Resistance Or Conductivity Patents (Class 73/335.05)
  • Patent number: 10816498
    Abstract: A humidity meter includes a humidity sensor, a heating device oriented towards the humidity sensor, a signal generator capable of modulating a power output of the heating device, and a lock-in amplifier capable of demodulating a response signal of the humidity sensor as induced by the modulated heating device. A method of measuring humidity includes the steps of providing a humidity sensor positioned along a channel, a heating device positioned opposite the humidity sensor along the channel, and a controller including a signal generator and a lock-in amplifier; providing an airflow along the channel; modulating a power supply to the heating device using the signal generator; and demodulating a response signal of the humidity sensor induced by the modulated heating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Inventor: Raymond Hoheisel
  • Patent number: 9841393
    Abstract: A sensor of volatile substances including: a sensitive layer, of a sensitive material that is permeable to a volatile substance and has an electrical permittivity depending upon a concentration of the volatile substance absorbed; a first electrode structure and a second electrode structure capacitively coupled together and arranged so that a capacitance between the first electrode structure and the second electrode structure is affected by the electrical permittivity of the sensitive material; and a supply device, configured to supply a heating current through one between the first electrode structure and the second electrode structure in a first operating condition, so as to heat the sensitive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Antonello Santangelo, Salvatore Cascino, Roberto Modica, Viviana Cerantonio, Maurizio Moschetti
  • Patent number: 9547270
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a humidity sensor element, a resistor, a clock supply section, a detection section and a determination section. The detection section detects a humidity on the basis of a divided voltage value obtained by the humidity sensor element and the resistor. The determination section acquires the divided voltage value at a first timing within a period from a rising edge to a falling edge of a first clock signal and at a second timing within a period from a falling edge to a rising edge of the first clock signal, and determines, on the basis of the divided voltage values thus acquired, whether or not the humidity detected by the detection section is normal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Shinichi Omoya
  • Patent number: 9417202
    Abstract: Provided is a sensor including an insulating layer, at least two heater patterns separated in one direction in the insulating layer and electrically connected to each other, at least two sensing electrode patterns insulated form the heater patterns, separated in the one direction in the insulating layer, and electrically connected to each other, and a sensing material, at least a part of which is buried in the insulating layer to contact the sensing electrode patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: INNOCHIPS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: In Kil Park, Tae Hyung Noh, Sung Cheol Park, Ki Beom Kwon, Seung Hwan Lee, Jun Ho Jung
  • Patent number: 9224252
    Abstract: A method of diagnosing rationality of a humidity sensor output signal determines that the humidity sensor output signal has passed a rationality diagnostic if the output signal is changing sufficiently. If the output signal is not changing sufficiently, the method determines whether it should be changing sufficiently by whether a humidity capacity index determined based on temperature and pressure local to the humidity sensor is changing sufficiently. If the humidity capacity index is changing sufficiently and the humidity sensor output signal is not, the method determines that the humidity sensor output signal has failed a diagnostic check. Upon determining that the humidity sensor output signal has failed the diagnostic check a predetermined number of times, the method determines that the humidity sensor output signal has failed the rationality diagnostic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Yichao Guo, Robert Stack
  • Patent number: 9086363
    Abstract: Disclosed is a dewpoint and icing condition detection apparatus that includes a sensor, a signal conditioner and a data acquisition device. The sensor is a carbon nanotube sensor having a resistance that varies in proportion to a change in humidity of a gas flow across the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: THE RESEARCH FOUNDATION OF STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK.
    Inventor: Vladimir Samuilov
  • Publication number: 20150075280
    Abstract: A water content sensor is disclosed. The sensor includes a wire filament configured with a Péclet number of 1 or less. The wire filament has an electrically conductive material with an electrical resistance that varies as a function of temperature. The sensor includes a pair of electrically conductive prongs coupled to opposite ends of the wire filament. Electrically conductive stubs may be coupled to the prongs. A structural support may be coupled to the prongs. The structural support structure may be comprised of silicon. The wire filament may be coupled to driving circuitry configured to supply an electric current to the wire filament to maintain the wire filament at one of an approximately constant current, an approximately constant voltage and an approximately constant temperature. The wire filament may be platinum or titanium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: THE TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Marcus Hultmark, Gilad Arwatz, Yuyang Fan, Margit Vallikivi
  • Publication number: 20150059471
    Abstract: An apparatus including a first sensor including a sensing material that is sensitive to a first parameter and a second parameter, wherein sensitivity to the first parameter changes sensitivity to the second parameter. The sensitivity of the first sensor to one of the first and the second parameters may be controlled by maintaining, as a constant, the other of the first and the second parameters. The apparatus may include a second sensor sensitive to at least one of the first parameter and the second parameter. The first parameter may be deformation and the second parameter may be a concentration of a gaseous analyte such as, for example, humidity. The second sensor may include the sensing material that is sensitive to the first parameter and the second parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Samiul HAQUE, Stefano Marco Borini, Richard White
  • Publication number: 20140366630
    Abstract: A micromechanical moisture sensor device includes: a substrate having a front side and a rear side; an interdigital printed conductor track arrangement provided above and/or below the front side of the substrate; and a moisture-sensitive polymer layer situated above and in the gaps of the interdigital printed conductor track arrangement. The moisture-sensitive polymer layer extends below the front side into the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Jochen FRANZ, Uwe SCHILLER
  • Publication number: 20140298904
    Abstract: Disclosed is a humidity sensor including: a conductive material in which electric charges are charged; a charger which charges the electric charges in the conductive material; and a measurer which measures a change amount of the electric charges charged in the conductive material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: Jun Bo Yoon, Hyun Ho Yang, Seok Ho Song
  • Publication number: 20140283597
    Abstract: To detect humidity, used are a first series connection circuit connecting a thermistor and a fixed resistor via a node, a second series connection circuit connecting a resistance change type humidity sensor and the thermistor via the node, and a third series connection circuit connecting the humidity sensor and the fixed resistor via the node. A predetermined voltage is applied across the first circuit to detect a first voltage indicating temperature through the node, and secondly across the second circuit to detect a second voltage indicating a first humidity through the node, and finally across the third circuit to detect a third voltage indicating a second humidity through the node. Then, the first voltage is compared with a reference voltage and judgment is made, based on a comparison result, to determine which of the second voltage and the third voltage is relevant to use as a basis for outputting the humidity as detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Jie Zheng, Ryo Ito, Kenji Kanazawa, Osamu Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20140216153
    Abstract: A gas sensing device that includes humidity compensation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventor: Albert PION
  • Patent number: 8783101
    Abstract: A rapid response relative humidity sensor based on nano-structured aluminum oxide thin film is disclosed. The main body of the sensor is an anodic aluminum oxide thin film of about 2-20 ?m thick formed from an Al substrate which serves as one electrode. A porous metal layer of about 20-200 nm thick is formed over the anodic aluminum oxide thin film and functions as a second electrode. The alumina thin film contains nano-sized channels of about 10-100 nm in diameter, serving as a capacitive relative humidity sensor having high sensitivity and short response time. Thermal annealing at elevated temperature improves the linearity of the capacitance versus humidity curve, giving a full range humidity sensing range. Hysteresis and degradation are negligible for the humidity sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Nano and Advanced Materials Institute Limited
    Inventors: Chun Zhang, Jianying Miao, Ning Wang
  • Publication number: 20140182372
    Abstract: A water vapour sensor comprises a substrate and a film of carbon nanotubes impregnated with surfactant on the substrate. The substrate is of material which is inert relative to the film. Two or more electrical conductors are in contact with in spaced apart zones of the film, whereby the impedance of the film may be measured. The sensor is housed in housing which protects the sensor but also allows exposure of the film to water vapour.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Inventors: Graeme Scott, Richard Coull, Vittorio Scardaci
  • Patent number: 8673649
    Abstract: A wireless chemical sensor includes an electrical conductor and a material separated therefrom by an electric insulator. The electrical conductor is an unconnected open-circuit shaped for storage of an electric field and a magnetic field. In the presence of a time-varying magnetic field, the first electrical conductor resonates to generate harmonic electric and magnetic field responses. The material is positioned at a location lying within at least one of the electric and magnetic field responses so-generated. The material changes in electrical conductivity in the presence of a chemical-of-interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Stanley E. Woodard, Donald M. Oglesby, Bryant Douglas Taylor
  • Patent number: 8519446
    Abstract: A gas sensor for sensing chemical gases utilizes a metal oxynitride as the sensing material, which changes its conductivity when exposed to the analyte gas. The change in conductivity is measured for the sensor output. The metal may be either tungsten or molybdenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Applied Nanotech Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald I. Dass, James Novak
  • Publication number: 20130133420
    Abstract: The present invention provides a humidity sensor including a first conductor, a second conductor, a power supply unit, and a current sensing unit. The first and the second conductors are separated from each other for a predetermined distance and are placed at a predetermined place. The power supply unit supplies high voltage to the first conductor, and the current sensing unit senses a change of current in the conductor and generate a signal in association with the change of the current. Therefore, the humidity sensor may operate in any environment, such as high temperature and high pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: GRAND MATE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: CHUNG-CHIN HUANG, Chin-Ying Huang, Hsin-Ming Huang, Hsing-Hsiung Huang
  • Patent number: 8448511
    Abstract: A system for improving operation of an engine having a particulate matter sensor is presented. The system may be used to improve engine operation during cold starts especially under conditions where water vapor or entrained water droplets are present in vehicle exhaust gases. In one embodiment, particulate sensor degradation is indicated in response to an output of said particulate matter sensor staying below a threshold as engine temperature increases past the dewpoint temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Garry Anthony Zawacki, Robert F. Novak, Roberto Teran, Jr., Dave Charles Weber, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Michael Hopka, William Charles Ruona
  • Patent number: 8413505
    Abstract: The present invention provides a temperature and humidity measuring and recording device deployed on substrate for measuring and recording temperature and humidity of the interior of any station for reticles and of any SMIF POD. The temperature and humidity measuring and recording device comprises a substrate with a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface on another side of the substrate, a first measurement unit embedded in and fixed to the first surface of the substrate for measuring the temperature and humidity of the surrounding environment, and a second measurement unit embedded in and fixed to the second surface of the substrate for measuring the temperature and humidity of the interior between the substrate and the pellicle film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Gudeng Precision Industrial Co, Ltd
    Inventors: Ke-Chih Chien, Ming-Long Chiu, Pao-Yi Lu
  • Patent number: 8394330
    Abstract: The present invention provides a class of sensors prepared from regions of conducting organic materials and conducting materials that show an increase sensitivity detection limit for amines. The present class of sensors have applications in the detection of spoiled food products and in testing for diseases, such as cholera and lung cancer, which have amines as biomarkers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: The California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Nathan S. Lewis, Carol Lewis, Robert Grubbs, Gregory Allen Sotzing
  • Patent number: 8359919
    Abstract: Provided is a high-precision, mechanically robust thermal humidity sensor. A detecting element 1 of the thermal humidity sensor of the present invention has a diaphragm (a bridge structure) 2 formed on a planar substrate which is formed from a material with high thermal conductivity such as silicon or ceramic. Formed on the diaphragm 2 are temperature detecting resistors 4, 5, 6, and 7 and a heating resistor 3 arranged in a manner surrounding the temperature detecting resistors. Humidity is detected based on the outputs of the temperature detecting resistors 4, 5, 6, and 7. Accordingly, humidity measurement errors that can possibly occur due to the leakage of heat through the diaphragm 2 to the planar substrate can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Matsumoto, Hiroshi Nakano, Keiji Hanzawa, Masamichi Yamada
  • Publication number: 20120272728
    Abstract: A hydrogen sensor comprising: a substrate, a detection film which is formed on the substrate and is composed of a rare earth metal, a protection film which is formed on the detection film and is a dispersion of hydrogen-permeable metal particles in a ceramic material, and a pair of electrodes which is formed apart on the protection film and are electrically connected with the detection film via the protection film. The hydrogen-permeable metal particles are Pd, Pt, Nb, V and Ta and the preferable content thereof is 20 to 70% by mass. It is preferred that the resistance of the protection film between the electrodes is 10 to 100,000 ? and that the resistance of the detection film in the interelectrode direction is smaller than the resistance of the protection film in the interelectrode direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: Mikuni Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Fukui, Toshinori Hirayama
  • Publication number: 20120260732
    Abstract: A sensor (2) for sensing a first substance and a second substance, the sensor comprising first (3) and second (5) sensor components each comprising a first material (20), the first material being sensitive to both the first substance and the second substance, the sensor further comprising a barrier (18) for preventing the second substance from passing into the second sensor component (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Aurelie Humbert, Youri Victorovitch Ponomarev, Roel Daamen, Matthias Merz
  • Publication number: 20120155504
    Abstract: A method for improved handling of a blended fuel includes obtaining a sample of the blended fuel from a storage tank; cooling the same until the sample separates into phases; and determining a risk that the fuel in the storage tank will separate based on the cooling step. An apparatus for assessing the risk of phase separation of a blended fuel includes a test cavity for holding a sample of the blended fuel from a storage tank; a heat transfer device for cooling the sample in the test cavity; and at least one sensor for indicating when the sample in the test cavity has separated into phases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: DELAWARE CAPITAL FORMATION, INC.
    Inventors: Ian F. Jarvie, Przemyslaw Olaf Iwaszczyszyn
  • Publication number: 20110296912
    Abstract: Disclosed is an integrated circuit comprising an electrode arrangement for detecting the presence of a liquid, said electrode arrangement comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein, prior to exposure of the electrode arrangement to said liquid, a surface of at least one of the first electrode and second electrode is at least partially covered by a compound that is soluble in the liquid; the electrical properties of the electrode arrangement being dependent on the amount of the compound covering said surface. An package and electronic device comprising such an IC and a method of manufacturing such an IC are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Matthias Merz, Roel Daamen, Aurelie Humbert, Youri Victorovitch Ponomarev
  • Patent number: 8047074
    Abstract: Provided are a humidity sensor and a method of manufacturing the same. The humidity sensor has high sensitivity, quick response time, improved temperature characteristics, low hysteresis and excellent durability. Moreover, for the humidity sensor, a humidity sensitive layer may be formed of various materials. The humidity sensor may be manufactured in a small size on a large scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Chi Hoon Jun, Sang Choon Ko, Chang Auck Choi, Byoung Gon Yu
  • Patent number: 7927010
    Abstract: Disposable, pre-sterilized, and pre-calibrated, pre-validated conductivity sensors are provided. These sensors are designed to store sensor-specific information, such as calibration and production information, in a non-volatile memory chip on the sensor. The sensors are calibrated using 0.100 molar potassium chloride (KCl) solutions at 25 degrees Celsius. These sensors may be utilize with in-line systems, closed fluid circuits, bioprocessing systems, or systems which require an aseptic environment while avoiding or reducing cleaning procedures and quality assurance variances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: SenCal, LLC
    Inventors: Karl G. Schick, David Uhen
  • Publication number: 20110072899
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor (100) for determining humidity, the sensor comprising a system (10) of layers arranged superpositioned on each other. For rendering a sensor (10) available which allows of the measuring of integral variables necessary for determining the humidity, the invention proposes that the system (10) comprises a diffusion barrier (11) in the form of a water-permeable layer and a storage layer in the form of a water-absorbing and irreversibly water-binding layer, where the diffusion barrier (11) and the storage layer (12) are in direct contact with each other and the diffusion barrier (11) has a temperature-dependent permeability (16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: NXP. B.V.
    Inventors: Martin Hoffmann, Mike Schneider
  • Publication number: 20110048127
    Abstract: Provided is a high-precision, mechanically robust thermal humidity sensor. A detecting element 1 of the thermal humidity sensor of the present invention has a diaphragm (a bridge structure) 2 formed on a planar substrate which is formed from a material with high thermal conductivity such as silicon or ceramic. Formed on the diaphragm 2 are temperature detecting resistors 4, 5, 6, and 7 and a heating resistor 3 arranged in a manner surrounding the temperature detecting resistors. Humidity is detected based on the outputs of the temperature detecting resistors 4, 5, 6, and 7. Accordingly, humidity measurement errors that can possibly occur due to the leakage of heat through the diaphragm 2 to the planar substrate can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro MATSUMOTO, Hiroshi Nakano, Keiji Hanzawa, Masamichi Yamada
  • Patent number: 7899346
    Abstract: The humidity detecting device includes a detection unit and a controller. The detection unit includes a humidity sensor for producing a humidity detection signal by detecting a humidity, a temperature sensor for producing a temperature detection signal by detecting a temperature surrounding the humidity sensor, and a common power supply line connected to the humidity sensor and the temperature sensor. The controller includes an application circuit for applying a power supply voltage to the humidity sensor and the temperature sensor through the common power supply line, a read circuit for producing a read-out humidity value corresponding to the humidity detection signal and a read-out temperature value corresponding to the temperature detection signal, and a correction circuit for correcting the read-out humidity value based on the read-out temperature value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Isao Kubo, Kenichi Dan
  • Publication number: 20100253733
    Abstract: A signal processing device is provided including: an alternating voltage generation section that generates a square shaped alternating voltage from plural direct voltages, and applies the square shaped alternating voltage to a sensor that is either a temperature detection sensor or a humidity detection sensor; a current-voltage conversion section that converts current of an output signal output from the sensor to an analog voltage; a selector section that selects a range of the current convertible by the current-voltage conversion section from one or other of plural current ranges; and a resistance value computation section that computes the resistance value of the sensor, based on the voltage value of the analog voltage converted by the current-voltage conversion section, the range of current convertible by the current-voltage conversion section, and the voltage value of the voltage generated by the alternating voltage generation section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshinori KATO
  • Patent number: 7803632
    Abstract: A method for detecting a substance in a liquid with high accuracy and high sensitivity includes recording frequency drifts of output frequencies of oscillator circuit outputs of m sensing oscillator circuits respectively including sensing SAW elements and frequency drifts of output frequencies of oscillator circuit outputs of n reference oscillator circuits respectively including reference SAW elements; determining at least one of the sensing oscillator circuits whose frequency drifts fall within a predetermined range and at least one of the reference oscillator circuits whose frequency drifts fall within the predetermined range to be acceptable; selecting at least one of the sensing oscillator circuits from among the acceptable sensing oscillator circuits and at least one of the reference oscillator circuits from among the acceptable reference oscillator circuits; and comparing an oscillator circuit output of the selected at least one of sensing oscillator circuits with an oscillator circuit output of the se
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Kenjiro Okaguchi, Michio Kadota
  • Patent number: 7788047
    Abstract: Disposable, pre-sterilized, and pre-calibrated, pre-validated conductivity sensors are provided. These sensors are designed to store sensor-specific information, such as calibration and production information, in a non-volatile memory chip on the sensor on in a barcode printed on the sensor. The sensors are calibrated using 0.100 molar potassium chloride (KCl) solutions at 25 degrees Celsius. These sensors may be utilize with in-line systems, closed fluid circuits, bioprocessing systems, or systems which require an aseptic environment while avoiding or reducing cleaning procedures and quality assurance variances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: SenCal LLC
    Inventors: Karl G. Schick, David Uhen
  • Patent number: 7770449
    Abstract: A resistive-type humidity sensing structure with microbridge includes a substrate, a sensing portion, and two measuring electrodes. An isolated layer and a bridge are respectively formed on the substrate. The sensing portion includes a resistive and humidity sensing layer. Two measuring electrodes are formed on the resistive sensing layer corresponding to the bridge, so as to fix the sensing portion on the first isolated layer for measuring resistance values of the resistive sensing layer. The material of the humidity sensing layer changes its volume according to humidity, the length of the resistive sensing layer covered by the humidity sensing layer is warped, and the changes of the length of the material for the resistive sensing layer causes variations of the resistance value. Finally, two measuring electrodes are used to measure the humidity value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Jung-Tai Chen, Chia-Yen Lee, Yii-Tay Chiou, Chun-Hsun Chu
  • Patent number: 7765807
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for heating a steam turbine comprising a high-pressure turbine section and a medium-pressure turbine section and/or a low-pressure turbine section. Said method is characterized by the essential aspect that the high-pressure turbine section is impinged upon by steam having relatively great conductivity while the medium-pressure turbine section or the low-pressure turbine section remains closed during said impingement following a cold start. As soon as the conductivity drops below a certain value, the medium-pressure turbine section or the low-pressure turbine section is also impinged upon by steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Henri Diesterbeck, Edwin Gobrecht, Karsten Peters, Rainer Quinkertz
  • Patent number: 7741950
    Abstract: The invention relates to a humidity sensor comprising a sensor element, a molding, which preferably consists of a thermoplastic material or a two-component polyurethane, epoxy or silicone casting and which is adapted to adhere to the sensor element, a dead-space volume, which is arranged in connection with the sensor element and which is covered by a membrane. The membrane is attached to an external surface of the molding and is adapted to protect the sensor element from exposure to ambient moisture and dirt and allowing diffusion of ambient air gas molecules, like water vapor, into the dead-space volume. The dead-space volume is less than 100 mm3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Senmatic A/S
    Inventor: Kristian Ehrhorn
  • Publication number: 20100147070
    Abstract: Provided are a humidity sensor and a method of manufacturing the same. The humidity sensor has high sensitivity, quick response time, improved temperature characteristics, low hysteresis and excellent durability. Moreover, for the humidity sensor, a humidity sensitive layer may be formed of various materials. The humidity sensor may be manufactured in a small size on a large scale.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Chi Hoon JUN, Sang Choon Ko, Chang Auck Choi, Byoung Gon Yu
  • Patent number: 7737700
    Abstract: Detecting air ingredients is obtained, a heater and gas sensitive acting layers are arranged on a substrate, which are connectable to an analyzing unit. Electrical resistances of n acting layers are connected in series; heater is a temperature sensor connected in parallel with this series connection, electrical resistance of heater is smaller than the sum of electrical resistances of acting layers and resistances are connected with a total of n+1 electrical terminals via electrodes so that heater is connected with two terminals and n?1 other terminals are connected with a respective junction that interconnects two acting layers. Heater is intermittently heated so that a predefined constant temperature of acting layers is achieved, temperature of acting layers is acquired by determining electrical resistance of heater; voltages in the series connection of acting layers are analyzed and a concentration of gases are determined from electrical resistances of acting layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: UST Umweltsensortechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Olaf Kiesewetter, Anatolij Ewert, Volkmar Melchert, Sven Kittelmann
  • Publication number: 20100071460
    Abstract: Humidity or a gas concentration or a solvent concentration in at least one gas is detected by a field effect transistor-based gas sensor whose sensor signal is generated by the change in the work function on a sensitive film. Detection is to be provided in a simple, effective and inexpensive manner. An additional change in potential is impressed at a gate of the field effect transistor and a variable of the resulting change in the sensor signal relative to the additional change in potential is evaluated. For example, each variable, which is e.g. a ratio, can be assigned a relative humidity, a gas concentration, or a solvent concentration. Sensitive films having at least one polymer are particularly advantageous.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Maximilian Fleischer, Roland Pohle, Oliver von Sicard
  • Patent number: 7642576
    Abstract: A rotational micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) having a piezo-resistor sensor is provided. The rotational MEMS device includes a pair of torsion springs that support a stage, four resistors, at least one of the resistors being formed along a center axis of the torsion springs, and electrical signal cables connected to the four resistors, wherein at least one of the torsion springs is formed in a <100> direction on an n-type silicon substrate having a (100) plane, and the resistors formed on the at least one of the torsion springs are formed in a <110> group direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Young-chul Ko, Jin-woo Cho, U-hyuk Choi, Seong-ho Shin
  • Patent number: 7597001
    Abstract: A humidity measuring apparatus including: a humidity detecting element whose resistance value changes according to a humidity change; a resistor serially connected to the humidity detecting element; a signal output unit which outputs a clock signal to the humidity detecting element and the resistor; and a measuring unit which detects a voltage of a connecting point of the humidity detecting element and the resistor at predetermined timing from an edge of the clock signal and obtains a humidity based on the detected voltage, wherein an abnormality of the humidity detecting element is detected by detecting the voltage at timing different from the predetermined timing based on the voltage detected by the measuring unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiro Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 7594435
    Abstract: Provided is a humidity sensor whose electrode is set to have an island-like configuration and is enclosed by a humidity sensitive film. As a result, in the humidity sensor, adhesion property between the humidity sensitive films on the electrode is enhanced and thus high reliability is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Minoru Sudo
  • Publication number: 20090190942
    Abstract: The humidity detecting device includes a detection unit and a controller. The detection unit includes a humidity sensor for producing a humidity detection signal by detecting a humidity, a temperature sensor for producing a temperature detection signal by detecting a temperature surrounding the humidity sensor, and a common power supply line connected to the humidity sensor and the temperature sensor. The controller includes an application circuit for applying a power supply voltage to the humidity sensor and the temperature sensor through the common power supply line, a read circuit for producing a read-out humidity value corresponding to the humidity detection signal and a read-out temperature value corresponding to the temperature detection signal, and a correction circuit for correcting the read-out humidity value based on the read-out temperature value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Isao KUBO, Kenichi DAN
  • Publication number: 20090188316
    Abstract: A resistive hydrogen sensor has at least two electrical connections and at least one resistance layer containing at least one suitable material for incorporating hydrogen, via which the electrical connections are connected to each other. The resistance layer adjoins at least one interface on a contact layer, which contains at least one chemical element from the fourth subgroup of the periodic table and/or carbon. The contact layer connected in series between the electrical connections to the resistance layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: Micronas GmbH
    Inventors: Gilbert Erdler, Holger Reinecke, Claas Muller, Mirko Frank
  • Patent number: 7556775
    Abstract: A microelectro-mechanical chemical sensor includes an active cantilever beam having a chemically selective material layer disposed thereon and at least one, preferably two, resistors with the resistance corresponding to the cantilever beam deflection. The sensor also has at least two, and preferably four, auxiliary cantilever beams adjacent to the active cantilever and attached to the same substrate, each having a piezoresistor disposed thereon. The piezoresistors are elements of a Wheatstone bridge, and the Wheatstone bridge output indicates the amount of a predetermined target chemical sorbed by the chemically selective material layer. The sensor is electrostatically actuated in order to monitor the resonant frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Robert Andrew McGill, Ioana Voiculescu, Gary K. Fedder
  • Patent number: 7552635
    Abstract: A humidity sensor capable of self-regulating temperature compensation and a manufacturing method thereof overcomes the inaccuracy caused by the resistor value of a conventional humidity-sensitive element changing depending due to changes in the temperature. The present invention proposes disposing two different humidity-sensitive elements in a humidity-sensitive substrate, wherein one humidity-sensitive element includes a saturated salt solution. The humidity-sensitive substrate has two different humidity-sensitive elements for achieving a self-regulating temperature compensation feature. The present invention of the humidity-sensitive element having the saturated salt solution can maintain the amount of humidity in the air regardless of the temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Fego Precision Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chin-Hsiung Chang, Yu-Kai Chen
  • Patent number: 7550979
    Abstract: A system and related method are provided to calibrate for wire capacitance during use to minimize error in conductivity measurement of the target fluid. The system includes a signal generator configured to drive the conductivity cell and the temperature element, with an alternating current (AC) drive signal having variable parameter. The system further includes a processor assembly electrically coupled to the conductivity cell and the temperature element to calculate a conductivity value of the fluid. The conductivity value is a function of the values of the temperature measurement, the compensation measurement, and the raw conductivity measurement, thereby compensating the conductivity value for capacitance effects. In this manner, the system effectively compensates for capacitance attributable to wiring extending between the electrode and other electronics of the sensor, usable with wiring of varied and unknown lengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Georg Fischer Signet LLC
    Inventors: Qinming Zhou, Gert Burkhardt
  • Publication number: 20090145220
    Abstract: In a gas sensor with at least two electrodes and with a sensor body which is connected thereto and is composed of a gas-sensitive material, in addition to pores which may already be present, second cavities are provided in the sensor body The second cavities may be suitable on account of their size to facilitate and accelerate the distribution of gas molecules in the sensor body and to thus improve the time response of the gas sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: Markus Langenbacher, Juergen Hall, Ulrich Demisch, Peer Loebmann
  • Patent number: 7523643
    Abstract: A humidity sensing structure having a cantilever resistor and a method for fabricating the same are disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate having a first surface and a second surface; performing an oxidation process on the first surface and the second surface to form a first oxide layer and a second oxide layer respectively; forming a resistance sensing layer on the first oxide layer; forming a humidity sensing layer on the resistance sensing layer; forming in the substrate a through-hole penetrating the first oxide layer and the second oxide layer; and forming a cantilever in the through-hole such that both the humidity sensing layer and the resistance sensing layer are secured in position on the cantilever. In response to humidity changes, the humidity sensing layer varies in volume and in consequence the resistance sensing layer varies in length, allowing ambient humidity to be measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Jung-Tai Chen, Chia-Yen Lee, Yii-Tay Chiou, Chun-Hsun Chu
  • Publication number: 20080258743
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement is provided for attachment to an inside of a windshield in a motor vehicle, including at least a sensor element that determines the relative humidity and a printed circuit board that electrically contacts the sensor element, wherein the sensor element is attached to the printed circuit board in the direction of the windshield, and a compensating film that accommodates the curvature of the window is present at least between the sensor element and the windshield, and the compensating film is an adhesive film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventors: Hans-Michael Schmitt, Thomas Polzer, Andrej Afanasjevas