Abstract: A substance detection element is described herein. The substance detection element includes a supporting substrate, a plate-shaped beam, a detection electrode, and a substance adsorption film. The plate-shaped beam is provided with a piezoelectric element. The detection electrodes detects information about the vibration frequency of the beam. The substance adsorption films changes the vibration frequency of the beam by adhesion of a substance. The substance adsorption films and the detection electrodes are respectively provided at the same position on the front and the back of the beam.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cable sealing device comprising: a first plate having a group of first holes and configured to be mounted to a first side of a housing wall; a second plate having a group of second holes and configured to be mounted to a second side of a housing wall; and a soft elastic sealing element configured to be mounted between one of the first and second plates and the housing wall. The group of first holes and the group of second holes and the sealing element are configured to receive a group of cables, and the first and the second plate can be biased toward each other, so that the sealing element can be pressed and elastically deformed. The sealing element can seal and fix the group of cables in the housing wall in a pressed and elastically deformed status. The invention also relates to a cable sealing system comprising a housing wall and the cable sealing device. The cable sealing device is simple in structure and easy to assemble, and can ensure good sealing and fixing of the cables.

Abstract: Ultrasonic devices include a transducer having a piezoelectric element therein that may operate as an acoustic signal receiving surface and/or an acoustic signal generating surface. At least one acoustic matching layer is provided on the piezoelectric element. This at least one acoustic matching layer may be configured as a composite of N acoustic matching layers, with a first of the N acoustic matching layers contacting the primary surface of the piezoelectric element. This first acoustic matching layer may have an acoustic impedance equivalent to ZL1, where N is a positive integer greater than zero. In some embodiments of the invention, the magnitude of ZL1 may be defined as: 0.75 ((Zp)N+1(Zg))1/(N+2)?ZL1?1.25 ((Zp)N+1(Zg))1/(N+2), where Zp is the acoustic impedance of the piezoelectric element (e.g., lead zirconate titanate (PZT)) and Zg is the acoustic impedance of a compatible gas.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to non-invasively measure instantaneous blood pressure using pulse wave velocity are disclosed. A measurement component is affixed to a patient proximate to a blood vessel. One or more sensors, such as an ultrasound sensor, is included in the measurement component. The measurement component substantially simultaneously measures the pulse wave velocity of the vessel and the instantaneous blood velocity within the vessel. The measurement component computes the instantaneous blood pressure of the vessel using, for example, the water hammer equation. The one or more sensors may be contained in a disposable patch or collocated with another sensor, such as a patient-monitor sensor, or the like.

Abstract: A gas sensor includes a piezoelectric substrate; a resonator in an electrode region on an upper surface of the piezoelectric substrate, the resonator including interdigital transducer (IDT) electrodes and IDT pads connected to the IDT electrodes, the IDT electrodes configured to generate a surface acoustic wave in a center region of the electrode region, the surface acoustic wave propagating in a first horizontal direction; a sensing film in the center region of the electrode region on the upper surface of the piezoelectric substrate, the sensing film including a sensing material that interacts with a target gas; and a heater in an edge region surrounding the electrode region on the upper surface of the piezoelectric substrate, the heater including heater electrodes configured to heat the sensing film and heater pads connected to the heater electrodes, the heater electrodes and the heater pads forming a closed conduction loop.

Abstract: A system for determining gas characteristics at high altitudes in embodiments of the present invention may have one or more of the following features: (a) a high-altitude balloon having one or more of the following features: (a) a balloon, (b) a balloonsat operably coupled to the balloon, (c) an air path chamber wherein gas at a high altitude can occupy the air path chamber, (d) a first speaker located on a substrate within the air path chamber, wherein the first speaker takes an electrical signal input and creates a first sound wave, and (e) a second speaker located on the substrate facing opposite of the first speaker located outside of the air path chamber, wherein the second speaker takes the electrical signal and creates a second sound wave.

Abstract: A current feedthrough seal assembly (1) for insertion into and sealing a wall opening (WO) of a climate chamber (KK) comprises a plastic core (10) formed in a step-like shape in an axial direction thereof so as to be inserted into the wall opening (WO) of the climate chamber (KK), so that, when inserted, substantially the whole of the plastic core (10) is located in the wall opening (WO), and a flange (11) is formed at an axial end of the plastic core (10) to protrude beyond the wall opening in the radial direction of the plastic core (10) to abut against one (I) of an internal or external wall (I, A) of the climate chamber (KK), at least two elongated power conducting members (20) accommodated in parallel to each other inside the plastic core (10) and extending through the plastic core (10) and a press ring seal (30) interposed between an inner peripheral surface of the wall opening (WO) and an outer peripheral surface of the plastic core (10) on an opposite axial side thereof with respect to the flange (11)

Abstract: A device for determining information of a substance in a matter comprising a substrate layer; an inter-layer dielectric disposed on the substrate layer; an electronic circuitry substantially formed in the inter-layer dielectric and includes a plurality of metal layers with at least one metal layer being used as an inner electrode, a sensing instrument having at least one sensing component that includes a piezoelectric layer and the inner electrode that is positioned adjacent to an inner surface of the piezoelectric layer, and at least one binding layer disposed on the inter-layer dielectric for binding the substance, wherein the sensing component allows the device to determine the information of the substance upon detecting presence of the substance at the binding layer.

Abstract: An automobile air conditioning unit leak detection device including a detection unit, a control unit, and a probe unit. The detection unit includes a sound detector member and a camera member. Each member is able to detect a leak from the air conditioning unit. The control unit includes a housing member having a pair of strap elements for attaching the housing member to a wearer's wrist. The housing member includes a display element for outputting a viewable image received from the camera member, and a speaker element for outputting one or more sound waves received from the sound detector member. The probe unit includes an elongated flexible cable member having the detection unit attached at a distal end and the control unit attached at a proximate end. The flexible cable member transmits one or more signals between the control unit and the detection unit.

Abstract: A molecular detection apparatus includes a detector. The detector includes: a vibrator having a piezoelectric member that has a first surface and a second surface, a first electrode connected to the first surface, a second electrode connected to the second surface, and a third electrode connected to the second surface and disconnected from the second electrode; a sensitive film overlapping at least one part of the second electrode and at least one part of the third electrode and configured to change a vibration frequency of the vibrator in response to an interaction with target molecules; and a detection electrode to detect the changed vibration frequency.

Abstract: A concentration measuring instrument includes a piezoelectric vibrator transmitting an ultrasonic wave into a solution contained in a cavity and detecting the ultrasonic wave reflected, a temperature sensor measuring a temperature of the solution, a drive circuit generating a drive signal driving the piezoelectric vibrator, a phase comparator performing a phase comparison between the drive signal and a detection signal, a frequency setting circuit making the drive circuit generate drive signals having sequentially different frequencies and monitoring a phase comparison result to detect a resonant frequency, and a Phase Locked Loop (PLL) circuit making a frequency of the drive signal follow the detected resonant frequency. A microcomputer determines a concentration of a solute in the solution on a basis of the frequency of the drive signal while the PLL circuit is being operated and a result of a temperature measurement by the temperature sensor.

Abstract: A sensor includes a body member, a volume change body, and a detection member. The body member has a flat plate-like shape, a first end in a first direction being supported, and a storage space opening at at least one of both end faces in a thickness direction. The volume change body, whose volume changes depending on an amount of a target, is supported by the body member so that at least a part of the volume change body is stored in the storage space. The detection member is in contact with a second end in the first direction of the body member, and detects stress caused by the change in the volume of the volume change body.

Abstract: The optical cell of an elongated shape has an inner space into which gas is introduced and includes: a cell main body forming the inner space; a manifold member being separably connected to an outer surface of the cell main body extending in a longitudinal direction; and a heating mechanism heating the manifold member, in which the cell main body has a through hole penetrating from the outer surface into the inner space, and the manifold member has a gas introduction path extending along the longitudinal direction and guiding the gas, which has been taken in from the outside, from one side to another side in the longitudinal direction and then guiding the gas to the inner space through the through hole.

Abstract: A gas sensor includes a sensor element, an inner protective cover having one or more element chamber inlets and including a first member and a second member, and an outer protective cover having one or more outer inlets. A first gas chamber between the outer protective cover and the inner protective cover has a first space and a second space. A cross-sectional area Cs that is a flow channel cross-sectional area in the second space when the measurement-object gas passes from an outside of the second member toward an inside of the second member just above the second member is greater than or equal to 14.0 mm2, and a cross-sectional area Ds that is a cross-sectional area perpendicular to a circumferential direction of the inner protective cover in the second space is greater than or equal to 0.5 mm2 and less than or equal to 6.4 mm2.

Abstract: A gas sensor includes: a main elongate gas chamber with a supply opening arranged on a first end of the main gas chamber and a discharge opening positioned opposite the supply opening and arranged on a second end of the main gas chamber, to permit gas to flow through the main gas chamber; a magnetic field device providing a magnetic field in the main gas chamber; and an ultrasonic transmitter and receiver sensor arranged on either the first or second end of the main elongate gas chamber for directing an ultrasonic wave along a longitudinal axis of the main elongate gas chamber, an opposite end of the main elongate gas chamber being reflective for an ultrasonic wave, or an ultrasonic transmitter sensor arranged on a first end of the main elongate gas chamber and an ultrasonic receiver sensor arranged on a second end of the main elongate gas chamber.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method of measuring a gas concentration includes modulating an infrared light source according to a frequency-hopped sequence or according to a pulse sequence, receiving a microphone signal from an output of a microphone acoustically coupled to a gas exposed to infrared light produced by the infrared light source; bandpass filtering the microphone signal using a bandpass filter; and estimating the gas concentration from the filtered microphone signal.

Abstract: A gas sensing system includes a driving circuit chip, and a gas sensor, a temperature sensor, and a humidity sensor, which are located on the driving circuit chip. The gas sensing system compensates a gas sensing result based on at least one of a temperature sensing result and a humidity sensing result and generates a gas sensing signal. The gas sensor includes a first resonator and a first sensing film being configured to sense a first gas and located on the first resonator to be exposed to the outside. The temperature sensor includes a second resonator and an encapsulation layer located above the second resonator not to expose the second resonator to the outside, and the humidity sensor includes a third resonator.

Abstract: Systems and Methods for controlling one or more mechanical resonators and determining information from resonant shift of the resonator(s) behavior, including at least one mechanical resonator, an excitation element for driving the resonator(s), a sensor for monitoring the motion of the resonator(s), at least one phase locked loop (PLL) in feedback between the excitation and monitoring elements, wherein each PLL is configured to operate at or near a different resonant mode of the resonator(s), and a processor for determining information from PLL internal signals indicative of a resonator frequency shift.

Abstract: A particle measuring apparatus includes a charging unit to form charged particles from aerosol particles carried by an input flow, and a particle detector to provide an electric current by collecting the charged particles, wherein the charging unit in turn includes a counter-electrode having a substantially hemispherical inner portion to define a charging space, an inlet channel for guiding aerosol particles into the charging space, a corona electrode to form charged particles from the aerosol particles by generating a corona discharge in the charging space, and an outlet channel for guiding charged particles from the charging space to the detector.

Abstract: A processor is configured to include a correlation object determination unit for establishing: a first to-be-correlated signal established on the basis of a first upper-limit rate of change, which is the rate of change of an upper-limit envelope of a direct wave signal, and a first lower-limit rate of change, which is the rate of change of a lower-limit envelope of the direct wave signal; and a second to-be-correlated signal established on the basis of a second upper-limit rate of change, which is the rate of change of an upper-limit envelope of a round-trip-delayed wave signal, and a second lower-limit rate of change, which is the rate of change of a lower-limit envelope of the round-trip-delayed wave signal. The processor is also configured to include a correlation processing unit for establishing a correlation value between the first to-be-correlated signal and a signal based on the second to-be-correlated signal.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining concentrations of gases within a process chamber are provided. In one or more embodiments, a method includes introducing a first gas into a first cavity of a gas monitoring module, where the first cavity is thermally coupled to a second cavity of the gas monitoring module, and where the first cavity contains a first inlet and the first gas is introduced via the first inlet. The method includes introducing a gas mixture containing the first gas and a second gas into a second cavity, where the second cavity contains a second inlet and the gas mixture is introduced via the second inlet. The method also includes determining a first speed of sound inside the first cavity, determining a second speed of sound inside the second cavity, and determining a concentration of the second gas in the second cavity based on the first and second speeds of sound.

Abstract: A fluid density measuring device uses a pipe with a pipe wall that has an inner wall surface with a non-circular cross-section at least in an axial segment of the pipe. Preferably, the inner wall surface comprises one or more protrusions extending inwardly into the pipe and along the axial direction of the pipe. An ultrasound transducer located on the pipe wall is used to generate local motion of the pipe wall with a circumferential direction of motion. Preferably, the ultrasound transducer is located between successive protrusions. An ultrasound receiver located on the pipe wall receives an ultrasound torsion wave generated by the local motion after the torsion wave has traveled through the axial section wherein the inner wall surface has a non-circular cross-section. The fluid density is determined from the propagation speed of the torsion wave.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems and methods for evaluating performance, performing process control, optimization and design of gravity separation process systems that are used to separate immiscible liquid dispersions (e.g., water-in-oil, oil-in-water mixtures) and emulsions for two-phase (liquid-liquid) or three-phase (gas-liquid-liquid) systems. According to one aspect, the design, simulation and control of such systems is performed using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software that is configured for determining the separation efficiency of separators on the basis of the true geometry and multidimensional flow field and for a distribution of droplet sizes with the influence of the emulsion concentration on the rheology of the oil-in-water or water-in-oil dispersion.

Abstract: Ultrasonic devices include a transducer having a piezoelectric element therein that may operate as an acoustic signal receiving surface and/or an acoustic signal generating surface. At least one acoustic matching layer is provided on the piezoelectric element. This at least one acoustic matching layer may be configured as a composite of N acoustic matching layers, with a first of the N acoustic matching layers contacting the primary surface of the piezoelectric element. This first acoustic matching layer may have an acoustic impedance equivalent to ZL1, where N is a positive integer greater than zero. In some embodiments of the invention, the magnitude of ZL1 may be defined as: 0.75 ((Zp)N+1(Zg))1/(N+2)?ZL1?1.25 ((Zp)N+1(Zg))1/(N+2), where Zp is the acoustic impedance of the piezoelectric element (e.g., lead zirconate titanate (PZT)) and Zg is the acoustic impedance of a compatible gas.

Abstract: A display assembly which detects gas recirculation or airway occlusion includes an electronic display located within a housing, and an open loop pathway through said housing. Fans along the open loop pathway ingest, circulate, and exhaust ambient air while sensors take measurements. A processor takes data from the sensors and compares it to weather data gathered for the location of the display assembly, as determined by a location detection device. An alert is generated if the measured characteristics of the ambient air are not within a margin of error of the gathered weather conditions. Operations of the display assembly may also be adjusted.

Abstract: A gas detection method using a gas detection element obtained by laminating a fixed support, a first electrode (2), a dielectric sensor (3), a second electrode (4), and a gas adsorption film (5), in this order, the method including: a step of applying a first signal resonantly driving the dielectric sensor (3) between electrodes of the first electrode (1) and the second electrode (3), and detecting gas adsorbed on the gas adsorption film based on a change of a resonant frequency of the dielectric sensor; and a step of heating the dielectric sensor (3) by applying a second signal between the electrodes after the detection of gas and desorbing gas adsorbed in the gas adsorption film; a gas detection system capable of performing the method; and a gas desorption method appropriate for applying this gas detection method.

Abstract: An ultrasonic concentration detector and liquid feature detector, the detector includes a body, a concentration detection tube, and an ultrasonic transducer sheet; the body includes a sealed chamber and an end cap part; an opening at a first end of the concentration detection tube is encapsulated by a reflection plate, and an opening at a second end of the concentration detection tube is encapsulated by the end cap part; the reflection plate faces to an outer surface of the end cap part; and a upper side and a lower side of the concentration detection tube are provided with an upper through hole and a lower through hole respectively. The ultrasonic transducer sheet is disposed in the sealed chamber at a second end of the concentration detection tube, facing to a reflection plate.

Abstract: A heating value derivation device includes a sound velocity derivation unit configured to derive a sound velocity of a gas flowing through a gas flow path, and a heating value derivation unit configured to refer to correspondence relationship information to derive a heating value per unit volume of the gas.

Abstract: A gas sensor comprises at least one transducer and a sensing material (e.g., a metal-organic framework) disposed on the transducer. The sensing material has a temperature-dependent gas sorption behavior. A detector is arranged to detect responses of the transducer to sorption and/or desorption of a target gas in the sensing material and to output transducer measurement signals indicative of the transducer responses. At least one thermal element changes the temperature of the sensing material by heating and/or cooling, and at least one temperature sensor (which may be integral with the thermal element) is arranged to measure a temperature of the sensing material. At least one processor determines the quantity (e.g., concentration, partial pressure, or mass) of the target gas according to the temperature of the sensing material at which the transducer measurement signals satisfy a signal value condition.

Abstract: A measurement apparatus (10) and to a method provide for the determination of a flow rate (v) and/or of a throughflow (Q) of a fluid (14) flowing in a conduit (12). At least one first ultrasonic transducer (18) and one second ultrasonic transducer (20) permit a flow rate determination via the time of flight of an ultrasound signal. To further improve the determination of a flow rate of a fluid using ultrasonic transducers, in particular at very high flow rates, and to enable the measurement of very high flow rates, a noise-measuring ultrasonic transducer (18, 20; 24) is provided that measures the noise generated in on the flowing past of the fluid (14) in the ultrasonic transducer, and a control and evaluation device (32) is configured to determine the flow rate (v) using the noise measurements.

Abstract: A method and a system for acquiring the natural frequency of a diaphragm, wherein, the method comprises: selecting test frequency points in a closed space, converting an electric signal into an acoustic signal, directing sound into the closed space, and acquiring the acoustic pressure of each test frequency point; adjusting the electric signal until the acoustic pressure of each test frequency point is the same; converting the adjusted electric signal into an acoustic signal; acquiring the displacement generated by the vibration of the diaphragm; and taking the frequency corresponding to the maximum displacement of the diaphragm as the natural frequency of the diaphragm. By adopting the method and system, the natural frequency of the diaphragm is determined by acquiring the maximum displacement of the diaphragm. Moreover, the process of acquiring the natural frequency of the diaphragm is not affected by surrounding environment, and therefore the acquired result is more accurate.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for using microsensors elements embedded in or on articles for detecting target chemical and/or target environmental conditions of interest, including materials hazardous to human health and/or associated with illegal activity. The microsensor elements can be fabricated on a single semiconductor chip, and can be made indetectable to facilitate secure surveillance of potentially illegal activities.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a reflector, a microphone coupled to the reflector, laser emitters coupled to the reflector, and a laser range finder coupled to the reflector. The laser range finder is configured to output a signal indicative of a distance between the reflector and an object. The apparatus adjusts a position and/or a power level of the laser emitters based on the distance between the reflector and the object. Additionally or alternatively, the apparatus adjusts a position and/or a power level of the laser emitters based on a type of sound waves. Laser beams of light emitted by the laser emitters visually indicate a region in which a source of detected sound waves is located.

Abstract: A compact, rugged and portable measurement cell design for the determination of sound speed in fluids at temperatures up to 250° C. and pressures up to 3,000 psi is described. Swept Frequency Acoustic Interferometry measurement for liquid sound speed determinations in liquids up to 250° C. is of both fundamental interest, as in the case of basic equations of state, and applied interest, such as for characterizing geothermal or petroleum down hole environments. Representative sound speeds for water, as a function of temperature and pressure, are in agreement with an internationally accepted standard for the sound speed of water.

Abstract: A kinesthetic sensor measure angular displacement of body parts of users by measuring a density of substances contained in a conduit of the kinesthetic sensor. For example, the kinesthetic sensor measures the density of substance including in a conduit by transmitting a signal into the conduit and measuring the signal after the signal passes through the conduit and one or more substances included in the conduit. Based on the density of the one or more substances included in the conduit from the measured signal, an angular displacement of a user's body part proximate to the kinesthetic sensor is determined. Kinesthetic sensors may use different architectures such as an open-loop, a closed-loop architecture, or an architecture using blood vessels as conduits. Additionally, kinesthetic sensors can be flexible to conform to physical contours of different body parts.

Abstract: An electronic device that may collect gas and provide information associated with gas, and a operating method thereof are disclosed. The electronic device may include: a gas sensor that detects gas; a processing unit that analyzes the components of detected gases so as to determine whether abnormal gas is included; and a display unit that displays the analyzed gases on a screen, and displays abnormal gas to be emphasized. A method of operating the electronic device may include: detecting gases through the gas sensor; analyzing the detected gases and analyzing whether abnormal gases exist; displaying the analyzed gases on a screen and displaying abnormal gases to be emphasized.

Abstract: One side of the surfaces of the crystal resonator 4 including an adsorbing film 46 that absorbs a sensing object on an excitation electrode 42A is pressed with the channel forming member 5 using the upper-side cover body 21 to form a channel 57, which runs from one end side to the other end side on one side of surfaces of the crystal resonator 4. A depressed portion 84 is disposed in at least one of: a position opposed to the channel 57 and at a surface on an opposite side of the channel 57 in the channel forming member 5, and a position opposed to the channel 57 and at a surface on the opposite side of the channel 57 in the pressing member with respect to the channel forming member 5.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a spectrometer for determining the concentration of a gas component, wherein a light source of the spectrometer is operated as in wavelength modulation spectroscopy (WMS). Thus a determination of the concentration can also take place in accordance with WMS and the measured data can, however, additionally be processed, namely a sorting takes place on the time axis, such that the concentration can be determined using the methods of direct absorption spectroscopy (DAS).

Abstract: A method of determining the presence or absence in a sample of a biomarker, the method comprising: (a) linking an antigen to colloidal gold to provide a gold-antigen species; (b) contacting the gold-antigen species with the sample; (c) adding a diagnosis agent to the sample; and (d) observing the color of the sample.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are devices for measuring, at one or more time points, one or more properties or changes in properties of a fluid sample. The devices may comprise a chamber defining an internal volume of the device suitable for receiving and retaining the fluid sample; a plurality of layers, the plurality comprising at least a first layer below the chamber, at least a second layer above the chamber, and a substrate layer between the first and second layers, wherein: the substrate layer is linked to at least one suspended element located within the chamber; the suspended element is linked to the substrate layer by at least two compliant structures located within the chamber; and the suspended element is configured to oscillate upon application of an actuating signal to at least one electrically conductive path, which runs across at least two of the compliant structures and the suspended element. Related methods and uses are also disclosed.

Abstract: A pressure sensor system comprises one or more self-calibrating pressure sensors for self-calibrating sensor parameters based on a membrane deflection or a membrane displacement from an electrostatic force and a single reference pressure from an additional sensor. The additional sensor has a greater accuracy level or range than the self-calibrating sensor. Sensor parameters are derived from capacitance measurements and a single pressure measurement, which are utilized for self-calibration to one or more target values.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a filter contamination of a fuel cell includes: a signal transmitter configured to transmit at least one signal; a signal receiver configured to receive the at least one signal from the signal transmitter; and a resistor unit including a silver compound disposed between the signal transmitter and the signal receiver and having a resistance which varies according to a chemical reaction.

Abstract: A load balance and alignment system is provided to assess load forces on the vertebra in conjunction with overall spinal alignment. The system includes a spine instrument having an electronic assembly and a sensorized head. The sensorized head can be inserted between vertebra and report vertebral conditions such as force, pressure, orientation and edge loading. A GUI is therewith provided to show where the spine instrument is positioned relative to vertebral bodies as the instrument is placed in the inter-vertebral space. The system can report optimal prosthetic size and placement in view of the sensed load and location parameters including optional orientation, rotation and insertion angle along a determined insert trajectory.

Abstract: Gas sensors are provided. The gas sensors include a gas sensing element having metal oxide nanoparticles and a thin-film heating element. Systems that include the gas sensors, as well as methods of using the gas sensors, are also provided. Embodiments of the present disclosure find use in a variety of different applications, including detecting whether an analyte is present in a gaseous sample.

Abstract: An analytical system and method for detecting volatile organic chemicals in water including a coated SAW detector that provides for improved reduction of moisture at the coating of the SAW detector. A stabilized SAW sensitivity and long lasting calibration is achieved. The analytical system further includes an improved sample vessel and sparger that allow for easy grab sample analysis, while also providing efficient purging of the volatile organic compounds from the water sample. In addition, an improved preconcentrator provides a stabilized sorbent bed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for exposing particles in a gas in order to cause the charge on the particles to change, the apparatus comprising a chamber having a conductive wall with a gas inlet and a gas outlet. An electrode with an exposed tip is in the chamber, the electrode being held at a different potential from the ground potential. The electrode is connected to a source of voltage sufficient to cause a corona discharge to occur forming ions in the chamber, and creating a region with a high electric field intensity and another region in which the electric field intensity is lower. The inlet and outlet define a gas flow path from the inlet to the outlet such that the gas flow path passes mainly through the region with the lower electric field intensity.

Abstract: A density and viscosity sensor for measuring density and viscosity of a fluid, comprises: a housing (4) defining a chamber (8) isolated from the fluid (3), the housing (4) comprising an area defining a membrane (9) separating the chamber (8) from the fluid (3); a resonating element (5) arranged to be immersed in the fluid (3) and mechanically coupled to the membrane (9); and an actuating/detecting element (6) coupled to the resonating element (5), the actuating/detecting element (6) being positioned within the chamber (8) and mechanically coupled to the membrane (9), the actuating/detecting element (6) comprising at least one piezoelectric element (10) comprising two sides (11, 12) substantially parallel to the membrane (9); The membrane (9) has a thickness enabling transfer of mechanical vibration between the actuating/detecting element (6) and the resonating element (5). One side (11) of the piezoelectric element (10) comprises a single conductive area (13).

Abstract: A housing for a gas sensor module is described herein. The housing can include a first portion and a second portion. The first portion can include at least one wall forming a cavity having a first cavity portion and a second cavity portion. The first portion can also include an inlet tube coupling feature and a distribution channel disposed adjacent to the first cavity portion. The first portion can further include an outlet tube coupling feature and a receiving channel disposed adjacent to the second cavity portion. The second portion can include a tuning fork coupling feature disposed adjacent to the second cavity.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and mechanisms for measuring small masses attached to a substrate within a microcantilever. Specifically, the disclosure describes the measurement of small particles accumulated at a substrate that cannot be flowed through a microchannel within a microcantilever. A resonance measurement is acquired at a first time. A pair resonance measurements is then acquired at a second point in time—one with the test mass at a first position off or along the microcantilever, the second with the test mass at a second position along the microcantilever. Comparing the resonance frequencies determined for the two test mass positions allows for disambiguation of changes in the mass of the particles from changes in the resonant behavior of the microcantilever itself.

Abstract: A method for estimating a specific gravity of a gaseous fuel is described. The gaseous fuel may power an engine and the engine may include a cylinder, a gas valve configured to supply an intake port of the cylinder with the gaseous fuel, a gas rail configured to deliver the gaseous fuel to the gas valve, and a microprocessor adapted to perform the method. The method may comprise establishing a pressure wave in the gas rail by opening and closing the gas valve, wherein the pressure wave travels at the speed of sound in the gaseous fuel. The method may further comprise determining a frequency of the pressure wave in the gas rail, and estimating the specific gravity of the gaseous fuel based on the frequency of the pressure wave.