Abstract: A portable device and associated method are described for use with a system in which a locating signal is transmitted from within the ground during an operational procedure. The locating signal includes a transmission frequency that is selectable from a group of discrete transmission frequencies in a frequency range and the region includes electromagnetic noise that can vary. The portable device includes a receiver having a bandwidth that includes the transmission frequency range and is operable for measuring the electromagnetic noise in the transmission frequency range to establish a frequency content of the electromagnetic noise for use in selecting one of the discrete transmission frequencies that is subsequently transmitted as the locating signal during the operational procedure. The locating signal can be transmitted from a boring tool, a pullback arrangement or an inground cable. A predicted maximum operational depth for a transmitter can be determined prior to the operational procedure.

Abstract: An integrated RF circuit has an RF input port and an RF output port coupled to an external circuit element having known impedance such as an antenna. An RF circuit element is disposed between the RF input port and the RF output port and has a first input port and a first output port. The RF circuit element affects a signal received at the first input port and provides the affected signal to the first output port. The integrated RF circuit also has a VSWR detector circuit that measures a ratio of a characteristic of RF signals at the first input port and the first output port and that provides an indication of the ratio at a VSWR output port. The measured ratio of the characteristic is affected by an impedance of the coupling thereby providing an indication relating to the coupling.

Abstract: A method for instantaneously determining rates of distortion on variable frequency signals, and an associated device, in which a harmonic distortion rate is calculated across the shortest possible temporal window, corresponding to the duration of a period of a given signal's fundamental. Hence, the aim being to precisely determine the signal frequency value, whose HDR is to be calculated, an iteration of certain measurements, achieved at the time of a given calculation, is embodied in order to calculate the HDR on subsequent signals.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and systems for identifying or determining spatially resolved properties in indirect bandgap semiconductor devices such as solar cells are described. In one embodiment, spatially resolved properties of an indirect bandgap semiconductor device are determined by externally exciting the indirect bandgap semiconductor device to cause the indirect bandgap semiconductor device to emit luminescence (110), capturing images of luminescence emitted from the indirect bandgap semiconductor device in response to the external excitation (120), and determining spatially resolved properties of the indirect bandgap semiconductor device based on a comparison of relative intensities of regions in one or more of the luminescence images (130).

Abstract: A system according to one embodiment includes a power supply for charging a lead of a magnetic sensor to a voltage; an interface for operatively coupling the power supply to the lead of the magnetic sensor; a relay for selectively coupling the lead of the magnetic sensor to ground for causing a discharge event, wherein the discharge event reverses a magnetic orientation of a pinned layer of the magnetic sensor; and a shorting resistor between the relay and ground.

Abstract: An immersion sensor for use with a cushion or mattress for determining the relative immersion of a person within the cushion or mattress including a sensor, a ground and a circuit for measuring capacitance. The sensor includes a sheet of conductive material, and the ground includes a second sheet of conductive material. The circuit is adapted to send short bursts of electrical current to the sensor and a capacitor. The circuit is further adapted to measure the length of time the burst of current takes to charge the capacitor. Based upon the measured time, the circuit calculates the proximity of the object based upon the time taken to charge the capacitor. A method that may be implemented with the immersion sensor is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for use in determining the thickness of a layer of interest in a multi-layer structure. A first electrode is positioned in contact with a first surface of the multi-layer structure, and a second electrode is positioned in contact with a second surface of the multi-layer structure. The second surface is substantially opposite the first surface. The first electrode is pressed against the multi-layer structure at a predetermined sampling pressure, and the structure is optionally adjusted to a predetermined sampling temperature. The electrical impedance between the first electrode and the second electrode is measured.

Abstract: Provided is a test apparatus comprising a plurality of testing sections and a synchronizing section that synchronizes operation of at least two testing sections among the plurality of testing sections. Each testing section transmits a synchronization standby command to the synchronizing section when a predetermined condition is fulfilled during execution of the corresponding program and the testing section enters a synchronization standby state, and on a condition that the synchronization standby commands have been received from all of one or more predetermined testing sections among the plurality of testing sections, the synchronizing section supplies a synchronization signal, which ends the synchronization standby state, in synchronization to two or more predetermined testing sections among the plurality of testing sections.

Abstract: Non-corrosive thermal interface materials for use in a test structure and method of use. The test structure includes a heat sink for dissipating heat away from a device under test. The test structure further includes a non-corrosive thermal interface material disposed between the heat sink and the device under test. The non-corrosive thermal interface material is capable of withstanding test conditions for at least 60 minutes for at least 115° C. without staining or leaving residue on the device under test after baking.

Abstract: Power saving for hot plug detect (HPD) is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a method includes detecting, at a source device that is connectable to a sink device, a connection of the source device to the sink device via a connector. The source device includes a DC voltage source and the connection is detected without consuming power from the DC voltage source.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for determining a target wavelength ? of a target photon beam. The apparatus includes a photon emitter, a pre-selection polarizer, a prism composed of a Faraday medium, a post-selection polarizer, a detector and an analyzer. The photon emitter projects a monochromatic light beam at the target wavelength ? substantially parallel to a magnetic field having strength B. The target wavelength is offset from established wavelength ?? as ?=??+?? by wavelength difference of ??<<?. The Faraday prism has Verdet value V. After passing through the pre-selection polarizer, the light beam passes through the prism and is incident to an interface surface at incidence angle ?0 to the normal of the surface and exits into a secondary medium as first and second circularly polarized light beams separated by target separation angle ? and having average refraction angle ?. The secondary medium has an index of refraction of n0.

Abstract: A probe head is disclosed that is detachable from a probe body containing electronics. The probe head including a housing enclosing a sensor and at least part of an electrical connector electrically coupled to the sensor. The housing has a coupling member positioned to detachably connect the housing to the probe body, and when the probe head and probe body are coupled, the electrical connector electrically couples the sensor to the electronics in the probe body.

Abstract: Voltage is detected on both sides of a protection fuse within a thermostat, such that a determination can be made as to the status of the fuse. When a blown fuse is detected, the user can be notified via (1) an error message on the thermostat display, and/or (2) a message on another device such as a mobile device and/or web-client device. According to some embodiments the thermostat manufacturer is notified via network connection. According to some embodiments drain voltage is measured on MOSFETs used in the thermostat for switching on and off HVAC functions. If an over-current is detected on a FET switch, it immediately turned off and a fault indictor is sent to the microcontroller. The FET switch remains “off” until it is re-enabled under control of the microcontroller.

Abstract: A pipeline inspection tool has an even number “n” of spiraled pole magnets spaced equidistant apart and spanning the length of the tool. Each pole magnet, which preferably has a conformable upper surface, is rotated or spiraled about the tool body so that a second end of each pole magnet is offset a predetermined amount “?” relative to a first end of that same pole magnet. The amount of rotation ? applied to each of the pole magnets produces a magnetic field oblique to the central longitudinal axis of the tool body (and therefore the pipe) and one that covers 360° of the internal wall surface of the pipe. A helical-shaped array of magnetic flux sensors may be arranged about the tool body and substantially equidistant between adjacent pairs of pole magnets. The tool detects axially oriented, circumferentially oriented, and volumetric anomalies and allows for single pass inspection.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive sensor that has a free layer with a face centered cubic, 100 crystal orientation formed on an underlayer structure that has been deposited in the presence of nitrogen. The free layer can be constructed of CoFe, Co2(Mn(1-y)Fey)X (where 0?y?1 and X is Si, Ge, Sn, Al, Ga, or a combination thereof), CoFeX (where X is Si, Ge, Sn, Al, Ga, or a combination thereof). The under-layer can include a layer of Ta, a Cu layer formed over the layer of Ta and deposited using a process gas comprising about 20 percent nitrogen and a layer of Ag deposited over the layer of Cu and deposited using a process gas comprising about 50 to 100 percent nitrogen.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for monitoring power usage. A plurality of power usage cycles are monitored using a controller. Each of the power usage cycles includes a plurality of current draw periods. Each of the current draw periods has a different average current draw. A current draw reading is determined to be abnormal when the current draw reading meets a threshold associated with one of the current draw periods, while the one of the current draw periods is predicted to be active. An action is performed when the current draw reading is determined to be abnormal.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for detecting a load in a switched-mode power converter is provided. The switched-mode power converter includes high and low-side power switches which are configured to be driven respectively by high and low-side drive signals to provide a switching voltage. The high and low-side drive signals include a plurality of dead-time periods. The method includes monitoring a waveform of the switching voltage and at least one of the high and low-side drive signals. The monitored waveform of the switching voltage is compared to the monitored waveform of the at least one of the high and low-side drive signals to determine whether the switching voltage is high or low during at least one of the dead-time periods. A current measurement of the load is determined based on whether the switching voltage is high or low during the at least one of the dead-time periods.

Abstract: A device for measuring a variation in the capacitance of a variable capacitive structure, includes: a supply voltage; a reference capacitance; element for measuring a voltage across the terminals of the reference capacitance; a measurement capacitive structure; and elements for detecting a threshold voltage across the terminals of the reference capacitance. The device is configured/programmed so that the measurement capacitive structure is discharged, in a variable number of discharges, into the reference capacitance after the variable capacitive structure has been discharged, in a fixed number of discharges, into the reference capacitance and until the voltage (VS) across the terminals of the reference capacitance has reached the threshold voltage. The variation in the variable number of discharges relative to a previously obtained number of discharges allows the variation in the capacitance of the variable capacitive structure to be estimated.

Abstract: A microwave sensor and algorithm for instantaneous and nondestructive determination of bulk density and moisture content in granular or particulate materials at a single microwave frequency, especially agricultural commodities, which uses an inexpensive microwave circuit for determining the real and imaginary parts of relative complex permittivity using an algorithm for phase correction.

Abstract: A new hybrid metal detector combines induction balance and pulse induction technologies. Target signals are generated from a transmitted wave that has both induction balance and pulse current inducing characteristics and uses pertinent sampling of the receive data. Combining the two data sources provides eddy current target identification while excluding ground permeability and remanence obscuration.