Abstract: In an embodiment, a touch sensor may include a sensor part including a first electrode and a second electrode, a signal receiving part, an amplifier circuit part connected between the second electrode and the signal receiving part, an analog-to-digital converter part configured to output a digital signal corresponding to a voltage difference between input terminals, and a processor configured to detect a touch input from the sensor part in response to the digital signal when operating in a first mode, and to output a gain control signal for calibrating a gain value of the amplifier circuit part in response to the digital signal when operating in a second mode.

Abstract: To provide a capacitive touch switch capable of improving ununiformity of design and improving appearance relating to design or decorativeness. A capacitive touch switch 1 includes a glass substrate 2, a sensor portion formed at a side of an opposite surface opposite to a touch surface of the glass substrate. The sensor portion includes a center portion A of a wire attached portion 4 to a flexible printed circuit, and a connection portion C connected to the wire network B. In the connection portion C, an opening rate in a capacitive touch switch panel is increased by setting an electrode pattern width to be thinner from the wire attached portion A toward the wire network B.

Abstract: Measurement devices, systems, and methods to measure a high field conductivity of a fluid are provided herein. The measurement device includes a fluid cell, a pair of electrodes, a voltage switch, and a measurement unit. The fluid cell is on an inclined plane to receive the fluid. The pair of electrodes are connected to the fluid cell. The pair of electrodes are spaced apart from one another to receive the fluid therebetween and positioned parallel to one another to pass an electrical current therethrough. The power unit provides a high voltage power supply to one electrode of the pair of electrodes. The measurement unit measures the electrical current that passes between the pair of electrodes through the fluid.

Abstract: A heat spreader includes a plurality of sensors that indicate that the heat spreader is flat against a chip stack. One or more nodes within a sensor are electrically connected. The electrical resistance values of the connection may be compared to determine if the nodes within the sensors are relatively flat. Sensor flatness may be correlated to heat spreader flatness for determining whether the heat spreader is flat against the chip stack when the heat spreader is installed upon the chip stack.

Abstract: A monitoring arrangement for a liquid ejection apparatus capable of ejecting liquid in a pattern on an interior surface of a tank, the monitoring arrangement comprising a sensor unit that generates a signal indicative of liquid coming into contact with the interior surface of the tank, and a processing unit configured to: receive the signal; retrieve a reference property that is indicative of liquid coming into contact with the interior surface; register, during a measuring period when the fluid nozzle ejects liquid, at least one current property of the signal; compare the current property with the reference property; and initiate, if the current property deviates from the reference property beyond a predetermined level, a message indicative of the deviation.

Abstract: A housing cladding module for a medical device is provided for collision identification. The module includes resistor elements, which are arranged in and/or on the surface and which are designed such that the resistor elements change their electrical resistance on expansion. The resistor elements are arranged in such a way that the resistor elements are expanded in the event of a collision with an object. The collision is identified easily, and the effective collision force may be ascertained.

Abstract: A heat spreader includes a plurality of sensors that indicate that the heat spreader is flat against a chip stack. One or more nodes within a sensor are electrically connected. The electrical resistance values of the connection may be compared to determine if the nodes within the sensors are relatively flat. Sensor flatness may be correlated to heat spreader flatness for determining whether the heat spreader is flat against the chip stack when the heat spreader is installed upon the chip stack.

Abstract: A heat spreader includes a plurality of sensors that indicate that the heat spreader is flat against and in thermal contact with a plurality of chips when the heat spreader is loaded upon a chip stack. One or more nodes within the sensors are connected by electric conductors. The resistances of the conductors may be compared to determine if the nodes within the sensors are relatively flat. Sensor flatness may be indicated to a higher level electronic device such as a visual display. The display may ultimately be viewed by a user to determine whether the heat spreader is flat and in thermal contact with the plurality of chips when the heat spreader is loaded upon the chip stack.

Abstract: A heat spreader includes a plurality of sensors that indicate that the heat spreader is flat against and in thermal contact with a plurality of chips when the heat spreader is loaded upon a chip stack. One or more nodes within the sensors are connected by electric conductors. The resistances of the conductors may be compared to determine if the nodes within the sensors are relatively flat. Sensor flatness may be indicated to a higher level electronic device such as a visual display. The display may ultimately be viewed by a user to determine whether the heat spreader is flat and in thermal contact with the plurality of chips when the heat spreader is loaded upon the chip stack.

Abstract: Measuring device for local measurement of an electrical property of the content of a container, wherein at least three electrodes are disposed adjacently of each other in height direction and electrically insulated from each other, wherein each of the electrodes can be connected to an electrical measuring circuit for measuring, via one of the electrodes and one other electrode connected to an electrical earth, the electrical property of the content of the container in the vicinity of the electrodes, and wherein the electrical measuring circuit is adapted to generate at least one electric measuring signal representing the measured electrical property, and a control unit for connecting the one electrode to the electrical measuring circuit and connecting the other electrode to an electrical earth.

Abstract: An orientation detection circuit is provided. The circuit includes a processor, a first resistor, a second resistor, a third resistor, and a vibration switch. The processor comprises a first input pin and a second input pin. The second resistor has a resistance value greater than that of the first resistor. The third resistor has a resistance value greater than that of the second resistor. The switch comprises a first terminal connected to a power source and a second terminal connected to the second input pin and connected to ground via the third resistor. The switch includes a third terminal connected to the first terminal via the second resistor, and a fourth terminal connected to the first input pin and connected to ground via the first resistor. The switch also includes a fifth terminal connected to the fourth terminal, and a conductive ball for contacting two or three of the terminals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device that can be used to monitor the contact integrity of a joint that is of an impervious contact surface between two parts (4 and 5) including a set of conductive patterns (8) which are distributed over the two contact surfaces (1 and 2) and which are separated by insulating zones (9). When the aforementioned two parts (4 and 5) are brought into contact, the conductive patterns (8) also come into contact and form a conductor between the two measuring points (6 and 7), which is made by positioning the resistances of the patterns (8) in series. Any local change in the contact between the patterns causes the intensity and voltage between points (6) and (7) to vary and is measured with a measuring device (22). The invention is particularly suitable for the detection of an intrusion or a leak between two sealed contact parts.

Abstract: A separating drum 1 is provided with a device for determining the position, the composition and the nature of several layers of fluid settling upstream from barrier 8. The device comprises a first rod 12 provided with microwave beam emitters 13, a second rod 14 provided with microwave beam receivers 15, a microwave source 16 that can be connected to emitters 13, and means 17 for recording and analyzing the microwave beams received by receivers 15.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring presence of hydrocarbon-based fluid is disclosed. It includes a body and a sensing cable mounted on the body in a wave-like shape, thus forming a plurality of sensing sections for detecting a layer of hydrocarbon on water. When contacting hydrocarbon, each of the sensing sections generates a signal and the signals add up before transmission to a signal receiver through a signal line.

Abstract: The invention involves a method for locating the probe of a scanning tunneling micrograph a predetermined distance from its conducting surface, and specifically the deposition of a monolayer of fullerene C60 onto the conducting plate. The Fullerene C60 molecule is approximately spherical, and a monolayer of fullerene has a thickness of one nanometer. By providing a monolayer of fullerene on the conducting surface and locating the probe on the surface of the monolayer, a distance of one nanometer can be established between the probe tip and the conducting surface.

Abstract: A liquid level sensor for detecting when an upper level of a liquid in a reservoir has reached a predetermined or critical point in the reservoir. The sensor includes a first input plate and a second input plate disposed concentrically relative to the first input plate. Each of the input plates are further of a shape such that an imaginary line extending through the centroid of the first input plate divides each of the first and second input plates approximately in half. An output or receiver plate is positioned closely adjacent the two input plates. The input plates are further disposed in the reservoir such that the centroid is at the predetermined or critical level in the reservoir. The two input plates are alternately electrically excited and the signals coupled to the output plate are detected and repeatedly compared against one another. The output signals will differ in magnitude because of the difference in the dielectric constant of air and the liquid in the reservoir.

Abstract: An elongate, flexible sensor for sensing an electrically conductive liquid, such as water, has two flexible electrodes extending along the sensor and two flexible sleeves extending therealong and being attached adhesively to each other along the sensor. Each electrode is a ribbon made from a carbon-filled, silicone rubber material. Each sleeve extends around an associated one of the electrodes and is braided from a filamentary, polyester material so as to define multiple apertures enabling such a liquid reaching the sensor to pass through the sleeves so as to cause a short circuit between the electrodes.

Abstract: A capacitive fluid level sensing pipette probe adapted to be used in an automated random access immunoassay analyzer is provided. The pipette probe comprises an elongated shaft having a conductive tip. An integrated circuit chip containing capacitive sensing circuitry is positioned on the pipette probe itself, or in very close proximity. With this arrangement, the sensing circuitry moves with the pipette probe as it is raised and lowered into and out of a vessel containing a liquid. Thus, errors associated with capacitance caused by flexing connector cables is eliminated. Flex tape wiring may be used to carry data from the capacitive sensing circuitry on the pipette probe to the processing board of the automated immunoassay analyzer.

Abstract: The apparatus and method of the present invention relate to a novel procedure for measuring the interfacial thinning that occurs during a droplet-liquid phase coalescence event. As an example, an aqueous drop is grown at the tip of a capillary submerged into an oil phase which is layered on top of a second aqueous phase. A capillary, which is made of stainless steel, serves as one electrode while a second electrode is immersed into the second aqueous phase beneath the capillary. The oil-aqueous interface is raised to the level of the droplet until the droplet is deformed. This deformation serves as a driving force to produce thinning of the protecting interfacial film who's drainage properties govern the eventual coalescence of the water droplet into the aqueous phase.

Abstract: For measuring an interface between two fluids, a device (10, 75, 90) having n electrical circuit comprising transmitting means, a detector, a first antenna (14, 18, 78, 82, 92) and a second electrically grounded antenna (15, 18, 79, 83, 93), the transmitting means being arranged to transmit electrical impulses between the first and second antennas through one of the two fluids so as to be absorbed thereby, and the detector being arranged to detect a change in either an impedance or a rate of absorption of energy which occurs at the interface. The device includes a housing (11, 91) for placing in the fluids so as to contact the interface along a periphery of the housing towards a first end thereof, the first antenna (14, 18, 78, 82, 92) projects from the housing at said periphery, and the electrical circuit includes a coupling means (28) for coupling thereto a remote monitoring means whereby the interface may be measured remotely.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for sensing fluid interface(s) in a complex fluid such as centrifuged blood, includes a sensing assembly with a microwave source and a microwave sensor positioned in spaced opposed relation, the microwave source and sensor defining a microwave propagation path. Relative motion is induced between the sample container and the microwave energy propagation path in the region between the source and sensor in a direction that intersects and is essentially perpendicular to the microwave energy propagation path; and processor apparatus responsive to the scanning apparatus and the modification in microwave energy sensed by the microwave sensor provides an indication(s) of the location(s) of a fluid interface(s) in the container.

Abstract: A transducer system and method of use thereof by sequentially operating a comparator to produce a series of pulses in which the time distribution of the pulses is representative of the transducer value, and is used to normalize the sensed value in the event that the total transducer value varies due to environmental influences. The transducer is adapted to monitor the substantially linear movement of the level (fuel-air interface) of fuel in a tank and the angular positon of an input shaft.

Abstract: A transducer system and method of use thereof by sequentially operating a comparator to produce a series of pulses in which the time distribution of the pulses is representative of the transducer value, and is used to normalize the sensed value in the event that the total transducer value varies due to environmental influences. The transducer is adapted to monitor the substantially linear movement of the level (fuel-air interface) of fuel in a tank and the angular position of an input shaft.

Abstract: Changes in underwater sediment level in a marine environment are monitored electronically using a probe embedded in the sediment. The probe includes an electrical current source to generate an electric field extending across the sediment interface. Voltage measurements are taken at at least three sensors on the probe whose positions are known relative to the current source. The height of the sediment interface relative to the current source can then be calculated, and logged, and changes in sediment level can be monitored. The conductivities of the sediment and seawater can also be calculated by taking additional voltage measurements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing and analyzing blood serum includes a capacitive sensing unit for receiving centrifuged test tubes and generating output signals indicative of the boundary position between the separator gel and the blood serum in the tubes, and a computer connected to the sensing unit to receive and analyze the output signals of the capacitive sensing unit. An aspirator/dispenser needle and retainer probe unit is positioned above the sensing unit and is capable of lowering a needle; under the control of the computer, to puncture the stopper of a test tube and then withdraw blood serum. The retainer probe prevents the withdrawal or loosening of the tube stopper upon withdrawal of the needle from the tube. A color sensor inspects the aspirated sample and determines whether it is suitable for analysis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inspecting integrated circuit probe cards in which the probe points of the probe card are scanned across a checkplate having a conductivity transition border. The impedances between the probe points and the checkplate as they cross the conductivity transition border are measured to determine when the probe points cross the border. The positions of the probe card when each of the probe points crosses the border are measured to determine the positions of the probe points relative to each other. In one embodiment, the checkplate is formed by a square conductive plate having three quadrants of insulated material and a single quadrant of conductive material mounted on its upper surface. These conductive strips connected to the conductive plate are positioned between the quadrants of insulative material to form the conductivity transition border. In other embodiments, multiple parallel strips or a single dot of conductive material are surrounded by insulative material.