Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for a time temperature indicator (TTI) which is capable of providing a summary of the time and temperature history of a good to which it is coupled, optionally including with regard to providing an indication as to whether one or more temperature thresholds have been breached. According to other embodiments, the TTI specifically provides an indication as to whether a temperature threshold at or around the freeze point has been breached, optionally even without providing a time and temperature history.

Abstract: Multi-point thermocouples and assemblies are disclosed for ceramic heating structures. The disclosed embodiments provide multi-point connections in distinct areas to provide good temperature-sensing contacts between metal thermocouples and ceramic bodies while also providing improved flexibility. As such, cracking of ceramic bodies for heating structures is avoided. For one embodiment, assemblies including a multi-point thermocouple and a ceramic body are used in bake plates for processing systems that process microelectronic workpieces. The metal thermocouple has a flat surface used for connections to the ceramic body. Preferably, the thermocouple is relatively thin and provides improved connection sites and flexibility.

Abstract: An amplifier includes an amplification circuit including an input circuit receiving an input signal and configured to output an output signal by amplifying the input signal; and an offset cancelling circuit configured to cancel offset by controlling the input circuit according to activation control signal and offset control signal, wherein the offset cancelling circuit cancels the offset according to the offset control signal after the activation control signal is activated.

Abstract: A flow rate assembly can include a housing having a measurement channel extending along the housing axis and through a portion of the housing between the first and second ends of the housing, an outer cup portion positioned at least partly within the housing, and a transducer positioned within the outer cup portion and sealed from fluid flow past the outer cup portion, the transducer having a width perpendicular to the housing axis and greater than the width of the measurement channel, the transducer configured to generate an ultrasonic signal and to direct the ultrasonic signal through the measurement channel.

Abstract: Methods and devices for a single wavelength fiber optic sensor system are described. Sensing is based on relative shift in spectral responses of two co-located fiber gratings (FBGs) within a fiber optic cable and measured at one measurement wavelength. Under a range of conditions of interest, the shift in spectral responses maintains the measurement wavelength within respective slopes of the spectral responses. A normalized difference in reflected power is used to desensitize the measurement from any variation in power of the single laser power and/or in loss through the fiber optic cable. Several pairs of co-located FBGs may be used within the same fiber optic cable, each pair used for sensing at a corresponding location. An OTDR system couples light pulses at the measurement wavelength to the fiber optic cable, and measures amplitudes and timing of corresponding reflected light pulses to perform the normalized difference.

Abstract: A temperature sensing system with simplified wiring comprises an in-core temperature sensing component and an out-of-core temperature-evaluation device. The out-of-core temperature-evaluation device provides a plurality of currents to the in-core temperature sensing module in a time-sharing manner. Corresponding to the plurality of currents, the in-core temperature sensing component generates a plurality of potentials to the out-of-core temperature-evaluation device. The out-of-core temperature-evaluation device evaluates a temperature data by performing a difference calculation on the plurality of potentials.

Abstract: A smart-home device may include a housing, a printed circuit board (PCB) inside the housing, an environmental sensor mounted to the PCB inside the housing, and a gasket that encloses the environmental sensor inside the housing to isolate the environmental sensor from an atmosphere inside of the housing while allowing an atmosphere outside of the housing to enter the gasket such that the environmental sensor can measure an aspect of the atmosphere outside of the housing.

Abstract: A sensing device is provided having sensing circuitry, connected to an input port and the output port, with a sensor having an impedance sensitive to a parameter of interest, one or more passive electrical components, and a variable capacitor. The sensing circuitry is triggered to generate an output signal for transmission from the output port, the output signal dependent on the parameter of interest sensed by the sensor and on an input power value, Pin, of an input signal received at the input port being greater than a parametric threshold power value, Pth. A sensing system includes the sensing device and a transmitting device to transmit the input signal to the sensing device at a frequency representative of the parameter of interest. A receiving device, which can be incorporated with or located remotely from the transmitting device, receives the output signal of the sensing device, which has a frequency that is half of the frequency of the input signal transmitted by the transmitting device.

Abstract: A water quality monitor system comprising a base having a first end and a second end is disclosed. A cover is removably coupled to the first end of the base such that the cover surrounds and covers the first end of the base. A flow cell jar is connected to the second end of the base. A sensor probe is connected to the second end of the base and extends downward into the flow cell jar. The sensor probe is configured to measure a plurality of water quality parameters. The base includes an inlet and an outlet connected to opposing ends of the base and connected in-line to the plumbing of a pool recirculation system. A controller is configured to provide a connection between the water quality monitor and a cloud-based storage system, using a wireless network. The measured water quality parameters are transmitted to the cloud storage system.

Abstract: Provided is a temperature measuring device which includes: a flexible printed circuit board with wiring; a thermistor element; a heat collecting plate; and a pressing member. The flexible printed circuit board is configured to be attached to a case that is fixed to an object to be measured, the thermistor element is electrically connected to the wiring, the heat collecting plate is disposed on a side opposite to the thermistor element via the flexible printed circuit board so as to be pressed against a temperature measuring point in the object to be measured, and the pressing member is made of a foam material and is configured to be compressed when the case is fixed to the object to be measured and to press the heat collecting plate against the object to be measured.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for validating the functioning of an apparatus with a static mixing device for mixing two liquid streams for producing nanoparticles. The static mixing device may be a jet impingement reactor. The method is based on the use of PLA, PLG or PLGA for producing polymeric nanoparticles with highly reproducible particle sizes. The invention further provides kits and liquid compositions for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A circuit includes a first input terminal, a second input terminal, a third input terminal and an output terminal. A first summation node adds signals at the first and third input terminals. A second summation node subtracts signals at the second and third input terminals. A selector selects between the added signals and subtracted signals in response to a selection signal. The output of the selector is integrated to generate an integrated signal. The integrated signal is compared by a comparator to a threshold, the comparator generating an output signal at the output terminal having a first level and a second level. Feedback of the output signal produces the selection signal causing the selector to select the added signals in response to the first level of the output signal and causing the selector to select the subtracted signals in response to the second level of the output signal.

Abstract: Provided are a radio frequency (RF) receiver module for sensing core body temperature and an RF microwave core body thermometer system having the same. The RF receiver module for sensing core body temperature and the RF microwave core body thermometer having the same include: an RF contact-type patch antenna attached to a body part to sense the core body temperature; an RF receiver circuit unit attached to the body part to receive any one RF frequency signal within an RF frequency range of 1 to 10 GHz except for 1.4 GHz, 1.6 GHz, 1.7 GHz, 2.6 GHz and 2.7 GHz through the RF contact-type patch antenna for sensing core body temperature; and an interface circuit unit for connecting the RF receiver circuit unit to a control unit of a microprocessor control unit.

Abstract: Methods and systems for analyzing a field. The methods and systems acquire a thermal image indicative of thermal energy emitted by the soil and/or plants in the field and process the thermal image to assess variations in certain characteristics of the soil and/or plants.

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 method of detecting temperature of an electrical terminal. The method includes: applying a material patch to a surface of the electrical terminal, the thermal mass of the material patch is less than 25 percent of the thermal mass of the electrical terminal, whereby the material patch does not appreciably increase the electrical resistance or thermal capacitance of the electrical terminal; and remotely sensing a change in the material patch with an electrically isolated circuit which is external to the electrical terminal to determine if the electrical terminal is operating at a safe temperature to optimize current flow across the electrical terminal.

Abstract: A device monitors the operating temperature of at least one set of bearings in a plurality of sets of bearings. The at least one set of bearings is arranged between a shaft and a carrier. The carrier has at least one temperature sensor that senses the temperature of the at least one set of bearings and generates a signal representative of an operating temperature of the at least one set of bearings. The at least one temperature sensor is operatively electrically connected to at least one controller. The controller processes the signal from the temperature sensor, including determining the operating temperature of the respective at least one set of bearings and whether the operating temperature of the respective at least one set of bearings exceeds at least one threshold temperature. The controller memory holds a unique identifier associated with the at least one bearing set.

Abstract: A system for determining one or more properties of one or more gases. The system comprises sensors configured to measure thermal conductivity and exothermic responses of a sample at multiple temperatures. Sensor responses to exposure to a gas sample at two or more temperatures are compensated and analyzed by a subsystem. The subsystem is configured to determine a thermal conductivity of the gas sample at each of the two or more temperatures and determine at least one component of the gas sample based at least in part on the thermal conductivity value of the sample at each of the two or more temperatures. Related systems and methods of determining one or more properties of a sample are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring a cooling system. In some embodiments, the cooling system includes a chiller and a heat exchange process connected to the chiller by a coolant supply line and a coolant return line, and the apparatus includes a first temperature sensor, for measuring a coolant temperature in the coolant supply line, and a second temperature sensor, for measuring a coolant temperature in the coolant return line.

Abstract: A temperature sensor assembly for measuring a gas temperature in a gas flow stream includes a first substrate having a first surface configured to be connected to a thermally conductive structure in a gas path, a first temperature sensor mounted to the first substrate a first distance from the first surface, and a second temperature sensor mounted to the first substrate a second distance from the first surface. The second distance is less than the first distance. The first and second temperature sensors are arranged along a temperature gradient.