane, the bar being configured to support the leaflet along the bar-axis such that the leaflet drapes over the bar. The linear actuator movably couples the bar to the post. Actuation of the actuator moves the bar vertically in the bar-plane. The light source is configured to emit a beam of light, and is oriented to direct the beam through the bar-plane. The gauge is configured to measure an elevation of the bar above the beam. The detector is configured and positioned to detect the beam, and to generate a detection-signal indicative of detection of the beam.

Abstract: An actuator including a pair of load sensors arranged in the load path through the actuator. The load sensors are antagonistically preloaded and their outputs electrically connected to a processor for calculating a load in the actuator from the difference in loads measured by the respective load sensors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stress-strain testing system for a large-diameter steel pipe pile of an offshore wind turbine and a construction method, comprising a steel pipe pile, wherein copper belt type sensor cables are correspondingly welded on both sides of the steel pipe pile along an axis direction; each sensor cable is sequentially covered with an epoxy adhesive, gold foil paper and an angle steel welded on the steel pipe pile centering on the copper belt type sensor cable; a fiber core of each copper belt type sensor cable is transferred into a high-strength armored optical cable by a special fixture and then is led out; and the high-strength armored optical cable is connected with a Brillouin optical fiber demodulator. The present invention is applicable to the field of foundation engineering testing and detection technology.

Abstract: In a pressure detecting apparatus, a pressure sensor includes a piezoelectric sheet that generates a piezoelectric signal according to a load that is applied. A touch detecting unit detects contact with the pressure sensor. An acquirer acquires a piezoelectric output based on the piezoelectric signal. A rate-of-change calculator calculates a rate of change with respect to time of the piezoelectric output acquired within an arbitrary time range before a touch detection time when the touch detecting unit detects contact with the pressure sensor. An applied pressure calculator calculates applied pressure by correcting the piezoelectric output acquired after an end time of the time range used in the calculation of the rate of change using the rate of change. The apparatus enables precise measurement of applied pressure in a pressure sensor.

Abstract: A method in accordance with various embodiments may include: measuring a contact force between at least one probe and at least one contact pad for a plurality of probe overdrive positions, and determining a relationship between contact force and probe overdrive position from the measured contact forces; determining a first region in the relationship exhibiting a non-linear dependence of the contact force from the probe overdrive position, and a second region exhibiting a linear dependence of the contact force from the probe overdrive position; and determining a process window for a pad probing process based on the determined first region and second region.

Abstract: A valve stem connector comprises a first half and a second half, each of which includes a top section adapted to receive a portion of an actuator and a bottom section adapted to receive a portion of a valve stem. A plurality of cut-away sections is disposed in each of the first and second halves, and a pair of shear web installation sites is disposed between the plurality of cut-away sections on each of the first and second halves. A force measurement device is disposed in each shear web installation site of the pair of shear web installation sites, the force measurement device for measuring the strain on the valve stem. Each shear web installation site has a shear strain measurable by the force measurement device, and the plurality of cut-away sections allows for a bending beam near each pocket to minimize deflection.

Abstract: A bending fracture limit stress is calculated for each of (bend radius at sheet thickness center of a metal sheet)/(initial sheet thickness of the metal sheet); a fracture limit curve and a fracture limit stress are calculated from work hardening characteristics; a fracture limit curve corresponding to (the metal sheet bend radius at sheet thickness center)/(the initial sheet thickness of the metal sheet) is calculated; a corresponding fracture limit stress is calculated from stress of the element subject to determination and the fracture limit curve; a risk ratio that is a ratio between the stress of the element subject to determination and the fracture limit stress is computed; and performing fracture determination for the element subject to determination based on the risk ratio.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device for detecting a liquid crystal module and a method for detecting the quantity of liquid crystal. The method includes a cover for fixedly accommodating the liquid crystal module. An accommodation space for accommodating collision units is formed between the liquid crystal module and the cover, the collision units being connected to the top wall of the cover through elastic members. The collision units are spaced from the liquid crystal module in a certain distance in a static status, and collide with a panel of the liquid crystal module through vibration of the cover in the vertical direction during detection. The device for detecting a liquid crystal module improves the detection efficiency.

Abstract: In a strain sensor and a method for installing a strain sensor according to the present invention, a first base fixes and supports one side of an optical fiber. A second base fixes and supports another side of the optical fiber. A connecting member is constituted of a separate member from the first base and the second base and is detachably mounted between the first base and the second base. Tension is applied to the optical fiber in a state in which the connecting member is mounted between the first base and the second base, and the optical fiber is fixed to and supported by the first base and the second base in a state in which tension is applied.

Abstract: A sensor system for a laminated structure may include a sensor assembly disposed between a first layer and a second layer of the laminated structure. The sensor assembly may include a first anchor member and a second anchor member spaced at a predetermined distance from one another. A sensor chamber is formed between the first and second anchor members. The sensor assembly may also include a sensing line extending through the anchor members and the sensor chamber. The sensing line may include a configuration within the sensor chamber for sensing one of stress forces within the laminated structure, temperature or temperature changes within the laminated structure. A first transport tube may extend from the first anchor member opposite the sensor chamber and a second transport tube may extend from the second anchor member opposite the sensor chamber. The sensing line extends through the first and second transport tubes.

Abstract: A load detection apparatus includes a strain element including a first fixation hole into which a fixation member is insertable to be positioned, a second fixation hole into which a connection member is insertable to be positioned, a strain gage, and a fixation support member inserted to be positioned within the first fixation hole, the first fixation hole serving as an elongated bore, the fixation support member including a base portion specified to be greater than the first fixation hole, an intermediate shaft portion protruding from the base portion and fitted to the first fixation hole, and an insertion hole into which the fixation member is inserted to be positioned, the insertion hole being provided in a state where a center position of the insertion hole is displaced relative to a center position of the intermediate shaft portion in a longitudinal direction thereof.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to pressure sensing. As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments, an external energy field is applied to a resonant circuit having inductive conductors separated by a compressible dielectric, for wirelessly detecting pressure. Specifically, the resonant circuit is responsive to the energy field and applied pressures by operating in respective states exhibiting different resonant frequencies that are based upon pressure-related compression of the compressible dielectric. These resonant frequencies, or a change in the resonant frequencies, can be used as an indication of the pressure.

Abstract: A fiber grating device of low cost and arbitrary length is formed on a portion of a portion or the entirety of a highly elastic fiber optic core having a low Young's modulus of elasticity by causing elongation of the fiber optic core and forming or depositing a hard skin or cladding on the elongated fiber optic core. When the stress is then released, the hard skin or cladding buckles (including elastic or plastic deformation or both) to form wrinkles at the interface of the fiber optic core and the hard skin or cladding which are oriented circumferentially and highly uniform in height and spacing which can be varied at will by choice of materials, stretching, and thickness and composition of the cladding. Since the elastic elongation of the fiber optic core portion may be 200% or greater, an unprecedented measurement range is provided.

Abstract: A compact device for controlling the supply of a textile or metal thread to a processing machine, such as a textile machine or a spooling or winding machine, includes a body, at least one rotary member with which the thread cooperates, the member associated with a rotation velocity detector for detecting the rotation velocity thereof, the detector connected to a control unit, a tension detector provided for detecting the thread tension connected to such control unit. The rotary member is idle and is placed in rotation by the thread which is moved thereon, in proximity to such member the tension detector being placed. Also disclosed is a method for controlling the supply of thread actuated by such device.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting a temperature and a pressure of a fluid medium includes at least one housing, at least one temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the fluid medium and at least one pressure sensor element for detecting the pressure of the fluid medium. An activation and/or evaluation circuit is situated in the housing. The activation and/or evaluation circuit is situated on a circuit carrier. The activation and/or evaluation circuit is connected to the temperature sensor and the pressure sensor element. The temperature sensor has at least one connecting line including a connecting section for connecting to the activation and/or evaluation circuit. The circuit carrier has one recess. The connecting section is angled toward the connecting lines. The connecting section protrudes through the recess for connecting to the activation and/or evaluation circuit.

Abstract: It is an object to provide a stress history measurement method and a stress sensor by which the stress history of an object being measured can be measured easily with high accuracy over a wide stress measurement range. In the stress history measurement method, the stress history to which the object being measured has been subjected is measured on the basis of the ratio of twinned calcite particles after the object to be measured has been subjected to an external force, the object having a stress sensor embedded therein and capable of being deformed elastically when being subjected to the external force, the sensor including a number of calcite particles. The stress sensor is configured such that a number of calcite particles are hardened by a resin with adjacent particles kept in contact with each other.

Abstract: A method is provided to operate a thermal anemometer flow meter to measure a property of a stream. The method includes measuring a first heat loss to the stream from operating at a first DeltaT above a temperature of the stream, measuring a second heat loss to the stream from operating at a second DeltaT above the temperature of the stream where the second DeltaT being greater than the first DeltaT. The method further includes determining the property of the stream based on the first and the second heat losses.

Abstract: A method for assessing the state of hair by releasably engaging a first end of hair fibers with a holder which so that an opposite, second end of said hair fibers hangs free and applying sufficient force to the second end of the hair fibers such that the hair fibers at the first end are pulled from the holder.

Abstract: An apparatus having a bottom assembly with a fitting for interfacing to connect the bottom assembly to a second structure, having an elastic element that, when sufficient force is applied via the process of mating the bottom assembly to the second structure, and at an appropriate pressure value, passes from a first stable position, through a threshold, and to a second position, creating a tactile or audible indication that the apparatus has been properly installed.