Abstract: Methods and apparatus for detecting a sensor angle error in a system in which a measured quantity is determined on the basis of a phase of a signal. A signal derived from the measurement of multiple sensors is ascribed to a vector in a two-dimensional space, and a norm is calculated characterizing that vector. A value is calculated characterizing variation of that norm over a specified period of time and that value is compared with a threshold in order to identify a sensor fault.

Abstract: Multiple logic cores of integrated circuits and processors may be configured to operate at frequencies and voltages independently of each other. Additionally, other components, such as a common bridge configured to interface with the logic cores, may operate at a voltage and frequency independent of the voltage and frequency at which the logic cores are operating. The operating frequency and/or voltage of a logic core may be independently adjusted for various reasons, including power management and temperature control. Logic circuitry at an interface between the controller and the logic cores may translate logic signals from one voltage and/or frequency to another to enable communication between the bridge and the logic core when the two are operating at different voltages and/or frequencies.

Abstract: A main signal path filter is calibrated by calibrating a replica filter that tracks parametric changes in the main signal path filter. Programmed values of the replica filter determined during calibration are used to set programmed values in the main signal path filter. The main signal path filter signal does not need to be interrupted while calibration occurs. Power on testing of the main signal path filter and the replica filter can be performed to determine the parametric tracking relationship between the two filters.

Abstract: A method for reducing effects of vibropendulous errors within a sensor device having three orthogonal sensors is described. The method includes calculating compensation terms for each sensor, the compensation terms associated with an angle between a pendulous axis for the sensor and a cross axis of the sensor, and subtracting the compensation terms for each sensor from data received from that sensor.

Abstract: In a method for measuring the speed of an electrical machine having a stator, a rotor and a winding, in particular of an electronically commutated motor, a speed-measurement signal ? is sampled, in that a measured speed value ?(k) for the rotor is determined for each of a series of sampling instants. Moreover, a moment of inertia value for the mass moment of inertia of the rotor is determined. In addition, a current signal I is sampled, in that a current value I(k) for the electrical current in the winding is determined for each of the sampling instants. An estimated value ?s(k) for each of the measured speed values ?(k) is determined from a measured speed value ?k(k?1) assigned to an earlier sampling instant, from the current signal I and from the moment of inertia value. A tolerance band containing the estimated value ?s(k) is assigned to this estimated value ?s(k).

Abstract: A multimode electronic measuring instrument is provided that includes a ratiometric mode of operation. During the ratiometric mode, a desired dimension is established as a stored reference dimension “Xref”. After the reference dimension is stored in memory, subsequent ratiometric measurement readouts will equal a current measurement distance “Xcurr” divided by the reference dimension Xref. A ratiometric measurement according to this invention indicates the relationship of a current dimension to another readily changed (reference) dimension. The ratiometric mode of operation can be implemented in combination with conventional function caliper functions to provide a multimode caliper having a simple and intuitive user interface. Setting the reference dimension and interpreting the ratiometric measurement display are particularly easy, to facilitate intuitive understanding and operation.

Abstract: A sensor device according to the present invention has a detection mode for detecting an object W, a first setting mode for changing the output duration of an output signal, and a second setting mode for changing a light-emission period of light emitted to the object W. These modes are switchable by a mode selector switch 12. If a rotary control knob 15 is operated in the detection mode, a CPU 30 changes a setting of a threshold value in response to the operation of the rotary control knob 15 and displays the changed setting of the threshold value on a digital indicator 20. This makes it possible to accurately change settings through relatively simple operations. The rate of change may correspond to the speed of operation of the knob.

Abstract: A periodic signal is driven onto a transmission line, and the frequency of the periodic signal is varied from an initial frequency that corresponds to a quarter wave or half wave of an estimated length of the transmission line. A null or a peak in the envelope of the voltage or current wave induced on the transmission line by the periodic signal is detected at or near the end of the transmission line onto which the signal is driven. The frequency of the periodic signal that caused the null or peak may be used to calculated the length of the transmission line or a propagation delay through the transmission line. A plurality of transmission lines may be deskewed by determining the propagation delay through each transmission line and adjusting a variable delay in each transmission line so that the transmissions lines approximately equal overall propagation delays.

Abstract: A method for determining the bubble point pressure and the true flow rate of a fluid in a flow line of a flowing well is provided, wherein the method includes modifying fluid pressure in a predetermined region of the flow line, generating pressure data responsive to the flow line, obtaining apparent flow rate data responsive to the pressure data, examining the apparent flow rate data to identify a discontinuity in the apparent flow rate data and generating true flow rate data responsive to the discontinuity.

Abstract: A control system coupled to a pressure sensor calibrates the pressure sensor. The control system may measure a plurality of capacitance values at a plurality of corresponding applied voltages to compare the values with a first calibration mechanism generated by sample pressure sensors in a comparison. A final calibration mechanism may be generated by adjusting the first calibration mechanism in response to the comparison. The unknown differential pressure may be applied to a diaphragm of the pressure sensor. A capacitance value at the unknown differential pressure may then be measured. Using the final calibration mechanism, the differential pressure at the measured capacitance value may be retrieved.

Abstract: An energy-efficient acceleration measurement system is presented. The system includes an accelerometer, responsive to acceleration of the system, for providing an accelerometer output signal having a magnitude indicative of at least one component of the acceleration. A motion detector is responsive to the accelerometer output signal, and provides a processor interrupt signal, but only if the magnitude of acceleration reaches a threshold. The processor, responsive to the processor interrupt signal, measures the acceleration with higher accuracy than the motion detector is capable of, but in a way that consumes more power than was needed by the motion detector.

Abstract: Systems and methods for pulse stretching architectures for phase alignment of multi-frequency clocks for high speed data acquisitions are disclosed. A high speed data acquisition system includes a transmitter and a receiver. The receiver includes a multi-frequency clock generator that generates a plurality of clock signals, a pattern check module that detects a test pattern received from the transmitter and outputs a stretch command signal, and a stretch pulse generator that receives the stretch command signal and provides a stretch pulse signal that aligns the phases of the plurality of clock signals generated by the multi-frequency clock generator. Methods for initializing and shifting multi-phase clock signals to optimize error performance of a high speed data acquisition system are also provided.

Abstract: There is provided a measuring apparatus that measures digital signals. The measuring apparatus includes a reference timing detecting unit operable to detect a first timing at which a digital signal becomes a first predetermined signal level and a second timing at which the digital signal becomes a second signal level different from the first signal level in an edge of the digital signal, and a timing computing unit operable to compute a third timing at which the digital signal becomes a third predetermined signal level based on the first signal level, the second signal level, the first timing, and the second timing.

Abstract: In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a system for providing storage tank measurements to a remote location is provided. The system includes a control box configured to take a plurality of readings from within the storage tank and transmit those readings to a master computer. The master computer is configured to receive and store the plurality of readings, and in response to receiving a request for a measurement for the storage tank, calculate the requested measurement utilizing the received readings. The calculated measurements are then transmitted to the device requesting the measurements.

Abstract: In a quality control system for manufacturing industrial products, the product quality history and the manufacturing process history are collected and collated to calculate the correlation magnitude between the two histories. The candidates for the cause of quality variation hidden in the manufacturing processes are listed, and the correlation magnitude between all combinations of the variates of the manufacturing process history are calculated. Further, by utilizing the manufacturing sequence history used for an input plan, a causation connecting structure model between the manufacturing processes of the manufacturing line is automatically generated and automatically analyzed thereby to automatically extract the fundamental cause of quality variation from the candidates for the cause of quality variation. By doing so, the cause of quality variation of industrial products manufactured through a complicated process can be traced in a complicated connecting structure in the manufacturing history data.

Abstract: The present invention is designed to efficiently calculate isotopic distribution in order to simulate mass spectra data for any chemical compound of interest. The simulated spectra considers the various isotopes of the compound based upon a probability calculation that takes into consideration the natural abundance of each isotope of individual elements of the compound. The probability calculation generates a relative probability associated with each isotope species of the subject compound. The simulated spectra are displayed on an x-y coordinate illustrating the calculated formula weight on the abscissa (x-axis) and the intensity of the specific species on the ordinate (y-axis). This theoretical data is then compared to experimental data taken from a mass spectrometer in order to identify the chemical compound at issue.

Abstract: An extended version of a reduced order model called the Fundamental Mistuning Model (FMM) accurately predicts vibratory response and damping in a bladed disk system. The extended FMM software may describe the normal modes and natural frequencies of a mistuned bladed disk as well as damping in the disk using complex-valued inputs of its tuned system frequencies and the frequency mistuning of each blade/disk sector (i.e., the sector frequencies). The extended FMM system identification methods—basic and advanced extended FMM ID methods—also use complex mistuned modes and complex frequencies of the mistuned bladed disk as inputs. As a result, in extended FMM ID calculations, the tuned system frequencies and the mistuning frequency ratios are complex numbers. The real parts of frequencies relate to sector frequencies as well as tuned system frequencies. However, the imaginary part can be related to system damping.

Abstract: A method of predicting wear of a die surface. The method calculates a wear depth value based on a set of die characteristic values, a set of sheet material characteristic values, a coefficient of friction value, and material draw-in distance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of detecting straight-ahead driving according to a first straight-ahead driving detection method based on information on the rotational speed of a wheel by way of memorizing a curve parameter in a learning phase, in particular in selected driving situations, and the curve parameter is formed from the wheel speed information of one or more axles, and the reciprocal value of the curve radius is calculated from the wheel speed information to determine the curve parameter. The invention also relates to a computer program product comprising an algorithm defined by the above method.

Abstract: In an RF communication system, aspects of a method for a temperature sensor for transmitter output power compensation may comprise generating an output voltage, which may vary with temperature, from at least one reference voltage, wherein at least one reference voltage may vary proportionally with temperature. The output voltage may be converted to a digital value. The reference voltage may be generated by utilizing a current source to generate a voltage across a resistive load. A control voltage generated from an operational amplifier may control at least one current source. PN junction characteristics of at least one bipolar junction transistor may be utilized to generate an input reference voltage for the operational amplifier. Resistance of at least one resistor, which may be coupled to the bipolar junction transistor and to the operational amplifier, may be adjusted to determine a current level from the current source at a plurality of different temperatures.