Abstract: A probe has a substantially bar shape, and includes a tip end, a base end, and a body portion that is located between the tip end and the base end and has a thickness in a thickness direction orthogonal to an axial direction of the substantially bar shape thinner than the tip end. The body portion includes a slope surface that is continuous with the tip end and is inclined with respect to the axial direction in a direction in which the thickness becomes gradually thinner with increasing distance from the tip end. A first region having a surface shape that bulges outward is provided in at least a part of the slope surface.

Abstract: A regenerative load system includes a voltage input and a load current regulator electrically connected to the voltage input. The system includes a fly back rectifier electrically connected to the load current regulator. A current output is electrically connected to the fly back rectifier. A system for regeneratively testing electrically powered equipment includes a power source. The system includes a unit under test (UUT) having a voltage input electrically connected to the power source, a regenerative load system electrically connected to the UUT. The regenerative load system (RLS) includes a RLS voltage input electrically connected to the UUT, a load current regulator electrically connected to the RLS voltage input, a fly back rectifier electrically connected to the load current regulator, and a current output electrically connected to the fly back rectifier. The current output is configured and adapted to provide current the UUT and/or the power source.

Abstract: A system for remote sensing of air gaps includes a substrate and a capacitor sensor array attached to the substrate, where the capacitor sensor array includes a plurality of capacitor sensors. The system also includes a transmit antenna attached to the substrate, and a microprocessor electrically connected to the transmit antenna and the capacitor sensor array. The microprocessor is configured to switch on and off at least one capacitor sensor of the plurality of capacitor sensors and to transmit determined air gap measurements using the transmit antenna.

Abstract: A circuit and method for detecting a failure of a switching power device is disclosed. The circuit and method utilize a Kelvin connection of a four-terminal configuration of the switching power device to sense a resistance of at least one wire-bond. The resistance corresponds to a defect or defects in the at least one wire-bond and so it can be used to detect a failure before damage occurs. A threshold used for detecting the failure can be adjusted to accommodate variations in the switching power device and/or the application in which it is being used. Additionally, the failure detection is carried out at a period after the switching power device is turned ON to prevent switching transients from affecting the detection.

Abstract: A current measurement device comprising: a shunt resistor; a pair of first and second voltage signal lines connected to the shunt resistor; and a current measurement circuit for measuring a current using a signal by the pair of first and second voltage signal lines. The pair of first and second voltage signal lines are connected to an amplifier circuit with which the current measurement circuit is provided to amplify a voltage signal. A third signal line which is a signal line different from the pair of first and second voltage signal lines and drawn from the shunt resistor is connected to a common line of the current measurement circuit.

Abstract: A digital current sensing circuit and related apparatus is provided. In one aspect, a digital current sensing circuit can be configured to estimate a battery current in a coupled circuit based on a voltage corresponding to the battery current. More specifically, the digital current sensing circuit generates an analog sense current proportional to the battery current based on the voltage and digitally processes the analog sense current to generate a battery current indication signal indicative of an estimation of the battery current. In another aspect, a number of digital current sensing circuits can be provided in an apparatus to concurrently estimate a number of battery currents in a number of circuits (e.g., charge pump circuits). As a result, it may be possible to test, debug, and/or fine-tune the apparatus based on the estimated battery currents for improved performance.

Abstract: A method for measuring thickness of dielectric layer in circuit board includes the following steps: First, circuit board including dielectric layer and circuit layers is provided. The dielectric layer is between the circuit layers, and the circuit board further includes test area including test pattern and through hole. The test pattern includes first conductor and second conductors. The distance between the side of the through hole and the second conductor is less than the distance between the side of the through hole and the first conductor. Next, measuring device including conductive pin and sensing element is provided. Next, the conductive pin is powered, and one end of the conductive pin is electrically connected to the second conductor. Next, the sensing element is moved along the through hole to obtain sensing curve, and the thickness of the dielectric layer is calculated via variations of the sensing curve.

Abstract: Tubular member inspection apparatus, systems and methods for inspecting tubulars of a variety of diameters. An EMI inspection shoe includes a flexible, generally arcuate body having a leading end, a trailing end, a non-working major face, and a working major face. The leading end, trailing end, non-working major face, and working major face at least partially define an inspection zone therebetween. One or more magnetic flux detectors are carried by the flexible, generally arcuate body in the inspection zone. One or more pressure actuators removably attached to the non-working face are configured to exert pressure on one or more regions of the flexible, generally arcuate body in the inspection zone during an EMI inspection of a tubular, forcing the flexible, generally arcuate body to contort into a generally contoured shape as it passes over a contoured region of the tubular.

Abstract: High-speed tubular inspection systems include a frame at least one magnetic flux generator contained in a coil annulus and a detector assembly each having inlet and outlet openings for passing a tubular member there through. The detector assembly has one or more magnetic detectors and one or more eddy current detectors configured to be spaced a first distance from the tubular member during an inspection. The detectors are each contained in one or more EMI detector shoes. A conveyor supports the frame and a drive mechanism configured to drive the tubular member through the coil annulus (or drive the coil annulus past the tubular member) at high-speeds.

Abstract: A positionable probe card includes a space transformer, a plurality of positioning pins, and a probe head. The space transformer includes a space transforming substrate, the space transforming substrate includes a plurality of apertures, and the positioning pins are respectively fixed in the apertures. The probe head includes a plurality of positioning holes, and the positioning pins are respectively inserted into corresponding positioning holes. In addition, a method of manufacturing a positionable probe card is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: Tracked distance measuring device, systems, and methods for determining and mapping point of interest for use in utility locating operations and other mapping applications are disclosed. A tracked distance measuring device embodiment includes simultaneously triggered rangefinder and positioning elements to measure a distance and determine location and pose, optionally in conjunction with a utility locator.

Abstract: A probe card holding device includes: a frame that holds a probe card by vacuum suction; a sealing member provided on the frame and configured to form an enclosed space by contacting the probe card; a placement section in which a first engaging portion provided at an outer circumference of the probe card is placed when the probe card is attached to the frame; a second engaging portion configured to be engaged with the first engaging portion; and an actuator configured to drive the second engaging portion between a first position and a second position. When the second engaging portion is engaged with the first engaging portion in response to dissipation of the vacuum suction, the probe card is held by the probe card holding device while the sealing member maintains a seal with the probe card.

Abstract: A probe member for a pogo pin, a method of manufacturing the probe member, and a pogo pin including the probe member are disclosed. The probe member for the pogo pin has a contact portion including a material having hardness greater than the hardness of a first body portion and a second body portion, and each of the first and second body portions includes a material having electrical conductivity equal to or greater than 50% IACS (International Annealed Copper Standard).

Abstract: Provided are a method and a device capable of: generating a first alternating current magnetic field passing through a chamber having a cell disposed therein, by using a plurality of primary coils arranged on a first plane; receiving a second alternating current magnetic field by using a plurality of secondary coils arranged on a second plane; and measuring an impedance change of a cell by using the first alternating current magnetic field and the second alternating current magnetic field.

Abstract: An electrical contactor includes: an installing portion; a base end portion extending continuously toward the installing portion; a plurality of arm portions extending from the base end portion in a longitudinal direction; a coupling portion coupled to the tip of each of the arm portions; a pedestal portion provided continuously toward the coupling portion; and a contact portion provided at a lower end of the pedestal portion, wherein each of the plurality of arm portions elastically supports the contact portion in contact with a first contact target, and a curved portion is provided on the coupling portion side or the base end portion side of a closest-to-contact-portion arm portion that is the closest to the contact portion among the plurality of arm portions.

Abstract: A setting of a measurement instrument comprises the providing a reference measurement instrument that uses at least one instrument parameter. A training phase is performed for a particular signal type to be processed by said reference measurement instrument in order to retrieve an optimal setting for said at least one instrument parameter. A lookup table is created for said particular signal type, said lookup table comprising at least said optimal setting for said at least one instrument parameter.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor according to the invention has a magnetoresistive element having a multi-layer structure and a magnetically sensitive axis, and at least a soft magnetic body that is arranged near the magnetoresistive element. The soft magnetic body has a sloping line at least at a corner thereof, wherein the sloping line is tilted with respect to two sides of the soft magnetic body that extend to the corner, as viewed in a stacking direction of the magnetoresistive element.

Abstract: A health monitoring system includes at least one sensor. A health monitoring unit (HMU) is operatively connected to the at least one sensor to receive data therefrom and to generate at least one status indicator (SI) based on the data from the at least one sensor. A computing device is operatively connected to the HMU to receive data therefrom and is configured to generate a health notification when a quantity of the SI that are greater than or equal to a pre-determined SI threshold exceed a pre-determined peak count threshold. A method for monitoring and determining the health of a component includes collecting data during a sample cycle from at least one sensor to generate a numerical SI for a given component with a computing device. The method includes identifying if the numerical SI qualifies as a peak SI, which is greater or equal to a pre-determined SI threshold.

Abstract: A sensor electrode has an upper side portion arranged on an automobile, a lower side portion arranged with a predetermined spacing from the upper side portion, and a connecting portion that connects the upper side portion and the lower side portion. A control unit inputs a signal for detecting a user to the upper side portion, the lower side portion, and the connecting portion, which are electrically connected. The lower side portion is arranged farther from an area through which the user passes than the upper side portion. The installation height of the upper side portion is greater than or equal to the installation height of the lower side portion.

Abstract: A contact probe is conductive and capable of expanding/contracting along an axial line direction. The contact probe includes: a first contact member configured to contact one contact target; a second contact member configured to contact another contact target, and to house at least a portion of the first contact member; and a spring member configured to couple the first contact member and the second contact member in a manner capable of expansion/contraction with both end parts of the spring member. The spring member is wound in a helical shape, and at least a diameter of an outer circumference in one of the end parts held by the second contact member is larger than diameters of other portions. A diameter of an inner circumference of an end part of the second contact member on a side housing the first contact member is equal to or larger than a maximum diameter of the first contact member.