Abstract: A sensor-plug for insertion into a drier bottle of an automotive condenser. The sensor-plug is a unitary piece and positioned within the drier bottle to eliminate the use of a separate sensor on the opposite side of the condenser.

Abstract: Biosensor apparatus and associated method for detecting a target material using a vibrating resonator having a surface that operably interacts with the target material. A detector is in electrical communication with a sensor, the sensor comprising a first paddle assembly connected to a second paddle assembly, the first paddle assembly having at least one microbalance sensing resonator proximate a proximal end and at least one sensing electrical contact proximate a distal end in electrical communication with the sensing resonator. The at least one sensing resonator has a target coating for operably interacting with the target material, and the second paddle assembly has a microbalance reference resonator proximate the proximal end and at least one reference electrical contact proximate the distal end in electrical communication with the reference resonator.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided including an image forming unit configured to form an image on a print medium, and a printed medium post-processing unit configured to receive and post-process printed media on which an image forming process is completed from the image forming unit. The printed medium post-processing unit selectively comprises one of a first stacker module in which a first amount of post-processed printed media is able to be loaded, and a second stacker module in which a second amount of post-processed printed media is able to be loaded. Therefore, it may be possible to flexibly respond to a loading amount of the printed media necessary for the printed medium post-processing unit.

Abstract: A system and method in accordance with an embodiment reduces the cross-axis sensitivity of a gyroscope. This is achieved by building a gyroscope using a mechanical transducer that comprises a spring system that is less sensitive to fabrication imperfection and optimized to minimize the response to the rotations other than the intended input rotation axis. The longitudinal axes of the first and second flexible elements are parallel to each other and parallel to the first direction.

Abstract: A resonator assembly includes a semiconductor substrate; a resonator gyroscope, the resonator gyroscope including a first resonator formed in a layer of a first material; and an oscillator on the semiconductor substrate, the oscillator including a second resonator formed of a second material. The second resonator is disposed in a cavity, the cavity comprising a first recess in the layer of a first material with the edges of the first recess being attached to the substrate, or the cavity comprising a second recess in the substrate and the edges of the second recess being attached to the layer of a first material.

Abstract: A protection member is arranged such that the distance from an opening plane of a reception guide to the center of the protection member is half of the distance from the opening plane of the reception guide to the surface of a reception vibration member. In other words, the arrangement position of the protection member is in the center between the opening plane of the reception guide and the surface of the reception vibration member. Accordingly, even if a protection member is arranged, a transmission coefficient is obtained that is equal to a transmission coefficient in the case where no protection member is present.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to hoists such as cranes which instead of steel wire ropes use high-strength fiber ropes. The invention relates in particular to an arrangement for detecting the discard state of a high-strength fiber rope when used on such hoists, with a means for detecting at least one rope parameter and an evaluation unit for evaluating the rope parameter, and providing a discard signal depending upon the evaluation of the rope parameters. According to the invention, the detection means comprises torsional stiffness detection means to determine the torsional stiffness of the rope, whereby the evaluation unit provides the discard signal depending on the determined torsional stiffness of the rope.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining contents of a conduit containing at least one fluid is described. The conduit may be at least partially defined by at least one wall portion. The wall portion may be cooled. After cooling said, the temperature at least one temperature sensor located adjacent to the wall portion may be measured. A characteristic of said contents is determined based on said measured temperature at the or each temperature sensor.

Abstract: An acoustic sensor includes a side wall, closed at each end by an end wall, to form a substantially cylindrical cavity, a transmitter and a receiver operatively associated with first and second respective end walls. Properties of the relative dimensions of the cavity are configured to create a desired oscillatory motion of the end walls, and oscillations of a fluid pressure in the cavity, to generate an electrical signal via the receiver to be output from the sensor. An array of acoustic sensors can be connected to allow calibration of one of the array of sensors.

Abstract: A method of forming an aggregate of objects in a channel including a liquid, the method including: a) providing objects in at least a region of the channel, and b) forming an aggregate of the objects by submitting them to a modulated pulsed acoustic field, wherein the modulated pulsed acoustic field applied at step b) is modulated in amplitude.

Abstract: A sensing element for sensing a mechanical property of a sample defining a sample surface using a contact force exerted the sample surface. The sensing element includes: a deformable element defining a contact surface and a deformable section in register with the contact surface, the deformable section being deformable between an undeformed configuration and a deformed configuration; a deformation sensor operatively coupled to the deformable section for sensing and quantifying a deformation of the deformable section between the deformed and undeformed configurations, the deformation sensor being an optical deformation sensor; and a force sensor operatively coupled to the deformable element for sensing the contact force exerted on the contact surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for condition monitoring of and/or fault diagnostics in solid dosage compaction presses and, more particularly, to methods and systems for real-time vibroacoustic condition monitoring of and/or fault diagnostics in solid dosage compaction presses.

Abstract: Flow sensors, systems, and methods for continuous in situ monitoring of a rheologically complex fluid flow within a vessel, such as particulate and multiphase media for ascertaining certain fluid flow parameters, such as flow rate, dynamic viscosity, fluid density, fluid temperature, particle density and particle mass, from flow sensor measurements. The system involves a fluid flow sensor having a body member with internalized strain gauges configured to measure the deformation of certain segments of the body member. Based, at least in part, on these deformation measurements, the system is used to compute the fluid flow parameters.

Abstract: A scanning acoustic microscope comprises a structure including a loading portion and a scanning portion, a transducer disposed in the scanning portion and operable to develop ultrasonic energy, and a controller. A driver is responsive to the controller and is capable of moving the transducer along a scan path with respect to a first plurality of parts disposed in the scanning portion as a second plurality of parts are being loaded into the loading portion.

Abstract: A portable apparatus for forming a visual display, to aid in detection and location by searchers or rescuers, for example. The apparatus includes at least one elongate, flexible strip that produces a visual signal, and at least one support for holding the strip member aloft so that it can be seen at a distance. The strip members are suitably formed of reflective metalized Mylar that can be rolled into a compact form for portability, and produces a vivid reflective pattern. There may also be a single, elongate reflective strip with cords at the end that can be attached to spaced-apart supports, with an elastomeric member being included to maintain tension on the reflective strip. One or more swivels may also be included so as to enable the strip to rotate freely when under tension.

Abstract: A control device (1) for a vehicle with a housing (2) having a pressure sensor (3), arranged in a pressure chamber (4) in a pressure-tight manner with respect to the interior space of the housing (2). The housing (2) having a membrane aperture (2.1) closed by an air-permeable but not water-permeable membrane (5). The housing (2) is designed with a housing duct (6) which in an installation position of the control device (1) extends downward in the vertical direction of the vehicle, and in relation to the volume of the pressure chamber (4) the housing duct (6) has a duct volume in such that with the control device (1) completely immersed in water, a residual volume of air remains upstream of the membrane (5).

Abstract: A craftwork accessory may provide a portable and/or easy-to-use tool to help users' accurately and repeatedly apply stamp impressions and the like to items such as cardstock. The accessory may include a base portion, one or more elevated side portions and cover portion. The side portions may define a workspace for arranging the item. The cover portion may be movably attached to the base portion or a side portion, for example, by one or more hinges. In operation, the item and stamp may be aligned in the workspace and the cover portion may be pressed onto the stamp to stick the stamp to the cover portion. The cover may then be opened, the stamp may be inked, and the cover portion may be closed and pressed onto the item to stamp the item. The accessory may include alignment indicia on the base portion, side portions and/or cover portion to facilitate placement of the item and/or stamp.

Abstract: A nebulizer for a charged aerosol detection (CAD) system is disclosed. The nebulizer is provided with a spray emitter for generating a spray of droplets within a central region of a spray chamber. The central region is separated from an upper region by a horizontally projecting rib, which defines a passageway between the central and upper regions. The major direction of droplet travel within the upper region is substantially reversed with respect to the major direction of droplet travel within the central region. Larger droplets are unable to negotiate the turn from the central to upper regions and impinge on a rear surface of the spray chamber. Removal of larger droplets has the advantageous effect of enabling the detector to sense a smaller range of particle sizes, which establishes a relatively steady electrical current at the detector.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a system for analyzing rare gases present in a gaseous fluid (1). According to the invention, initially, the rare gases are extracted from the gaseous fluid by trapping by means of a getterizing substrate (5), then superconcentration of the rare gases is produced before injection (8) into the measuring instruments (9). By virtue of the invention, it is possible to increase the partial pressure of the rare gases in the gases to be analyzed before their injection into the analysis instruments.

Abstract: Disclosed is a structure analyzing device and a structure analyzing method which can analyze a state change of a structure, which is caused before the structure is destroyed, such as a state change of degradation of the structure or the like. A structure analyzing device (10) includes a vibration detecting unit (11) which detects a vibration of a structure, and an analysis unit (12) which analyzes an output signal of the vibration detecting unit (11). The analysis unit (12) analyzes a state change of the structure by comparing a value of resonant sharpness Q, which is measured by use of the following formula (1) in a state existing when carrying out analysis, with a value of resonant sharpness Q which is measured by use of the following formula (1) in a standard state.