Abstract: It is intended to reduce manufacturing cost in a current sensor including a primary conductor having a U-shaped current path. A current sensor includes a primary conductor having a U-shaped current path, a support portion for supporting a magneto-electric conversion element, and a lead terminal connected to the support portion, and wherein the current path is not overlapped with the support portion in a plan view, while being formed so as to have a height different from that of the support portion in a side view.

Abstract: In an printed circuit board on which an integrated circuit die is mounted, an array of plated through holes (PTHs) are formed which include conductive power and ground PTH structures which are connected to provide power and ground reference voltages to the integrated circuit die, and isolated current sensing PTH structures which are formed within sensing proximity to the conductive power and ground PTH structures for sensing current switching activity in the conductive power and ground PTH structures by inductively converting dynamic current changes in the conductive power and ground PTH structures into a measurable voltage signal.

Abstract: A solar monitor measures electrical characteristics of a designated solar device within an array of solar devices that are coupled in series. The solar monitor includes a charge storage element and a charger coupled to the charge storage element to establish a positive voltage and/or a negative voltage on the charge storage element. A switch within the solar monitor is coupled in a shunt configuration with the designated solar device and with a subsequent device in the array. The switch selectively couples the charge storage element to the designated solar device to vary an operating current that flows between the designated solar device and the subsequent solar device. The solar monitor includes a current detector to measure the current of the designated solar device, and a voltage detector to measure the voltage of the designated solar device.

Abstract: The electric machine comprises at least one winding made of a material having a temperature dependent resistance. The temperature of the winding is monitored using the resistance therein. Temperatures or resistances indicative of a fault can be sensed, and corrective action taken, without the need for dedicated temperature sensors.

Abstract: A steerable or non-steerable, magnetic dipole antenna for Measurement-While-Drilling (MWD) or Logging-While-Drilling (LWD) applications. The antenna elements use a hole arrangement in addition to grooves in a steel tool body, which is typically a drill collar. This antenna embodiment is extremely robust, meaning that does not significantly reduce the structural integrity of the tool body in which it is disposed. The antenna embodiment is also relatively wear resistant. The resultant magnetic dipole generated by this antenna is also electrically steerable in inclination angle from a common origin. A variable dipole moment inclination angle combined with independently measured tool rotation orientation during normal drilling allows the antenna to generate a magnetic dipole moment that may be directed at any three dimensional angle and from a common origin point at the centroid of the antenna. The antenna can also be embodied to be more sensitive to resistivity in a particular azimuthal direction.

Abstract: An improved method of testing and sorting electronic devices uses two or more test stations and two or more sorting stations applied to a single track to improve system throughput. Applying two or more test stations and two or more sorting stations to a single track accomplishes improved system throughput while increasing system cost less than would be expected if a duplicate track was installed for each test station.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting and measuring a load pressure applied to a support device comprises at least one capacitive cell including a flat condenser comprising at least one layer of a compressible insulating dielectric material interposed between two layers of conductive material. A support device capable of supporting the body of a person comprises at least one top layer composed of a plurality of air-filled inflatable cells communicating with inflation elements, characterized in that it comprises a sensor, of which said condenser is disposed under said top layer and connected to an electronic control and regulation device capable of controlling inflation or deflation elements.

Abstract: An electronic protection module adapted for an electronic device to protection information read and stored in a signal reading element. The electronic protection module includes a circuit board, a first loop, a cover, a first flexible circuit board with a second loop, a second flexible circuit board with a third loop, electrical conductor(s) and conductive element(s). When one of the first loop, second loop and the third loop is disconnected, the signal reading element will be disconnected and lose the information, thereby preventing information leak from the electronic device. The electronic device may be a card reader capable of reading a barcode type, magnetic strip type or chip type of a financial card, credit card or personal identity card.

Abstract: Load detection circuitry is provided that may be used to monitor an output line. The load detection circuitry may include one or more current sensing resistors. A monitor circuit can measure voltages across the current sensing resistors to determine whether current is flowing through a load connected to the output line. In configurations with multiple different current sensing resistors, the monitor circuit can determine the amount of current that is flowing through the load based on the measured voltages. A switch may be interposed between the current sensing resistor and the output line. A current-limited voltage regulator may supply a voltage to the output line. The monitor circuit may periodically open the switch and monitor resulting voltage changes on the output line to determine whether an electronic device or other load is attached. Opening of the switch may be inhibited whenever current is sensed through a current sensing resistor.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of interrogating a resonant circuit that includes embedding a resonant circuit into a material, wherein a dielectric of a capacitor of the resonant circuit is the material. The method includes remotely determining the resonant frequency of the electrical circuit with a measurement device, wherein the determining is accomplished automatically. Finally, the method includes remotely automatically determining at least one of an estimated or precise resistance of the resonant circuit, an estimated or precise quality factor of the resonant circuit, and an estimated or precise voltage ratio of the resonant circuit, wherein the voltage ratio is a ratio of a voltage of the energy absorbed by the receiver at resonance and a voltage of the energy absorbed by the receiver at a fixed frequency shift from resonance.

Abstract: A voltage sensing module for an integrated circuit (IC) that supports operation at a plurality of different voltage levels includes a voltage generation module that generates first and second voltages based on an operating voltage level of the IC. A comparing module receives the first and second voltages and generates a voltage determination signal based on the first and second signals. The voltage determination signal selectively configures an input/output I/O pad of the IC.

Abstract: An electronic component tester characterizes electronic components such as magnetic head/media components measure performance parameters such as signal-to-noise ratio and overwrite evaluation. The electronic component tester has a tester process controller and a spectrum analyzer. The tester process controller generates calibration and control signals for the electronic component tester. The spectrum analyzer is in communication with electronic components such as magnetic head or media components to receive a response characterization signal resulting from a stimulus signal applied to the electronic components. The spectrum analyzer then determines a frequency spectrum of the response characterization signal. The spectrum analyzer is also in communication with the tester process controller for transferring the frequency spectrum to the tester process controller.

Abstract: A magnetometer is provided for detecting a magnetic field of strength B using the Faraday effect. The magnetometer includes a photon emitter, a first polarizer, a prism, a second polarizer, a detector and an analyzer. The emitter projects an emitted light beam substantially parallel to the magnetic field and having wavelength ?. The prism has an interface surface and is composed of a Faraday medium having Verdet value V. The emitted light beam passes through the first polarizer and then the prism, exiting from the interface surface making an incident angle ?0 to normal of the surface and then refracting into a secondary medium as first and second circularly polarized light beams that are separated by a small angular divergence ?. These polarized light beams have average refraction angle ? to the normal and pass through a post-selection polarizer before the detector measures a weak value Aw of a photon having “which path” operator  associated with the polarized light beams.

Abstract: A magnetizer for a pipeline inspection tool. The magnetizer comprises a ferromagnetic base member, a pair of driving magnets mounted at spatially separate locations on the base member and a flux enhancing magnet mounted on the base member adjacent to one or both of the driving magnets. The directions of magnetization of the pair of driving magnets extend in opposite senses to each other, towards and away from the base member respectively to create a magnetic circuit that includes a flux path between the driving magnets which passes through the base member. The flux enhancing magnet has a direction of magnetization substantially aligned with the direction of magnetic flux on the flux path, the flux enhancing magnet being magnetically coupled to the adjacent driving magnets to drive flux around the magnetic circuit and thereby enhance the magnitude of a magnetic field exhibited by the magnetic circuit outside the magnetizer.

Abstract: A real time Schumann frequency (approximately 6-10 Hz) band-based, lightning strike detector system is described, comprising: first and second sensor systems, each sensor system comprising: first and second magnetic field sensors, each sensor having a preferential directional sensitivity, wherein the sensors are arranged with their preferential directional sensitivity substantially orthogonal to each other; signal lines coupled to the sensors; an amplifier to coupled to the signal lines; an output of the amplifier coupled to a processor; and power source coupled to the amplifier and processor, wherein the first and second sensor systems are separated from each other by at least 400 miles, and wherein each sensor system upon detection of a Schumann frequency from a lightning strike provides a respective orientation angle, wherein an intersection of the angles of orientation following a great circle path indicates a location of the lightning strike.

Abstract: A method for digital triggering of a digital recording of a digitized measurement signal having a superimposed noise signal. The method includes generating from the digitized measurement signal a digital triggering signal for the digital triggering of the digital recording of the measurement signal, and performing band-limitation of the noise signal superimposed on the digitized measurement signal via a low-pass filtering before the digital triggering signal is generated. The bandwidth of the low-pass filtering is adjusted dependent upon edge steepness of the measurement signal, in order to reduce variance ?t2 in jitter of the digital triggering signal.

Abstract: Systems for intelligent automated response to line frequency and voltage disturbances by a central control point communication with a plurality of load control devices. The systems may include a load control device adapted to communicate with one or more energy consuming devices. The load control device may have a load control device firmware adapted to receive and process control directives to change the load of at least one energy consuming device. A central control point may be associated with the building and may be connected to the line power. The central control point may include a circuit adapted to monitor the line power and a central control point firmware adapted to detect the line disturbance. The central control point firmware may be in communication with the load control device firmware and may be adapted to transmit the control directives to the load control device firmware.

Abstract: A system for testing a DC power supply performance includes a comparison module, a judge module, and an alarm module. The comparison module receives DC voltage signals from the DC power supply, compares the DC voltage signals with a reference voltage respectively, and outputs a voltage level signal when the DC power supply is normal. The judge module receives the voltage level signal, and outputs a control signal according to the voltage level signal. The alarm module receives the control signal, and indicates status of the DC power supply according to the control signal.

Abstract: An antenna loop layout method for an electromagnetic sensor board is provided. The electromagnetic sensor board has a plurality of inductive antennas which are arranged abreast of each other. One end of the inductive antennas is coupled to each other, and the other end of the inductive antennas have a switch. The method comprises the following steps: first, a pre-determined interval value is provided. Then, the switches are closed in sequence by the pre-determined interval value to form a plurality of physical antenna loops. The pre-determined interval value can be changed dynamically.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a device interface board is provided which includes a printed circuit board with a DUT interface structure, such as socket, associated with a DUT side of the printed circuit board. A high frequency connector and electronic component are mounted in a cavity formed in a back side of the printed circuit board. A signal via through the printed circuit board couples the high frequency connector and electronic component with the DUT interface structure. An encapsulating structure may be provided, which covers the cavity while allowing a cable to connect to the high frequency connector.