Abstract: The method of manufacturing a magnetic rotor unit comprises providing a composite magnetic rotor body. The composite magnetic rotor body comprises magnetic particles dispersed in a polymer resin. The composite magnetic rotor body has a hole. The method further comprises inserting a shaft into the hole. The outer diameter of the shaft corresponds to the inner diameter of the hole. The method further comprises heating of the shaft. By heating the shaft, the elevated temperature of the shaft surface preferentially induces the polymer resin from an inner surface of the hole to exude or sweat on to the shaft surface, so as to provide a bonding layer between the magnetic rotor body and the shaft. An apparatus for such manufacture, and a magnetic rotor unit manufactured by such method, are also provided. Such rotor units have wide application, and may for example be used in sensors, electromagnetic generators, pulse generators, motors, magnetic brakes and magnetic couplings.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate methods and devices for measuring flow rate of particulate matter within an exhaust gas stream. In one particular exemplary embodiment, a sensor for detecting and monitoring particulate matter within an exhaust flow path of an engine is provided. The sensor includes a housing having an attachment for mounting the sensor. The sensor also includes a sensing rod supported by an insulating base. The sensing rod is attached to the housing and includes a probe adapted to be placed within the exhaust flow path. The probe includes a section having an increased surface area per unit length as compared to at least one other section of the probe. The sensing rod is configured to detect particulate matter flowing through the exhaust component and generates a signal based thereupon. The sensor further includes an electrical connector in communication with the sensing rod.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate methods and devices for measuring flow rate of particulate matter within an exhaust gas stream. In one particular exemplary embodiment, a sensor for detecting and monitoring particulate matter within an exhaust flow path of an engine is provided. The sensor includes a housing having an attachment for mounting the sensor. The sensor also includes a sensing rod supported by an insulating base. The sensing rod is attached to the housing and includes a probe adapted to be placed within the exhaust flow path. The probe includes a section having an increased surface area per unit length as compared to at least one other section of the probe. The sensing rod is configured to detect particulate matter flowing through the exhaust component and generates a signal based thereupon. The sensor further includes an electrical connector in communication with the sensing rod.

Abstract: A sensor package generally includes a substrate and one or more sensing elements, located on a surface of the substrate. A lid, such as for example a glass cap, is coupled to the substrate such that the lid and substrate define a sealed cavity accommodating the sensing element(s). The lid has at least one conductive via or well electrically coupled to the sensing element(s) inside the cavity and arranged so as to provide an electrical connection to the exterior of the lid for connecting with external circuitry. The substrate can be a piezoelectric substrate and each sensing element can consist of an interdigital transducer such that the substrate and interdigital transducer(s) define a surface acoustic wave sensor. A surface acoustic wave sensor system for sensing torque includes the sensor package and leads wire bonded to the conductive vias for attaching the sensor package to an antenna.

Abstract: A device for mounting a sensor on a device being subjected to torque such as a shaft or plate in the form of a retaining ring having an opening or chamber sized to hold the sensor. The ring has a first open end for insertion of the sensor into the chamber or opening and a second end having a lip for retaining the sensor in the opening. The second end has an opening for the sensor wires or other connecting elements. The ring has threads on the outer periphery of the retaining ring for engaging similar threads on the device being subjected to torque.

Abstract: Systems for active feedback and control of the steering response in a vehicle. More particularly, torque sensor based steering response systems for vehicles which allow for distinctive and customized driving feel characteristics through improved feedback of tire-surface interactions. The systems of the invention automatically translate the torque exerted on the vehicle wheels to a torque exerted on the vehicle steering wheel, achieving a human perception of a steering response as desired by the driver or as desired by the manufacturer. New advances in torque sensing based on surface acoustic waves enhance the active feedback systems of the invention with improved accuracy and reliability.

Abstract: A torque sensor is disclosed based on a SAW die configured on a surface of a plate, and an isolator formed from a flexible material. The isolator is rigidly mounted to the plate, such that the isolator flexes when a force perpendicular to the surface of the plate are applied while transferring a torque that is applied within a plane of the plate to the SAW die, thereby eliminating or minimizing the effect on the SAW die of out-of-plane forces on the plate so as to isolate the torque transferred to the plate.

Abstract: An acoustic wave sensor system, comprising a plurality of acoustic wave sensing devices for detecting a multiplicity of varying conditions and a common interrogation component that communicates with each acoustic wave sensing device among the plurality of acoustic wave sensor devices for providing an interrogation signal to each acoustic wave sensing device thereof. A transmitter and receiver unit can also be provided that communicates with the common interrogation component and the plurality of acoustic wave sensing devices and which transmits an interrogation signal from the common interrogation component to the at least one acoustic wave sensing device among the plurality of acoustic wave sensing devices and which receives sensor data from at least one acoustic wave sensing device.

Abstract: A micro-machined acceleration sensing apparatus includes a piezoelectric substrate that functions as a propagation medium. A diaphragm is configured upon the substrate, wherein the diaphragm is etched to form one or more etched cavities. Sensing elements are formed on the diaphragm, wherein a first sensing element among the sensing elements is located on a top of the diaphragm, a second sensing element among the sensing elements is located on a side of the diaphragm, and a third sensing element among the sensing elements is located at a crystallography different orientation with respect to the first and second sensing elements, such that the substrate, the diaphragm and the plurality of sensing elements comprise a micro-machined acceleration sensing apparatus thereof that is clamped at one end of the substrate to an object under an acceleration and submitted to a force at the free end of the substrate to provide signals indicative of acceleration.

Abstract: A die structural support apparatus and method are disclosed, in which a die component is provided. A support element can be configured for use with the die component, wherein said support element surrounds said die component, thereby strengthening said die component to provide a surrounding die support structure thereof. The die component preferably constitutes a SAW die, and may be formed from, for example, quartz. The support element can be molded, stamped, cast, machined and so forth and is preferably located with respect to the SAW die after the SAW die is formed.

Abstract: A plurality of acoustic wave sensing devices can be provided, which are mechanically simulated for implementation upon a quartz wafer substrate. The quartz wafer substrate is appropriately etched to produce a quartz diaphragm from the quartz wafer substrate. A plurality of torque SAW sensing resonators can then be located upon the quartz wafer substrate, which is based upon previously mechanically simulated devices for implementation upon the substrate, together with a quartz cover to thereby produce a quartz torque sensor package from the quartz wafer substrate.

Abstract: A torque sensor system and method. An automotive engine is located opposite a torque converter, such that a shaft extends from the engine and interacts with the torque converter. A target is located between the engine and torque converter. One or more torque sensors can be integrated with one or more position sensors for detecting a position associated with the shaft, wherein the torque sensor(s) and the position sensor(s) are integrated into a single torque sensor package to thereby provide enhanced sensing of the target in association with a rotation of shaft during an actuation of the engine.

Abstract: A torque sensor packaging system and method includes a torque member that includes one or more holes formed therein for receiving one or more respective fasteners associated with a sensing element. The sensing element can be connected to the torque member to the sensing element in order to transfer torque associated with the torque member to the sensing element for torque sensing operations thereof.

Abstract: A magneto-elastic torque sensor and system include a substrate and a magneto-elastic sensing component formed from or on the substrate. The magneto-elastic sensing component and the substrate together form a magneto-elastic torque sensor, which when subject to a stress associated with a torque, shifts a characteristic frequency thereof linearly in response to the torque, thereby inducing a pathway by which magneto-elastic energy is coupled to excite vibrations in a basal plane of the magneto-elastic sensor, thereby generating torque-based information based on a resonant frequency thereof.

Abstract: A torque sensing system generally includes a torque sensor comprising a torque sensing element configured upon a substrate in association with an antenna for sending and receiving wireless signals. A plurality of electronic controlling components for controlling the torque sensor, wherein the electronic controlling components are configured upon another substrate in association with an antenna for sending and receiving the wireless signals to and from the torque sensor, such that the torque sensor is located on a rotating member in order to generate signals indicative of a torque associated with the rotating member, and wherein the signals are wirelessly transmittable from the torque the via the antenna configured upon the substrate in association with the torque sensor.

Abstract: A device, system, and method for measuring torque, comprising an acoustic wave device removably attached to a rotatable shaft by a variably-shaped retainer, wherein removal of the acoustic wave device with the variably-shaped retainer facilitates servicing and replacement of the torque measurement device. The acoustic wave device can be removably attached to the rotatable shaft by using one or more connectors. Other acoustic wave devices such as acoustic wave resonators, surface acoustic wave delay lines, surface acoustic wave filters, and surface transverse waves can also be removably attached to the rotatable shaft to measure torque.

Abstract: Many mechanical systems contain rotating parts used to transfer power from one part of the system to another. The system's efficiency and longevity can be increased by measuring the speed and loading of the rotating parts. Passive wireless sensors are ideal for instrumenting rotating parts because they require no connecting wires and no stored energy. The sensor measurements contain read errors when the stationary interrogation circuit and the rotating sensor are not ideally aligned. The read errors are a function of the angular offset between the stationary interrogation circuit and the passive sensor. As such, the read errors are deterministic. A measurement of the angular offset between the stationary interrogation circuit and the passive sensor is used to determine a correction factor that cancels out the read error to produce a compensated sensor signal.

Abstract: A cooking oil quality sensing apparatus and system includes an acoustic wave sensor comprising one or more acoustic wave transducers configured upon a piezoelectric substrate such that when the acoustic wave sensor is in contact with cooking oil, the sensor generates acoustic wave data indicative of the quality of the cooking oil. An antenna can be integrated with the acoustic wave sensor, such that the antenna receives data an external source and transmits the acoustic wave data indicative of the quality of the cooking oil to the external source. An oscillator can be integrated with the acoustic wave sensor, such that the output of the oscillator contains data indicative of the quality of the cooking oil. The acoustic wave sensor can be coated with a material that is selectively sensitive and/or reactive to one or more fatty acids associated with or contained in the cooking oil.

Abstract: An acoustic wave flow sensor includes a piezoelectric substrate and a heater located immediately below the acoustic wave substrate. A heating element can be deposited in association with a plurality of acoustic wave components upon the acoustic wave substrate. The acoustic wave components, the piezoelectric substrate, the heater and the heating element operate in a high-condensation environment, such that the plurality of acoustic wave components are heated directly by the heater and/or the heating element, thereby promoting a desorption of water in the high-condensation environment in order to achieve accurate and reliable flow sensing data thereof.

Abstract: Sensor systems and methods are disclosed herein. A relative humidity sensor is generally associated one or more porous heating elements. A porous resistive material surrounds the relative humidity sensor. Additionally, one or more flat heating elements can be bonded to a base of the relative humidity sensor to conduct heat and insure uniform heating about the relative humidity sensor. The porous heating elements can be configured to permit humid air to pass through the porous heating elements. Also, the porous heating element(s) can be assembled slightly offset from a surface of the relative humidity sensor so that air that is saturated with water vapor passes through and is heated by the porous heating element in order to evaporate water droplets associated with the water vapor and thereby reduce relative humidity to a measurable level. The porous resistive material can be configured from a material such as, for example, tantalum or nichrome.