Abstract: A cold cathode ionization vacuum gauge includes an extended anode electrode and a cathode electrode surrounding the anode electrode along its length and forming a discharge space between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode. The vacuum gauge further includes an electrically conductive guard ring electrode interposed between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode about a base of the anode electrode to collect leakage electrical current, and a discharge starter device disposed over and electrically connected with the guard ring electrode, the starter device having a plurality of tips directed toward the anode and forming a gap between the tips and the anode.

Abstract: To provide a displacement detection device that detects a displacement of a measuring object housed in a casing without changing the design of the casing or while suppressing the design change of the casing. A displacement detection device includes a pair of magnets arranged outside an injector body housing a needle with a space between the magnets and forming a magnetic field in the space, a soft magnetic material connected to the needle inside the injector body and displaced in accordance with the displacement of the needle and disposed in the magnetic field formed by the pair of magnets, and a sensor disposed outside the injector body and in the magnetic field formed by the pair of magnets, and detecting a change in magnetic flux density in accordance with the displacement of the soft magnetic material.

Abstract: A method for screening a lithium ion battery is provided. A number of lithium ion batteries are galvanostatically discharged a to an inflection point voltage at an inflection point of a discharge curve at a first constant current I1. The number of lithium ion batteries are rested for a first rest time T1 to raise an open circuit voltage of the number of lithium ion batteries to U1. U1 is greater than the inflection point voltage. The number of lithium ion batteries are galvanostatically discharged to the inflection point voltage at a second constant current I2, in which I2<<I1. The number of lithium ion batteries are rested for a second rest time T2 and the batteries are screened based on a self-discharge of the number of lithium ion batteries.

Abstract: A radiofrequency (RF) coil for use in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system using a plurality of RF coils includes a main loop coil including a plurality of electrical conductors, and an auxiliary loop coil disposed around the plurality of electrical conductors and including a plurality of electrical conductors.

Abstract: A receiver assembly of a magnetic resonance (MR) system for generating MR recordings of an examination object includes a plurality of reception channels for receiving and amplifying MR signals from reception coils of the MR system connected therewith. A calibration data memory for storing calibration data for the plurality of reception channels is arranged on the receiver assembly. The receiver assembly includes a data link for transmitting the calibration data to the MR system.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for investigating a downhole formation using a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) tool. While the tool is moving through the borehole, the formation is magnetized and resulting signals are obtained. In accordance with the present approach, the acquired signals can be resolved azimuthally and/or laterally and can be reconstructed to obtain an indication of a parameter of the formation at multiple locations along the length of the borehole.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises: a first comparator configured to: receive an input proximity signal indicating a proximity of a target device, receive a second reference signal associated with a second distance, make a first comparison of the input proximity signal to the second reference signal, and provide a first output proximity signal based on the first comparison; and a second comparator configured to: receive the input proximity signal, receive the first output proximity signal, make a second comparison of the input proximity signal using the first output proximity signal, and provide a second output proximity signal based on the second comparison.

Abstract: A system is disclosed. The system includes an antenna and a processor. The processor has at least four ports: a first input port coupled to a first portion of the continuity component; a first output port coupled in series to a first resistor coupled to the first portion of the antenna and to ground via a second resistor; a second output port coupled through a third resistor to the first portion of the antenna; and a second input port coupled to a second portion of the antenna and through a fourth resistor to ground. The processor is operable to activate and deactivate the appropriate ports to put the processor in one of three operating modes: an AC detection mode, an AC self-test mode, and a continuity test mode.

Abstract: A system and integrated circuits are provided for determining performance metrics over a plurality of cycles of an input signal using on-chip diagnostic circuitry. The system comprises a trigger generation module configured to generate a trigger signal, and diagnostic circuitry coupled with the trigger generation module. The diagnostic circuitry comprises a memory comprising a plurality of data lines, and a plurality of delay elements, each delay element of the plurality of delay elements connected between consecutive data lines of the plurality of data lines. The diagnostic circuitry is configured to receive at least one input signal, and write, upon receiving the trigger signal, values on the plurality of data lines to the memory, thereby acquiring samples of a plurality of cycles of the input signal.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to a measurement system that calculates a current in a conductor based on an odd-order spatial derivative function of signals representing magnetic-field strengths within a hole in the conductor. In an illustrative embodiment, the odd-order spatial derivative function may generate an output signal representing a spatial derivative of the in-hole magnetic field greater than the first-order. The three or more magnetic-field sensors may be configured to align on the hole's axis when inserted into the hole. When inserted into the hole, the sensors may be aligned on an axis perpendicular to a direction of current flow and be responsive to a magnetic-field directed perpendicular to both the direction of current flow and the aligned axis. Some embodiments may advantageously provide a precise measurement indicative an electrical current in the electrical conductor while substantially rejecting a stray magnetic field originating from an adjacent electrical conductor.

Abstract: A deterioration state detection apparatus for detecting a deterioration state of capacity enabling charge or discharge of a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes: an acquisition unit that acquires a capacitance of the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery: and a determination unit that determines the deterioration state of capacity enabling charge or discharge of the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, from change of the acquired capacitance.

Abstract: An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides a method of non-invasively detecting and imaging temperature or temperature changes by assessing the temperature induced shifts in the saturation spectrum of water using MRI, namely saturation shift referencing. This procedure includes the MRI procedures to assess water saturation spectrum and the data processing steps to determine the temperature induced shifts of water resonance frequency and consequently to estimate the temperature change. This procedure also includes the procedure of assessing fat saturation spectrum and estimating fat resonance frequency. This method can be used as a clinical procedure for temperature mapping in multiple applications, especially where a significant amount of fat is present. One application is to monitor the temperature of the targeted tumor and its surrounding tissues during the procedure of hyperthermia.

Abstract: A voltage detecting apparatus includes: an assembled battery made of plural cells, a self-diagnostic circuit, and a measuring part for measuring the plural cells or measuring a diagnostic voltage generated by the self-diagnostic circuit. Electric power is supplied to the self-diagnostic circuit by a charge pump circuit. The self-diagnostic circuit includes plural circuit elements connected in series, and a current path connected to the measuring part and formed in correspondence with each of the plural circuit elements, and the measuring part includes a multiplexer for switching a state of connection between each of the current paths and the circuit network. The measuring part determines whether or not the circuit network is normal based on a voltage dividing ratio by the circuit element corresponding to the current path switched by the multiplexer.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing resistance control on a current sensing component in an electronic device and an associated method are provided. For example, the apparatus may comprise a power switching unit and a feedback module, and the power switching unit is utilized as the current sensing component when the power switching unit enables the power path. The feedback module may comprise: a power switching unit replica that receives a first voltage at the battery terminal and outputs a second voltage; a first current source, coupled between the power switching unit replica and a ground terminal, arranged to receive the second voltage; a reference voltage generator that generates a third voltage; and an error amplifier that receives the second voltage and the third voltage and outputs a fourth voltage, wherein the feedback module controls both of the power switching unit and the power switching unit replica according to the fourth voltage.

Abstract: In a magnetic field measurement apparatus, a light source irradiates a gas cell with linearly polarized light serving as pump light and probe light in a Z axis direction, and a magnetic field generator applies, to the gas cell, a magnetic field Ax which is a time function f(t) having the amplitude A0 taking n fixed values fi (where i=1, . . . , and n), and a magnetic field Ay which is a time function g(t) having the amplitude A0 taking m fixed values gj (where j=1, . . . , and m) in each of X axis and Y axis directions. A calculation controller calculates a magnetic field C (Cx, Cy, Cz) of a measurement region using the X axis and Y axis components Ax and Ay of an artificial magnetic field A, and a spin polarization degree Mx corresponding to a measurement value W? from a magnetic sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a zero steady state error regulator with a first input terminal operatively coupled to an isolated power supply primary voltage. A PWM (pulse width modulation) generator is operative to generate two identical PWM signals, each having a duty ratio proportional to the primary voltage. The PWM generator has an input terminal operatively coupled to the zero steady state error regulator output terminal, and has a first output terminal operatively coupled to a second input terminal of the zero steady state error regulator to a provide a feedback signal. An optical coupler has an input terminal operatively coupled to a second output terminal of the PWM generator. A scaling circuit has an input terminal operatively coupled to the optical coupler output terminal and has a scaling circuit output terminal to provide a scaled PWM output signal having a duty ratio that is linearly proportional to the primary voltage.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth an integrated circuit that includes multiple input/output (I/O) pad groups. Each I/O pad group includes an on-chip star network, multiple I/O pads, multiple test multiplexers, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), and a wide-range comparator. Each test multiplexer is configured to couple a different I/O pad to the on-chip star network. The DAC is configured to supply at least one of a source current, a sink current, and a first reference voltage to the on-chip star network. The wide-range comparator is configured to compare a voltage present on a first I/O pad included in the plurality of I/O pads with a second reference voltage. Advantageously, IO leakage and DC parametric testing may be performed on integrated circuits with high I/O pad counts using an ATE system with a significantly lower quantity of ATE test channels relative to prior approaches.

Abstract: A die crack detector and method are provided. A first metal trace is formed over a substrate with the first metal trace configured to extend around a perimeter of a semiconductor die. A second metal trace is formed over the first metal trace with the second metal trace configured to overlap the first metal trace. A dielectric material is disposed between the first and second metal traces. A first detector terminal is coupled to the first metal trace and a second detector terminal coupled to the second metal trace. The detector terminals are configured to receive a predetermined voltage.

Abstract: An electrical circuit for a mobile machine, including an interface coupled between a controller and a plurality of sensors for accurately diagnosing faults in all of the sensor wires and the sensors themselves. This effective resolution reduces the downtime of the mobile machine and operator time by allowing faults to be timely isolated. The interface selectively couples a test signal to each of the sensor conductors, and also selectively couples a responsive returned characteristic signal to the controller, where the returned characteristic signal enables the controller to diagnose each of the plurality of conductors and sensors for faults. The electrical circuit may further include testing circuitry that can specifically determine a location of the determined fault in each of the plurality of conductors or each of the plurality of sensors.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus, system, and method may operate to transmit, using a first transceiver antenna, a common signal into a geological formation, and to receive in response to the transmitting, at the first transceiver antenna, a first corresponding nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signal from a first volume of the formation. Additional activity may include receiving, in response to the transmitting, at a second transceiver antenna spaced apart from the first transceiver antenna, the common signal transformed by the formation into a received resistivity signal, as well as transmitting, using the second transceiver antenna, a second corresponding NMR signal into a second volume of the formation different from the first volume of the formation. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.