Abstract: A fuel gauge (15) provided with an inner structural body (27) that is formed of an insulator; an outer structural body (23) that is formed of an insulator and disposed on the outer circumference side of the inner structural body (27) over the entire circumference thereof; an inner electrode (29) that is attached to an outer circumferential surface of the inner structural body (27); and an outer electrode (25) that is attached to an inner circumferential surface of the outer structural body (23). The fuel guage measures the capacitance between the inner electrode and the outer electrode and detects the level of fuel that exists between the inner electrode and the outer electrode. The outer structural body is provided with a plurality of outer through-holes (31) that allow electric charge to move from an outer circumferential surface thereof to the outer electrode.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a biological detection device and a detecting method. The biological detection device comprises a substrate, an electric field unit, a liquid crystal/polymer composite film (LCPCF), a power supply, a processing unit, and an image sensor. Because of the electrically tunable orientations of the liquid crystal (LC) director anchored among the polymer grains, the wettability of the LCPCF changes with an applied electric field. As a result, we can manipulate a blood droplet on the LCPCF by a wettability gradient owing to the distribution of LC directors on the LCPCF. The motion states of the blood droplet can be related to the various qualities of the blood, and finally determines the health of the test sample. The change of contact angle of blood on LCPCF and the blood droplet motion on LCPCF indicate the concentration of TG and the concentration of HDL.

Abstract: A viscometer for measuring the viscosity of fluid. The viscometer includes: a first chamber and a second chamber separated from the first chamber; a micro channel connecting the first chamber to the second chamber; a first thin film disposed over the first chamber and a second thin film disposed over the second chamber; and a first piezoelectric film disposed over the first thin film and a second piezoelectric film disposed over the second thin film. At least one of the first and second piezoelectric films has a hexagonal shape if a longest distance between a center and an edge of the piezoelectric film is longer than a threshold range and a circular shape if the distance is shorter than the threshold range.

Abstract: A system for measuring or monitoring the quality of a liquid medium, has first and second sample-takeoff points in the liquid medium and a hydraulic circuit in which the samples taken off from said first and second sample-takeoff points circulate. The hydraulic circuit is mounted between the two sample-takeoff points and comprises two centrifugal impeller pumps, a measuring chamber situated between the two pumps, and a purge device mounted at a high point on the hydraulic circuit between one of the pumps and the measuring chamber. The whole of the hydraulic circuit is preferably totally immersed in the liquid medium.

Abstract: An electronic equipment enclosure (10), especially for an oil-in-water analyzer. The enclosure has a metal body (22) including an expandable folded section (26) that expands in response to increased pressure within the enclosure thereby increasing the volume defined by the enclosure. The enclosure is capable of containing internal explosions and is suitable for use in hazardous environments where the electronic equipment can come into contact with explosive gases.

Abstract: A method and apparatus comprising a sample collection structure having a chamber and an interface for the sample collection structure. The interface is configured to be connected to a curing system and a vacuum source. The curing system is configured to cure a composite part. The vacuum source is configured to create a vacuum in the curing system. The interface is further configured to collect a sample of a gas from the curing system in the chamber. The interface is further configured to send the sample of the gas collected in the chamber to an analyzer.

Abstract: A method of determining the accuracy and repeatability of leak testing instrumentation comprises the following steps: providing a two chamber vessel having an access port and a flow controlling reference orifice associated with each chamber and a third reference orifice communicating between the two chambers, providing a leak testing device and connecting such leak testing device first to one of such ports, pressurizing the associated chamber and, with the associated orifice open, observing and recording the pressure measured by the leak testing device under test as a function of time. The second test repeats this activity with the other chamber and the other orifice. A third test is undertaken with the third orifice open. One of the chambers is smaller and incorporates a smaller orifice and the other chamber is larger and incorporates a larger orifice thus achieving leak testing under different conditions.

Abstract: A battery pack with a drain plug and a circuit to detect when a liquid coolant has entered the battery pack. The drain plug includes a carrier defining a cavity internal to the carrier, an inlet disposed on a first surface of the carrier and an outlet disposed on a second surface of the carrier where the first surface and the second surface fluidly displaced from one another and coupled to the cavity. A soluble plug may be disposed within the cavity of the carrier; the soluble plug is configured to at least partially dissolve when fluidly coupled with a coolant allowing a portion of the coolant to flow between the inlet and the outlet and out of the battery pack. A strain gauge cooperative with the carrier such that a measured resistance change in the strain gauge corresponds to the soluble plug in contact with the liquid coolant. An associated circuit with the drain plug provides notification of the activation of the drain plug to the on-board computer systems.

Abstract: A hardness tester includes a CCD camera, a monitor, a clipper (a CPU and a clipping program), and a display controller (the CPU and a display control program). The CCD camera captures an image of an indentation formed on a surface of a specimen via field lenses. The monitor displays the image of the indentation captured by the CCD camera. The clipper clips a plurality of regions from the image of the indentation captured by the CCD camera, the plurality of regions each containing a respective vertex. The display controller simultaneously displays on the monitor images of the plurality of regions clipped by the clipper.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for sensing molecules. A twin-nanopore probe includes a first channel and a second channel. A first pressure-controlled reservoir is connected to the first channel to generate a positive pressure. A second pressure-controlled reservoir is connected to the second channel to generate a negative pressure. A container includes ionic solvent with molecules, and a tip of the twin-nanopore probe is submerged in the container of the ionic fluid with the molecules. The first channel, the second channel, the first pressure-controlled reservoir, and the second pressure-controlled reservoir are filled with the ionic fluid. The first pressure-controlled reservoir drives the ionic fluid out of the first channel and the second pressure-controlled reservoir draws in the ionic fluid with the molecules and solvent through the second channel. A change in magnitude of ionic current through the second nanopore of twin-nanopore probe is detected when molecules pass through the second nanopore.

Abstract: A testing device and method for testing scissors are disclosed. The testing device includes a mount device. The mount device includes a first mount feature for mounting a first grip end of the scissors thereon and a second mount feature movable with respect to the first mount feature for mounting a second grip end of the scissors thereon. The testing device additionally includes a feed device positioned to provide a test media between a first blade and a second blade of the scissors. The testing device further includes a position sensor associated with the mount device for measuring movement of the second grip end, and a load sensor associated with the mount device for measuring a load required for the scissors to cut the test media.

Abstract: A sheet thickness detection apparatus includes a bracket, a power device, a first linking lever, a second linking lever, a sheet pressing part, and a sensing device. The bracket has a base with a perforation. The sensing device includes a supporting part and a sensor. The power device, the first linking lever, the second linking lever and the sheet pressing part are disposed on a first surface of the bracket. The sensor is fixed on the supporting part. When the supporting part is connected to a second surface of the base, the sensor is penetrated through the perforation and exposed to a lateral side of the first linking lever. Moreover, the supporting part is movable, so that the position of the sensor relative to the first linking lever is adjustable.

Abstract: A system and method detect the presence of an unacceptable quantity of gas molecules in the reference vacuum cavity of a capacitance diaphragm gauge (CDG). An independent pressure transducer has an active portion exposed to the reference vacuum cavity. The transducer includes a ring anode, a cylindrical inner wall surface that forms at least one cathode, and a magnet positioned with respect to the ring anode such that the magnetic flux of the magnet is generally aligned with the central axis of the ring anode. A high voltage source applies a voltage between the ring anode and the cathode. A current sensor senses a magnitude of any current flowing between the ring anode and the cathode via ionized gas molecules. A monitoring unit monitors the magnitude of the current sensed by the current sensor and activates an alarm when the magnitude of the current exceeds an acceptable magnitude.