Abstract: A level sender for a tank includes a sensor device. The sensor device includes a primary pressure sensor, a reference pressure sensor, and a correction pressure sensor. A primary tube at least partially encloses the primary pressure sensor and extends from an upper region of the tank to a lower region of the tank. A reference tube at least partially encloses the reference pressure sensor and extends from the upper region to the lower region. A correction tube at least partially encloses the correction pressure sensor. The correction tube at least partially enclose the correction pressure sensor in the upper region. The sensor device further includes a processor coupled to the primary, reference, and correction pressure sensors to determine a level of liquid within the tank based on pressure measurements within the primary, reference, and correction tubes.

Abstract: A limit level switch includes an integrated position sensor which, when the limit level switch is put into operation, detects information about the installation position of the limit level switch inside a container. This positional information is taken into account when evaluating the measurement signals detected by the limit level switch in order to determine whether or not the measuring probe is surrounded by filling material. This can simplify the evaluation method.

Abstract: A system for measuring the thermal diffusivity of a material includes a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion, a plate holding the material in a fixed position between the upper portion and lower portion of the housing, and a source at the lower portion of the housing projecting heat onto the material along a first axis that is perpendicular to the plate. A sensor at the lower portion of the housing is movable in relation to the plate and senses the heat radiating through the material along a second axis that is perpendicular to the plate and offset from the first axis. A controller receives data from the sensor and calculates the thermal diffusivity of the material.

Abstract: A device for over-temperature detection having a test mode is presented. The device includes a temperature detection circuit having first and second transistors. The temperature detection circuit is configured so that when an ambient temperature of the temperature detection circuit is less than a temperature threshold, a voltage at an emitter terminal of the second transistor is less than a voltage at an emitter terminal of the first transistor minus VT*In(N), and when the ambient temperature of the temperature detection circuit is greater than the temperature threshold, the voltage at the emitter terminal of the second transistor is greater than a voltage at the emitter terminal of the first transistor minus VT*In(N). The device includes a measurement circuit configured to generate an output voltage that is proportional to a difference between the temperature threshold of the temperature detection circuit and the ambient temperature of the temperature detection circuit.

Abstract: An ultrasound-based air bubble and/or solid detector comprising an ultrasonic transmitter for transmitting ultrasound through a medium to be examined, wherein the ultrasound is adapted to be received by an ultrasonic receiver. Energy input of the ultrasound into a medium to be monitored may be limited and/or monitored and/or adapted.

Abstract: A thermochromic clip provides a visual indication of the temperature of the air flowing through an air vent as refrigerant is introduced into an air conditioning system. The thermochromic clip including an elongate body having an outer facing surface; a fastening member on the elongate body. The fastening member being sized and configured for selective attachment to the air vent. At least the outer facing surface coated with a thermochromic material. The thermochromic material of the outer facing surface being structured and disposed for changing from a first color state to a second color state in response to a change in temperature that places the thermochromic material at a temperature equal to or below a predetermined temperature value.

Abstract: A pellicle is disposed over a lithography mask. An acoustic wave generator is placed over the pellicle. The acoustic wave generator is configured to generate acoustic waves to cause the pellicle to vibrate at a target resonance frequency. A resonance detection tool is configured to detect an actual resonance frequency of the pellicle in response to the acoustic waves. One or more electronic processors are configured to estimate an age condition of the pellicle as a function of a shift of the actual resonance frequency from the target resonance frequency.

Abstract: Acoustic ambient temperature and humidity sensing based on determination of sound velocity is described, in addition to sensors, algorithms, devices, systems, and methods therefor. An exemplary embodiment employs sound velocity in the determination of ambient temperature and humidity. Provided implementations include determinations of sound velocity based on time of flight of a coded acoustic signal and/or based on resonance frequency of a Helmholtz resonator.

Abstract: A blackbody radiometric reference comprising a source plate or a target plate, metallic nanoparticles or other high emissivity coating disposed on the plate, and an intermediate coating such as paint. The plate may comprise copper, aluminum or composites thereof. Apparatus capable of functioning as a radiometric or thermometric reference. A pre-heater or weakly-coupled area may be disposed around or adjacent a highly thermally uniform area. A groove or perforations extending into a front surface of the source plate defining a weakly-coupled edge portion surrounding a thermally-controlled, optically-active area, and connected by bridges or structures thereto. An external probe may be located near the source plate for measuring ambient temperature, for compensating for ambient temperature or for radiative load on the blackbody.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for analyzing defects by using heat distribution measurement, comprising: a sample loading unit for loading a sample to check whether or not there is a defect through heat distribution characteristics; a light source for radiating visible light onto the sample; a power supply unit for generating a driving signal in order to periodically heat the sample; a detection unit for detecting reflected light from the surface of the sample; and a signal generator for synchronizing the detection unit with the driving signal of the power supply unit.

Abstract: A monitoring system includes a plurality of modules to sense temperature and vibrations of a motor assembly, a hub computer to collect the sensed temperature and vibrations, and an analyzer computer to analyze the collected temperature and vibrations. The modules contain detectors that measure a temperature and vibrations in three axes of the motor assembly, a transceiver integrated circuit that measures a die temperature of the transceiver integrated circuit, a microcontroller integrated circuit that self-adjusts its clock pulses, and a memory that stores parameters set for the operation of the modules. The microcontroller integrated circuit and the memory are configured to check parameters corruption upon transferring the parameters from the memory to the microcontroller integrated circuit and prior to utilizing by the microcontroller integrated circuit.

Abstract: A surgical robotic system automatically calibrates tubular and flexible surgical tools such as endoscopes. By compensating for unideal behavior of an endoscope, the surgical robotic system can accurately model motions of the endoscope and navigate the endoscope while performing a surgical procedure on a patient. During calibration, the surgical robotic system moves the endoscope to a target position and receives data describing an actual position and/or orientation of the endoscope. The surgical robotic system determines gain values based at least on the discrepancy between the target position and the actual position. The endoscope can include tubular components referred to as a sheath and leader. An instrument device manipulator of the surgical robotic system actuates pull wires coupled to the sheath and/or the leader, which causes the endoscope to articulate.

Abstract: A thermoanalytical sensor has a substrate, a measurement position, a temperature sensor unit, and an electrical contact pad. The temperature sensor unit senses the temperature at the measurement position. It is connected via the electrical contact pad to a metallic wire and thereby tied into an electronic circuit. The substrate is prepared with at least one measurement position, at least one temperature sensor unit and at least one electrical contact pad on a top side of the substrate. A passage in the substrate allows connection to the electrical contact pad. A metallic wire is inserted into the passage from the bottom side of the substrate and melted into a small ball on the upper end of the wire. A materially integral connection as a bonded joint between the upper end of the metallic wire and the electrical contact pad is made by applying pressure and heat to the metal ball.

Abstract: A method of detecting urine and/or feces is disclosed, which includes detecting the concentration of at least one gas component indicative of urine and the concentration of at least one gas component indicative of feces. The method also includes registering, for each gas component, a characteristic corresponding to the variation over time of the concentration of each gas component; comparing the registered characteristic with a predetermined characteristic for the corresponding gas component; indicating a presence of urine if the registered characteristic of at least one gas component indicative of urine generally conforms with the predetermined characteristic of the same gas component; and indicating a presence of feces if the registered characteristic of at least one gas component indicative of feces generally conforms to the predetermined characteristic of the same gas component. A system for detecting urine and/or feces is also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for detection of gas bubbles in a microchannel configured for a conductive fluid to flow therethrough. The methods and apparatuses utilize a plate and at least two aligned electrodes embedded within the plate. The plate is configured to be located over the microchannel such that the at least two aligned electrodes are located along a length of the microchannel in the flow direction. Impedance is measured between the electrodes, and the percentage of gas within the fluid flowing through the microchannel is measured based on the measured impedance between the electrodes.

Abstract: An accelerometer has a movable mass suspended above a substrate, and a variable acceleration capacitor supported by the substrate. The movable mass has a mass anchor securing the mass to the substrate, while the acceleration capacitor has both a stationary finger extending from the substrate, and a movable finger extending from the movable mass. The accelerometer also has a variable stress capacitor, which also includes the stress finger, for determining movement of the mass anchor relative to the substrate.

Abstract: A portable Brinell testing apparatus that meets the load time requirements of the ASTM E10 standard. The invention uses a constant force spring connected to a lever arm which is pivoted on fulcrum 32. The mechanical advantage of the mechanism is able to achieve a force of up to 3000 Kgf with constant force spring 26 that can be activated by the operator.

Abstract: A pressure measuring instrument having a sensor carrier, a casing, a plug connector, evaluation electronics, and a pressure sensor. The sensor carrier supports the pressure sensor adapted to output a pressure-proportional, electrically detectable pressure signal. The sensor carrier has a base body, a pressure terminal formed together with the base body to be connected to the source of the pressure to be detected, and a seat having several different circle geometries, each having an annular surface adapted for mounting a pressure sensor. The pressure terminal has a connecting channel opening inside the seat, and the annular surfaces of the individual circle geometries are axially staggered with respect to the port of the connecting channel, wherein the annular surface having the smallest diameter is closest to the connecting channel port.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for deriving linear acceleration using an accelerometer. The orientation of a device may be determined using only accelerometer data. The determined orientation may then be used to determine a gravity vector, such that linear acceleration may be derived by subtracting the gravity vector from accelerometer data.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a pressure sensor includes a film part, and a sensing unit. A circumscribing rectangle circumscribing a configuration of a film surface of the film part has a first side, a second side, a third side connected to one end of the first side and one end of the second side, a fourth side connected to one other end of the first side and one other end of the second side, and a centroid of the circumscribing rectangle. The circumscribing rectangle includes a first region enclosed by the first side, line segments connecting the centroid to the one end of the first side, and to the one other end of the first side. The sensing unit includes sensing elements provided on a portion of the film surface overlapping the first region. Each sensing element includes a first, second magnetic layers, and a spacer layer.