Abstract: Disclosed is a composite hydrological monitoring system, in which a counterweight component and a test component are respectively connected to both opposite ends of a strip and a plurality of sensors are disposed at different vertical positions. Accordingly, the scour depth can be measured by sensing the location of the counterweight component, whereas the water level and/or flow velocity can be determined by signals from the sensors. When the counterweight component moves downward with sinking of the riverbed, the strip would be pulled down and thus causes the test component to present a change in mechanical energy. Accordingly, the sinking depth can be measured by sensing the change of the mechanical energy. Additionally, since the water level variation would cause signal changes of the sensors arranged in a row along a vertical direction, the change of water level can be determined accordingly.

Abstract: Measuring device with a control and evaluation unit, a radiation source for emitting an illumination light ray and a fine targeting and target tracking functionality, a variation of the emission of the illumination light ray being effected automatically controlled by the control and evaluation unit, in the course of the fine targeting and target tracking functionality, such that a known sequence of illumination ray flashes is generated.

Abstract: A gyro sensor having increased sensitivity is provided, along with an electronic apparatus including the gyro sensor. The gyro sensor includes: a vibrator; a first piezoelectric layer, and a second piezoelectric layer. The first piezoelectric layer, which includes a first electrode pair and a first piezoelectric film arranged between the first electrode pair, is arranged on a front surface of the vibrator and is capable of causing the vibrator to vibrate in a first axis direction vertical to the front surface. The second piezoelectric layer, which includes a second electrode pair and a second piezoelectric film arranged between the second electrode pair, is arranged on the first piezoelectric layer and is capable of causing the vibrator to vibrate in the first axis direction. The second piezoelectric layer functions synchronously with the first piezoelectric layer to cause the vibrator to vibrate in the first axis direction.

Abstract: A physical quantity sensor includes a base substrate, a movable portion that is oscillatably provided around an axis while facing the base substrate and that is divided into a first movable portion and a second movable portion, a first fixed electrode that is disposed on the base substrate facing the first movable portion, and a second fixed electrode that is disposed on the base substrate facing the second movable portion. The first fixed electrode and the second fixed electrode are configured so as to offset at least a part of a difference between a first fringe capacitance, which is between the first movable portion and the first fixed electrode, and a second fringe capacitance, which is between the second movable portion and the second fixed electrode.

Abstract: A fully reciprocal atomic interferometric gyroscope is provided. The fully reciprocal atomic interferometric gyroscope includes an atomic chamber, a plurality of lasers, a controller and measurement sensor. The atomic chamber is used to hold an atom cloud. The plurality of lasers are selectively positioned to selectively direct laser beams into the atomic chamber. The controller is configured to control the plurality lasers to initially cool the atom cloud to a point where at least one optical lattice can be formed that is used to move wave function halves of atoms of the atom cloud along split wave function paths that form an interferometer cycle. The measurement sensor is configured to conduct a phase readout of a wave function upon the completion of at least one interferometer cycle around the split wave function paths.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to a system for effectuating presentation of a terrain around a vehicle on a display in the vehicle. In some implementations, the system receives information related to the vehicle's location, the height above the ground surface of the terrain, and the vehicle's orientation from one or more first sensors coupled to the vehicle; obtains a three dimensional topographical map of a terrain around the vehicle based on the location of the vehicle; and receives imagery data from one or more second sensors coupled to the vehicle, the imagery data corresponding to the terrain, wherein the imagery data comprises instantaneous imagery and previously recorded imagery. The system effectuates presentation of the imagery data corresponding to the terrain on the three dimensional topographical map based on the location, the height above the ground surface of the terrain, and the orientation of the vehicle.

Abstract: A lane departure detection computing device for a roadside device is disclosed. The computing device is configured to execute instructions stored in a memory to: calculate a first path geometry relating to a first vehicle traveling in a first lane; calculate a second path geometry relating to a second vehicle traveling in a second lane different from the first lane; evaluate coextensive portions of the first path geometry and the second path geometry for parallelism; if the coextensive portions of the first path geometry and the second path geometry evaluated for parallelism are not parallel, determine that one of the first vehicle and the second vehicle is executing a lane departure; and operate a vehicle configured for autonomous operation responsive to the determination that one of the first vehicle and the second vehicle is executing a lane departure.

Abstract: A positioning method includes the steps of: obtaining a first geographic coordinate set of a first geographic position at water level in a geographic coordinate system; after a positioning system dives into water at the first geographic position, measuring acceleration in the geographic coordinate system for a predetermined time duration; calculating a displacement vector of the positioning system during the predetermined time duration; calculating an estimated coordinate set of an underwater position of the positioning system according to the displacement vector and using the first geographic coordinate set as an initial point; and outputting the estimated coordinate set to indicate the underwater position of the positioning system.

Abstract: A pattern able to be updated by an operator, the position, the orientation and/or the shape of the trajectory pattern dependent on trajectory parameters, the device comprises at least display means to view the trajectory pattern and the representation of the zone, and means for computing and storing the position data of the pattern and of the representation, the representation comprising a set of control points, the function of a control point being to define at least the value of one of the trajectory parameters, the value being dependent on the movement of the control point, a trajectory pattern modification resulting from an interaction of the operator moving at least one control point.

Abstract: This disclosure provides techniques for the creation of maps of indoor spaces. In these techniques, an individual or a team with no mapping or cartography expertise can contribute to the creation of maps of buildings, campuses or cities. An indoor location system can track the location of contributors in the building. As they walk through indoor spaces, an application may automatically create a map based on data from motion sensors by both tracking the location of the contributors and also inferring building features such as hallways, stairways, and elevators based on the tracked contributors' motions as they move through a structure. With these techniques, the process of mapping buildings can be crowd sourced to a large number of contributors, making the indoor mapping process efficient and easy to scale up.

Abstract: A method and system of localizing a mobile device having a processor and a memory. The method comprises monitoring, using the processor and the memory, mobile device barometric data along a sequence of positions describing a route being traversed, accessing, using the processor, a repository of barometric fingerprint data associated with respective positions along the route, and using the processor, localizing the mobile device based at least in part on matching a mobile device barometric pattern segment with a correlating pattern segment of the barometric fingerprint data of the repository, the mobile device barometric pattern segment derived at least partly based on ambient barometric pressure measurements associated with at least a pair of contiguous positions in the sequence of positions describing the route.

Abstract: Segment signatures for road segments may be generated to enable, among other things, conflation of map data. To generate a segment signature, map data is analyzed to determine road segments represented by the map data. A road segment may be converted into a segment signature to enable comparing road segments between different maps and/or for other reasons. The segment signature may be generated for a road segment and may include truncated geohashes or geohashes including fewer significant digits than more precise geohashes for points along the road segment, thereby designating a small area of land for comparison purposes. The segment signature may include alphanumeric digits representing a start angle and an end angle of the road segment.

Abstract: Provided is a navigation server, a navigation client, and a navigation method that allow for searching for a route estimated to have a low degree of making a user feel burdened. A server cost recognition correction element 12 evaluates, for at least one of a plurality of indices representing one or both of a road environment of a subject segment and a relative relationship between the subject segment and one or more of other segments included in the server route candidate, a segment cost index value representing a traffic difficulty of the subject segment, and corrects a cost of the subject segment using the segment cost index value of the subject segment (STEP234, STEP236, STEP239, STEP241, STEP244, STEP247, STEP249, STEP350, and STEP450).

Abstract: A method and a system for guiding a vehicle from a source to a target within a scenario with obstacles are disclosed. The source is established as a starting point and a subpath to the target is computed. When an obstacle is detected that crosses the computed subpath, a plurality of obstacle-free subpaths are computed to connect the starting point to a waypoint of an outer boundary of a detected obstacle. Priorities for each waypoint are computed and ordered accordingly in a list of potential waypoints to select the highest priority waypoint in the list as a new starting point. Previous operations are repeated until the target is reached, thus the path is obtained by backtracking waypoints to the source. The vehicle can be then guided and the target reached via the obtained path.

Abstract: Systems and methods may provide for generating and using information about fuel options along a predetermined route. An optimized fuel location server may use information related to the fuel efficiency in a given vehicle and information related to the amount of fuel currently present in a fuel tank associated with the vehicle to determine where along the predetermined route fuel will be required. The optimized fuel location server may also determine where the vehicle should stop for fuel to navigate the route in the lowest cost way possible. The optimized fuel location server may further consider user preferences, such as preferred fuel providers, in determining which fuel option should be used. Finally, the optimized fuel location server may be configured to send notifications (e.g., real-time, etc.) to a user device when the user device is within the vicinity of one or more fuel options.

Abstract: A method and system. A request to generate for a user a geographical map is received, wherein the map depicts one or more travel routes from a specified initial address to a specified destination address, specified features relating to the one or more travel routes, and unique identifiers of preferred service providers of the specified features. After the request is received, it is ascertained that user preferences of the user for service providers of the specified features are not contained in a user preference database and that user preferences of the user for service providers of the specified features have not been provided with the request. User preferences of the user for service providers of the specified features are determined and in response, the map is generated and displayed.

Abstract: A route guidance unit includes: a detection unit configured to detect a position of a host vehicle; a guide unit configured to provide guidance on a travel route when a distance from the position of the host vehicle detected by the detection unit to a branch point on the travel route reaches a predetermined distance; and an accuracy determination unit configured to determine a degree of accuracy of the position of the host vehicle, wherein, when the accuracy determination unit determines that the degree of accuracy of the position is a predetermined threshold or less, the guide unit provides the guidance on the travel route at a point before the distance from the position of the host vehicle to the branch point reaches the predetermined distance.

Abstract: Driving assistant systems and computer-implemented methods for improving landmark-based route guidance are provided. The computer-implemented method includes receiving, by a processor, image data including one or more landmarks. The computer-implemented method further includes identifying, by the processor, a candidate landmark within the image data. The computer-implemented method further includes presenting, by the processor, the candidate landmark to a user. The computer-implemented method further includes, in response to the user accepting the candidate landmark, storing, by the processor, the candidate landmark and a location of the candidate landmark.

Abstract: A method of providing a sequence of turn-by-turn navigation instructions on a device traversing a route is provided. Each turn-by-turn navigation instruction is associated with a location on the route. As the device traverses along the route, the method displays a turn-by-turn navigation instruction associated with a current location of the device. The method receives a touch input through a touch input interface of the device while displaying a first turn-by-turn navigation instruction and a first map region that displays the current location and a first location associated with the first turn-by-turn navigation instruction. In response to receiving the touch input, the method displays a second turn-by-turn navigation instruction and a second map region that displays a second location associated with the second turn-by-turn navigation instruction. Without receiving additional input, the method automatically returns to the display of the first turn-by-turn navigation instruction and the first map region.

Abstract: Navigation application programming interfaces that can be used to obtain navigation information in third party software applications are provided. In one example implementation, an application programming interface (API) can include a first set of instructions associated with a navigator class. The navigator class can specify a plurality of functions to control the implementation of a navigation service by the software application. The navigation service can provide navigation information to a user of the software application. The API can include a second set of instructions associated with a navigator delegate protocol. The navigator delegate protocol can be a delegate of the navigator class. The navigator delegate protocol can implement one or more calls to update the navigation information provided as part of the navigation service.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for identifying one or more entrances to a point of interest or commercial entity (e.g., a shopping mall, a store, a business, etc.) using crowd sourced data received from a set of mobile devices over a specific period of time. The method identifies one or more points of entry to an enclosed area (e.g., a parking garage) associated with a point of interest (POI), as well as one or more points of entry to a building associated with the POI (e.g., a museum). When a user requests for directions to a particular POI, a navigation application of some embodiments uses these points of entry as the real driving and walking destinations when calculating and displaying a route to the particular POI.

Abstract: A parking space navigation method is provided. The method includes obtaining and displaying a parking space distribution map of a parking lot by using a mobile terminal; querying current existing vacant parking spaces of the parking lot from a server; marking the current existing vacant parking spaces on the parking space distribution map; determining a target vacant parking space from the marked current existing vacant parking spaces; obtaining, from the server, a first position of a terminal node associated with the mobile terminal when the terminal node is placed on a vehicle; and drawing, on the parking space distribution map, a navigation route from the first position to the target vacant parking space.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program products are provided for matching a transit vehicle to a trip. An example method may comprise receiving probe data, the probe data comprising at least one of identity information, location information, or time information corresponding to the transit vehicle, causing placement of the probe data into a queue, wherein a placement in the queue is dependent on how much of the trip the transit vehicle has completed as indicated by the probe data, and causing assignment of the transit vehicle to a single candidate trip from among a set of candidate trips comprising a scheduled arrival time at a next closest stop closest to a calculated arrival time.

Abstract: A device can determine route information associated with a route of a vehicle. The device can identify, based on the route information, feature data associated with the route of the vehicle. The device can determine, based on the feature data, notification information associated with a feature on the route of the vehicle. The feature can include at least one of: a passing zone on the route of the vehicle, a school zone on the route of the vehicle, a potential roadway hazard on the route of the vehicle, a segment of the route with a speed limit that is different from a speed limit of another segment of the route, or a segment of the route with a number of lanes that is different from a speed limit of another segment of the route. The device can provide the notification information associated with the feature.

Abstract: A device, system and method for controlling speed of a vehicle are provided. The device includes a locational information module for determining location information and speed; a storage module for storing at least one geographic map including at least one route and a speed limit for the at least one route; a processing module configured to receive the location information, retrieve at least one geographic map based on the location information, determine a speed limit based on the location information and compare the speed of the device to the determined speed limit; and a display module for alerting a user if the speed of the device exceeds the determined speed limit.

Abstract: A hub-mountable wheel-rotation detector has an electromagnetic generator to convert rotational mechanical energy into electrical energy sufficient to recharge an internal rechargeable battery and power internal alarm and distance-tracking circuitry. The detector provides a combination of backup alarm and hubodometer functionality in a common device.

Abstract: A mobile device includes a pedometer function that calculates an estimated distance based on sensor measurements. The sensor measurements are used to determine a step frequency of the user, which is used to estimate the distance traveled by the user. To correct for the unique step frequency of the user, a calibration factor is calculated that can be multiplied by the estimated distance to improve the accuracy of the distance estimate. New calibration factors resulting from calibration trials are assigned to step frequency bands. An average calibration factor is calculated for each frequency band. The average calibration factors of the bands are updated to ensure that the average calibration factor of any given band is greater than or equal to the average calibration factors in all lower bands.

Abstract: A sensor calibration method and system dynamically compute a bias offset which is subtracted from field strength readings generated by a sensor to correct them. The three-dimensional space around a sensor is seeded with orientation targets. As the sensor is rotated to different orientations, field strength readings are generated by the sensor and assigned to different targets based on estimated proximity. Once occupancy of targets conforms to a first state of occupancy, a coarse bias offset is computed for the sensor using readings from occupied targets. Once occupancy of targets conforms to a second state of occupancy, a refined bias offset is computed for the sensor using readings from occupied targets. Multiple sensors may be calibrated concurrently. Moreover, a user interface provides a real-time graphic showing the location and occupancy status of individual targets and highlighting the individual target best aligned with a most recent corrected sensor reading.

Abstract: Printed resistive-based sensors and transducers comprising a thin, electronically “active” sensing layer within a dielectric and/or metallic layered structure are provided. The electronic resistance of the active sensing layer is measured during a change in the sensor environment. By utilizing a multi-layered architecture around the active sensing layer, the electronic signal of the sensing element can be improved. By carefully selecting the architecture and materials that surround the active sensing layer, the sensitivity, stability, and selectivity of the sensor to detect changes in the environment are improved. This design allows for a number of specific application areas for environmental sensing.

Abstract: A position forecasting apparatus for forecasting a position at a predetermined time of a continuously operating moving body is provided with an estimation part that finds an estimated position state of the moving body at a time in the past before the predetermined time and a position forecasting part that forecasts the position of the moving body at the predetermined time based on the estimated position state of the moving body estimated by the estimation part.

Abstract: An angle sensor includes a detection signal generation unit for generating detection signals, and an angle detection unit for generating a detected angle value on the basis of the detection signals. The angle detection unit includes a signal conversion unit for performing a conversion operation, and an angle operation unit for performing an angle operation. The conversion operation is to convert the detection signals into first and second operation signals. The angle operation is to calculate the detected angle value using the first and second operation signals. The conversion operation includes an operation using a correction-term-containing function which contains a correction term for reducing a first error or a second error occurring in the detected angle value. When the angle to be detected varies with a predetermined period, the first error varies with the predetermined period, whereas the second error varies with a period ½ the predetermined period.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for detecting when an electronic locking (e-Locker) differential of a vehicle is in a stuck condition. The system may have an e-Locker differential for driving a plurality of wheels, and may be configured to move between first and second positions, one of which places the e-Locker differential in a locked state, and the other of which places it in an unlocked state. An e-Locker coil, when energized may cause movement of the differential e-Locker actuator between the first and second positions. A position sensing subsystem may use an inductance of the e-Locker coil to determine if the differential e-Locker actuator is stuck in one of the first and second positions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rotation sensor, comprising: —a stator (A) and rotor (B), arranged coaxially and forming a magnetic circuit (10, 20), the rotor being mounted angularly displaced with respect to the stator, —a primary winding, suitable for generating a magnetic field in the magnetic circuit, and —at least one secondary winding, characterized in that the magnetic circuit comprises at least one tooth (220) extending radially with respect to the axis (X-X) of the stator and of the rotor, and at least one notch (12) suitable for receiving said tooth, such that the tooth is separated from the notch by at least one tangential air gap (51) that is variable according to the angular displacement of the rotor with respect to the stator, the tooth and the notch being shaped so that, during a rotation of the rotor with respect to the stator, a variation in the width of the tangential air gap causes an increase or a decrease in the permeance of the air and, respectively, an increase or a decrease in the voltage

Abstract: A touch sensing circuit operable to sense a conductor approaching a sensor capacitance by measuring a response signal obtained from the sensor capacitance according to an applied detection signal includes an A/D converter and a Fourier transform device. The A/D converter samples the response signal with a predetermined cycle, followed by conversion to a digital value and outputs as time-series response data. The Fourier transform device calculates, from the time-series response data, a result of transformation at a detection frequency representing the reciprocal of a cycle of the detection signal and outputs it. The touch sensing circuit converts the response signal to the frequency domain, calculates only components (harmonics or others as needed) of a frequency equal to that of the detection signal required for touch sensing, and supplies them for a touch coordinate calculation process in a subsequent stage.

Abstract: A signal processing device for processing a measurement signal in a motor vehicle, wherein the measurement signal relates to a measurement variable which can change over time with sequential measurement values, including: a first signal processing unit for calculating the measurement variable which can change over time from the measurement signal; a second signal processing unit for processing the measurement variable which can change over time in order to obtain a processed measurement variable; a third signal processing unit for calculating a change rate of the measurement variable which can change over time, the third signal processing unit being designed to output an additional measurement signal which indicates the change rate; and a communication interface which is designed to combine the processed measurement variable and the additional measurement signal into a composite transmission signal and to transmit the composite transmission signal.

Abstract: A process for the acquisition of data of a counting device measuring pulses delivered by a sensor can include reading a first datum value of the counting device. The first datum value corresponds to the pulse emitted by the sensor. The process can also include storing in memory the first datum value as a source value. The process can also include measuring a time-interval between said reading and an incremental change of the first datum value of the counting device to a second datum value. The process can also include obtaining a first adjustment value Vx in response to the measured time interval.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for determining operation of an openable barrier and direction of movement of a person through an opening controlled by the barrier. A method includes detecting with a hinge sensor a closed position for the barrier, the hinge sensor being mounted to a hinge of the barrier, determining with the hinge sensor when the barrier changes position from the closed position to an open position, detecting with at least one motion sensor motion of an object in proximity to the opening, and determining a direction of movement of the object through the opening based on whether the motion is detected before or after detecting the change in position of the barrier.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive path-measuring device is provided, comprising a plurality of measuring sections, each having an extent in a longitudinal direction and being arranged parallel to one another at least in a measuring region, at least one magnetic position indicator which is coupled contactlessly to the measuring sections, a start signal application device by means of which start signals are providable to the measuring sections for the generation of excitation current pulses, and an evaluating device by means of which the position of the position indicator on the measuring sections is determinable by a transit time measurement of mechanical waves, wherein the start signal application device comprises a time control device which directs that in a measuring cycle, start signals are provided to different measuring sections at defined different time points.

Abstract: A rotating laser (30), including a device housing (31) having a base housing (35), a rotating head (36) and three or more handles (37), whereby the base housing (35) includes a bottom surface (38), a top surface (39) opposite from the bottom surface (38) and a side surface (41) that connects the bottom and top surfaces (38, 39), and a measuring unit (32) that is arranged at least partially inside the device housing (31), whereby the handles (37) have a first segment with a grip element (45), and a lower shock absorbing element (49) at the lower end (43) of the handles (37) facing away from the rotating head (36), and the lower shock absorbing elements (49) project relative to the bottom surface (38) in an axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation (34).

Abstract: A measuring device (30) including a device housing (31) having at least one housing section (37; 36) and including a measuring unit (32) that is arranged at least partially inside the device housing (31). The at least one housing section (37; 36) includes a first segment made of a first material and a second segment made of a second material that differs from the first material. The first material is an elastomeric or thermoplastic-elastomeric plastic with a rebound resilience of less than 40% and a Shore-A hardness of less than 80, and the second material is a hard thermoplastic or a metal.

Abstract: A sensor assembly includes an electrically conductive electrode bridge (26) and a multi-layer, integral sensor body (1). The sensor body (1) includes a core layer (2), an outer insulating layer (4) that substantially surrounds the core layer (2), and an electrically conductive electrode layer (6) between the core layer (2) and the outer insulating layer (4). The sensor body (1) also includes an electrically conductive electrode interface layer (14) at a rear part (12) of the sensor body (1) and in electrical contact with the electrode layer (6). The electrode bridge (26) is held in compression electrical contact with the electrode interface layer (14) during use.

Abstract: A measurement device can be attached to an outer wall of a movable object or of a stationary object arranged in a flow of air in order to measure physical quantities. The measurement device includes a mounting which has recesses having an opening leading to the outside, sensors being provided in said recesses. The device includes a cavity into which the recesses lead and which contains a flexible printed circuit, to which the sensors are connected. The method for manufacturing such a device includes the following steps: attaching sensors to the flexible printed circuit; and attaching the flexible printed circuit provided with sensors to the mounting, the sensors being inserted into the recesses and the circuit being inserted into the cavity.

Abstract: The description relates to devices having sensing tips and releasably retaining the sensing tips. One example includes a tip holder that defines a cavity that receives the sensing tip. This example also includes first and second clamps positioned radially around the tip holder and extending through holes in the tip holder into the cavity to contact the sensing tip. The example further includes a flexible clamp band positioned around the first and second clamps and biasing the first and second clamps inwardly against the sensing tip.

Abstract: Method and apparatus capable of accurately measuring a flow rate using Gaussian quadrature even under a small number of measurement points are provided. An average for the y-coordinate of values of normal-directional component with respect to the cross-section represented by vz0(x, y) among an estimated flow velocities in a flow passage cross-section is used as Vz0(x), and a weighting function of Gaussian quadrature is set to Vz0(x)L(x), where L(x)=ymax(x)?ymin(x). Further, an average for y of values of normal-directional component with respect to the cross-section of an actual flow velocity represented by vz(x, y) is used as Vz(x), and an integrand is set to Vz(x)/Vz0(x). These values are used to determine an approximate value of a flow rate according to Gaussian quadrature. In addition, a method of virtually offsetting zero-point of the flow velocity distribution to apparently avoid a problem such as reverse flow is provided.

Abstract: An interface circuit to an electromagnetic flow sensor is described. In an example, it can provide a DC coupled signal path from the electromagnetic flow sensor to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuit. Examples with differential and pseudo-differential signal paths are described. Examples providing DC offset or low frequency noise compensation or cancellation are described. High input impedance examples are described. Coil excitation circuits are described, such as can provide on-chip inductive isolation between signal inputs and signal outputs. A switched mode power supply can be used to actively manage a bias voltage of an H-Bridge, such as to boost the current provided by the H-Bridge to the sensor coil during select time periods, such as during phase shift time periods of the coil, which can help reduce or minimize transient noise during such time periods.

Abstract: An electric measurement method and apparatus for detecting a mass by an electric capacity (permittivity) or a material's dielectric constant, or alternatively, electric inductance (permeability). The mass may be any phase or combination of phases. The mass may be stationary or flowing. It may comprise discrete particles such as grain, or manufactured products such as ball bearings or threaded fasteners, etc. The mass may be a flow element in a rotameter or similar flow measurement device. The sensor comprises a volume which may be completely full or only partially full of the material. The material may be discrete components or a continuum. Sensor signals may be received by existing planter monitoring systems. In some embodiments the flow sensors are positioned external to the application port. In some embodiments sensors may be utilized which are responsive to the refractive index variation of specific chemicals.

Abstract: A flowmeter for detecting gas flow rates in a pipe includes a container configured to be attached to the pipe having a channel through which the gas flows, and a plurality of recesses that extend through the container and a plurality of housings, each recess having a housing. The flowmeter includes a plurality of transducers, with one transducer of the plurality of transducers disposed in each housing in each recess, the transducers transmitting ultrasonic signals into and receiving ultrasonic signals from the channel. The flowmeter includes acoustic isolators which acoustically isolate the housings from the container. The flowmeter includes a controller in electrical communication with the plurality of transducers which determines the gas flow rate through the channel by measuring transit times of signals transmitted by and received by the transducers. A method.

Abstract: An apparatus for making a flow determination with respect to a flow through a fluid conduit such as a domestic water pipe, the fluid conduit comprising a wall having an inner surface surrounding a flow space through which the fluid flows and an outer surface, the apparatus comprising: a first temperature sensor arranged to be mounted on the outer surface of the fluid conduit and arranged to generate a first temperature signal indicative of a first temperature being the temperature of the outer surface; a second temperature sensor arranged to be positioned spaced apart from the first temperature sensor and to generate a second temperature signal indicative of a second temperature being the ambient temperature outside of the fluid conduit; and a processor having inputs for the first and second temperature signals; in which the processor has an output for the flow determination and is arranged to make the flow determination by determining a measure of the convergence of the first and second temperatures over tim

Abstract: Mass flow sensors, mass flow meters, and methods of making the same are disclosed. A flow sensor may include one sensor tube, a pair of sensor wires wound around the sensor tube, and a covering layer disposed in the surroundings of the sensor tube and the sensor wires. The covering layer includes a first covering layer disposed in contact with the surface of the sensor tube, a second covering layer disposed in contact with the surface of the sensor wires, a third covering layer disposed in a space surrounded by the first covering layer and the second covering layer, and a fourth covering layer disposed so as to cover the whole of the sensor wires wound around the sensor tube. In variations, the covering layer includes one or two organic materials chosen from polyamide-imide and polyimide, and the film thickness of the first covering layer is 10 micrometers or more.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a thermal flow-rate sensor that is capable of self-diagnosis. Provided is a thermal flow-rate sensor provided with a semiconductor element that detects a flow rate and that is equipped with electrode pads for electrical conduction with the outside, wherein at least two of the electrode pads are provided, and other electrode pads proximate to the electrode pads are arranged and have an electric potential beyond the scope of output to be used at the time of flow rate detection.