Abstract: A method for detecting an error state when aspirating a liquid to identify whether a pre-determined volume of liquid was aspirated. The method including: immersing a tip of an aspiration needle in the liquid, aspirating a predetermined partial volume of the liquid in the aspiration needle, continuously acquiring a sensor signal curve, which indicates a pressure in the aspiration needle, during an overall time period, detecting the error state in the case that the sensor signal falls below a first threshold value during the predetermined time period, characterized by providing a reference signal curve, determining a deviation measure, which indicates a deviation of the sensor signal curve from the reference signal curve during the further time period, providing a predetermined second threshold value, detecting the error state as a function of the deviation measure and the second threshold value.

Abstract: An automatic sampling system (100) and an automated sampling method take samples of a rubber strip after shaping and while scrolling in a predetermined direction.

Abstract: A vibration detection method is presented to accurately detect vibration physically applied to an optical fiber, using a simple determination reference. In a vibration detection method, scattered light of a given target segment of a measurement target fiber is indicated by vectors of an in-phase component and a quadrature component, and a triangular shape constituted by a near-end-side vector of the target segment and a far-end-side vector is used as a physical amount to be tracked. That is, it is determined whether or not there is vibration based on a change in shape of the triangular shape with respect to a reference state. This is a detection method in which DAS-I and DAS-P are combined, a simple determination reference such as shape change of a triangular shape is employed, and overlooking of vibration detection can be reduced.

Abstract: A pressure sensor with a communicating passage in a straight line. The pressure sensor includes a main body housing having an inner space and having a connector part provided for connection with an outside thereof. In the main body housing, the first end of a terminal is located in the inner space and the second end thereof is located in the connector part. A substrate is provided in the inner space of the main body housing and on which a sensing element is mounted, a cover housing coupled to the main body housing and comprising a seal configured to be in close contact with the main body housing and with edges of one surface of the sensing element. A communicating passage communicates with the inner space in a straight line, and thus communicates with one surface of the sensing element at a downstream side thereof.

Abstract: Systems for real-time wave monitoring, which provide real-time updates of wave conditions to users who wish to access the beach for leisure or sporting activities, are described. One example system includes a plurality of buoys and a transceiver. Each of the plurality of buoys includes a sensor array configured to continuously monitor one or more characteristics of the wave conditions, and the transceiver is configured to transmit, to a remote server, information corresponding to the one or more characteristics of the wave conditions over a wireless communication channel. The information from each of the plurality of buoys is combined with a user preference to provide a user with a message regarding the wave conditions in response to a user request, and a duration between the user request and transmission of the information from each of the plurality of buoys is less than a predetermined value.

Abstract: Example apparatuses and systems for a combined temperature and pressure sensing device with improved electronic protection are provided. An example apparatus includes a media isolation chamber assembly having a sleeve member and a bellows member, a first circuit board element disposed in the bellows member and encapsulated by insulator media in the bellows member, a pressure sensing element disposed in the bellows member and electrically coupled to the first circuit board element; and a temperature sensing element disposed in the sleeve member and electrically coupled to the first circuit board element.

Abstract: An optical fiber sensing system with improved state detection includes: a cable including optical fibers; a reception unit configured to receive an optical signal from at least one optical fiber included in the cable and acquire a first parameter and a second parameter having a pattern in accordance with a state of a target to be monitored based on the optical signal; and a state detection unit configured to detect a predetermined event based on the pattern that the first parameter has and then detect the state of the target to be monitored based on the pattern that the second parameter has.

Abstract: A method of utility pole integrity assessment by distributed fiber optic sensing/distributed acoustic sensing (DFOS/DAS) employing existing telecommunications fiber optic cable as a sensor. The fiber optic cable is suspended aerially from a plurality of utility poles and a machine learning model is developed during training by mechanically exciting the utility poles. Once developed, and in sharp contrast to the prior art, the machine learning model—in conjunction with DFOS/DAS operation—determines an integrity assessment for a plurality of the utility poles aerially suspending the fiber optic cable from a mechanical impact of a single pole.

Abstract: A novel method and system is disclosed for using a commodity RFID system for automatically measuring levels of soil moisture in planting containers. A large number of planting containers are used to grow pots in soil in a greenhouse. An RFID reader interrogates passive RFID tags affixed to the planting containers. The RFID reader can be attached to a robotic arm configured to move above multiple rows and columns of containers. Signal features of specific passive RFID tags affixed to specific ones of the containers are automatically monitored, including a minimum response threshold of RFID reader transmission power to activate the passive RFID tag (“MRT”), based on the wireless interrogation of specific tags by the reader. Soil moisture levels of specific containers are then automatically determined based on the signal features of the attached tags, and effects of soilure moisture on electromagnetic fields of antennas of tags.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a sensor. The sensor includes a sensing element and a housing, the housing including an interior space, which is accessible through a housing opening, and the sensing element being situated in the interior space and being designed to detect a property and/or a composition of an ambient medium of the sensor. The method includes filling the interior space with a protective medium through the housing opening, the protective medium being designed to transfer the property and/or the composition of the ambient medium to the sensing element; fixing a preferably flexible diaphragm at or in the housing opening preferably for sealing the housing opening, the diaphragm including at least one diaphragm opening; and sealing the at least one diaphragm opening. A sensor, which is manufactured according to this method, is also described.

Abstract: Provided is a digitalization system capable of digitalizing the skills of delicate work. This digitalization system comprises a first sensor mounted on a work tool and which detects a deformation of the work tool when the work tool is pressed against a work target, a second sensor which detects a force applied to the work target or a force applied to the work tool when the work tool is pressed against the work target, and a computer which calculates an angle of a corner formed with the work tool and the work target based on sensor values acquired with the first sensor, and calculates a force applied to the work target when the work tool is pressed against the work target based on sensor values acquired with the second sensor.

Abstract: A sensor device for measuring a physical quantity. The sensor device includes a sensor element having a semiconductor chip, a first terminal electrically connected to the sensor element, and a housing portion having a terminal, which is a second terminal and is electrically connected to the first terminal. The second terminal has a through-hole formed therein, the through-hole having a first end and a second end opposite to each other, an inner surface of the through hole at the first end being an R-surface that is a curved surface with a radius R. The first terminal is housed in the housing portion, and has one end thereof inserted in the through-hole from the first end of the through-hole.

Abstract: A MEMS sensor, including a substrate, and at least three functional layers, which are connected to the substrate on top of one another and spaced apart from one another. A first of the at least three functional layers is deflectably situated. A first electrode, which includes at least two areas being situated at the first functional layer. A first area of the first electrode together with a second electrode of a second of the at least three functional layers form a first capacitance, and a second area of the first electrode together with at least one area of a third electrode of a third functional layer form a second capacitance. The electrodes are situated in such a way that, upon a change in the distance of the electrodes of the first capacitance, a contrary change in the distance of the electrodes of the second capacitance takes place.

Abstract: A sensor includes a sensing element for detecting a property and/or a composition of a surrounding medium of the sensor, a transmission medium for transmitting a property and/or a composition of the surroundings medium onto the sensing element, the transmission medium being situated in such a way that the transmission medium is applied to the sensing element, and a cover, which distances the transmission medium from the surrounding medium, the cover being manufactured from a self-healing material, in particular, the cover being designed as a flexible membrane which is made up of a self-healing material.

Abstract: A method for verifying accurate operation for a flow meter (5) is provided. The method entails receiving a vibrational response from the flow meter (5), wherein the vibrational response comprises a response to a vibration of the flow meter (5) at a substantially resonant frequency. At least one gain decay variable is measured. It is then determined whether the gain decay variable is outside a predetermined range. A filter used in a stiffness calculation is adjusted if the gain decay variable is outside the predetermined range. The ability to detect and/or quantify any changes to the stiffness of the meter assembly in order to maintain a high level of accuracy is an improvement in the field of flow meters.

Abstract: Provided is a strain gauge including a substrate, a resistive body, and a metal sheet. The resistive body includes a sensing portion, a first connection portion, and a second connection portion. The metal sheet covers at least the substrate that is exposed between two connection sites to which wirings to an external circuit are respectively connected and provided respectively in the first connection portion and the second connection portion and the sensing portion.

Abstract: A resonant pressure sensor with improved linearity includes: a substrate including a substrate-separated portion separated from a housing-fixed portion; a first resonator that: is disposed in the substrate-separated portion; and detects a change of a first resonance frequency based on a strain in the substrate caused by static pressure applied by a pressure-receiving fluid; a second resonator that: is disposed in the substrate; detects a change of a second resonance frequency based on the strain in the substrate; and has a pressure sensitivity of the second resonance frequency; and a processor that: measures the static pressure based on the detected change of the first resonance frequency; and corrects the static pressure according to internal temperature of the pressure sensor based on a difference between the second resonance frequency and the first resonance frequency.

Abstract: A support jig for use with a testing machine applying loads, the support jig includes a frame and a pair of spaced apart supports joined to the frame to provide an alignment axis. Each support is configured to releasably hold a test specimen holder on the alignment axis in a fixed spatial relationship with ends of the test specimen holders mountable to the test machine facing in opposite directions. A test specimen support is located between the holders holds the test specimen on the alignment axis so that the holders can be attached to the test specimen. The support jig allows the holders to be easily and correctly attached to the test specimen so as to maintain alignment of the holders and the test specimen on the alignment axis. The support jig also maintains the fixed spatial relationship of the holders and test specimen while the holders are mounted to the test machine.

Abstract: An industrial process field device includes a pressure sensor, and a housing containing the pressure sensor. The housing includes a base having a base interface and a first base process opening. A flange is attached to the base and includes a flange interface having a first flange process opening. A first gasket process opening of a gasket is aligned with the first base process opening and the first flange process opening. A first surface of the gasket engages the base interface, and a second surface of the gasket engages the flange interface. A dielectric insulation system includes at least one dielectric layer that insulates the housing from electrical currents conducted through the flange. Each dielectric layer includes a layer of ceramic material, an anodized layer, or a plastic overmold, which improve a maximum working pressure of the field device.

Abstract: A composite optical fiber is provided for permitting sensing of multiple parameters. The optical fiber is for incorporation into a sensing system, the optical fiber comprising: a single mode optical fiber core, a multimode optical fiber core, and an optical fiber cladding layer surrounding the single mode optical fiber core and the multimode optical fiber core. The optical fiber provided preferably enables multiple sensing and/or measurements to take place at a single location and at a single time.