Abstract: A meter for measuring the root-mean-squared potential of an AC signal characterized by a frequency f is disclosed. The meter includes first and second capacitors. The AC signal is applied to the first capacitor, which includes first and second plates separated by a distance that depends on the root-mean-squared potential of the AC signal, but not on changes in the AC signal that occur over a time of 1/f. The second capacitor has first and second plates separated by a distance that depends on the separation of the first and second plates in the first capacitor. A detection circuit measures the capacitance of the second capacitor. The first plate of the first capacitor is preferably connected to the first plate of the second capacitor by a non-conducting mechanical link.

Abstract: An alternator testing system is disclosed that includes a current source, a motor, and a drive belt. The drive belt couples the motor to an alternator, which operates outside of a motor vehicle, and the current source and the motor enable diodes of the alternator to output a current that is not limited by input power to the motor. Accordingly, defective diodes may be detected.

Abstract: An Addressable Electronic Switch (AES) is disclosed together with unique S/W (software) procedures for a system control to detect, locate, and isolate shorts, overloads, and other troubles, such as temporary breaks or disconnects, on a Vplex or similar 2-wire polling loop. The addressable electronic switches are placed at strategic locations throughout the polling loop, and are individually commanded by the system control to either connect or disconnect its respective branch from the rest of the polling loop, to locate and isolate a troubled area from the rest of the polling loop.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring drying of an agricultural porous media such as grain and seed, includes deriving moisture content of the porous media using time domain reflectometry and utilizing moisture content to monitor and/or control the drying process. The porous media is positioned around a time domain reflectometry probe. An array of probes can be used to measure moisture in different areas of one batch of porous media or in a plurality of batches of porous media. The derivation of moisture content of the porous media around each probe would allow information to be provided to a dryer controller to alter the drying process if needed.

Abstract: A hide-away wiper and wiper scraper system has a wiper that is extended to wipe ink residue from an inkjet printhead installed in an inkjet printing mechanism, and following wiping, ink residue is scraped from the wiper during retraction into a hide-away rest position inside the scraper mechanism. For cleaning several inkjet printheads, several such hide-away wipers may be provided in like number for cleaning the printheads. The hide-away nature of these wipers allows for independent movement of the wipers between their rest and wiping positions, which facilitates the uses of independent wiping routines tailored for the servicing needs of each printhead, or type of printhead. An inkjet printing mechanism having a hide-away wiping system, along with a method of cleaning one or more inkjet printheads, are also provided.

Abstract: A method for microfluidic printing continuous tone color pixels on a reflective receiver by using cyan, magenta, and yellow inks including supplying a fourth, colorless ink along with the cyan, magenta, and yellow inks needed for color printing; pumping the inks through capillary microchannels by microfluidic pumps; mixing the correct amount of colorless ink with the cyan, magenta, or yellow inks to produce both the correct hue and tone scale for each colored pixel; and transferring the colored pixels of mixed ink to the reflective receiver to form colored pixels on the receiver.