Abstract: A method and system for seal failure annunciation comprises a process connector connected to a probe used to measure a product level in a tank. A pulse generation module generates a pulse that is propagated through a voided space in the process connector and a detector module configured to receive the echo curve from the interrogation pulse. A logic module is used to evaluate the received echo curve to determine if a seal in the process connector has failed. When the logic module indicates seal failure, an alarm module initiates an alarm indicating said seal in said process connector has failed.

Abstract: An illustrative humidity sensor may include a substrate having a source and a drain, wherein the drain is laterally spaced from the source. A gate stack is provided in the space between the source and the drain to form a transistor. The gate stack may include a gate insulator situated on the substrate to form a gate insulator/substrate interface. The gate stack may further include a barrier layer above the gate insulator. The barrier layer may be configured to act as a barrier to mobile charge, humidity and/or other contaminates, and may help prevent such contaminates from reaching the gate insulator/substrate interface. The gate stack may further include a humidity sensing layer above the barrier layer. The humidity sensing layer, when exposed to humidity, may modulate the conduction channel in the substrate under the gate insulator and between the source and the drain. In some cases, the humidity level may be determined by monitoring the current flowing between the source and drain.

Abstract: An apparatus includes at least one processing device configured to determine an optimal pulse width for obtaining level measurements associated with material in a tank. The at least one processing device is also configured to generate a control signal that causes a transmitter of a guided wave radar (GWR) to transmit a signal having the optimal pulse width. The at least one processing device is further configured to send the control signal to the transmitter. The at least one processing device can also be configured to alter a length of the optimal pulse width in order to reduce false echoes detected by the GWR, reduce a size of an upper dead zone of the GWR, and/or detect a change of impedance to identify a fault of a process connector in the GWR.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a benzene sensor comprises a substrate having an iodine complex disposed thereon, a radiation source configured to project UV radiation onto the complex, and a UV detector configured to detect a UV reflection off of the substrate having the iodine complex. The iodine complex can include a cyclodextrine-iodine complex such as an alpha-cyclodextrine-iodine complex, a ?-cyclodextrine iodine complex, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: A method for sensing at least one level parameter of at least one liquid in a tank. At least one bulk acoustic wave (BAW) sensor is positioned inside the tank. Electrodes of the BAW sensor are at least switchably connected to a positive feedback loop across an amplifier to provide an electronic oscillator. At least one acoustic viscosity measurement is determined from an output of the electronic oscillator, wherein the output of the electronic oscillator is different when the BAW sensor contacts the liquid as compared to when the BAW sensor contacts air. The level parameter is determined from the acoustic viscosity measurement.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a sensor that receives a first electrical signal and provides a second electrical signal in response to the first electrical signal. The second electrical signal is based on at least one parameter monitored by the sensor. The apparatus also includes an antenna that converts first wireless signals into the first electrical signal and that converts the second electrical signal into second wireless signals. The antenna includes a substrate, conductive traces, and conductive interconnects. The conductive traces are formed on first and second surfaces of the substrate. The conductive interconnects couple the conductive traces, and the conductive interconnects and the conductive traces form at least one helical arm of the antenna. The conductive traces could be formed in various ways, such as by etching or direct printing. The conductive interconnects could also be formed in various ways, such as by filling vias in the substrate or direct printing.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a benzene sensor comprises a substrate having an iodine complex disposed thereon, a radiation source configured to project UV radiation onto the complex, and a UV detector configured to detect a UV reflection off of the substrate having the iodine complex. The iodine complex can include a cyclodextrine-iodine complex such as an alpha-cyclodextrine-iodine complex, a ?-cyclodextrine iodine complex, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method for fabrication of VOC sensor comprises dissolving one or more metal precursors in a reagent to form a solution, adding a reducing agent to precipitate a metal oxide compound, subjecting the solution to acoustic energy, recovering a nanoscale metal oxide, and forming a sensing layer in a chemo-resistance sensor using the nanoscale metal oxide.

Abstract: An illustrative humidity sensor may include a substrate having a source and a drain, wherein the drain is laterally spaced from the source. A gate stack is provided in the space between the source and the drain to form a transistor. The gate stack may include a gate insulator situated on the substrate to form a gate insulator/substrate interface. The gate stack may further include a barrier layer above the gate insulator. The barrier layer may be configured to act as a barrier to mobile charge, humidity and/or other contaminates, and may help prevent such contaminates from reaching the gate insulator/substrate interface. The gate stack may further include a humidity sensing layer above the barrier layer. The humidity sensing layer, when exposed to humidity, may modulate the conduction channel in the substrate under the gate insulator and between the source and the drain. In some cases, the humidity level may be determined by monitoring the current flowing between the source and drain.

Abstract: A method and system for seal failure annunciation comprises a process connector connected to a probe used to measure a product level in a tank. A pulse generation module generates a pulse that is propagated through a voided space in the process connector and a detector module configured to receive the echo curve from the interrogation pulse. A logic module is used to evaluate the received echo curve to determine if a seal in the process connector has failed. When the logic module indicates seal failure, an alarm module initiates an alarm indicating said seal in said process connector has failed.

Abstract: A coupling device for impedance matching a probe of a guided wave radar (GWR) system. A feed-through is for connecting to a coaxial cable or other transmission line connector that includes an inner conductor which connects to an output of a transceiver and an outer conductor that connects to an outer metal sleeve. A subwavelength coaxial transmission line (CTL) having a length from ?/5 to ?/2 is coupled to the feed-through including an inner conductor connected to the inner conductor of the feed-through and an outer conductor connected to the outer metal sleeve. A mode converter (MC) having a plurality of metal fingers (7) of length 2?± twenty percent is connected to the outer conductor of the subwavelength CTL, where the MC includes a dielectric coating on its inner conductor connected to the inner conductor of the subwavelength CTL.

Abstract: A lead-free, self-corrosion-free electrochemical galvanic oxygen sensor is provided. The preferred sensor includes a container, the container including a lead-free anode, an alkali electrolyte, a carbon platinized with platinum cathode and a nickel wire current collector, wherein the container further includes a diffusion barrier that causes the sensor to operate in the limiting current region.

Abstract: A coupling device for coupling a threaded feed-through of a process connection to provide a launcher for a non-metallic storage tank. The storage tank includes a tank aperture in its top surface. The coupling device includes a foil nozzle including an inner upper metal foil surface that includes a threaded aperture for securing the feed-through thereto, and a first and second lower metal foil surface on respective sides of the upper metal foil surface. The foil nozzle also includes a first and a second foil level transition region disposed between the respective sides of the inner upper metal foil surface and the first and second lower metal foil surface. The foil nozzle can be configured in a cylindrical, horn, or a corrugated horn shape.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a sensor that receives a first electrical signal and provides a second electrical signal in response to the first electrical signal. The second electrical signal is based on at least one parameter monitored by the sensor. The apparatus also includes an antenna that converts first wireless signals into the first electrical signal and that converts the second electrical signal into second wireless signals. The antenna includes a substrate, conductive traces, and conductive interconnects. The conductive traces are formed on first and second surfaces of the substrate. The conductive interconnects couple the conductive traces, and the conductive interconnects and the conductive traces form at least one helical arm of the antenna. The conductive traces could be formed in various ways, such as by etching or direct printing. The conductive interconnects could also be formed in various ways, such as by filling vias in the substrate or direct printing.

Abstract: A coaxial feed-through device (feed-through) for coupling a received process connection to a storage tank (tank) including an inner electrical conductor (probe), an outer electrical conductor; and a dielectric sleeve disposed between the probe and the outer electrical conductor. The dielectric sleeve is configured to provide an upper coaxial transmission line segment (upper CTL segment) providing a substantially 50 ohm impedance and a lower coaxial transmission line segment (lower CTL segment) which includes one or more sub-segments having an impedance that is at least forty (40%) percent higher as compared to the substantially 50 ohm impedance.

Abstract: An apparatus includes at least one processing device configured to determine an optimal pulse width for obtaining level measurements associated with material in a tank. The at least one processing device is also configured to generate a control signal that causes a transmitter of a guided wave radar (GWR) to transmit a signal having the optimal pulse width. The at least one processing device is further configured to send the control signal to the transmitter. The at least one processing device can also be configured to alter a length of the optimal pulse width in order to reduce false echoes detected by the GWR, reduce a size of an upper dead zone of the GWR, and/or detect a change of impedance to identify a fault of a process connector in the GWR.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a sensor that receives a first electrical signal and provides a second electrical signal in response to the first electrical signal. The second electrical signal is based on at least one parameter monitored by the sensor. The apparatus also includes an antenna that converts first wireless signals into the first electrical signal and that converts the second electrical signal into second wireless signals. The antenna includes a substrate, conductive traces, and conductive interconnects. The conductive traces are formed on first and second surfaces of the substrate. The conductive interconnects couple the conductive traces, and the conductive interconnects and the conductive traces form at least one helical arm of the antenna. The conductive traces could be formed in various ways, such as by etching or direct printing. The conductive interconnects could also be formed in various ways, such as by filling vias in the substrate or direct printing.

Abstract: A humidity sensor having a sensing component and a reference component. Each component may indicate humidity by using a transistor that has an upper gate dielectric layer with a dielectric constant which varies according to exposure to a change of moisture. The sensing component may have its upper gate dielectric layer exposed to an ambient environment. The reference component may have its upper gate dielectric layer with an absence of exposure to any environment. Sensing and reference transistor outputs may be processed with differential electronics to provide an output to indicate humidity in the ambient environment. Differential processing may reflect an output having a high common mode rejection ratio. An example of an upper gate dielectric layer deposited over a thin gate dielectric layer may be a hydrophobic polymer material. Other materials may instead be used. The components and processing electronics may be transistor circuits fabricated with integrated circuit technology.

Abstract: A coupling device for coupling a threaded feed-through of a process connection to provide a launcher for a non-metallic storage tank. The storage tank includes a tank aperture in its top surface. The coupling device includes a foil nozzle including an inner upper metal foil surface that includes a threaded aperture for securing the feed-through thereto, and a first and second lower metal foil surface on respective sides of the upper metal foil surface. The foil nozzle also includes a first and a second foil level transition region disposed between the respective sides of the inner upper metal foil surface and the first and second lower metal foil surface. The foil nozzle can be configured in a cylindrical, horn, or a corrugated horn shape.

Abstract: A coaxial feed-through device (feed-through) for coupling a received process connection to a storage tank (tank) including an inner electrical conductor (probe), an outer electrical conductor; and a dielectric sleeve disposed between the probe and the outer electrical conductor. The dielectric sleeve is configured to provide an upper coaxial transmission line segment (upper CTL segment) providing a substantially 50 ohm impedance and a lower coaxial transmission line segment (lower CTL segment) which includes one or more sub-segments having an impedance that is at least forty (40%) percent higher as compared to the substantially 50 ohm impedance.