Abstract: The battery pack monitoring apparatus is for monitoring a battery pack constituted of battery blocks connected in series and each including battery cells connected in series. The battery pack monitoring apparatus includes a cell monitoring circuits provided respectively for the battery blocks, and a control circuit. Each of the cell monitoring circuits includes a cell voltage detection circuit to detect cell voltages of the battery cells included in a corresponding one of the battery blocks, and a block voltage detection circuit to detect a block voltage of the corresponding one of the battery blocks. The control circuit is configured to detect states of the battery cells based on the cell voltages and the block voltages transmitted from the respective cell monitoring circuits.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic seal for sealing a door. The door is equipped with a latch. The electronic seal includes a plug and a socket. The plug can be inserted in the socket through the latch. Thus, the door is sealed by the electronic seal. The door cannot be opened without breaking the electric seal. The electronic seal records any event of breakage.

Abstract: A method for testing the operating conditions of an electric network, including at least one operating state, including the steps of providing a voltage signal (v(t)) to a network load and measuring the instantaneous current signal (i(t)) circulating in the load, delaying the instantaneous current signal (i(t)) to generate an instantaneous current signal delayed ((i(t+?)) by a predetermined amount of time (?), the predetermined amount of time (?) being a function of the operating state of said load, the method including the steps of calculating, within a predetermined measurement time (Tm), an admittance ratio (G?(?)) between the mean of the product of the voltage signal (v(t)) and the delayed instantaneous current signal (i(t+?)), and the mean of the square of the voltage signal (v(t)), and to compare the value of the admittance ratio (G?(?)) with a range of predetermined values (Gmin,Gmax) to determine the operating state of the electric network.

Abstract: Variations of the impedance of each output driver of a semiconductor device can be reduced, and high-speed calibration is achieved. A calibration circuit including a replica circuit having the same configuration as each pull-up circuit or pull-down circuit included in an output driver of a semiconductor device is provided within a chip. During a first calibration operation, the replica circuit is provided with voltage conditions that allow the maximum current to flow through the output driver so that an impedance of the replica circuit is equal to a value of an external resistor. During a second calibration operation, table parameters obtained in the first calibration operation are used to adjust the impedance of the output driver without use of the replica circuit.

Abstract: A monitoring unit (100) that determines parameters (p1, p2) of an attribute (P) of a liquid substance flowing (F) through a dielectric conduit (110) includes plural coil members (121, 122) encircling the dielectric conduit (110) that subjects a flow of the liquid substance to plural different electromagnetic fields (B(f)), and under influence thereof measuring circuitry registers corresponding impedance measures (z(f)) of the liquid substance. A processor (130) derives the parameters (p1, p2) of the attribute (P) based on the registered impedance measures (z(f)).

Abstract: A method for calculating resistive values of an electronic circuit represented in the form of masks and connections includes defining the circuit in the form of a first list of electrical components and connections between them, identifying circuit entry and exit ports, selecting part of the resistive components of the circuit alone, producing a matrix of resistances of the resistive components alone selected in the previous step, and calculating equivalent resistances.

Abstract: A monitor (5) monitors an assembled battery (1) having a plurality of cells (11) and a power supply line (2) for connecting the plurality of the cells (11). The monitor (5) includes: a detecting portion (6) for detecting a voltage of each of the cells (11) of the plurality of the cells (11); and a controlling portion (7) for receiving a voltage detection result detected by the detecting portion (6). The detecting portion (6) converts the voltage detection result into an alternating current communication signal and transmits the alternating current communication signal via the power supply line (2) to the controlling portion (7).

Abstract: A measuring circuit includes a voltage converting circuit, a discharging and sampling circuit, a control circuit, and a charging circuit. The voltage converting circuit converts a voltage to a working voltage and outputs the working voltage to the discharging and sampling circuit. The charging circuit charges a capacitor and outputs a stop charging signal to the control circuit. The control circuit includes a microprocessor with a timer, to output a discharging control signal to the discharging and sampling circuit for controlling the capacitor to discharge according to the stop charging signal. The discharging and sampling circuit includes a discharging resistor, and measures voltages of the capacitor and the discharging resistor. The microprocessor obtains a discharging time of the capacitor for calculating a capacitance of the capacitor, and obtains the voltages of the capacitor and the discharging resistor for calculating a parasitic resistance of the capacitor.

Abstract: A measuring apparatus is capable of separately measuring at least one of the purely resistive component and the reactance component of a measured circuit. The measuring apparatus applies an AC voltage to the measured circuit and detects a current flowing in the measured circuit. When doing so, a first detection signal whose amplitude changes in accordance with an amplitude of a real component of the current and a second detection signal whose amplitude changes in accordance with an amplitude of an imaginary component are generated. The at least one of a purely resistive component and a reactance component of the measured circuit is then calculated using the first detection signal and the second detection signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for monitoring the deterioration of a rechargeable battery. A battery monitoring system may be used to store charging information, discharge information and storage information for a rechargeable battery to a data store. The charging information may include a number of charge cycles incurred by the rechargeable battery. The discharge information may include a number discharge cycles incurred by the rechargeable battery. The storage information may include information relating to periods when the rechargeable battery is not being actively charged or discharged. The battery monitoring system may be further used to determine an amount of deterioration of a battery performance characteristic based on the stored charging information, discharge information and storage information.

Abstract: Techniques for determining the impedance of a load coupled to an amplifier. In an exemplary embodiment, a mirroring transistor is provided to mirror the current through a transistor of the amplifier output stage to a predetermined ratio. The impedance of the load may be calculated based on the mirrored current and the amplifier output voltage provided to the load. In an exemplary embodiment, the mirrored current may be digitized and provided to a digital load impedance calculation block, which estimates the load impedance based on the digitized current and an indication of the amplifier output voltage. Further techniques are described for calibrating the load impedance calculation scheme, and for differentiating between stereo and mono audio plugs using said techniques.

Abstract: A touch panel including a plurality of panel capacitors, a first switching unit, a second switching unit, a first charging unit, a control unit and a counter is provided. Each of the panel capacitors is sequentially selected as an object capacitor. The first switching unit and the second switching unit switch the voltages received by the two terminals of the object capacitor. The control unit controls a first charging current provided by the first charging unit according to the variation in the terminal voltages of the object capacitor, and generates a comparison signal accordingly. The counter counts the comparison signal and the touch panel identifies the variation in the capacitance value of the object capacitor by using a count value generated by the counter.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a capacitor bank comprising a plurality of capacitor strings connected in parallel, each capacitor string comprising a plurality of capacitors connected in series is provided. The method includes energizing the capacitor bank. The method includes determining dissipation factors of each of the plurality of the capacitor strings. The method further includes comparing each of the determined dissipation factors with an expected dissipation factor and estimating a health state of the plurality of the capacitor strings based, at least in part, on the comparison of the determined and expected dissipation factors.

Abstract: A system for determining a conductance of an object includes a sensor configured to emit an electromagnetic field when an excitation signal is received, wherein the electromagnetic field interacts with the object when the object is positioned within the electromagnetic field. A signal processing circuit is coupled to the sensor and configured to provide an adjustable capacitance to the sensor to adjust a phase angle of a current flowing through the sensor, to generate a voltage measurement representative of a voltage across the sensor, and to generate a current measurement representative of the current flowing through the sensor. A controller is coupled to the signal processing circuit and configured to calculate an admittance of the sensor based on the voltage measurement and the current measurement, and to determine a conductance of the object based on the calculated admittance of the sensor.

Abstract: The present invention describes systems and methods for determining current flow through a current-carrying utility asset. An exemplary embodiment can include measuring a first magnetic induction value at a first location near a targeted current-carrying utility asset and a second magnetic induction value at a second location near the targeted asset where the first location is a known distance from the second location; determining a correlation between a spatial angle and an electrical phase angle between the targeted asset and a second asset where the second asset contributes a first and second error component to the first and second magnetic induction values respectively; estimating error values for the first and second error components using the correlation between the spatial angle and the electrical phase angle; and estimating a current flowing through the targeted asset using the first and second magnetic induction values, the known distance, and the error values.

Abstract: A system for mapping and characterizing a hydrocarbon plume in seawater by measuring seawater capacitance. Multiple streamer cables are towed in the sea behind a ship, each at a different depth, simultaneously. Each streamer cable includes transmitters and receivers at the free end thereof. The free ends of the streamer cables pass through the plume and the transmitters transmit an electrical current into the plume. The receivers detect any secondary signals produced by capacitive effects of the hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon and dispersant surrounded by conductive seawater in response to the inducing electrical current. Pre-amplifiers connected to the receivers and a two-step calibration procedure and various grounding and shielding steps provide noise rejection. An electronics system on board the ship processes the secondary signals to provide immediate development of detailed maps of plume location, and to provide tracking and characterization of how the plume changes shape and character over time.

Abstract: A battery management system and a driving method thereof are disclosed, which may detect a short battery cell capable of causing short among a plurality of battery cells during a parking period of a vehicle. The battery management system includes a sensing unit for measuring a cell voltage and a cell current of each of a plurality of battery cells and an MCU for measuring an SOC of each of the battery cells to control charge and discharge by utilizing the cell voltage and the cell current of each of the battery cells. The MCU measures a first SOC of each of the battery cells in a key-off state and a second SOC of each of the battery cells in a key-on state after the key-off state. The MCU utilizes the first SOC, the second SOC, and a time period between the first and second SOCs to determine a short battery cell among the plurality of battery cells.

Abstract: A tomography system for determining properties of flowing multiphase fluid, comprising a duct having a duct wall and interior space within the duct wall for carrying a flow of the multiphase fluid and a plurality of sensors, which are electrodes or coils, at positions distributed around the duct wall on a planar cross section through the duct, wherein the sensors (electrodes or coils) are used for making a plurality of measurements of electrical or magnetic properties through the duct wall and the multiphase fluid; and a processor is used to receive measurement data from the sensors and to compute from the measured properties to derive quantitative values of at least one property selected from permittivity, conductivity, magnetic permeability and complex-conductivity of the multiphase fluid independent of effects external to the fluid flow, such as effects of the duct walls and the geometry of the positioning of the sensors (electrodes or coils).

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a current sensor package for sensing a current flowing in a primary conductor of a substrate. The current sensor package includes a magnetic field sensor, a calibration current provider and a controller. The calibration current provider is configured to provide a calibration current for a calibration conductor of the substrate, wherein the calibration conductor and the primary conductor are arranged in a defined spatial relation to each other on the substrate. The magnetic field sensor element is configured to sense a magnetic field of the primary current flowing in the primary conductor in order to provide a primary sensor signal and to sense a magnetic field of the calibration current flowing through the calibration conductor to provide a calibration sensor signal.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and a method for estimating internal resistance of a battery pack. The apparatus includes: a voltage sensing unit that measures a voltage value of the battery pack; a current sensing unit that measures a current value of the battery pack; a temperature sensing unit that measures a temperature value of the battery pack; and a microprocessor unit (MCU) that calculates the internal resistance of the battery pack using values transferred from the voltage sensing unit, the current sensing unit, and the temperature sensing unit.

Abstract: A magnetic-field detection microcomputer includes: a magnetic-field detection device; a differential amplifier; a variable voltage circuit which generates a reference voltage that is variable; a comparator which compares an output from the differential amplifier with the reference voltage; a register which outputs a voltage control value to the variable voltage circuit; a ROM which previously store a first table in which a magnetic-field intensity and the voltage control value are associated with each other; and a CPU which sets, to the register, the voltage control value, and determines presence or absence of the magnetic-field intensity associated with the voltage control value based on a result of the comparison by the comparator and the first table.

Abstract: A system is provided which includes a signal generator for generating a periodic excitation signal and an analog to digital converter, wherein the system is configured to apply the periodic excitation signal to a network including a known first impedance and a second impedance and to take a first set of M digital samples of a first signal relating to the first impedance and a second set of M digital samples of a second signal relating to the second impedance with a sampling frequency that is an integer multiple of the frequency of the periodic signal. The system is further configured to determine the impedance value of the second impedance by calculating a relative phase difference between the first signal and the second signal using the first set of digital samples and the second set of digital samples.

Abstract: A test circuit for testing a flexible printed board (FPC) is provided, the test circuit includes a parameter preset module, a comparison module, and a prompt module. The parameter preset module is used to preset a parameter range indicating the suitable range of the resistance value of the FPC, and is further configured to connect to the FPC and convert the resistance value of the FPC to a related parameter. The comparison module compares the related parameter with the parameter range preset by the parameter preset module, and produces a comparison result. The prompt module produces a corresponding prompt signal according to the comparison result.

Abstract: A method of configuring an eddy current detector to measure a thickness of a coating on a substrate includes measuring an impedance of the coated substrate, and establishing an impendence plane plot using a computer. The method may also include determining a rotation angle. The rotation angle may be an angle of rotation of the impedance plane plot that will make the inductive reactance component of the impedance substantially insensitive to substrate electrical conductivity within a coating thickness range. The method may further include establishing a calibration curve that is substantially insensitive to substrate electrical conductivity using the rotation angle. The calibration curve may be a curve that relates the inductive reactance component of the impedance to coating thickness.

Abstract: One or more example diagnostics may be implemented as part of an intelligent luminaire manager or other radio frequency (RF) device that is in communication with an equipment or fixture such as a luminaire. Example diagnostics can determine a status such as a fixture malfunction, a cycling condition, a miswiring configuration, or another condition. The determined status can be wirelessly transmitted from the intelligent luminaire manager or other radio frequency device to a network server via a network. The network may be a network of intelligent luminaire managers and/or RF devices.

Abstract: A method and system of adaptive power control based on pre package characterization of integrated circuits. Characteristics of a specific integrated circuit are used to adaptively control power of the integrated circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus is described, including: a signal processing circuit adapted to process an input signal to obtain an output signal; a sensor element for sensing a predetermined physical quantity, wherein the sensor element is adapted to generate a sensor signal in response to the predetermined physical quantity; wherein the signal processing unit is adapted to process the input signal to obtain the output signal depending on the sensor signal; and wherein the apparatus further comprises an evaluation circuit adapted to evaluate the sensor signal and to generate an indication signal indicating an abnormal operating condition in case the sensor signal does not fulfill a predetermined normal operation criterion.

Abstract: A capacitance measurement circuit includes a charge module to charge a capacitor, a discharge module to hold the capacitor discharge at a constant current, and a control module. The control module includes a timer, a detecting sub-module, a trigger sub-module, and a computing sub-module. The detecting sub-module detects whether the capacitance is fully charged and detects voltages V and discharge current I when the capacitor discharges. The trigger sub-module triggers the charge module to stop charging the capacitor and triggers the timer starts to time a preset discharge time once the capacitor is fully charged. The computing sub-module computes any output voltage differences during the discharge time, and further computes the capacitance value of the capacitor.

Abstract: Methods for calculating a self-bias on a substrate in a process chamber may include measuring a DC potential of a substrate disposed on a substrate support of a process chamber while providing a bias power from a power source to a cathode at a first frequency; measuring a voltage, current and phase shift at a matching network coupled to the power source while providing the bias power; calculating an effective impedance of the cathode by determining a linear relationship between a calculated voltage and the measured DC potential of the substrate; calculating a first linear coefficient and a second linear coefficient of the linear relationship between the calculated voltage and the measured DC potential of the substrate; and calculating a self bias on the substrate by utilizing the first linear coefficient, second linear coefficient, measured DC potential of the substrate, effective impedance, and measured phase shift.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the local electrical resistance of a surface, the apparatus comprising: a DC voltage source for applying a bias voltage (Vpol) to the sample (E) for characterizing; a measurement circuit (CM) capable of being connected to a conductive probe suitable for coming into contact with a surface (SE) of said sample in order to generate a signal (S) representative of a contact resistance between said conductive probe and said surface of the sample; and a control device (CMD) for controlling said measurement circuit; the apparatus being characterized in that said measurement circuit comprises: a measurement resistive two-terminal network (DM) presenting variable resistance and connected between said conductive probe and a ground of the circuit; and a calculation unit (UC) for generating said signal representative of a contact resistance between said conductive probe and said surface of the sample as a function of a voltage (Vs) across the terminals of said measurement resistive two-terminal n

Abstract: A resistance determining device configured for determining a resistance for a digital power supply control microchip includes a digital potentiometer and a controller. The digital potentiometer is electrically connected to the digital power supply control microchip. The controller is electrically connected to the digital potentiometer. The controller obtains internal current and load current of the digital power supply control microchip, compares the internal current with the load current, and changes a current resistance of the digital potentiometer to be a resistance according to a difference between the internal current and the load current. The resistance makes the internal current consistent with the load current.

Abstract: A system and method of determining the temperature of a rotating electromagnetic machine, such as an electric motor or generator. A temperature calibration parameter is calculated based on the temperature of an object situated close to the motor, such as a motor drive connected to the motor, and a first resistance value of the winding. In exemplary embodiments, the motor drive and first resistance value are determined only after the motor has been idle for some predetermined time period. Once the calibration parameter is calculated, the processor uses it along with subsequent resistance measurements to calculate the temperature of the motor.

Abstract: A multi-circuit direct current monitor consists of a plurality of Hall Effect current sensors mounted on a printed circuit board oriented to sense the direct current (DC) flow from power generating devices such as solar arrays, output from the Hall Effect sensors connected to an analog to digital (A/D) converter which in turn is connected to a microprocessor. The multi-circuit direct current monitor continuously monitors instantaneous and average current values for each circuit as well as total instantaneous current and average current for all active circuits. The multi-circuit direct current monitor provides continuous communications via Modbus RTU as well as providing alarm outputs if one or more circuits deviates from the average output by a percentage greater than the user specified threshold for a user-defined period of time to detect failed or underperforming power output devices.

Abstract: An arrangement for digital measuring a capacitive sensor is provided with a charge balance frequency converter having an operational amplifier with an inverting input, a noninverting input and an output. Between the output and the inverting input an integrating capacitor is connected, and the noninverting input is connected with a reference potential. The arrangement provides a simple switched capacitor architecture for measuring the sensor capacitance, which tolerates grounded sensor capacitors, and which is not affected by the shunt resistance. The value of the shunt resistance is determined at the same time. The arrangement makes use of a two frequency measurement of the capacitor resistance combination by using the charge balancing procedure followed by a calculation based on the results of two conversions and the ratio of the clock frequencies of the first and second conversion.

Abstract: A multi-channel controller uses multiple logic gates and multiple control channels to provide fault tolerant protection against undesired events.

Abstract: A method of estimating battery lifetime includes monitoring a charge characteristic of a battery during a first time period, monitoring an operating condition of the battery, determining a first battery life value for the first time period based on the operating condition of the battery, the charge characteristic, and a duration of the first time period, determining an overall battery life value using the first battery life value and a second battery life value for a second time period, and estimating a remaining battery lifetime for the battery based on the overall battery life value.

Abstract: A multi-circuit direct current monitor consists of a plurality of Hall Effect current sensors mounted on a printed circuit board oriented to sense the direct current (DC) flow from power generating devices such as solar arrays, output from the Hall Effect sensors connected to an analog to digital (A/D) converter which in turn is connected to a microprocessor. The multi-circuit direct current monitor continuously monitors instantaneous and average current values for each circuit as well as total instantaneous current and average current for all active circuits. The multi-circuit direct current monitor provides continuous communications via Modbus RTU as well as providing alarm outputs if one or more circuits deviates from the average output by a percentage greater than the user specified threshold for a user-defined period of time to detect failed or underperforming power output devices.

Abstract: A temperature sensor in a semiconductor device includes a temperature detection circuit for outputting a voltage according to the chip temperature, a reference voltage generating circuit for generating a plurality of reference voltages, and a plurality of voltage comparators for comparing each reference voltage with an output voltage of the temperature detection circuit and thereby generating a chip temperature detection signal configured with multiple bits. Further, the temperature sensor includes a control circuit for controlling the reference voltages generated by the reference voltage generating circuit based on the chip temperature detection signal and thereby changing correspondence between the chip temperature detection signal and the chip temperature to shift a chip temperature detection range.

Abstract: A mobile electric field monitor with a floatable housing, an electric field probe, and a computer processor to measure the electric field generated by an electrofisher while the electrofisher is being used in a body of water, this mobile electric field monitor is coupled to computing system to generate a three dimensional map of electric field.

Abstract: First and second reference voltages are applied to first and second terminals of a processor via voltage divider circuits. First and second signal conditioning circuits are coupled to third and fourth terminals of the processor, respectively, and voltage or current sensors are coupled to the first and second signal conditioning circuits. The processor measures the electrical characteristics at the third and fourth terminals and computes first and second ratiometric values of the electrical characteristics, wherein the first ratiometric value is based upon a measurement obtained from the third terminal and the first reference voltage and the second ratiometric value is based upon a measurement of obtained from the fourth terminal and the second reference voltage. The processor further identifies an issue if a ratio of the first ratiometric value to the second ratiometric value exceeds a ratio of the first reference value to the second reference value.

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 probe shape detection apparatus includes first and second magnetic field detection sections that outputs a signal in accordance with an electromotive voltage group generated when the magnetic field emitted from a magnetic field generation element provided in a longitudinal direction of a probe is detected, a candidate vector calculation section that calculates a candidate vector based on the electromotive voltage group generated in the first magnetic field detection section and one piece of candidate position information, an estimated electromotive voltage calculation section that calculates an estimated electromotive voltage based on the one piece of candidate position information and the candidate vector and an estimated position acquiring section that acquires a candidate position that minimizes an error between the electromotive voltage group generated in the second magnetic field detection section and the estimated electromotive voltage as an estimated position of the magnetic field generation element.

Abstract: A device that determines a second side current imbalance of a DC-DC converter, wherein the second side is a center tap which includes a voltage measuring portion that measures a voltage drop of each connecting portion of the DC-DC converter, an average resistance calculating portion that calculates average resistance from the measured voltage drops, a saturation reference value calculating portion, and a saturation determination portion that compares the saturation reference value and the average resistance. By measuring the voltage drop of each contact portion after supplying a low voltage DC power to an output side, a determination can be made as to whether a product is saturated.

Abstract: Various methods are described to characterize interferometric modulators or similar devices. Measured voltages across interferometric modulators may be used to characterize transition voltages of the interferometric modulators. Measured currents may be analyzed by integration of measured current to provide an indication of a dynamic response of the interferometric modulator. Frequency analysis may be used to provide an indication of a hysteresis window of the interferometric modulator or mechanical properties of the interferometric modulator. Capacitance may be determined through signal correlation, and spread-spectrum analysis may be used to minimize the effect of noise or interference on measurements of various interferometric modulator parameters.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the starter battery of a vehicle includes a central processing unit, a voltage sensor, a temperature sensor, a timer, a data store, and a display. A collection of computer software algorithms are executed by the central processing unit to ascertain the operational state of a vehicle's starter battery. The algorithms are operative to determine engine start time, initial start voltage drop, and the charge state of the battery.

Abstract: A diode model and conductive-probe measurements taken at the wafer lever are used to predict the characterization parameters of a semiconductor device manufactured from the wafer. A current-voltage curve (I-V) model that expresses a current-voltage relationship as a function of resistance, ideality factor, and reverse saturation current is fitted to a number of conductive-probe measurement data. The current-voltage curve (I-Vd) for the device is then estimated by subtracting from the (I-V) model the product of current times the resistance produced by fitting the (I-V) model.

Abstract: Methods and devices are presented herein for estimating induction motor inductance parameters based on instantaneous reactive power. The induction motor inductance parameters, e.g., the stator inductance and the total leakage factor, can be estimated from motor nameplate data and instantaneous reactive power without involving speed sensors or electronic injection circuits.

Abstract: A processing system for an input device includes a transmitter module, a receiver module, and a determination module. The transmitter module including transmitter circuitry, and is configured to drive a first end of a transmitter electrode such that the transmitter electrode exhibits a first voltage gradient extending from the first end of the transmitter electrode toward a second end of the transmitter electrode, wherein the first voltage gradient comprises a set of substantially discrete voltage values. The receiver module includes receiver circuitry, the receiver module configured to receive a first resulting signal with a first receiver electrode while the transmitter module is driving the first end of the transmitter electrode.

Abstract: On-die measurement of power distribution impedance frequency profile of a programmable logic device (PLD), such as field programmable gate array (FPGA) or complex programmable logic device (CPLD), is performed by configuring and using only logic blocks resources commonly available in any existing programmable logic device, without the need of built-in dedicated circuits. All measurements are done inside the programmable logic device without the need of external instruments. The measurement method can be used during characterization to select decoupling capacitors or for troubleshooting existing systems, after which the programmable logic device may be reconfigured to perform any other user-defined function.

Abstract: When the first electrical conductor overlaps one of the three or more detection electrodes, the one detection electrode and the first electrical conductor are capacitively coupled. When the position of the first electrical conductor has changed in accordance with movement of the operation member, it is determined, based on the capacitance of each of the three or more detection electrodes after the change, that the first electrical conductor has moved in a direction from a first detection electrode judged to have decreased the capacitance to a second detection electrode judged to have increased the capacitance.