Abstract: The invention relates to a method for providing a defined fluid flow, especially for use in liquid chromatography. According to the method, a constant total flow (f0) is subdivided into an internal excess flow (fie) in an excess branch and into an internal working flow (fiw) in a working branch. The ratio of subdivision of the internal working flow (fiw) and the internal excess flow (fie) depends on the reverse ratio of a fluidic resistance provided in the working branch and a fluidic resistance in the excess branch. The excess branch and the working branch are interlinked at the respective outputs of the two fluidic outputs of the fluidic resistances by a cross-branch. The equalizing flow occurring between the outputs of the fluidic resistances is measured by means of a flow sensor. A desired, external working flow in the further course of the working branch can be fed to a working device, for example a chromatography column mounted downstream of the device.

Abstract: A gas sensor, whose purpose is to determine a physical property of a measuring gas, e.g., to determine the concentration of a gas component or the temperature of an exhaust gas. The gas sensor includes a sensor element arranged in a metal housing which is sealed by at least one sealing element arranged in a metal receptacle. The metal receptacle is affixed to the housing. The sealing element surrounds the sensor element in a centered position along its longitudinal extension L or on its half facing the measuring gas.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for scanning multiple scanning probe microscopes in close proximity, to scan overlapping scan areas at the same time while avoiding collision employs a control system providing drive signals to a first Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) and calculated drive signals to additional AFMs based on the first drive signals and the relative position of the additional AFMs to the first AFM for consistent spaced motion. Scanning and Failure Analysis (FA) probing of multiple feature of interest using multiple APMs allows for reduced time for locating FA features to set up measurements.

Abstract: A leak test apparatus includes a housing having an interior sized for retaining a plurality of instrument components including a control unit. A sniffer gun is linked to the instrument components, the sniffer gun having an intake point, and a test leak includes a gas reservoir, a constriction, an opening suited for introducing the intake point of said sniffer gun, and a temperature sensor. The temperature sensor is linked, either by means of a wired connection or wirelessly to the control unit for signal transfer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fault recovery and/or fault detection of an external temperature sensor of a motor vehicle, in which a temperature gradient is determined from the profile of the measured temperatures over time, in which the determined temperature gradient is compared with a predefined or predefinable limiting gradient, and in which a fault is detected as a function of this comparison.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, there is a force sensor for a probe based instrument. The force sensor can comprise a detection surface and a flexible mechanical structure disposed a first distance above the detection surface so as to form a gap between the flexible mechanical structure and the detection surface, wherein the flexible mechanical structure is configured to deflect upon exposure to an external force, thereby changing the first distance.

Abstract: By digitizing the UFM signal without using a lock-in amplifier, substantially all of the information initially contained in the UFM output signal may be maintained and may then be used for further data processing. Consequently, any type of model or evaluation algorithm may be used without being restricted to a very narrow bandwidth, as is the case in lock-in based techniques. The digitizing is performed on a real-time basis, wherein a complete UFM curve is digitized and stored for each scan position. In this way, quantitative meaningful values for specific surface-related characteristics with a nanometer resolution may be obtained.

Abstract: A data storage device comprises a storage medium for storing data in the form of marks and at least one probe for scanning over a storage medium. The probe comprises a spring cantilever being during operation of the probe mechanically fixed to a probe holding structure, a tip with a nanoscale apex and an actuator for lateral positioning of the tip.

Abstract: A flow regulator device for an analytical circuit, characterised by comprising: a fluid restriction (R) of defined characteristics related to the field of application of the analytical circuit, a direct-pressure regulator (2) positioned upstream of said restriction (R), a back pressure regulator (4) positioned downstream of said restriction (R).

Abstract: Provided are a method and system for measuring a distance to an object. The system includes an air gauge configured to sense a distance to a surface of the object and a sensor configured to measure at least one from the group including (i) a relative position of the air gauge and (ii) a relative position of the surface of the object. Outputs of the air gauge and the sensor are combined to produce a combined air gauge reading.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of estimating the flow restart conditions of a paraffinic hydrocarbon in a pipe, wherein the following stages are carried out: selecting a theological model, determining the temperature and shear stress fields in the steady hydrocarbon flow, evaluating the conductive thermal exchanges during circulation standstill phases, from the steady flow temperatures and the standstill time taken into account, selecting various sections of the pipe and recording the thermomechanical scenarios undergone by the hydrocarbon in these sections, experimentally measuring the rheological parameters of the model on a sample of the hydrocarbon, according to each one of said scenarios, and taking into account these experimental measurements to evaluate the value of the pressure that restarts circulation of the paraffinic hydrocarbon in the pipe.

Abstract: An SOF measuring system that can continuously measure SOF and a soot measuring system that can continuously measure soot are connected with an exhaust gas line. The soot measuring system comprises a diluter that selectively dilutes either one of the exhaust gas and standard gas whose hydrocarbon concentration is known with diluent gas and extrudes it. A dilution ratio adjusting device can adjust a dilution ratio of the diluter. A soot detector continuously detects soot in the exhaust gas or the standard gas diluted by the diluter. The SOF measuring system can be connected with the diluter so that an exhaust gas analyzer can measure the hydrocarbon concentration in the standard gas diluted by the diluter.

Abstract: A gas sensor includes a gas detection chamber into which a detection gas is introduced, a detecting element and a compensating element each disposed in the gas detection chamber, a detection device which detects the concentration of a detection target gas contained in the detection gas, in accordance with a difference in electrical resistance values between the detecting element and the compensating element, and a dehumidifying element which is provided in the gas detection chamber, and reversibly absorbs water contained in the detection gas and drains off the water absorbed in the dehumidifying element.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an apparatus and a method for using multiple scanning probes to deconvolve tip artifacts in scanning probe microscopes and other scanning probe systems. The invention uses multiple scanning probe tips of different geometries or orientations to scan a feature, such as a semiconductor line or trench, and to display the scan data such that tip artifacts from each tip can be omitted from the measurement by data from the other tips.

Abstract: There is provided an oxidizing gas sensor that includes an insulating substrate, a gas sensing layer laminated on the insulating substrate and substantially made of tin oxide so as to make resistance changes in response to concentration variations in oxidizing gas and a plurality of catalyst grains applied to a surface of the gas sensing layer and substantially made of gold, wherein 20% or more of the catalyst grains have an aspect ratio of 2.0 or greater when viewed at from the surface of the gas sensing layer.

Abstract: A method positions a sensor in a honeycomb body which is provided with hollow spaces that can be penetrated at least in part by an exhaust gas. The sensor is placed in an area of the honeycomb body in which at least one minimum hydrogen concentration occurs when the honeycomb body is operated in the emission system of a motor vehicle. The sensor positioning method allows the sensor to be placed in the honeycomb body in such a way that systematic errors that occur are kept as small as possible as a result of an inherent transverse sensitivity of the sensor to hydrogen. This applies especially to lambda probes. A honeycomb body contains the sensor which is placed so as to supply particularly reliable test data whose systematic error is as small as possible.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for analysis of a sample. The method includes an accessing operation for accessing a region of the sample via a tip of at least one probe mounted on a cantilever. A removing operation removes a sample material from the region that is accessed by the tip of the at least one probe mounted on the cantilever. A sensing operation senses a parameter associated to the removal of the sample material in the removing operation. The accessing, removing, and sensing operations are repeated to facilitate removal of at least one layer of the sample.

Abstract: A substitute reference signal input is incorporated into a state space controller for a scanning probe microscope to improve tracking efficiency.

Abstract: An object is to provide a gas sensor which can suppress positional shift of a to-be-held member such as a gas detection element, as well as a method of manufacturing the gas sensor. A gas sensor (101) includes a gas detection element (111), a metallic shell (131), a plate packing (157), and a first packing (159). A proximal end surface (113t2) of a projection (113) of the gas sensor element (111) and a central inner circumferential surface (135n) of the metallic shell (131) form an acute-angle clearance (120). The first packing (159), which has a wedge-like cross section, is disposed in the clearance (120) such that the first packing (159) is pressed against the proximal end surface (113t2) of the projection (113) of the gas sensor element (111) and the central inner circumferential surface (135n) of the metallic shell (131).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for gas detection. The apparatus comprises a) a sample chamber for holding a gas sample, b) a sealable vacuum port in fluid communication with the sample chamber, for evacuating the sample chamber, c) a sealable inlet port in fluid communication with the sample chamber, for introducing the gas sample into the evacuated sample chamber, and d) a thermal conductivity sensing element at least partly disposed within the sample chamber, for measuring the thermal conductivity of the gas sample. A gas sample released into the evacuated sample chamber requires a time interval to contact the thermal conductivity sensing element. The time interval is a measure of gas speed. Thermal conductivity and temperature of the gas sample are measured following determination of gas speed. By determining three parameters in a single sample of gas, different gas mixtures having similar thermal conductivities can be distinguished.