Abstract: A photoacoustic measuring apparatus includes a light source, a movable holding unit which holds an object, a light diffusing unit which fixes the distance between the light diffusing unit and the holding unit and diffuses light incident from the light source, and an acoustic wave obtaining unit which obtains an acoustic wave generated from the object by the light emitted via the holding unit and the light diffusing unit.

Abstract: Provided is a technique to identify a sample substance attached to an inspection target easily and precisely, while improving the rate of operation and reducing the number of persons required for inspection. A trace detecting system includes detection means to detect the size (vertical and horizontal dimensions) of an inspection target, and selects an air nozzle capable of spraying air jet at 15 m/s or more to the surface of the inspection target for air jet spraying.

Abstract: A breath alcohol testing device has a removable tamper-resistant sampling chamber assembly that provides a disposable interface between the test subject and the alcohol sensor, other sensors and electronics of the testing device. Hydrophobic membranes prevent bodily fluids and other liquids from entering the alcohol sensor and other sensitive components of the testing device. A set of chambers with one-way valves direct the gas flow within the sample chamber assembly to ensure the breath sample delivered to the alcohol sensor is not diluted by the subject inhaling, and is a deep-lung breath sample.

Abstract: A test apparatus includes a vibratory body that shakes a device under testing (DUT), a pedestal dedicated to support the DUT and disposed on the vibratory body, and a clamping mechanism operative to selectively clamp the pedestal to the vibratory body and release the pedestal from the vibratory body. The vibratory body and the pedestal define a cavity in which the clamping mechanism is disposed. The clamping mechanism includes a clamp ring and at least one locking element carried by the clamp ring so as to be displaceable in a radial direction relative to the clamp ring, at least one tang facing the at least one locking element in the radial direction, and a piston slidable in an axial direction relative to the clamp ring between a first position at which the pedestal is free from vibratory body and a second position at which the locking element is compressed between the piston and the tang.

Abstract: An air flow rate adjusting apparatus adjusts an output of an air flow meter based on a dimension of a gap between a back surface of a sensor chip and a bottom surface of a recess of a support plate.

Abstract: To suggest an electromechanical transducer device with a high S/N ratio, an electromechanical transducer device includes a first substrate; electromechanical transducer elements two-dimensionally arrayed on a front surface of the first substrate and configured to provide conversion between acoustic waves and electric signals; an electric wiring substrate that is a second substrate electrically connected with a back surface of the first substrate; a first acoustic matching layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate; an acoustic attenuating member arranged on a back surface of the second substrate; and a second acoustic matching layer provided between the second substrate and the acoustic attenuating member.

Abstract: A resonance testing apparatus has a plurality of arms for supporting a workpiece. At least one of said arms incorporates an articulation assembly having: a strut, a joint element which is movable in response to movement of the strut, and a clamp arrangement for clamping the joint element. The assembly has a first condition in which the joint element is movable and a second condition in which the clamp arrangement acts on the joint element to damp or restrict movement of the strut. The assembly includes a seating for the joint element, and a biasing arrangement for the seating. The assembly has a first condition in which the joint element is arranged on the seating and is movable on the seating and a second condition in which the biasing arrangement acts on the seating to damp or restrict movement of the joint element on the seating.

Abstract: A method of characterizing an object that includes, at least locally, a plane of symmetry, the method including performing at least one observation of ultrasound transmitted through the object, each observation being performed on an axis perpendicular to the plane of symmetry, each observation resulting from an emission of ultrasound generated along a respective one of the axes and meeting the object along the axis at an angle of incidence other than normal, the ultrasound meeting the object to follow a path that is symmetrical relative to the plane of symmetry.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for supplying lubricant to a plurality of lubrication sites. The apparatus includes a controller that diagnoses piston wear by driving the pump to achieve a predetermined pressure, stopping the pump with the piston in a home position, and measuring pressure at a preselected time interval after the step of stopping the pump. The amount of piston wear is approximated based on a difference between the predetermined pressure and the measured pressure at the predetermined time interval.

Abstract: Provided is a gas sensor comprising a gas-sensitive layer consisting of nickel oxide (NiO) doped with chrome (Cr) so as to selectively detect methylbenzene gas. The gas sensor, according to the present invention, has a gas-sensitive layer consisting of Cr-doped NiO. The gas sensor exhibits superior selectivity for methylbenzene gas when compared to other gases. The gas sensor can be easily and mass produced according to the production method of the present invention and is not affected by the microstructures of the material forming the gas-sensitive layer. The present invention relates to a gas sensor exhibits a negligible sensitivity of benzene, formaldehyde, and alcohol and exhibits significantly high selectivity and sensitivity of methylbenzene gas such as xylene and toluene when the NiO sensor material with a hierarchical structure favorable to gas dispersion and response is doped with Cr.

Abstract: A gas sensor includes a sensor element having electrode take-out portions; a tubular separator having a flange portion, surrounding the electrode take-out portions, and spaced from a metallic shell; a tubular outer sleeve covering the separator, connected to the metallic shell, and having an inward convex portion that contacts the rearward-facing surface of the separator and restricts rearward movement of the separator; a seal member disposed on the rear of the separator and accommodated in a rear portion of the outer sleeve such that it is spaced from the separator; and an annular retainer fixed to the outer sleeve and in contact with a contact surface which forms at least a portion of the forward-facing surface of the flange portion. The separator has a rotation restriction surface for restricting its rotation in the circumferential direction, and the retainer has an engagement surface which contacts the rotation restriction surface.

Abstract: An object characteristics measurement apparatus of the invention includes a surface acoustic wave device. The surface acoustic wave device includes: an interdigitated electrode that is formed on a first surface on a piezoelectric substrate, excites an elastic wave, and receives reflection based on the elastic wave; a reflector that has a third surface and a fourth surface between the interdigitated electrode and a second surface orthogonal to the first surface in a propagation direction of the elastic wave; a reaction field that is formed between the interdigitated electrode and the reflector, in which the measured object is to be loaded; and a propagator that is formed between the reflector and the second surface.

Abstract: A paint stick and marker installation system for inserting a marker having shaft with a bottom end for inserting into the ground and an engagement portion of the shaft separated from the bottom end by an insertion portion of the shaft. The apparatus includes a magazine assembly configured to receive at least one marker. The magazine space has a push position in the magazine space for receiving the at least one marker. The apparatus further comprises a push assembly mounted on the magazine assembly. The push assembly is configured to engage the engagement portion of the shaft of the marker located in the push position and push the marker from the magazine assembly when the push assembly is actuated. A plurality of the markers are bonded together such that each of the markers can be removed from the rest of the plurality when inserting a marker into the ground.

Abstract: A method for analyzing the exhaust gas of internal combustion engines provides for the cooling of the exhaust gas before analysis, the determination of the concentration of at least two different exhaust gas components in at least two separate analysis stages or the determination of the concentration of a single exhaust gas component with at least two different cooling stages. In order to achieve a higher measuring accuracy, at least one first cooling is carried out before a first analysis stage and at least one second cooling is carried out at a lower temperature than that of the first cooling before at least one further analysis stage.

Abstract: A pointing device includes a pointer having light guiding properties, a cap that is attached to the pointer and has light blocking properties, a pointing shaft that is vertically formed on a proximal end portion of the pointer, and a light blocking member. The light blocking member includes a cylindrical main body having both end portions for inserting the pointing shaft and a rotary shaft of a motor having light guiding properties respectively thereinto to prevent illuminating light propagating through the rotary shaft from a light source and entering the pointing shaft from leaking from an outer peripheral surface of the pointing shaft.

Abstract: An embodiment of a micro-electro-mechanical system of the MEMS type comprising at least one micro-electro-mechanical device of the MEMS type and one junction with a duct suitable to being associated with an external apparatus. Said junction being a printed circuit board PCB comprising at least two layers with juxtaposed faces, a channel being present in at least one face of at least one of said at least two layers suitable for realizing the duct with the juxtaposition of the other face of at least another one of at least two layers.

Abstract: A hazard alert assembly for alerting an observer to a hazard includes a base structured to retain a flare on a support surface so the flare is visible to an observer. A frame is coupled to the base so the frame may be visible to the observer. The frame alerts the observer to a hazard. An arrow is coupled to the frame so the arrow is may indicate a direction the observer should travel to avoid the hazard.

Abstract: A tamper-evident container closure device is provided. The device is securable to an open container to close the container. The closure device includes an electrically powered tamper-indicating means for indicating that the housing has been detached from the container after being secured to the container.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing a composite structure. A pulsed laser beam having a number of properties is generated. Each of the number of properties is within a selected range. The pulsed laser beam generated by the generation laser system is directed towards a composite structure comprised of a number of composite materials. A number of ultrasonic waves are formed in the composite structure when the pulsed laser beam contacts the composite structure without causing any undesired inconsistencies in the composite structure outside of selected tolerances.

Abstract: An in-medium monitoring system for monitoring material carried within a pipe. The system includes an acoustic device installed within the pipe that generates voltage signals indicative of changes in the material, such as flow rate or leaks, a hardware unit that includes a detector module and a communication module, a switch for switching the voltage signals to and communication signals from the hardware unit. The hardware unit and a power source are attached to the pipe. The acoustic device may be detector or a sensor. The communication module may communicate date through the sensor in the medium or outside of the pipe to a fixed network. The hardware unit may include a log detection amplifier for generating an amplified pulsed output signal without voltage gain and without significantly adding noise.