Abstract: An air conditioning system includes an air conditioner for blowing conditioned air toward a compartment of a vehicle, and a dashboard having a design surface exposed to the compartment. An inner air passage extending nearly parallel to the design surface is formed in the dashboard, and a plurality of diffusion blowing openings are formed in the design surface. Thus, the condensed air is blown from the diffusion blowing openings into the compartment of the vehicle, while passing through the inner air passage. For example, cool air is blown from the diffusion blowing openings, so that the cool air can cool the dashboard while cooling the compartment of the vehicle. Moreover, because the cool air passes through the inner air passage extending nearly parallel to the design surface, the dashboard can be effectively cooled.

Abstract: A distributed refrigeration system has a temperature controlled case configured to store and display objects in a facility, a first coolant adapted to cool the objects and circulate through a first cooling system configured to operate with the case, and a second cooling system communicating with the first cooling system to receive a second coolant for removing heat from the first coolant. A method of providing a distributed refrigeration system for delivery to a facility includes providing a temperature-controlled case to store and display objects within a facility, assembling a self-contained first cooling system with the case to circulate a first coolant to cool the objects, and providing a second cooling system communicating with the first cooling system, the second cooling system having a supply connection and a return connection to circulate a second coolant to remove heat from the first coolant.

Abstract: A cooling mechanism within an integrated circuit includes an internal pump for circulating thermally conductive fluid within closed loop channels. The cooling channels are embedded within an integrated circuit die, such as in interlevel dielectric layers between metal levels. The channels are formed by engineering deposition of a layer to line trenches and form continuous voids along the trenches. Exemplary heat pumps comprise cavities, formed in communication with the channels, covered by piezoelectric actuators. Preferably, the actuators are wired to act in sequence as a peristaltic pump, circulating the fluid within the channels. The channels are positioned to carry heat from active devices within the integrated circuit, and a heat sink carries heat from the die.

Abstract: An air conditioning system with thermal storage that is suitable for using solar energy. A solar collector used energy from the sun to evaporate water from a desiccant fluid. The desiccant fluid is then flows into a mass transfer device, which removes moisture from an air stream. Calcium chloride is the preferred desiccant material and can serve as an energy-storage medium. Electric or fuel backup can be used with this system to regenerate the desiccant material. In some embodiments an indirect evaporative cooler is added to provide sensible cooling. A new desiccant cooling system that is specially designed to work with the properties of this desiccant and meet comfort requirements of conventional air conditioning.

Abstract: A compressor having a vibration reducing structure comprising: a hermetic container having a suction pipe and a discharge pipe communicated thereto, a driving force generating means located in the hermetic container for generating a driving force, a compression unit for compressing gas by receiving the driving force from the driving force generating means; and an accumulator arranged at one side of the hermetic container and connected to one side of the suction pipe for filtering gas, wherein the suction pipe is provided with a vibration preventing means which absorbs vibration so as to prevent vibration generated at the compression unit from being transmitted to the accumulator through the suction pipe, thereby reducing noise due to the vibration and increasing a reliability of the compressor.

Abstract: A device for cheaply and quickly thawing frozen food and particularly frozen meat. A container impervious to water has a quick-release connection for connection to a pump. A second container for holding frozen food is immersed in the first container. The second container will have bores so that water will freely circulate from the first container to the second container. The pump recirculates water through both containers equalizing the water temperature in the container and more quickly thawing frozen food submerged within the water in the second container. A single pump may be connected to more than one water reservoir container making it possible to simply and quickly increase food thawing capacity by simply adding extra containers depending on the amount of frozen food to be thawed.

Abstract: An insert is provided for use in a refrigerant receiver of a vehicular air conditioning system. The receiver has an interior that receives the insert and a charge of desiccant. The receiver is connected to a header of a condenser by a refrigerant inlet to the interior from the header and a refrigerant outlet from the interior to the header. The insert includes a wall having a first and second oppositely facing sides. The first side lies closer to the inlet than the second side with the insert received in the interior of the receiver. A first portion of the wall is aligned with the inlet, and at least the first portion is substantially impervious to the refrigerant flow from the inlet to shield the desiccant charge from direct impingement by refrigerant flow from the inlet. In one embodiment, the second side cooperates with a surface of the interior to define a receptacle for the desiccant. In another embodiment, the second side defines a receptacle surrounding the desiccant.

Abstract: A dual centrifugal compressor refrigeration system has one evaporator for both compressors. The evaporator provides the centrifugal compressors with refrigerant vapor through separate suction connections for each compressor. Each suction connection has a protrusion that extends into the evaporator vessel to disturb the axial flow of refrigerant vapor in the evaporator vessel. The disturbance of the axial flow of refrigerant vapor in the evaporator vessel permits a surging compressor to draw refrigerant vapor in order to recover from the surge condition.

Abstract: A hair decoration such as a kit comprises a series of beads connectable to one another and a set of appliqués. At least a portion of the beads contains one or more lights inside which are in electrical communication with one another to permit power to be commonly supplied to the lights from a battery. One or more beads includes a mechanism for attaching the beads to hair. A light circuit is coupled to the light-containing beads to drive the lights. Appliqués in the set of appliqués are selectively applicable to the beads by a user, have a transmissivity, and are in a path of illumination of the lights. As a result, when the lights are driven by the light circuit, the lights shine and provide illumination in the path. The illumination can be direct or backlit. A method of decorating hair is also provided.

Abstract: A device and method is disclosed for manufacturing optical fiber preforms utilizing microwave plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition. Precursor gas is introduced to the face of a vertically mounted dielectric rod, and a plasma is struck by means of simultaneous excitation of an E01 type wave and an H type wave with rotating linear polarization. The silica rod is positioned so that its face is at the bottom of the tube. Precursor gas is delivered from a position below the face of the silica rod, and microwave energy, which travels through the rod to the rod face, is delivered from a source positioned above the rod. With this configuration, a uniformly dense plasma localized on the face of the rod can simultaneously deposit both a pure or doped core and a doped cladding. It is also useful for creating waveguides, preform cores for use as substrates in creating optical fiber preforms, capillaries and ceramic rods.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the manufacture of optical fiber preforms using plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). The invention consists of a cylindrical reactor in which material such as flourine-doped silica glass is deposited on a cylindrical silica rod. A furnace for regulating reactor temperature encases the reactor. A microwave generator coupled with a resonator and an H10 waveguide delivers microwave energy to the reactor, producing simultaneously symmetrical excitations in the E010 mode and a plasma surface wave in E01 mode located at the surface of the rod. A microwave plasma is scanned along the length of the rod through a slit in the reactor to deposit a homogeneous film of a desired thickness. The benefits of the present invention over the prior art include increased absorption of delivered power, and the ability to uniformly deposit films such as flourine-doped silica on rods with diameters of up to 30-35 mm and thus produce optical fiber preforms with diameters greater than 40 mm.

Abstract: Techniques are described for fabricating a preform from a soot body. In one described technique, a soot body is loaded into a substrate tube, and the position of the soot body is stabilized within the tube. The tube is then rotated around its longitudinal axis. Heat is applied from a heat source to the substrate tube at a first end of the soot body to cause the first end of the soot body to begin to sinter and to cause the substrate tube to begin to at least partially collapse around the sintered portion of the soot body. The heat source is then advanced along the substrate tube and the soot body to cause a progressive sintering of the soot body, and to cause a progressive, at least partial, collapse of the substrate tube around the sintered portion of the soot body.

Abstract: The present invention provides a drawing method for optical fiber, which is capable of reducing attenuation at 1.55 um due to Rayleigh scattering, even if the drawing speed is high. The reduction of the attenuation of the optical fiber 3 is realized by conducting a preliminary cooling in a first cooling zone 4, which has a low convection heat transfer coefficient, for reducing the temperature of the as-drawn optical fiber just before entering into a second cooling zone 5. The optical fiber is obtained after being cooled in the second cooling zone 5, which has a higher convection heat transfer coefficient.

Abstract: A flat knitting machine (1) comprising a number of needles (15) arranged in needle grooves (13) formed on needle beds (5, 6) in such a manner as to be freely advanced or retracted; sinkers (41, 123), arranged between the needles (15, 15), to work to form loops; and at least a pair of front and back needle beds having a front edge portion (53, 121) and arranged to confront each other across a needle bed gap, wherein the sinker (41, 123) and the front edge portion (53, 121) of the needle bed are both supported on the needle bed in such a manner as to be movable in an advancing and retracting direction of the needle and also control means (60, 151) is provided for controlling an advanced or retracted motion of both of the sinker (41, 123) and the front edge portion (53, 121) of the needle bed, to adjust a dimension of the needle bed gap between the front and back needle beds (5, 6).

Abstract: A method for making a textile web with a base web and at least one tubular knitting region (21, 21′, 23, 23′) extending transversely to a knitting direction on a straight and circular knitter with at least two opposite needle beds includes making the tubular region(s) (21, 21′, 23, 23′) on a needle bed, whereby from a starting knitting row (15, 15′), a part of the needles (B, F, J, N, d, n, 1) respectively hold the knitting of the base web without knitting and with the other needles, knitting rows for making the tubular region according to the desired length are formed, before knitting is formed again in an ending knitting row (16, 16′) of the tubular region with the needles (B, F, J, N, d, h, 1) holding the knitting of the base web. The free end of the tubular region is connected with the base web.

Abstract: A washing machine capable of minimizing tangle and damage of the laundry is disclosed. The washing machine includes: a wash shaft installed perpendicularly at a lower center of an inner tub, and rotated by a rotational force transferred from a motor; a wash plate orbiting about a rotational center of the wash shaft to form a stream of water; and a movement converting unit for converting a rotational movement of the wash shaft to a orbiting movement of the wash plate.

Abstract: Drum type washing machine with a rotatable baffle including a tub fitted in a cabinet, a drum in a tub to be rotatable as rotation force is received from a motor part, and the baffle fitted in the drum to be rotatable in a direction opposite to a direction of rotation of the drum, thereby enhancing a washing efficiency because the baffle increases a friction to the laundry as the baffle and the drum rotate in opposite directions, and improving a laundry drying performance because spun laundry is taken off from an inside surface of the drum before drying the laundry, and preventing formation of wrinkles on dried laundry.

Abstract: A manual clothes-washing device made up of a handle, which is connected to a washing body by a threaded means, a sheath and a splash cone. The washing body is a generally concave disc with a plurality of apertures connected to a generally cylindrical tube that extends from a central portion of the disc to a tube end threaded for connection with the handle. The sheath is placed over the washing body and connected to the handle. A splash cone attachment fits over the second end of the sheath. Clothes are washed by alternatively plunging and lifting a portion of the device in a mixture of clothes and liquid to suspend the soil from the clothes within the liquid.

Abstract: A security device for a vehicle door or shipping container hasp includes a hinged cover with a window that permits the hasp to partially project thereinthrough, and a lock for fixing the cover in an overlaying relationship with the hasp. The cover includes slots on the side for bypassing a lever held by said hasp, and otherwise shields the hasp from intrusion from a prying tool.

Abstract: By forming a combination padlock from heavy duty metal throughout with an enlarged, heavy duty locking bar or shackle being employed having a tamper-proof holding cavity for the terminating, locking end of the locking bar, an effective, easily produced, high security padlock is achieved which employs a combination system for fully operating the padlock. In addition, the combination padlock of the present invention incorporates tumbler or clutch wheel constructions which cooperate with the rotating dials to virtually eliminate any possibility that an unauthorized person would be capable of gaining access to the padlock by known combination lock picking techniques by forming each tumbler or clutch wheel with a plurality of radially extending fins formed thereon, with each of the fins being arcuately spaced from the adjacent fin in a non-symmetrical pattern.

Abstract: Highly preferred embodiments of the present invention have a lock bolt extendible and retractable by movement of a power transmission assembly driven by an actuator and having a cam thereon which cams against the lock bolt to retract the lock bolt and unlock the steering column. In some preferred embodiments, the cam has a curved surface with varying distance from the axis of rotation of the cam or pivot to produce smooth and controlled lock bolt camming action with little to no jarring motion. In order to significantly reduce manufacturing and assembly time and cost, some or all of the power transmission assembly can be assembled prior to installation in the lock assembly frame. More preferably, some or all of the power transmission assembly is integrally formed. Preferably, part or all of the lock assembly can be assembled without turning, flipping, or otherwise re-orienting the lock assembly during assembly.

Abstract: A lock comprises an inner handle assembly, a latch bolt, and an outer handle assembly. The outer handle assembly comprises an outer handle, an outer spindle, an actuating sleeve rotatably mounted in the outer spindle and having two guide slots each having an inclined section and a horizontal section, a locking plate mounted in the actuating sleeve and including two wings, and an unlatching member operably connected to the latch bolt. Each wing is extended through an associated guide slot into an associated positioning slot in the outer spindle. When the lock is in an unlocked state, the unlatching member is engaged with the locking plate to allow joint rotation. When the lock is in a locked state, the unlatching member is disengaged from the unlatching member such that the unlatching member is not turned when the outer handle is turned.

Abstract: The invention relates to a door handle device which is arranged to be moved between at least a first position and a second position. Said handle device comprises an actuator, being substantially made of shape memory alloy (SMA), for effecting the movement of said handle device between said at least first and second positions. The invention also relates to a vehicle and a door system comprising said handle device.

Abstract: An integrated method is developed to utilise to a maximum extent the fresh biomass of seaweeds such as Kappaphycus alvarezii that can be crushed to release sap and where the sap is useful as a potent liquid fertilizer after suitable treatment with additives and dilution while the residue is a superior raw material for extraction of &kgr;-carrageenan, thereby enhancing the value of the seaweed. Other advantages of the invention include a reduced drying time and drying area to obtain the raw material for &kgr;-carrageenan production in dry and storable form, a reduced cost of transporting and storing this raw material because of its lesser bulk, easier handling due to its free flowing granular nature, and its direct use for gel preparation in certain applications.

Abstract: Volatility-inhibited fertilizers are prepared by coating granular urea with a coating that includes a binding agent having a boron anion and a hydrogen bonding group to adhere the binding agent to the granular urea. The binding agent may be an amino alcohol borate in which the amino alcohol is selected from the group consisting of ethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, and mixtures thereof, or a borate of an amino alcohol complex of a divalent metal. The borates are preferably prepared as an aqueous solution of the amino alcohol and boric acid, or the amino alcohol, a divalent metal salt, and boric acid, with the aqueous solution being applied to the urea granules. Additional plant nutrients may also be coated onto the urea granules.

Abstract: Compositions for increasing the amount of available silica, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur are described herein. The compositions contain calcium silicate (CaSiO2) and magnesium sulfite (MgSO3). Calcium silicate may be in the form of calcium silicate slag. Magnesium sulfite may be a by-product obtained from power plants. In one embodiment, the composition is in granular form and contains 65-90% (wt) calcium silicate slag, 20-30% (wt) magnesium sulfite, 0-5% (wt) expandible clay, and 2-10% (wt) residual moisture (H2O). In a preferred embodiment, the granules contain 31% (wt) silica, 22% (wt) calcium, 3% (wt) magnesium, and 4% (wt) sulfur. In a second embodiment, the composition is non granular and contains 75-90% (wt) calcium silicate slag, 10-20% (wt) magnesium sulfite and 0-10% (wt) H2O. The compositions may be applied to golf courses or residential or commercial lawns to improve the growth of grasses and their resistance to disease and insects.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions based on a homogeneous, aqueous phase comprising at least one active ingredient from the class of the quaternized compounds, ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block copolymers and ammonium nitrate. Further active ingredients can be incorporated. The homogeneous phase is stabilized by ammonium nitrate. The use of the compositions as bioregulators is described.

Abstract: A width conversion tool used to form a crease in the rear surface of a panel profile. The conversion tool has two legs with a gap formed therebetween which the rear surface slides through. A crease is formed in the rear surface by rollers and/or raised surfaces which protrude into the gap and deform the rear surface as it passes through the gap.

Abstract: A hard metal or non-metal member can be formed or shaped to have varying amounts of curvature and tapering by passing the member through a forming channel defined by two sets of opposed, axially displaceable rollers which can be dynamically moved horizontally and vertically in a predetermined range. The rollers are controlled by a computer, a translator, and a electromechanical displacement system such as a servo motor. Using data input by a user or preprogrammed instructions containing displacement instruction in the computer, the computer can subsequently instruct servo motors, via a translator, to move the rollers in the available axial directions. The servo motors may include a mechanism for converting rotational movement into fine linear mechanical movement of the rollers. The timing and rate of movement, direction, and force of the roller can be controlled to form and shape the member into a specific contour of curves or tapering sides.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing small diameter ultrasonic probes capable of vibrating in a transverse mode that can be used in ultrasonic tissue ablation. The apparatus includes a die, a style puller which is used to engage a functional end of the medical device, and a die room puller which is used to draw the medical device through the die. The die includes a bell-shaped lead-in on a front side of the die and a bell-shaped lead-in on a back side of the die allowing for reversal of the direction of the draw. The method of manufacturing includes heat treating a large diameter medical device, drawing the large diameter device through a die and reversing the draw of the medical device through the die to provide a medical device having a varying diameter along a length of the device. The method is repeated until a final diameter is reached.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for manufacturing a closed profile in a profile structure and a closed profile manufactured according to the method. The closed profile used and constituted by a metal material of iron, alloyed with chromium, nickel and carbon in predetermined proportions is plastically formed, wherein a strong strain hardening of the closed profile is obtained.

Abstract: A weight measuring apparatus allowing a weight measurement value to be completely proportional to an amount of distortion over all measurement range. A linear calibration means 3 for performing correction so that a relation of the weight to the amount of distortion may become linear over all measurement range is provided. Therefore, even if the input-output characteristic of a strain gauge 1 or that of an amplifier 2 is not held linear, the resultant weight measurement value becomes linear over all measurement range, thus enabling the precise measuring of weight.

Abstract: The invention proposes a sensor element (5) for detecting a physical measurement variable such as a pressure, a temperature, a capacitance, or a gap width between two bodies (10, 20) that move in relation to each other during operation and experience high tribological stress. In certain areas between the surfaces of the bodies (10, 20) that move in relation to each other, in a surface region of at least one of the bodies (10), a sensitive layer (13, 30), in particular a sensor segment (13), is provided, which is separated from the body (10) by an insulation layer (12).

Abstract: A system for determining polarization of a gas comprises a container that contains the polarized gas. An oscillator circuit comprises an NMR coil that is positioned adjacent to the container. A pulse generator circuit is configured to generate an electrical pulse that may be transmitted to the optical cell through the NMR coil to excite the polarized gas responsive to a control processor. A Q-reduction circuit that is independent of the pulse generator circuit is configured to reduce oscillations in the oscillator circuit from the transmitted electrical pulse responsive to the control processor. A receive circuit is responsive to an electrical signal that is induced in the oscillator circuit due to the electromagnetic excitation of the polarized gas. The control processor is configured to determine the polarization of the gas based on the output signal of the receive circuit.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for measuring mercury easily with stringent measuring conditions being alleviated are provided, in which while a gas (G) such as an air containing no mercury is allowed to flow through a column (1) filled with an adsorbent material (11) effective to adsorb mercury, hydrocarbon (S) (sample) to be measured is injected into the column to allow the mercury contained therein to be adsorbed by the adsorbent material (11) to remove a volatile component other than mercury that is subsequently measured by a mercury measuring instrument (4).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for evaluating the properties of hydrogen to improve the safety of hydrogen fuel, and provides a method for selecting proper odorants for hydrogen. Odorized hydrogen containing suitable odorants in appropriate concentrations with hydrogen are also provided.

Abstract: A method of scanning a deep feature using an atomic force microscopy (AFM) tip, which includes: locating and mapping the deep feature with a surface survey scan; analyzing the scan data to identify an initial optimum location; moving the AFM tip to the initial optimum location; and repeating a first procedure until the AFM tip reaches a bottom of the deep feature, which includes: (a) lowering the AFM tip in a first direction by a first distance increment; (b) measuring atomic force interactions exerted on the AFM tip to determine whether the bottom of the deep feature has been reached; (c) moving the AFM tip in a geometric pattern and within a current plane; (d) measuring atomic force interactions exerted on the AFM tip at various locations in the geometric pattern to determine a new optimum location where the atomic force interactions are minimum; and (e) moving the AFM tip to the new optimum location, repeating (a-e) until bottom has been reached, (f) then measure the depth.

Abstract: A low tire pressure monitoring device that is affixed to a tire valve stern and methods of using the same. The monitoring device comprises a housing having a counter-pressure chamber, a main pressure chamber, and a flexible membrane that separates the two chambers. The monitoring device is calibrated by trapping the tire's initial air pressure in the counter-pressure chamber. The air pressure within the main pressure chamber is equivalent to the air pressure within the tire. Over the course of time, the air pressure within the tire and concomitantly the air pressure within the main pressure chamber decreases. When the pressure in the counter-pressure is greater than the pressure within the main pressure chamber, the flexible membrane touches and completes an electrical circuit and a warning signal is emitted.

Abstract: A tire internal pressure monitor ECU is switched between a monitoring mode where internal pressures of tires of a vehicle are monitored, and a registering mode where ID codes assigned to sensor units provided in the tires are registered. In the registering mode, when receiving the ID code from the sensor unit, the ECU registers the ID code along with instructing an auxiliary device to operate a predetermined conduct that can be seen from an outside of the vehicle. Namely, the predetermined conduct of the auxiliary device notifies completion of registering the ID code, which results in enhancing operation efficiency in registering of the ID code.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided to determine downhole pressures, such as annular pressure and/or pore pressure, during a drilling operation. A bottom hole assembly (BHA) of a downhole tool includes one or more pressure equalizing assemblies capable of registering the pore pressure when the BHA is at rest and in contact with the wellbore, and annular pressure of a wellbore when it is not. Wellbore fluid is permitted to enter the pressure equalizing assembly and register an annular pressure measurement. Once the BHA comes into contact with the wellbore and to rest, fluid communication is established between the pressure equalizing assembly and the formation to generate a pore pressure measurement. The pressure equalizing assembly includes a sliding valve selectively moveable between an open and closed position in response to operation of the BHA so that the desired pressure measurement may be taken.

Abstract: A system and method of measuring pressure in highly deviated or horizontal wellbores. In a described example, a pressure measurement system includes an apparatus which has a tube wrapped helically about a tubular mandrel. The tube is connected to a line extending to a remote location. A predetermined fluid is displaced through the line and the tube, so that fluid pressure in a well at the apparatus may be measured at the remote location.

Abstract: Firstly, a supporting frame is produced, whose opening is spanned by an auxiliary layer flush on one side. Following the production of microstructures, flat parts or membranes on the common plane defined by the auxiliary layer and the supporting frame, the auxiliary layer is removed, preferably by etching. In a preferred application, the self-supporting microstructures produced in accordance with the method of the invention are used as electrically heatable resistance grids in a device for measuring weak gas flows.

Abstract: The device for detecting movement, particularly that due to wind, comprises a sensor (15) supplying a signal at the time of detection and processing means (21, 22, 23) for converting the detected signal into a control signal. The signal supplied by the sensor (15) is used as an alarm signal for the processing means (21, 22, 23).

Abstract: A system for determining a property of a fluid based on ultrasonic diffraction grating spectroscopy includes a diffraction grating on a solid in contact with the fluid. An interrogation device delivers ultrasound through the solid and a captures a reflection spectrum from the diffraction grating. The reflection spectrum including a diffraction order equal to zero exhibits a peak whose location is used to determine speed of sound in the fluid. A separate measurement of the acoustic impedance is combined with the determined speed of sound to yield a measure of fluid density. A system for determining acoustic impedance includes an ultrasonic transducer on a first surface of a solid member, and an opposed second surface of the member is in contact with a fluid to be monitored. A longitudinal ultrasonic pulse is delivered through the solid member, and a multiplicity of pulse echoes caused by reflections of the ultrasonic pulse between the solid-fluid interface and the transducer-solid interface are detected.

Abstract: A Pressure Sensing Apparatus is dislosed. Also disclosed is an apparatus that provides increased pressure sensitivity without added cost and complexity in the electronic detector circuitry. The apparatus further is less sensitive to gravity, vibrations or other external influences. It is a still further object that the apparatus be available with curved bellow head, formed with either concave or convex reflective surfaces. Other versions of the apparatus may have a deflectable focusing diaphragm that permits pressure detection responsive to the curvature of the diaphragm in response to pressure differentials across the diaphragm.

Abstract: A pressure measuring structure of a hot air generator is provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to dealing with an effect of ambient conditions on operation of an installation in response to a physical action. By way of example, when the installation is a measuring installation, master circuitry (12) is used in measuring a physical action. Control circuitry (32) matching the master circuitry is isolated from the physical action. The master and control circuitry, in close physical relationship, are similarly subjected to ambient conditions. An actual output and an expected output f the control circuitry are compared and a discrepancy is detected. The output of the master circuitry (12) is modified in accordance with said discrepancy, for example to compensate for the effect of the ambient conditions, or to cancel recorded n of an erroneous measurement.

Abstract: A fiber-optic pressure sensor having a pressure measuring head including a housing which accommodates a diaphragm functioning as a pressure transducer and completing a translational movement under applied pressure and including at least one optical waveguide, the face of which is directed to the inside surface of the diaphragm and via which the light emitted by a light source is introduced into the pressure measuring head, the inside diaphragm surface having a pattern of highly reflective areas and areas of low reflectivity.

Abstract: A sine wave electric signal whose frequency continuously varies within a predetermined frequency range is applied to a piezoelectric speaker, whereby a vibration frequency characteristic of the piezoelectric speaker is detected. A change of the frequency characteristic of the piezoelectric speaker when the piezoelectric speaker is brought into contact with concrete filled into a precast concrete form is detected based on the vibration frequency characteristic detected. With this unique feature, a filling status of concrete in the precast concrete form can exactly be detected independently of the hardness of water contained in the concrete and ambient temperature, and even if a temperature difference between air and the concrete is small.

Abstract: A flowmeter includes a vibratable conduit, a driver connected to the conduit and operable to impart motion to the conduit, and a sensor connected to the conduit and operable to sense the motion of the conduit. A control and measurement system is connected to the driver and the sensor. The control and measurement system includes circuitry to receive a sensor signal from the sensor, generate a drive signal based on the sensor signal, supply the drive signal to the driver, and generate a measurement of a property of material flowing through the conduit based on the sensor signal.