Abstract: A test method for testing elongated objects comprising moving an elongated object in a feed-through direction through a feed-through coil arrangement having at least one feed-through coil, wherein the feed-through coil arrangement is secured to be transversely movable with respect to the feed-through direction of the object and is guided on the object passing through such that the feed-through coil arrangement can follow transverse movements of the object occurring transversely with respect to the feed-through direction of the object.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor, such as a Hall effect sensor, and a corresponding magnetic field producing unit, such as a magnet, can be both positioned near a hinge of a hinged device, such that the magnet, in one part of the device, rotates around the Hall effect sensor, in another part of the device. Three positions can, thereby be detected: (1) when the device is closed and the magnet is “above” the sensor, (2) when the device is partially open and the magnet is “to the side” of the sensor, and (3) when the device is fully open and the magnet is “below” the sensor. The hinged device can have the hinge offset slightly to enable the magnet to rotate around the sensor as described. Alternatively, the locations of the magnet and sensor can be reversed.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises an input to receive a voltage, a threshold voltage circuit, a comparison circuit, and an output. The threshold voltage circuit provides an adjustable first threshold voltage at a first output and an adjustable second threshold voltage at a second output. The comparison circuit determines when the input voltage is greater than the first voltage threshold, including when the first voltage threshold is adjusted substantially up to a high supply voltage rail, and determines when the input voltage is less than the second voltage threshold, including when the second voltage threshold is adjusted substantially down to a low supply voltage rail. The output provides a first indication when the input voltage is greater than the first voltage threshold and to provide a second indication when the input voltage is less than the second voltage threshold.

Abstract: An apparatus and method make use of a single shunt and two or more instrumentation amplifiers, switchably measuring voltages at the shunt. This permits current measurement. At times each instrumentation amplifier has its input shorted, which permits zeroing out many sources of offset in the signal path of that amplifier. Dynamic range is several orders of magnitude better than known current measurement approaches, permitting coulometry.

Abstract: A device for detecting at least one substance of a fluid, has a piezoacoustic thin film resonator with a piezoelectric layer on which electrode layers are arranged, and an adsorption surface for adsorbing the fluid substance, wherein the piezoelectric and electrode layers and the adsorption surface are designed and arranged on each other such that by electrically activating the electrode layers, an excitation alternating field can be coupled into the piezoelectric layer. The thin film resonator can be excited to a resonance oscillation frequency fR which depends on an amount of the substance adsorbed on the adsorption surface because of an excitation alternating field coupled into the piezoelectric layer. An electrical insulating layer is arranged directly on a side of one of the electrode layers facing away from the piezoelectric layer. Particularly advantageous is the combination of an aluminum electrode layer and a silicon dioxide insulating layer.

Abstract: The contactless conductivity detector in one embodiment includes a microfluidic chip having a channel (102) thereon and four detection electrodes: first and second emitting electrodes (100a, 101a), and first and second receiving electrodes (100b, 101b). The channel (102) is defined by channel walls. The first emitting electrode (100a) and the first receiving electrode (100b) are adjacent a first channel wall, and the second emitting electrode (101a) and the second receiving electrode (101b) are adjacent a second channel wall, the second channel wall being opposite the first channel wall.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medication delivery device for expelling set doses of medicament, the medication delivery device comprising a position determining arrangement for detecting absolute positions of a movably mounted member, such as a dose indicator barrel, relative to a housing of the medication delivery device. The position determining arrangement comprises a plurality of electrically conducting electrodes arranged on an outer surface of the movably mounted member, and a plurality of contacts members fixedly arranged relative to the housing of the medication delivery device. A first and a second contact member are arranged to follow a first path across the electrically conducting electrodes upon movement of the movably mounted member relative to the housing, whereas a third and a fourth contact member are arranged to follow a second path across the electrically conducting electrodes upon movement of the movably mounted member relative to the housing.

Abstract: A method for automatically measuring a property of a fluid associated with a drilling application, including obtaining a sample of the fluid, wherein the sample of the fluid is obtained by directing the fluid through an electrode probe assembly comprising an electrode probe and depositing the fluid in a probe gap between electrodes of the electrode probe, ramping up a voltage applied to the electrodes of the electrode probe until a threshold current is obtained, recording the breakdown voltage at the threshold current value, and using the breakdown voltage to compute the property of the sample of the fluid.

Abstract: In accordance with the teachings described herein, systems and methods are provided for counting sharps returned to a container. An example method of counting sharps returned to a container having at least two layers of penetrable conductive material includes periodically checking a plurality of circuits formed by the first and second layers of material to determine if each circuit is open or closed, and keeping a count of the number of closed circuits.

Abstract: A variable reluctance resolver includes a rotor that rotates about a rotational axis, a plurality of detection coils that detect rotation of the rotor, and a magnetic member that magnetically connects adjacent ones of the detection coils to each other. The magnetic member includes a pair of body portions around which the detection coils are wound, and a connection portion that connects the pair of body portions to each other. Both the body portions and the connection portion have a thin flat shape. The body portions are flat so that a direction of extension of the flat shape is along a rotational axis direction, and the magnetic member has a U shape as viewed from the rotational axis direction.

Abstract: A method and a device are provided for monitoring an energy reserve capacitor, in which monitoring of the internal resistance is provided in addition to monitoring of the capacitance. This is achieved by a time sequence of charging operations and an interruption of those charging operations.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electronic switch that comprises a pressure sensitive bridge array adapted to monitor pressure and activate an indicator when the monitored pressure exceeds a predetermined value indicative of a dangerous condition. The electronic switch further comprises a monitoring circuit adapted to test the overall operability of the pressure sensitive bridge array and its accompanying electronics control circuitry.

Abstract: A sensor includes a sensor head including an acoustic detector configured to receive light from a first light source and to reflect the light upon incidence of acoustic waves. The sensor also includes at least one optical fiber and at least one fluorescent material within at least one of the sensor head and the at least one optical fiber. The at least one fluorescent material is configured to receive light from a second light source external to the sensor and emit visible light in response to the light received from the second light source.

Abstract: A measuring apparatus for sensing metal articles, comprises a transmission coil for producing a magnetic field, two reception coils, which are oriented relative to one another, and electrically connected to one another, in the region of the magnetic field such that a resulting received voltage on the reception coils is zero when the magnetic field acts on both reception coils in the same way, a control device configured to supply the transmission coil with an alternating transmission voltage, and a determination device configured to determine the metal article on the basis of the received voltage. In this arrangement, the control device is further configured to control RMS value for the transmission voltage such that the received voltage remains below a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: An optically pumped magnetometer and a magnetic sensing method acquire information as to strengths of magnetic fields in two different directions. A pump light having a circularly polarized component, first probe light having a liner polarized component and second probe light having a linearly polarized component are emitted to a cell containing a group of alkali metal atoms so as to form a crossing region A magnetic field applying unit applies a static magnetic field in a direction of the pump light incident on the crossing region during the emission of the pump light, the first probe light and the second probe light. And, information as to strengths of magnetic fields in two different directions perpendicular to the direction of the static magnetic field in the cell from the rotation angles of a polarization planes of the first and second probe lights during passage through the cell is calculated.

Abstract: An electrostatic occupant detection system includes an electrostatic sensor and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is switchable between an occupant determination state in which the electronic control unit outputs a sine wave having a constant amplitude and a diagnosis state in which the electronic control unit maintains a voltage of the electrostatic sensor at a constant level. The electronic control unit gradually changes at least one of an amplitude and a frequency of the sine wave either when the electronic control unit switches from the occupant determination state to the diagnosis state and/or when the electronic control unit switches from the diagnosis state to the occupant determination state.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with a tool for imaging a formation, the tool comprising: a pad capable of alignment adjacent a wall of the formation. The pad has located thereon an imaging electrode for injecting current into the formation. There is a first return electrode separated from the imaging electrode for receiving the injected current. There is at least one recessed electrode that is located at a different distance from the wall of the formation as the other electrodes.

Abstract: A module is used for interfacing between a particular device to be tested (DUT) and a test station having a universal set of connections. The module is adapted for bridging both the physical and electrical differences between connection points available on the DUT and the universal test connections. The module contains information (personality data) unique to the particular DUT and is designed to mount in a tray in which the DUT is positioned. The personality module resides partially within an environmentally controlled area and an area outside of the environmentally controlled area and is adapted to seal the environmentally controlled area so as to maintain testing integrity therein. In one embodiment, the connections between the module and the test station occur outside of the environmentally controlled area.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for reducing electromagnetic noise pick up in a Liquid Metal Cleanliness Analyzer (LiMCA), used to detect and measure particles in molten metal. An first electrode inserted in the molten metal is electrically insulated from second and third electrodes, also inserted in the molten metal. Molten metal and particles pass between the first electrode and the second and third electrodes through a passage in the electrical insulation. The second and third electrodes have a configuration with respect to the first electrode sufficient to establish symmetrical current loops between the first electrode and the second and third electrodes when a current is supplied to the second and third electrodes. The current is supplied from an ultra-capacitor. Electromagnetic noise in the symmetrical current loops is detected and is added in opposition to reduce the amplitude of the electromagnetic noise.

Abstract: A measurement instrument for measuring the impedance of a device under test (DUT) includes a first source of either a voltage or a current and a second source of either a voltage or a current, wherein the first source is connectable in a first feedback relationship with the DUT and the second source is connectable in a second feedback relationship with both the DUT and the first source. The first and second sources are operated respectively as a current source responsive to the current through the DUT and a voltage source responsive to the voltage across the DUT or operated respectively as a voltage source responsive to the voltage across the DUT and a current source responsive to the current through the DUT. The second feedback relationship has a narrower bandwidth than the first feedback relationship. The resulting voltage across the DUT and the current through the DUT establish the measured impedance of the DUT.