Abstract: A powder feed rate sensor includes a surface or diaphragm configured to detect powder feed rate.

Abstract: The invention relates to fluidics as used in medical and diagnostic equipment and relates further to means for purifying, abstracting, filtering, detecting and/or measuring analytes in liquid samples.

Abstract: Electrostatic capacitance measurements are used to detect chemical or biological analytes, or chemical interactions, with great sensitivity. A diaphragm is coated with a material capable of selectively interacting with an analyte of interest, and interaction of the analyte with the coating exerts stresses tangential to the diaphragm's surface. These stresses cause diaphragm displacements that are sensed as varying capacitance.

Abstract: A monolithic, integrated circuit sensor combining both a differential pressure sensor and a flow sensor on the same silicon chip. The integrated circuit has a diaphragm with a number of piezo-resistive elements placed on it in the normal manner for a pressure sensor. In addition, a channel is provided between the spaces on the two sides of the diaphragm. The channel has a cross-section which is a fraction of the size of the diaphragm. In one embodiment, the channel is a hole in the diaphragm. In another embodiment, the channel is an etched groove in the frame supporting the diaphragm.

Abstract: A volumetric flow control apparatus and method for measuring and controlling the volumetric flow rate and flow volume of a fluid. The apparatus comprises a reciprocating diaphragm meter having a diaphragm mounted for reciprocating movement and a diaphragm position indicator assembly for monitoring the position of the diaphragm as it reciprocates. As a fluid under pressure passes through the reciprocating diaphragm meter the diaphragm reciprocates through at least one meter cycle during which the meter passes a fixed volume of fluid per meter cycle. A timer responsive to the diaphragm position indicator is provided to measure the elapsed time for the meter diaphragm to reciprocate through at least one meter cycle. A processor calculates the volume flow rate of the fluid passing through the reciprocating diaphragm meter by dividing the fixed volume of fluid passed by the meter in a meter cycle by the elapsed time measured during the meter cycle.

Abstract: A gas meter includes a housing made of thermoplastic material having an inside wall defining two measuring chambers and a deformable membrane disposed between the two measuring chambers. The deformable membrane is formed from a film of thermoplastic elastomer material bonded to a synthetic fiber sheet. The periphery of the membrane is hot-welded to the wall between the two measuring chambers to form a gas-tight seal between the chambers. A mechanical drive train includes at least one lever having a hinged portion made from a thermoplastic material which is hot-welded to the middle of the membrane. The train drives a mechanical distributor disposed outside the housing.