Abstract: A method for measuring the fill level of a liquid additive in a tank using an ultrasonic sensor includes initially carrying out a measurement of a first propagation time of an ultrasonic signal from the ultrasonic sensor to a liquid level of the liquid additive. This is followed by cleaning of at least one reference surface in the liquid additive with the aid of at least one ultrasonic pulse. Then at least one second propagation time of an ultrasonic signal from the ultrasonic sensor to the at least one reference surface is measured and the fill level is calculated from the first propagation time and the second propagation time. A delivery unit having at least one ultrasonic sensor for installation in a liquid additive tank is also provided.

Abstract: Measurement accuracy during determination of the thickness of rolling stock, in particular a rolling strip or a metal plate, is remotely measured using a base measurement value for the thickness obtained by a radiation measurement system having a radiation source and a radiation detector, both carried by a holding mechanism. A reference measurement value for the thickness is measured by an ultrasonic measurement head that is likewise arranged on the holding mechanism. The reference measurement value is used to eliminate the influence of errors on the base measurement value.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining mechanical parameters of a cementitious system, on the basis of time, and on the basis of the fineness of the cementitious system, pressure and/or temperature, representative of the in situ conditions found in wellbores. The initial composition of the cementitious system, the fineness ? thereof and the speed of the compression waves on the basis of time Vp(t) are the only input data of the method.

Abstract: A flaw detection machine with parallel lifting function, adapted for detecting flaw without demounting wheels, includes a trolley, slidable along steel rail, a base frame, a jacking apparatus and a tread flaw detecting device provided on the trolley, a first jacking mechanism for driving the jacking apparatus to move up and down, a second jacking mechanism for driving the tread flaw detecting device to move up and down, the tread flaw detecting device has a vertical frame, a tread probe manipulator provided at an upper end of the vertical frame, a tread probe frame provided on the tread probe manipulator, and the jacking apparatus is mounted on the vertical frame and able to slide up and down along an inner side wall of the vertical frame.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ultrasonic device optimized with both averaging and dithery pulsing techniques. The averaging technique significantly removes white noise; on the other hand, the dithery pulsing significantly removes acoustic noise, which is otherwise accumulated during conventional averaging processes.

Abstract: A sensing sensor includes a wiring board, a piezoelectric resonator, a channel forming member, a channel, an effluent channel, a capillary member, and an absorbing member. The effluent channel is disposed at a downstream side of the channel. The effluent channel is configured to discharge the sample solution inside of the channel by capillarity. The capillary member is disposed at a downstream side of the effluent channel in contact with the sample solution flowing through an inside of the effluent channel. The capillary member is configured to cause the sample solution to flow through by the capillarity. The absorbing member is disposed at a downstream side of the capillary member. The absorbing member is configured to absorb the sample solution flowing through the capillary member.

Abstract: The device for measuring expansive soil shrinkage includes a plurality of molds, a plate positioned beneath each mold, and a scale. The scale includes a primary plate having a center portion including an aperture and a secondary plate. The primary plate is positioned on top of the secondary plate. The scale also includes a plurality of primary supports, each primary support being positioned between the primary plate and the secondary plate, as well as a first arm movably positioned on the primary plate and a second arm movably positioned on the primary plate, the first arm and the second arm being connected to one another by a plurality of test wires. Further, the scale includes a plurality of cantilever arms movably positioned on the primary plate. The cantilever arms are configured for supporting one of the molds on the test wires.

Abstract: In a vibration information detection step, a probe is inserted into a food sample, and any one of the displacement, the velocity or the acceleration of a vibration occurring on the probe by the insertion is detected as vibration information (step S1). In a frequency band dividing step, the vibration information is divided by a band pass filter into individual pieces of vibration information in each of a plurality of frequency bands (step S2). In a food texture index calculation step, a food texture index value based on vibrational energy per unit time in each of the frequency bands is calculated using a computer from the vibration information in each of the frequency bands and the center frequency of the corresponding frequency band (step S3).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying a position of a deployable system. An apparatus comprises a sensor device. The sensor device comprises a sensor configured to detect at least one of first vibrations from a deployable system in a first position or second vibrations from the deployable system in a second position in which the first vibrations are different from the second vibrations. The sensor is further configured to generate information from detecting at least one of the first vibrations or the second vibrations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to system for measuring pressure and temperature based on change in the characteristic properties of a medium for ultrasound under the effect of pressure and temperature. The invention is based on two waveguides where geometry is adapted to the medium's characteristic properties for ultrasound such that only planar pressure waves are generated in the waveguides. The first of the waveguides is arranged for measuring temperature due to thermal expansion of the medium, where the medium is pressure-compensated by means of an internal compensator to prevent thermal pressure accumulation, and where measuring temperature is based on the medium's specific known characteristic data for ultrasound under the effect of temperature under constant pressure.

Abstract: A technique is provided for determining a force/acceleration acting on a proof mass of a bistable device. According to an aspect of the invention, the location of a boundary of one of the stable configurations of the device is monitored. The monitored location is compared to a predetermined location of the same boundary, said predetermined location corresponding to a condition in which the force/acceleration is absent, to detect a deviation of said location. The deviation is indicative of the force/acceleration and can be used to determine the force/acceleration. According to another aspect of the invention, the resonance frequency of the proof mass' oscillation in one of the stable regions is monitored, and compared to a predetermined resonance frequency the proof mass' oscillation in the same region corresponding to a condition in which the force/acceleration is absent, to determine a deviation of the resonance frequency due to the presence of force/acceleration.

Abstract: Motion detection device consisting of a single encoder and a single stationary sensor element, the encoder, which is arranged on a movable part, representing an asymmetrical pattern. The angular velocity or velocity and the direction of motion of a moving part are determined from the sensor signal by measuring the edge steepness or the rise time or fall time, spectrally analyzing the frequency and the phase relation of a harmonic to the phase of the fundamental mode, or evaluating the asymmetries of a sequence of rectangular pulses.

Abstract: Methods and systems for cleaning an acoustical couplant and test article before and during ultrasonic testing using components which are used for precleaning the test article as well as cleaning the acoustical couplant during the ultrasonic testing is provided. The invention also provides additional functionality such as preserving the acoustical couplant before, during, and after the ultrasonic testing from loss such as, e.g., evaporation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for testing connections of metal workpieces to plastic compounds for cavities by means of ultrasound, wherein the plastic compound is arranged between the workpiece as an intermediate layer or is connected to the workpiece on one side and the cavity is located within the plastic compound, wherein the cavity is connected to the workpiece by means of a remaining plastic layer or plastic skin and wherein the plastic compound is exposed to ultrasonic signals of a certain test frequency and pulse length from the metal side of the workpiece by means of at least one ultrasonic probe, and in particular the ultrasonic signals reflected by flaws in the plastic compound are detected by the same or another ultrasonic probe and converted into electrical signals that can be evaluated and subjected to a threshold observation. The test frequency of the ultrasonic signals is set in a range of 1 to 10 MHz so that the attenuation of the sound is minimal after passing through the plastic skin.

Abstract: A micro-electro mechanical apparatus with interdigitated spring including a substrate, at least one first mass, a movable electrode, a stationary electrode, an anchor and an interdigitated spring is provided. The movable electrode is disposed on the mass along an axial direction. The stationary electrode is disposed on the substrate along the axial direction, and the movable electrode and the stationary electrode have a critical gap there between. The interdigitated springs connects the mass and the anchor along the axial direction. The interdigitated spring includes first folded portions, first connecting portions, second folded portions, and second connecting portions. Each first folded portion includes two first spans and a first head portion. Each second folded portion includes two second spans and a second head portion. A width of the first span and a width of the second span are greater than the critical gap respectively.

Abstract: A vibrating gyroscope includes a piezoelectric strip having length and width dimensions. The piezoelectric strip includes a piezoelectric material and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) substantially aligned and polled along the strip's length dimension. A spindle having an axis of rotation is coupled to the piezoelectric strip. The axis of rotation is parallel to the strip's width dimension. A first capacitance sensor is mechanically coupled to the spindle for rotation therewith. The first capacitance sensor is positioned at one of the strip's opposing ends and is spaced apart from one of the strip's opposing faces. A second capacitance sensor is mechanically coupled to the spindle for rotation therewith. The second capacitance sensor is positioned at another of the strip's opposing ends and is spaced apart from another of the strip's opposing faces. A voltage source applies an AC voltage to the piezoelectric strip.

Abstract: A measurement system in one embodiment includes an acquisition module and a determination module. The acquisition module is configured to acquire resonant frequency information corresponding to a sensor disposed in a remote location from the acquisition module. The resonant frequency information includes first resonant frequency information for a first resonant frequency of the sensor corresponding to environmental conditions of the remote location, and also includes second resonant frequency information for a different, second resonant frequency of the sensor corresponding to the environmental conditions of the remote location. The determination module is configured to use the first resonant frequency information and the second resonant frequency information to determine the temperature and the pressure at the remote location.

Abstract: A system and method for non-destructive monitoring a component including a guided wave sensor positioned around a surface of the component, wherein the component has a perimeter. A first spring mounting clamp positioned around the component perimeter and a second spring mounting clamp positioned around the component perimeter, wherein the first and second mounting clamps are positioned a distance of 0.1 inches to 5.0 inches on either side of the guided wave sensor. A plurality of elongated springs is attached at a first end to the first spring mounting clamp and attached at a second end to the second spring mounting clamp. The central portion applying a pressure of at least 10 psi to the guided wave sensor.

Abstract: A MEMS sensor comprises a substrate and at least one proof mass having a first plurality of combs. The proof mass is coupled to the substrate via one or more suspension beams such that the proof mass and the first plurality of combs are movable. The MEMS sensor also comprises at least one anchor having a second plurality of combs. The anchor is coupled to the substrate such that the anchor and second plurality of combs are fixed in position relative to the substrate. The first plurality of combs are interleaved with the second plurality of combs. Each of the combs comprises a plurality of conductive layers electrically isolated from each other by one or more non-conductive layers. Each conductive layer is individually coupled to a respective electric potential such that capacitance between the combs varies approximately linearly with displacement of the movable combs in an out-of-plane direction.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are disclosed for determining whether a structure of bonded layers includes locations where the layers are weakly bonded. Embodiments include evaluating the frequency response of the structure in response to vibrational inputs. Alternate embodiments include evaluating the non-linear response of the structure using a modal analysis. Further embodiments include obtaining the vibrational information with an accelerometer contacting the structure, while additional embodiments include exciting the structure with an impact force, which may be applied at multiple locations on the structure's surface. Still further embodiments include performing a MAC, COMAC, and/or FRF analysis. Still other embodiments include varying the amplitude of the input vibration. Additional embodiments locate the areas of weakened bonding. Still other embodiments include methods and apparatuses for simulating a laminated structure with defective bonding, such as kiss bonding.