Abstract: A battery detect circuit (32) is provided that is operable to dispose a sense resistor (50) in series with the battery to determine whether the charge is being provided to the battery or being extracted from the battery. The voltage across the sensor resistor (50) is sensed by a voltage/frequency converter (52). The voltage/frequency converter (52) is a differential structure comprised of two integrator structures (102) and (104) that are operable to utilize a switched capacitor configuration to drive comparators on the output thereof. Each of the integrator structures (102) and (104) has associated therewith passive elements and active elements. The integrators (102) and (104) have associated therewith integration capacitors (147) and (149). Additionally, there are two operational amplifiers (143) and (145) that provide the active components of each of the integrators (102) and (104).

Abstract: In a process and a circuit arrangement for measuring the resistance of a resistance sensor, for instance a wetness sensor, via a rate of change of the charge of a capacitor, a measurement cycle consisting in each case of a charging of a capacitor, a discharging of the capacitor over the resistance sensor, and thereupon a measurement of the charge remaining in the capacitor, the direction of the discharge current through the resistor changes from measurement cycle to measurement cycle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting the possibility of transfer of material through a protective barrier between a worker and an external object and warning the worker of that possibility is provided. In one embodiment, an electronic leak alarm module is electrically connected to the worker and to the external object. In another embodiment, the module is connected to the worker and a conductive layer on or within the protective barrier.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for simultaneously testing or burning in all the integrated circuit chips on a product wafer. The apparatus comprises a glass ceramic carrier having test chips and means for connection to pads of a large number of chips on a product wafer. Voltage regulators on the test chips provide an interface between a power supply and power pads on the product chips, at least one voltage regulator for each product chip. The voltage regulators provide a specified Vdd voltage to the product chips, whereby the Vdd voltage is substantially independent of current drawn by the product chips. The voltage regulators or other electronic means limit current to any product chip if it has a short. The voltage regulator circuit may be gated and variable and it may have sensor lines extending to the product chip. The test chips can also provide test functions such as test patterns and registers for storing test results.

Abstract: A cell/battery is excited by a time-varying signal that is characterized by periodically making step transitions between discrete levels. The immediate change in a responsive signal is determined by a circuit that is only enabled during a brief "window" of time encompassing a step transition, and which employs a "holding capacitor" to store dynamic conditions existing at the instant of enablement. Action of this "holding capacitor" causes the circuit to only respond to changes in noise signals occurring during the enablement "window" and not to the actual level of the noise itself. By making the "window" sufficiently narrow, noise signals can change by only an acceptably small amount and can be removed by synchronously detecting the response to the step excitation and averaging the result over time. Two embodiments are disclosed. A first embodiment utilizes a step current-signal excitation and a voltage-signal response to directly determine a particular component of incremental resistance.

Abstract: A system and method for coincidence detection of ungrounded or inadequately grounded parts during the electrostatic coating process in order to improve production flow, provide an overall cost saving by efficient use of the coating material and prevention of accidental fires and false shutdown during production. The present invention utilizes a coincidence detection technique which performs a test for radio-frequency electromagnetic energy radiated by sparking and/or corona discharge caused by ungrounded parts outside a electrostatic coating area and a test for sensing and discriminating spurious radio-frequency electromagnetic energy radiated by sparking and/or corona discharge caused by any other external source. In accordance with one specific embodiment, the test performed outside the booth may include a further test for detecting ultraviolet energy radiated by the sparking and/or corona discharge.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement includes a wear detector which is proportioned or which operates so that it wears (i.e., fails) faster than the other parts of the circuit arrangement. The wear detector may be made to wear faster than other parts of the circuit by being more heavily loaded during operation, by being configured to be more heavily stressed during operation, or by being subjected to more severe operating conditions. An indicator is connected to the wear detector so that, when the wear detector ceases to function, the indicator signals that the circuit arrangement is near the end of its useful life and is to be replaced.

Abstract: A method for detecting extent of cross-linking of a high impedance polymer material during a pre-cure stage, the method comprising the steps of:a) applying a test signal through a sensor to the polymer material in the pre-cure stage to determine a level of impedance and corresponding sample voltage representative of a degree of cross-linking within the material;b) applying the same test signal through the sensor to a reference material having a fixed resistance to determine a reference voltage;c) determining a voltage difference between the test signal applied to the polymer at pre-cure stage and the test signal applied to the reference material as the reference voltage;d) correlating the voltage difference as a relative indicator of the extent of cross-linking which has occurred within the polymer material, based on comparison of magnitude of the voltage difference with respect to a comparable potential range of impedance for the polymer material from its lower impedance stage at minimal cross-linking to its

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for obtaining frequency parameters to determine the resonator frequencies, the synchronous peak separation frequency, and the normal center frequency of a coupled-dual resonator crystal. Under this method, a plurality of frequencies are applied to a first electrode. This application is performed once while the second electrode and the common electrode are connected by a short circuit, and then again when the second electrode and the common electrode are capacitively connected or open circuited. During each application of the plurality of frequencies to the crystal, the phase response for the output of the resonator circuit is monitored. Then the time response of the crystal is determined. Next, the time delay relative maxima for the time response is determined. Finally, the frequencies at which the time delay relative maxima occur are determined.

Abstract: A movement actuator includes an elongate filament made of a flexible material, and a strip of shape memory alloy disposed on the surface of one side of the filament. The shape memory alloy is responsive to actuation signals, heat or electrical signals, for changing its shape and when its shape changes, it causes the filament to move, i.e., bend, to accommodate the change in shape of the alloy. Also included is a signal supply device for selectively applying heat signals or electrical current to the strip of shape memory alloy to cause the alloy to change its shape and cause the filament to bend. Other patterns for the shape memory alloy could be disposed on the filament to cause other kinds of movements. For example, a helical pattern of the shape memory alloy about the filament would cause the filament to twist when the helical pattern were caused to shorten or lengthen.

Abstract: An instantaneous value of alternating current signal from an instrument potential transformer 10 or an instrument current transformer 9 is processed with an analog filter 21, 22, the frequency to be used for correction being detected with a frequency detector 103, frequency correction of the gain of the detected signal being performed with a frequency corrector 104, 114 after detecting the root-mean-square value of the frequency, the corrected signal being supplied to a digital automatic voltage regulator 120. Thereby, it is possible to remove a direct current component and absorb a surge in a signal, and to correct the signal in coping with the fluctuation of the input signal to detect a stable signal.

Abstract: A pulsed discharge photoinoization detector is set forth which comprises a plurality of closed chambers for receiving different types of carrier gas flowing there through between inlets and outlets. The carrier gases are exposed to a pair of electrodes forming a spark across each chamber and through each carrier gas. At least one component of each type of carrier gas is excited within each chamber by the spark discharges, and the resonance energies of each type of carrier gas are different. The sample to be analyzed is split and a portion is injected into each of the closed chambers where it is exposed to the excited carrier gases. Carrier gases, upon decay, serve as sources of ionizing radiation of differing energy which react with compounds within the sample gas producing ionization currents which are a function of the types of sample gas compounds and the types of carrier gases.

Abstract: An accurate dielectric breakdown prediction method and a prediction method in which accurate time dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) characteristics can be obtained on the basis of dielectric breakdown prediction by a step stress method are provided. In this method, dielectric breakdown is predicted on the basis of a plurality of reference currents in accordance with an applied voltage, or a reference current I.sub.cr is varied as the function of the applied voltage. In the step stress TDDB prediction, a Chen-Holland-Hu model or improved Chen-Holland-Hu model is employed. Since TDDB characteristics can be obtained from only dielectric breakdown prediction, this method is advantageous for early reliability prediction.

Abstract: The current density versus voltage characteristics of integrated circuit processing equipment such as a plasma etcher are determined using a passive probe including a semiconductor wafer in which one or more clusters of individual passive charge monitors are fabricated. Each monitor includes an EEPROM device having a control electrode and a floating electrode over a channel region connecting source and drain regions, a charge collecting electrode connected to the control electrode, and a current sensing resistor connecting the charge collection electrode to the substrate for developing a threshold varying voltage. By determining changes in device threshold voltage, a corresponding surface-substrate potential is determined which can be divided by the value of the current-sensing resistor to yield a current. The current can then be divided by the area of the charge collecting electrode to yield a value of the current density.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for calculating a ratio, R, having a first capacitance value, C.sub.1, in inverse relation to a second capacitance value, C.sub.2, where C.sub.1 and C.sub.2 are the capacitance values of a first capacitor and a second capacitor respectively. The first and second capacitors each have an independent electrode and share a common electrode. An AC voltage is applied to the common electrode producing first and second AC current signals at the two independent electrodes. A dual switched-capacitor integrated circuit and two current to frequency converters respectively convert the first and second AC current signals to first and second frequency signals having values f.sub.1 and f.sub.2. A microprocessor receives the first and second frequency signals and calculates R from f.sub.1 and f.sub.2.

Abstract: To carry out a non-destructive test for testing insulation of a small-size electric machine having a coil, a surge voltage is applied to the coil of the electric machine mounted in a decompression tank whose inner pressure is kept from 15 to 25 [Torr] so as to generate glow discharge in case there exists a flaw in the coil.

Abstract: A method for determining the degree of deterioration of oils or fats for deep-frying or frying foods is disclosed. The specific ohmic resistance of the oils or fats is measured and the extent of the fall of this resistance with increasing deep-frying time or frying time is used as a correlation for the degree of deterioration of the oils or fats.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for obtaining a voltage-isolated measurement channel in a measurement instrument is provided. An input signal is multiplied with a clock signal to obtain a modulated input signal that is coupled to an input winding of a balanced transformer. The modulated input signal is electromagnetically coupled from the input winding to an output winding. At the same time, the input winding and the output winding are voltage-isolated, meaning that the portion of the measurement channel coupled to the input winding is "floated" with the input signal whereas the remaining portion of the measurement channel is referenced to instrument ground. A sampling circuit coupled to the output winding samples the modulated input signal in the manner of a synchronous detector to extract the original input signal voltage which is provided to an analog to digital converter which generates the digital measurement values.

Abstract: A load open state detection circuit includes a driver having X and Y terminals between which an inductive load is connected and which receive drive signals, a first transistor whose base is connected to the X terminal and whose collector is connected to a terminal supplied with a predetermined voltage, a second transistor whose base is connected to the Y terminal and whose collector is connected to the terminal supplied with a predetermined voltage and third and fourth transistors having bases thereof connected to input terminals supplied with respective drive signals. A fifth transistor has a base connected to the base of the first transistor, a collector connected to a resistor which is in turn connected to the collector of the first transistor, and an emitter connected to a second resistor which is connected to the emitter of the first transistor.

Abstract: This electrostatic selector of aerosol particles of an atmosphere has a first (18) and a second (20) parallel, spaced, coaxial conductive disks, between which is established an electric field, an annular slot (22) made in the first disk for communicating with the atmosphere to be examined, a central intake (26) for bringing about a circulation from the periphery of the disks of a stable, centripetal, laminar filtered air flow, an annular or circular opening (28) made in the second disk, a third disk (32) facing the second disk, means for injecting between the second and third disk, from the periphery thereof, a radial, laminar, filtered air flow, a central pipe fixed to the third disk by which the particles having the requisite electrical mobility (or the requisite dimension if the electric charge is known) are brought to the outside of the apparatus.