Abstract: A device for measuring the tension in a tensioning belt comprises a retaining device for retaining a spring element, an elastically deformable spring element that is retained by the retaining device and on which a section of the tensioning belt can apply a force and elastically deform the spring element, the ends of the spring element being moved closer to one another when the tensioning force increases, and an electronic sensor unit. The sensor unit comprises a sensor system that measures the deflection of the spring element and generates a data signal, and a transmitter for transmitting the data signal to a receiving unit. The sensor system is situated at the ends of the spring element.

Abstract: A system for converting propelling thrust to produce a continuous flow is provided. The system can be integrated and/or retrofitted to the body of an aircraft. The system includes a pressure-lowering device and a sample chamber. The pressure-lowering device is used produce a low-pressure, continuous flow from a high-velocity propelling thrust source. Moreover, the pressure-lowering device is a passive flow generator that does not require a power source in order to produce a continuous flow from a propelling thrust. The design of the pressure-lowering device produces a flow rate that is independent of the aircraft motion. The sample chamber is used to measure and analyze ambient gases which are pulled through the sample chamber by the pressure-lowering device, as a result of the high-velocity air stream produced by the propelling thrust source.

Abstract: A method of, and apparatus for sampling a solid or liquid sample using a sampling tool which has a sampling rod/tube that is configured to house a sampling pod, the apparatus comprising: a main body portion with at least one sample collecting cavity; and a removable/opening lid portion that in use fits/closes over at least part of said main body portion and thereby covers and the cavity; the method further comprising the following steps: Inserting said sampling pod main body portion within said sampling rod/tube and taking a solid or liquid sample from a vessel/container; removing sampling rod/tube from said vessel or container and covering said collecting cavity to seal said cavity; transporting said sample within said sampling pod to place of a analysis; and at place of analysis removing at least part of said covering from main body portion to expose sample for analysis.

Abstract: A gyroscope structure with a specific arrangement of drive and sense structures and coupling spring structures, which allows orthogonally directed motions of larger scale drive and sense structures in a very limited surface area.

Abstract: An arrangement for detecting the discard state of a high-strength fiber rope when used on such hoists, with a device for determining at least one rope parameter and an evaluation unit for evaluating the rope parameter, and providing a discard signal depending upon the evaluation of the rope parameter. The determination device comprises bending stiffness determination means for determining the bending stiffness of the rope, whereby the evaluation unit provides the discard signal depending on the determined bending stiffness of the rope.

Abstract: A tunable and resettable shock sensor using a parallel dipole line (PDL) trap system is provided. In one aspect, a shock sensor includes: a PDL trap having a pair of diametric magnets separated from one another by a gap gM, and a diamagnetic rod levitating in between the diametric magnets; and contact pads below the PDL trap, wherein the contact pads are separated from one another by a space that is less than a length l of the diamagnetic rod. A shock monitoring system is also provided that includes a network of the shock sensors, as is a method for shock monitoring using the shock sensors.

Abstract: A length-measuring device for measuring a relative position of two objects with respect to each other by scanning a measuring graduation of a scale tape includes a hollow section member in which the scale tape is tensioned along a longitudinal direction of the hollow section member. A tensioner device is configured to tension the scale tape. The tensioner device includes a fixed member which is stationary relative to the hollow section member and a tensioner which is held under tension on the fixed member by a spring acting in the longitudinal direction, as well as a holding member to which the scale tape and the tensioner are attached. The tensioner is detachably secured to the holding member and configured such that the tensioner is separable from the holding member and removable from the hollow section member at an end. An adjuster adjusts the tension of the scale tape.

Abstract: An integrated force sensing element includes a piezoelectric sensor formed in an integrated circuit (IC) chip and a strain gauge at least partially overlying the piezoelectric sensor, where the piezoelectric sensor is able to flex. A human-machine interface using the integrated force sensing element may include a conditioning circuit, temperature gauge, FRAM and a processor core.

Abstract: A MEMS accelerometer incorporating a metrology element to directly measure minute changes in measurement baseline. In particular, the MEMS accelerometer incorporates a metrology bar (MB). Embodiments also relate to stress isolation into the sensor design to isolate the sensitive areas of the chip (i.e., the metrology baseline and the proof mass mounting points) from outside stress.

Abstract: A circuit, a method, and a computer program configured to detect mechanical stress and a circuit, a method, and a computer program configured to monitor safety of a system is disclosed. The detection circuit is configured to monitor a mechanical stress level of a semiconductor circuit. The detection circuit includes a stress monitor circuit configured to monitor a signal comprising mechanical stress level information of the semiconductor circuit, a reference circuit to generate a reference signal, and a calibration circuit configured to modify at least one of the stress signal or the reference signal based on calibration information for the semiconductor circuit to obtain a at least one modified signal.

Abstract: In aspects of the invention, a sensor unit is stored in a recessed sensor mount portion formed in a resin case. The sensor unit can be formed so that a semiconductor pressure sensor chip is joined to one side of a glass pedestal, and the other side of the glass pedestal is die-bonded to the bottom of the sensor mount portion through an adhesive. An electrode pad on the semiconductor pressure sensor chip is electrically connected through a bonding wire to a lead terminal for leading externally that pierces through the resin case and is integrally insert-molded therein. An entire surface of the sensor unit, an exposed part of the lead terminal internally-located in the resin case, the bonding wire, and an exposed part of an inner wall of the resin case can be coated with the protective film composed of a poly(p-xylylene)-family polymer including fluorine.

Abstract: A semiconductor pressure sensor for measuring an external pressure exerted on the sensor, including: a membrane; a first resistor connected between a first bias node and a first output node; a second resistor connected between the first bias node and a second output node; a first and second current source connected to the first resp. second output node for generating a differential voltage signal indicative of the external pressure to be measured. The resistors including piezo-resistive strips arranged in particular crystallographic directions. The circuit may have a third and four resistor pair for compensating package stress. The Piezo-resistive strips may be formed as p-doped regions within an n-well, the biasing node being electrically connected to the n-well.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thermal type flow meter. The flow meter comprises a base part with at least two through bores extending substantially parallel to each other. A flow tube for the medium whose flow is to be determined is provided through the through bores. A part of the flow tube spaced from the base part comprises a measuring tube part where the flow of the medium can be measured. The flow measuring tube comprises an insulating housing connected to the base part, which surrounds at least the measuring tube part of the flow tube. The insulating housing comprises an inner housing surface, which faces the measuring tube part, as well as an outer housing surface, which faces away from the measuring tube part. According to the invention, a cover element connected to the base part is provided, which cover element at least substantially surrounds the insulating housing.

Abstract: Modules, systems, and methods for monitoring environmental conditions, such as physical, electromagnetic, thermal, and/or chemical parameters within an environment, over extended periods of time with the use of one or more electromechanical sensing devices that include a sensing device and electronic circuitry for processing an output of the sensing device and generating a output of the module. The sensing device includes a microstructure, for example, a cantilevered beam, and at least one set of contacts configured for contact-mode operation with the microstructure in response to the microstructure deflecting toward or away from the contacts when exposed to the parameter of interest. The microstructure has a stack of layers of dissimilar materials, at least one of which has at least one property that changes as a result of curing of or absorption by the first material when exposed to the parameter.

Abstract: A method for determining a cogging torque may include applying a substantially constant rotation torque to an output shaft of a motor without electrically energizing the motor; detecting, an angle of rotation of the output shaft of the motor at each of a plurality of angles of rotation; calculating an angular acceleration of the motor at each of the plurality of angles of rotation by second order differentiating the angle of rotation; calculating a measured torque value at each of the plurality of angles of rotation by multiplying the angular acceleration by a moment of inertia of a rotor in the motor; obtaining a measured torque waveform of the measured torque value at each of the plurality of angles of rotation as a function of the plurality of angles of rotation; and calculating a cogging torque waveform based on a frequency of the measured torque waveform.

Abstract: A crankshaft balancer suspension system for measuring an imbalance of a crankshaft. The crankshaft balancer suspension system has a base structure, a measurement bridge structure configured to support the crankshaft during rotation, and a plurality of flexural support legs extending between the base structure and the measurement bridge structure. The plurality of flexural support legs are sized and shaped to permit flexure of the measurement bridge structure relative to the base structure. The crankshaft balancer suspension system further having a drive system having a drive shaft connectable to the crankshaft for rotating the crankshaft and a sensor coupled to the measurement bridge structure for detecting an imbalance in the crankshaft during rotation and outputting imbalance data.

Abstract: A MEMS thermal stress isolation system is disclosed. The MEMs thermal stress isolation system is a MEMS embedded hardware implementation designed to isolate the sensitive sensor die from external stresses caused by rigid attachment to packaging and to allow the sensor to perform with improved immunity to the negative impacts of rigid sensor packaging attachment. A planar, micro-etched interface structure is integrated into the MEMS wafer stack, which serves as the mechanical connection between the MEMS sensor and the external packaging.

Abstract: A torque sensing apparatus comprises: a first casing comprising a first opening; a second casing comprising a second opening; a stator comprising a stator holder that is placed in the interior of the first casing and the second casing and at least one stator tooth that is secured to the stator holder; and a rotor that is rotatably disposed in the stator, wherein the stator comprises a protrusion facing the inner peripheral surface of the first opening.

Abstract: A pressure sensor includes a diaphragm suspended across a cavity in a substrate. A first group of piezoresistors is provided in the diaphragm, the piezoresistors of the first group being coupled to one another to form a first Wheatstone bridge having first positive and negative output nodes. A second group of piezoresistors is provided in the diaphragm, the piezoresistors of the second group being coupled to one another to form a second Wheatstone bridge having second positive and negative output nodes. The first negative output node of the first Wheatstone bridge is electrically connected to the second positive output node of the second Wheatstone bridge to directly chain the outputs of the Wheatstone bridges. The first and second Wheatstone bridges each produce an output signal as a function of an external pressure stimulus that is combined via the chained arrangement of the Wheatstone bridges to produce a composite output signal.

Abstract: A device for analyzing a fluid, including a layer including a plurality of sensors of MEMS and/or NEMS type, a layer including a mechanism controlling the sensor and for processing information transmitted by the sensors, the control and processing mechanism being electrically connected to the detectors, and a layer positioned on the layer including the sensors on a side of a face including the sensors including a mechanism spatially and temporally distributing the fluid on the sensors.