Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to determining a distance from a mobile device to a remote object or a size of the remote object. An embodiment of the disclosure rotates a rotatable micro-reflector to direct energy toward a remote surface, said rotatable micro-reflector disposed in a mobile device, wherein said rotating is relative to said mobile device. An embodiment of the disclosure further measures a distance based at least in part on reflected energy from said remote surface resulting from said directed energy.

Abstract: A field device interface module includes a connector, a plurality of terminals, a protocol interface module, a controller and a power supply module. The connector is configured to operably couple to a computer. The terminals are operably coupleable to a field device. The protocol interface module is coupled to the plurality of terminals and configured to generate signals in accordance with a process communication protocol. A power supply module is coupled to the plurality of terminals. The controller is coupled to the protocol interface module and to the power supply module and is configured to measure a voltage across the plurality of terminals and selectively cause the power supply module to provide power to the field device.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor and a method used therein provide a measured signal representative of an angular speed of rotation of a target object. The magnetic field sensor, in accordance with the measured speed of rotation, can automatically change various characteristics of the magnetic field sensor.

Abstract: The computer implemented method, system or computer program product comprises collecting magnetometer data from the device; and calculating a center of a shape of the magnetometer data as a result of minimization. The minimization of calculating the center of the shape further comprises calculating a plurality of running sums of the magnetometer data; storing the plurality of running sums; storing a count of the number of terms in each of the running sums; and calculating the center of the shape and setting the estimated magnetometer bias to the center of the shape. The radius of the sphere is calculated to ensure accuracy in the estimator of the magnetometer bias.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring the state of health of a power electronic system. Data representing an initial expected temperature of the circuit element and an initial value of an electrical parameter of the circuit element is obtained. An electrical pulse is applied to the circuit element to heat the circuit element. After the electrical pulse decays to a predetermined value, the electrical parameter of the circuit element is sensed and a subsequent value of the electrical parameter is obtained. A subsequent temperature of the circuit element is estimated based on the initial expected temperature of the circuit element, the initial and subsequent values of the electrical parameter, and the predetermined value of the electrical pulse. Based on the subsequent temperature, the signal that indicates whether the circuit element is operating as expected is generated.

Abstract: The present invention models dynamic behavior of flight vehicles for simulation, analysis, and design. The present invention allows a user to define the complexity of a flight vehicle model, and such models may be simple rigid body models, models of medium complexity, or very complex models including high order dynamics comprising hundreds of structural flexibility modes and variables related to aero-elasticity, fuel sloshing, various types of effectors, tail-wags-dog dynamics, complex actuator models, load-torque feedback, wind gusts, and other parameters impacting flight vehicles. The present invention accommodates and analyzes multiple vehicle and actuator concepts and configurations as defined in flight vehicle input data, which specifies flight vehicle parameters at a steady-state condition for modeling flight vehicle response to dynamic forces and flight control commands with respect to steady state operation.

Abstract: An apparatus having at least one sensor for registering at least one chemical and/or physical, process variable, and at least one modularly constructed, measuring transducer circuit, which has at least one sensor unit, which ascertains a measured variable from the process variable registered by the sensor and supplies the sensor with energy as needed, and at least one application specific, signal processing unit for ascertaining a measured value of the measured variable, wherein a conditioned output signal is provided between the sensor unit and the application specific, signal processing unit, wherein the application specific, signal processing unit is exchangeably embodied, and wherein, as a function of a predeterminable accuracy of measurement with which the apparatus ascertains the measured values, a plurality of different types of application specific, signal processing units are provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provides improved resolution in an analog signal, relative to the resolution of a digital-to-analog converter producing the signal. In one embodiment, a digital electrical power and energy meter varies a digital input to a digital-to-analog converter such that an average of the output of the digital-to-analog converter indicates a value with greater resolution than the instantaneous resolution of the digital-to-analog converter.

Abstract: The location of a terminal is estimated within an area of coverage of a wireless network comprising at least one fixed node by measuring a complex frequency response of a radio channel between the terminal and one of said fixed nodes and estimating the location of the terminal on the basis of at least a comparison between data representing a first metric of the measured complex frequency response and data representing a plurality of stored metrics, each of said plurality of stored metrics being related to one of a plurality of different locations within the network and each stored metric being of a complex frequency response measured between the said one of said fixed nodes and the location within the network to which the metric relates.

Abstract: A junction-photovoltage method and apparatus for contactless determination of an electrical/physical parameter of a semiconductor structure having at least one p-n junction located at a surface is disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes illuminating the surface with the p-n junction with a light beam of a first wavelength to create excess carriers at the surface. The method also includes modulating the light intensity of the light beam at a single predefined frequency. The method also includes determining a first photo-voltage at a first position inside the illuminated area and a second photo-voltage at at least a second position outside the illuminated area. The method also includes calculating an electrical/physical parameter of the semiconductor structure based on the first and second photo-voltage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventing photovoltaic (PV) cell reverse breakdown during operation of a PV module. In one embodiment, the method comprises determining a first temperature value; and restricting an operating voltage of the PV module based on the first temperature value.

Abstract: A method for detecting high impedance faults, including: receiving an input waveform from a circuit; computing a root mean square of the input waveform; fitting a regression line to the root mean squares; computing a deviation between the regression line and the root mean squares; determining whether the deviations are above a threshold; and outputting a value indicating that a fault has occurred in the circuit when the deviation is above the threshold and outputting a value indicating that a fault did not occur in the circuit when the deviation is below the threshold.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for detecting stray voltage anomalies in electric fields are provided herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus for detecting an electrical field may comprise: at least one sensor probe for generating data corresponding to an electrical field detected by the at least one sensor probe, wherein the at least one sensor probe comprises at least one electrode; a processor, coupled to the at least one sensor probe, for analyzing the data to identify a voltage anomaly in the electric field; and an indicator, coupled to the processor, for alerting a user to a presence of the voltage anomaly in the electric field.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media provide for determining a plurality of turfs from where to reallocate a workforce to a given turf. According to embodiments, a method for determining a plurality of turfs from where to reallocate a workforce to a given turf is provided. According to the method, an indication of the given turf is received. Optimal turfs from where to reallocate technicians to the given turf are determined from a plurality of turfs. Visual cues for identifying at least a portion of the optimal turfs are generated.

Abstract: The present application is a detection system for locating and characterizing an object placed in a detection area in a three dimensional space. The detection system includes a plurality of magnetic field generators and magnetic field detectors arranged on opposite sides of the detection area and a control system for enabling generation of a magnetic field in the detection area by the magnetic field generators and for measuring of the magnetic field modified by the object at each of the magnetic field detectors. The detection system also includes a processor for processing the measured magnetic field to obtain a data set characterizing the object and a location of the object. The processor applies a reconstruction process on a predefined number of measurements of the modified magnetic field.

Abstract: An analysis algorithm generation apparatus of an electromagnetic field generator includes: a value inputting unit for receiving information on a TEM cell or GTEM cell; and an algorithm generating unit for generating an algorithm to analyze a TEM mode in a cross sectional structure of the GTEM cell or a tapered section of the TEM cell by using an associated Legendre function and a mode-matching method based on the information transmitted from the value inputting unit. The algorithm generating unit analyzes the TEM mode by dividing a space into four (left, right, upper and lower) regions, the space existing between an inner electrode and an outer wall of the cross sectional structure of the GTEM cell or the tapered section of the TEM cell.

Abstract: A system for assaying electronic or electrochemically active materials or devices made therefrom includes a microcontroller, a main digital-to-analog converter (DAC), current and voltage sensing modules, a reference voltage DAC, and a power switch. The reference voltage DAC applies a calibrated voltage across the materials/devices, and the switch disconnects the main DAC to generate an open-circuit voltage. The microcontroller assays the materials/devices using the measured voltage, measured current, reference voltage, and/or open-circuit voltage. The main DAC may include coarse and fine DACs.

Abstract: The physical quantity measurement device involves a terminal unit, a sensor, a storage unit, an output unit, a communication unit, a control unit, and a discriminating unit. The terminal unit has a power terminal, an output terminal, and a ground terminal. The communication unit uses the power terminal in order to receive a serial signal from an external device. The control unit has an adjusting mode and a normal mode. The discriminating unit decides that the external device requests either the adjusting mode or the normal mode based on whether or not an electrical potential of each of the power terminal and the output terminal satisfies a predetermined condition. The control unit selects the normal mode when the discriminating unit decides that the external device requests the normal mode, and selects the adjusting mode when the discriminating unit decides that the external device request the adjusting mode.

Abstract: In a system for ascertaining a bearing state and in a method for ascertaining a bearing state of a bearing of an electric machine, measurement value (21) is ascertained by means of a sensor unit (20). The measurement value is transmitted to a simulation unit (22), wherein a result value (23) is ascertained by means of the simulation unit (22), wherein the result value is in particular a bearing-current value or a value that is dependent on the bearing current. The result value (23) can be transmitted to a further unit (24).

Abstract: In a magnetic field obtaining apparatus, a measuring part (21) that is sufficiently longer than the width of an area to be measured is disposed on a measurement plane that satisfies z=?, and scanning in an X? direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the measuring part (21) is repeated while changing an angle ? formed by a predetermined reference direction on the measurement plane and the longitudinal direction of the measuring part (21) to a plurality of angles. Assuming that x? is a coordinate parameter in the X? direction, measured values f(x?, ?) obtained by repetitions of the scanning are Fourier transformed so as to obtain g(kx?, ?) (where kx? is a wavenumber in the X? direction). Then, g(kx?, ?) is substituted into a predetermined two-dimensional potential obtaining equation so as to obtain ?(x, y, ?) that indicates a two-dimensional potential on the measurement plane.

Abstract: A prestored database showing a correspondence of ? (depth)/?HcJ (coercivity increment) and a prestored database showing a correspondence of Dy introduction amount/?HcJ are used to obtain distribution of an introduction amount in a magnet from shape information of the magnet and information of a Dy introduction face and compute distribution of ?HcJ in the magnet from the distribution of a Dy introduction amount. Regarding a magnet having a coercivity that is distributed non-uniformly, a J/H curve is computed using the computed distribution of ?HcJ, and a demagnetizing factor at a predetermined temperature (100° C.) is computed using a temperature coefficient.

Abstract: An emulator of an electrical response of a biological tissue includes an artificial nerve module, a DAC module, and a mesh resistor circuit. The artificial nerve module includes a plurality of microcontrollers coupled to each other, and each of the microcontrollers has at least one control end and at least one voltage signal output portion providing a total of at least two voltage signal output ends. The DAC module includes DACs corresponding to the at least two voltage signal output ends, and each of the DACs is coupled to the voltage signal output end to output a node voltage. The mesh resistor circuit includes a plurality of first resistors and second resistors corresponding to each other, each of the first resistors and each of the second resistors corresponding to each other define a node, and the node is used to accept the node voltage.

Abstract: Techniques for wearable device data security are described, including receiving input from one or more sensors coupled to a wearable device, each of the one or more sensors being configured to measure one or more parameters, processing the input to determine a pattern, referencing a pattern library using the pattern to identify a signature, and transforming the signature into data to be transmitted to a device in data communication with the wearable device and configured to perform a function if the data is authenticated.

Abstract: An apparatus estimates SOH of a battery based on a battery voltage variation pattern. A data storing unit obtains and stores battery voltage, current and temperature data from sensors, at each SOH estimation. A first SOC estimating unit estimates first SOC by current integration using the battery current data. A second SOC estimating unit estimates open-circuit voltage from the voltage variation pattern, and calculates and stores second SOC corresponding to the open-circuit voltage and temperature using correlations between the open-circuit voltage/temperature and SOC. A weighted mean convergence calculating unit calculates and stores convergence value for weighted mean value of ratio of the second SOC variation to the first SOC variation. A SOH estimating unit estimates capacity corresponding to the weighted mean convergence value using correlation between the weighted mean convergence value and the capacity, estimates relative ratio of the estimated capacity to an initial capacity, and stores it as SOH.

Abstract: An instrument power controller (120) for adaptively providing an output voltage VO and an output current IO that together maintain a substantially constant electrical output power PO is provided. The controller (120) includes inputs (121) for receiving an input power PI, outputs (122) for providing the substantially constant output power PO to a variable impedance load L, and a communication path (126) for receiving a load voltage VL. The instrument power controller (120) is configured to determine an input voltage VI and an input current II, determine an effective resistance RL of the load L and set the output voltage VO and the output current IO based on the input voltage VI, the input current II, and the effective resistance RL. The output voltage VO is substantially independent from the input voltage VI. The output voltage VO and the output current IO are varied to maximize a load power PL while maintaining the substantially constant electrical output power PO.

Abstract: Capacitive detection systems, modules, and methods. In one embodiment, a power saving mode is implemented when deemed appropriate, based on an analysis of previous detection or non-detection of the presence and/or position of an object near a capacitive sensing area.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measurement of power in an electric power transmission line and disturbances in a power grid is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a magnetic field sensor with at least two sensing coils for measuring the magnetic field at the electric power transmission line and transmitting magnetic field data to a processor. The magnetic field sensor is arranged proximate to but at a distance from the electric power transmission line.

Abstract: A system and related method are provided for measuring conductivity/resistivity of water having high purity, including a temperature sensor and a conductivity/resistivity sensor exposed to a water source. The system further includes a computing assembly configured to receive measurement signals from the sensors and to determine change in resistivity over a change in temperature (a collected R/T slope) from the collected temperature measurements and the collected resistivity measurements. The system compares the collected R/T slope to a standardized R/T slope at a temperature value corresponding to a midpoint temperature of the temperature measurements over the prescribed time interval. Based on the comparing, the system provides providing a compensated measurement for resistivity or conductivity of the water source. As a result, the system can calibrate the sensor continually during use, in real time, resulting in highly improved accuracy.

Abstract: A method and system for incorporating electronic signature analysis in a low voltage power supply to centrally monitor current consumption is disclosed. The electrical loads powered by the low voltage power supply can be tested individually via an automatic test routine by measuring and scaling of current through a differential amplifier. The current consumption of each electrical load can be measured by analyzing a “delta” in the current draw of each electrical load's ON and OFF condition. This value can be compared against a stored table of high and low limits for each electrical load. If a load's current is outside the limits, it will be logged for repairs. A current sensing device can be inserted in series with the output(s) of the low voltage power supply, while in test mode, to allow the automatic test routine to run, and then be shorted out for normal operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for detecting and transmitting geophysical data from a plurality of electrodes inserted into the soil utilizing a set of identical dynamically reconfigurable voltage control units located on each electrode and connected together by a communications and power cable. A test sequence is provided in each voltage control unit. Each voltage control unit records data measurements for transmission to a central data collector. Each voltage control unit incorporates and determines its positional relationship to other voltage control units by logging when the unit is attached to the electrode. Each voltage control unit I equipped with a magnetic switch for detecting when they are in contact with the electrode.

Abstract: The invention as disclosed is an autonomous magnetic measurement system for monitoring the background magnetic fields associated with power lines, electronic devices, electronic vehicles and the Earth's background magnetic field. The components of the autonomous magnetic measurement system include a series of three axis analog magnetic sensors, a fluxgate compass, and a programmable micro-controller. The micro-controller receives data from the sensor and compass and is programmed to autonomously detect magnetic signals having particular characteristics of interest.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining a state of charge of a battery exhibiting a transient response are provided. At least one property of the battery is measured. The state of charge of the battery is determined based on the at least one measured property and a transient response of the battery.

Abstract: A method includes retrieving at least one first measurement associated with material in a tank from a memory at a level gauge. The method also includes comparing the at least one first measurement to at least one second measurement associated with the material in the tank. The method further includes determining whether a difference between the at least one first measurement and the at least one second measurement exceeds a threshold. In addition, the method includes identifying a current level of the material in the tank in a first manner if the difference does not exceed the threshold or a second manner if the difference does exceed the threshold. The first manner could include correcting a level measurement using the difference between the at least one first measurement and the at least one second measurement. The second manner could include identifying an offset value based on differences between pairs of level measurements.

Abstract: A method for quantifying the effective loss of a mast-clamp-current-probe (MCCP) antenna comprising the following steps: providing a vector network analyzer (VNA) having first and second ports (Ports 1 and 2 respectively); coupling a transmit monopole antenna to Port 1 via a first transmission line; coupling a receive antenna to Port 2 via a second transmission line; determining the S-parameters of the two coupled antennas; calculating the power at the receive antenna (Pr); converting the transmit antenna to the MCCP antenna by shorting the transmit antenna to ground and clamping a current probe around the transmit antenna; determining the S?-parameters of the MCCP antenna and the receive antenna; calculating the power at the receive antenna (Pr?) when coupled to the MCCP antenna; and quantifying the effective loss of the MCCP antenna as the difference Pr?Pr?.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for monitoring electrical safety conditions and managing energy consumption using a microcontroller embedded in a circuit breaker. The microcontroller receives a plurality of inputs detected by a plurality of sensors in the circuit breaker. An amount of energy consumed during a preset interval of time is determined. A temperature of a circuit breaker panel board detected by a temperature sensor is received and compared with a preset temperature alarm threshold value to determine a panel board overheating condition. A condition of the neutral conductor is determined based on a plurality of line voltages and currents received from a plurality of voltage and current sensors by comparing a voltage differential with a preset threshold differential voltage value.

Abstract: An industrial process control transmitter includes a first input configured to couple to a first sensor, and a second input configured to couple to a second sensor. Measurement circuitry is configured to couple to the first and second sensors and provide an output related to a sensed process variable. A multiplexer is configured to selectively couple the first and second sensors to the measurement circuitry. An equalizer circuit is coupled to the first and second sensors and configured to equalize a voltage potential between the first sensor and the measurement circuitry.

Abstract: A method of setting a demand threshold is provided. A control unit arranges a plurality of demand data in a descending or an ascending order as a curve. The control unit connects a maximum demand datum and a minimum demand datum with a line. The control unit sets a demand datum with a longest perpendicular distance to the line as a demand threshold.

Abstract: Methods and mechanisms for processing a plurality of electrical parameters of a common alternating current service that supplies power for multiple electrical devices. In an embodiment, an instance data structure is identified based on a data set which is generated from samples of an alternating current service, the instance data structure corresponding to an on-off cycle of an electrical device. Based on the instance data structure, a contribution by the on-off cycle is subtracted from the data set to determine a residual data set. In another embodiment, the residual data set is processed to determine whether the residual data set includes a contribution by an on-off cycle of another electrical device.

Abstract: Testing or diagnostics are performed on an electric vehicle. The vehicle is operated and current flow through a system of the vehicle is monitored. A voltage related to the system is also monitored. Diagnostics are provided based upon the monitored voltage and the monitored current.

Abstract: Monitoring may be provided. First, data may be received comprising a current location of a point on a span of conductor or a current angle of a section of the span of conductor. Next, a sag may be calculated of the span of conductor based upon the current location of the point on the span of conductor and the current angle of the section of the span of conductor. An alert may then be provided when the calculated sag is outside of a predetermined range for the span.

Abstract: According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a system for monitoring a plurality of circuit branches, the system comprising a plurality of current sensors, each configured to be coupled to at least one of the plurality of circuit branches and to produce a signal having a level related to a current level of the one of the plurality of circuit branches, a communications bus, a plurality of sensor circuits, wherein each one of the plurality of sensor circuits is configured to convert the signal from the associated one of the plurality of current sensors to a digital measurement signal and provide the digital measurement signal to the communication bus, and a controller configured to receive the digital measurement signal from each sensor circuit over the communication bus and transmit data related to the digital measurement signal from each sensor circuit to an external client.

Abstract: A system and method for determining electrical properties using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) are provided. One method includes determining a magnitude of an MRI B1+ field applied to an object, determining a phase of the MRI B1+ field applied to the object and combining the determined magnitude and phase to determine a complex B1+ field estimate. The method further includes estimating one or more electrical properties of the object using the complex B1+ field estimate by directly solving at least one difference equation.

Abstract: A system and method for testing derating performance of a component obtains a component list, a pin list, and a standard derating list of the electronic device from a storage. The system and method further receives parameters of each component, the parameters of each component comprising voltages of two pins of the component and a working temperature of the component, calculates a working voltage and a derating ratio of the component according to the parameters. The system and method also analyzes the working voltage and the derating ratio of the component to get analysis result, generates a test report comprising the derating ratio, the working temperature, the analysis results of each component in the component list, and storing the test report in the storage.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a synthetic jet ejector is provided. The method includes (a) taking a first measurement DCR0 of the DC resistance of the coil; (b) adjusting the actuator drive voltage Vd to achieve a desired maximum displacement dmax1 at a frequency f1; (c) measuring the input current Iin and input voltage Vin; (d) calculating the back electromagnetic frequency BEMF, wherein BEMF=Vin?Iin*DCR; and (e) storing the calculated value of BEMF in a memory device associated with the synthetic jet actuator.

Abstract: Method and/or apparatus for independent component analysis of a mixed electronic signal. Candidate signal components are determined, and mutual information (MI) criteria between each candidate signal component is minimized. The candidate signal components are optimized using polar coordinates.

Abstract: An aftermarket steering wheel control includes a housing that includes a user-operable switch and a control module. The control module is configured to determine whether the user-operable switch has been operated, generate a data frame corresponding to a control signal for operating a vehicle component, and transmit the data frame to a receiver of a control signal interface. Another aftermarket steering wheel control includes a housing with a user-operable switch and a circuit with an output line. The output line is connected to the switch and further connected to a control signal interface. Operation of the user-operable switch changes a resistance on the at least one output line, and the control signal interface is configured to convert the resistance to a control signal for operating a vehicle component.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for detecting an abnormal on-line analysis or laboratory measurement and for predicting an abnormal quality excursion due to an abnormal process condition.

Abstract: A method executes software including a view hierarchy with a plurality of views which displays one or more views of the view hierarchy. The method executes software elements associated with a particular view, wherein each particular view includes event recognizers. Each event recognizer has an event definition based on sub-events, and an event handler that specifies an action for a target, and is configured to send the action to the target in response to an event recognition. The method detects a sequence of sub-events, and identifies one of the views of the view hierarchy as a hit view that establishes which views in the hierarchy are actively involved views. The method delivers a respective sub-event to event recognizers for each actively involved view, wherein each event recognizer for actively involved views in the view hierarchy processes the respective sub-event prior to processing a next sub-event in the sequence of sub-events.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system for measuring the magnetic field produced by phase conductors in multi-phase power lines. The magnetic field measurements are used to determine the current load on the conductors. The magnetic fields are sensed by coils placed sufficiently proximate the lines to measure the voltage induced in the coils by the field without touching the lines. The x and y components of the magnetic fields are used to calculate the conductor sag, and then the sag data, along with the field strength data, can be used to calculate the current load on the line and the phase of the current. The sag calculations of this invention are independent of line voltage and line current measurements. The system applies a computerized fitter routine to measured and sampled voltages on the coils to accurately determine the values of parameters associated with the overhead phase conductors.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of monitoring the operational state of a computer, comprises running on the monitored computer a monitoring program configured to monitor a set of parameters. The set of monitored parameters comprises for example the name(s) of any process(es) running on the computer, together with i) the values of a plurality of metrics indicating the level of activity of the computer, and/or ii) time. The monitored parameters are provided by the monitoring program to another, monitoring, computer; which runs a comparison program which compares the set of monitored parameters with a predetermined model which determines whether or not the monitored computer is in a predetermined operational state defined by the model, and produces an indication of whether or not the monitored computer complies with the model.