Abstract: A self-leveling container that contains argon gas for laser welding of a work piece includes a base surface, a plurality of pleated sidewalls, each comprising an associated distal sidewall end and an associated proximate sidewall end, where the proximate sidewall end is sealed to the base surface. A frame includes a plurality of frame segments, each secured to an associated one of the distal sidewall ends. A plurality of actuators, each located with one intersection of the plurality of frame segments, linearly move its associated one intersection of the plurality frame segments so a plane formed by the frame segments remains parallel to a planar surface.

Abstract: Provided is a quartz pendulous accelerometer including a quartz meter configured to sense an acceleration signal, convert the acceleration signal into an inertia torque, and convert the inertia torque into a quartz meter output signal; a readout apparatus configured to convert the meter output signal into an input signal recognizable by a pulse generating apparatus; and a pulse generating apparatus configured to perform control algorithm conversion, oversampling and digital quantization on the input signal to obtain a quantized current pulse, which is converted into an electromagnetic pulse torque for balancing the inertia torque.

Abstract: A radiation sensor includes an integrated circuit radiation sensor chip (1A) including first (7) and second (8) thermopile junctions connected in series to form a thermopile (7,8) within a dielectric stack (3). The first thermopile junction (7) is insulated from a substrate (2) of the chip. A resistive heater (6) in the dielectric stack for heating the first thermopile junction is coupled to a calibration circuit (67) for calibrating responsivity of the thermopile (7,8). The calibration circuit causes a current flow in the heater and multiplies the current by a resulting voltage across the heater to determine power dissipation. A resulting thermoelectric voltage (Vout) of the thermopile (7,8) is divided by the power to provide the responsivity of the sensor.

Abstract: A sensing device includes a housing and at least one film extending across the housing. The at least one film divides the housing into a first compartment and a second compartment. At least one mass is disposed within the first compartment. The at least one mass id sized to rupture the at least one film. A fluid having a first color is disposed in the first compartment and a fluid having a second color is disposed in the second compartment.

Abstract: The accelerometer of the present application includes: a main body; a channel positioned in the main body and forming a predetermined movement space; a conductive droplet positioned in the movement space and moving in the movement space according to inertia; a conduction section correspondingly positioned to the movement space and coming in contact with the conductive droplet; and a resistance measurement section connected to the conduction section and measuring the electric resistance of the conduction section.

Abstract: An inertial sensor (16) includes a differential thermocouple (13) including first (4A) and second (4B) metal traces, a poly trace (6) with a first end connected to a first end of the first metal trace to form a first (?) thermocouple junction and a second end connected to a first end of the second metal trace to form a second (+) thermocouple junction. A gas mass (10) located symmetrically with respect to the thermocouple junctions is heated by a heater (8). Acceleration or tilting of the sensor shifts the relative location of the gas mass relative to the thermocouple junctions, causing differential heating thereof and generation of a corresponding thermocouple output signal.

Abstract: An RFID, Bluetooth as well as zigbee based thermal bubble type angular accelerometer includes a flexible substrate, a base layer, at least one cavity, and at least one sensing assembly. The base layer is formed on the flexible substrate. The at least one cavity is formed on the base layer. The at least one sensing assembly is suspended over the at least one cavity. The sensing assembly comprises a heater and two temperature sensing elements, wherein the two temperature sensing elements are substantially symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of the heater, and the heaters and the two temperature sensing elements extend in a radial direction.

Abstract: An RFID based thermal bubble type accelerometer includes a flexible substrate, an embedded system on chip (SOC) unit, an RFID antenna formed on the substrate and coupled to a modulation/demodulation module in the SOC unit, a cavity formed on the flexible substrate, and a plurality of sensing assemblies, including a heater and two temperature-sensing elements, disposed along the x-axis direction and suspended over the cavity. The two temperature-sensing elements, serially connected, are separately disposed at two opposite sides and at substantially equal distances from the heater. Two sets of sensing assemblies can be connected in differential Wheatstone bridge. The series-connecting points of the sensing assemblies are coupled to the SOC unit such that an x-axis acceleration can be obtained by a voltage difference between the connecting points. The x-axis acceleration can be sent by the RFID antenna to a reader after it is modulated and encoded by the modulation/demodulation module.

Abstract: Acceleration and/or tilt sensor having a ferromagnetic fluid that is located in a receptacle, and the receptacle constitutes a neutral position for the fluid, and the fluid is permanently magnetized, and a magnetic field detector arrangement is located at the receptacle to detect a displacement of the fluid, wherein a portion of the fluid can be displaced relative to the receptacle from the neutral position to an operating position by an external force while maintaining a continuous surface with the portion of the fluid remaining in the neutral position, and the fluid returns to the neutral position after removal of the external force.

Abstract: An RFID based thermal bubble type accelerometer includes a flexible substrate, an embedded system on chip (SOC) unit, an RFID antenna formed on the substrate and coupled to a modulation/demodulation module in the SOC unit, a cavity formed on the flexible substrate, and a plurality of sensing assemblies, including a heater and two temperature-sensing elements, disposed along the x-axis direction and suspended over the cavity. The two temperature-sensing elements, serially connected, are separately disposed at two opposite sides and at substantially equal distances from the heater. Two sets of sensing assemblies can be connected in differential Wheatstone bridge. The series-connecting points of the sensing assemblies are coupled to the SOC unit such that an x-axis acceleration can be obtained by a voltage difference between the connecting points. The x-axis acceleration can be sent by the RFID antenna to a reader after it is modulated and encoded by the modulation/demodulation module.

Abstract: A closed-loop heater control circuit for use with integrated circuit thermal sensing devices, such as thermal accelerometers, is disclosed. The heater control circuit includes a switched-capacitor integrating circuit and a controller or modulator. The switched-capacitor integrating unit integrates a common-mode voltage signal from an instrument amplifier with respect to an analog common reference voltage. In operation, the switched-capacitor integrating unit is adapted so that the closed-loop is opened briefly at the beginning of every new cycle, e.g., using an enable signal, during fast start-up or power-down.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring a reservoir. The apparatus can include a tube that is conveyable in a well, penetrating the reservoir. The apparatus can further include an expandable member coupled to the tube. The expandable member can expand upon exposure to a downhole trigger. A sensor can be coupled to the expandable member.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting position and/or movement in space and/or for detecting fluid-properties comprising at least one transmitter and at least one receiver which are enclosed by a fluid, characterized in that the at least one transmitter generates cyclic fluid density fluctuations and the at least one receiver detects the change in transit time and/or the phase shift and/or the frequency change and/or the amplitude change.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for using an acceleration of a flow control system to determine the density of a fluid relative to the density of an in-line flow object.

Abstract: This invention relates to high precision, fluid-containing, transducer-based accelerometers that are capable of measuring acceleration, inclination, position and velocity by measuring the electronic response of a transducer to fluid flow caused by external acceleration or by free convection. The accelerometers of this invention are capable of varying the local density of the fluid, thereby creating a volume of fluid with a lower or higher density compared to the rest of the fluid in the accelerometer. The movement of this volume of lower or higher density fluid as a result of external acceleration is measured to determine the external acceleration.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for measuring acceleration and a tilt angle using thermal convection of a fluid which includes a container containing the fluid, a heating body including a first heating element and a second heating element arranged in the container and a crosspoint that is formed as end portions of the first and second heating elements are electrically connected, and radiating heat when current is applied through the other end portions of the first and second heating elements, and a thermocouple including a thermocouple junction that contacts the crosspoint of the heating body and being point-symmetric with the heating body with respect to the crosspoint of the heating body, wherein a voltage between both end portions of the thermocouple is measured to calculate a temperature of the crosspoint of the heating body.

Abstract: The invention relates to construction principles, operating and manufacturing methods for inertial sensors, i.e., sensors for rapidly detecting movement and acceleration in all degrees of freedom in space, and for separately detecting the position with respect to the perpendicular under the action of acceleration due to gravity. Use is made of the knowledge that to maintain a common convection zone of two or more sensor elements, the power fractions supplied to these elements vary with change in position, movement and acceleration.

Abstract: The acceleration measurement system has a first thermal cell optimized in sensitivity and a second thermal cell optimized in passband, which cells are connected to inputs of a servo-control loop including an amplifier presenting gain that varies as a function of input signal frequency.

Abstract: A thermal accelerometer comprising two detector strands having resistivity that is temperature sensitive, a detector member for detecting a temperature difference between the detector strands, a feedback member for establishing temperature equilibrium between the detector strands by supplying the detector strands with pulse feedback signals of variable width, a member for calculating acceleration, and a multiplexer member connected to the detector strands, to the detector member, and to the feedback member so as to perform the following in alternation: measuring the temperature difference between the detector strands; and providing the detector strands with the feedback signals, the widths of the pulse signals being determined by comparing a sawtooth signal with DC signals representative of the temperature difference between the detector strands.

Abstract: Single chip 3-axis thermal accelerometer devices include a substrate, at least one cavity etched in the substrate, a fluid disposed in the cavity, a bridge structure suspended over an opening of the cavity, and a plurality of heater elements and temperature sensing elements disposed on the bridge structure. The substrate has a substantially planar surface defined by X and Y coordinate axes, and the bridge structure is suspended over the opening of the cavity in the X-Y plane. In one embodiment, the bridge structure is configured to position at least two of the temperature sensing elements out of the X-Y plane. The heater and temperature sensing elements are disposed on the bridge structure in optimized arrangements for providing reduced temperature coefficients and for producing output voltages having reduced DC offset and drift.

Abstract: A method for determining the effects of the wind on a blind (1) or the like that is provided with a sensor means (231) for measuring the effects of the wind in a first measurement direction (X1) and in a second measurement direction (Y1), the two directions being different, the method comprising the following steps: collecting, from the sensor means, a first signal representative of the effects of the wind on the blind or the like, in the first measurement direction; collecting, from the sensor means, a second signal representative of the effects of the wind on the blind or the like, in the second measurement direction; which comprises the step of: processing these signals so as to provide a secondary signal representative of the effects of the wind and independent of the orientation of the sensor means in a plane defined by the two directions, in order to obtain uniform sensor detection sensitivity irrespective of the orientation of the sensor.

Abstract: A thermal accelerometer device that allows up to three axes of acceleration sensing. The thermal accelerometer includes a substantially planar substrate, a cavity formed in the substrate, a heater element, and at least first and second temperature sensing elements. The heater element is suspended over the cavity, and the first and second temperature sensing elements are disposed along the X or Y axis in the substrate plane on opposite sides of and at equal distances from the heater element. The thermal accelerometer employs differential temperatures detected by the temperature sensing elements to provide indications of acceleration in the X or Y directions. Further, the thermal accelerometer employs a common mode temperature detected by the temperature sensing elements to provide an indication of acceleration along a Z axis perpendicular to the X and Y axes.

Abstract: A thermal accelerometer device that provides a compensation for sensitivity variations over temperature. The thermal accelerometer includes signal conditioning circuitry operative to receive analog signals representing a differential temperature is indicative of a sensed acceleration. The signal conditioning circuitry includes serially connected A-to-D and D-to-A converters, which implement a temperature dependent function and process the received signals to provide a compensation for sensitivity variations over a range of ambient temperature. To provide a ratiometric compensation for variations in power supply voltage, a buffered voltage proportional to the supply voltage is provided as a reference voltage to the D-to-A converter. The thermal accelerometer includes a self-test circuit for verifying the integrity of a heater, temperature sensors, and circuitry included within the device.

Abstract: A micro-accelerometer includes first and second closed cavities, into each of which an equal quantity of gas is introduced. A membrane partitions the symmetrical first and second cavities. Temperature sensors are provided within the first and second cavities, respectively, to measure the gas temperatures within the cavities. Difference of temperature is not caused so long as no acceleration affects the inner side of the cavities. However, if a linear acceleration is applied, the membrane is deformed in the direction of acceleration, whereby for example, the gas within the first temperature is compressed and its temperature increases, whereas the temperature of the second cavity decreases because the gas is expanded within the second cavity. The difference of gas temperatures between the first and second cavities is measured as a variation of electric power resistance by the temperature sensors and applied as a function of acceleration.

Abstract: A thermal bubble type micro inertial sensor formed by micromachining technology includes a substrate, a heater arranged on the substrate, four temperature sensing members, a cap arranged above the substrate to cover and encapsulate the heater and the temperature sensing members, and a liquid filled into a chamber formed between the cap and the substrate. The temperature sensing members are symmetrical arranged at opposite sides of the heater and on the substrate, respectively, to sense the temperature difference beside the heater. The heater heats and partially vaporizes the liquid to form a thermal bubble in the liquid environment. Controlling the liquid characteristics and heater temperature may control the bubble size and enable the temperature sensing members to sense the temperature distribution variation. The sensor may serve as an inclinometer to sense the tilt, as well as an accelerometer to measure the acceleration.

Abstract: Electronic damping may be provided to an electrostatic positioner by developing a signal proportional to the velocity of the movable positioner plate and then changing the voltage applied to the positioner in proportion to this velocity signal to oppose the velocity of the movable plate. This velocity signal is obtained by subtracting from a first voltage proportional to the total current through the positioner a second voltage proportional to the current through the static capacitance of the positioner. The first voltage is obtained by a resistor in series with the positioner. The second voltage is not obtainable directly but is equal to a third voltage synthesized by a model impedance including a capacitor and a resistor in series having the same impedance and RC time constant as that of the positioner static capacitance and the resistor in series with the positioner where both resistor and capacitance are energized by the voltage driving the positioner.

Abstract: An accelerometer has a substrate with a cavity therein, a heater extending over the cavity, and a pair of temperature sensitive elements each spaced apart from the heater a distance of 75-400 microns also extending over the cavity. On passing an electrical current through the heater a symmetrical temperature distribution is set up on both sides of the heater. On acceleration, this distribution moves and by measuring the temperature as sensed by the pair of temperature sensitive elements the acceleration that caused the shift can be calculated.

Abstract: An accelerometer having a substrate with a cavity therein, a heater extending over the cavity, a pair of temperature sensitive elements extending over the cavity equidistant from the heater, and an electrical conductor couplable to an external power source and operative to pass electrical current through the heater so as to develop a symmetrical temperature gradient in the fluid extending outwardly from the heater to the two temperature sensors. The fluid may be a liquid or a gas surrounding the heater and temperature sensors. Applied acceleration disturbs this symmetry and produces a differential temperature between the two temperature sensors proportional to the acceleration.