Abstract: A method includes one or more processors of an electronic device receiving signals from multiple sensors located along an edge of the device. The signals are received in response to external contact being provided to the edge of the device. At least one processor determines a distribution of forces applied to the sensors based on the input signals. Based on the determined distribution of forces, the processor determines: i) a location of the external contact that is offset from a location of each of the multiple sensors, and ii) a magnitude of the force of the external contact. The processor detects whether sensing criteria has been satisfied based on an analysis of: i) the location of the external contact and ii) the magnitude of the force of the external contact. Responsive to detecting that sensing criteria has been satisfied, the processor executes a user input action.

Abstract: A testing apparatus for determining tensile strength of soft rock and soil tests a sample having a central hole. A drawbar device holds the sample in a central, upright position. The drawbar device has two main parts, namely the left fixed part and the right lateral movable part. A fixed frame connects to the left fixed part and a lateral movable frame connects to the right lateral movable part. The drawbar device has two arms. The sample is positioned on the central pull rod through the hole of the sample. A tension sensor and a displacement sensor detect the tension force and displacement as the sample is pulled apart. A data analysis module calculates a tensile strength based on the tension force and the displacement by the equation: ?t=500 ?Fmax/(R?r)h.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus, article of manufacture and method for discriminating between combined results of a plurality of elements. The apparatus includes: an assigning unit that assigns an element identification value to each of a plurality of basic elements, a generating unit that combines two or more basic elements, among the plurality of basic elements, so as to generate a combined element representing the two or more combined basic elements, and a calculating unit that merges, through an operation corresponding to an element combination method, a plurality of element identification values individually assigned to the plurality of basic elements contained in the combined element so as to calculate one element identification value for the combined element, where two elements are combined by an order-considered or ordered-ignored combination method, the calculating unit merges two corresponding element identification values through an operation where the commutative law holds or does not hold.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an apparatus and a method for mass analyses of an array of samples contained in distinct sample holders. The sample holders are placed on a plurality of sensors which preferably comprise an array of microbalances providing output signals comprising mass data on the array of samples.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an apparatus and a method for mass analyses of an array of samples contained in distinct sample holders. The sample holders are placed on a plurality of sensors which preferably comprise an array of microbalances providing output signals comprising mass data on the array of samples.

Abstract: A composite material has a laminated structure of fiber-reinforced resin layers and films of a shape-memory alloy. A predetermined strain has been applied to each film. A damage sensor has a film of an alloy of nickel and titanium. An electric circuit is bonded to the film, and strain gages are connected to the electric circuit. The damage sensor can be laminated to the resin layers in place of the film of the shape-memory alloy. Damage to the composite material is suppressed as follows: A current is applied to the films of the shape-memory alloy, to monitor change in electric resistance of the films. The damage is located in response to the change in electric resistance. Another current is applied to a film of the shape-memory alloy for which the change is larger than the other films to generate heat for deforming the film to generate shrinking stress or shear stress to the damage.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting, locating and quantifying a physical phenomena such as strain or a deformation in a structure. A minimum resolvable distance along the structure is selected and a quantity of laterally adjacent conductors is determined. Each conductor includes a plurality of segments coupled in series which define the minimum resolvable distance along the structure. When a deformation occurs, changes in the defined energy transmission characteristics along each conductor are compared to determine which segment contains the deformation.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting, locating and quantifying a physical phenomena such as strain or a deformation in a structure. A plurality of laterally adjacent conductors may each include a plurality of segments. Each segment is constructed to exhibit a unit value representative of a defined energy transmission characteristic. A plurality of identity groups are defined with each identity group comprising a plurality of segments including at least one segment from each of the plurality of conductors. The segments contained within an identity group are configured and arranged such that each of their associated unit values may be represented by a concatenated digit string which is a unique number relative to the other identity groups. Additionally, the unit values of the segments within an identity group maintain unique ratios with respect to the other unit values in the identity group.

Abstract: The device comprises a rigid former reproducing the volume of a portion of the body and suitable for receiving the compressive orthosis. The former (10) incorporates a plurality of sensors (22) distributed over various points of the former and configured in such a manner as to avoid significantly modifying the surface profile of the former, the sensors essentially measuring the pressure applied locally on the former by the orthosis at the location of the sensor and perpendicularly to the surface of the former. Advantageously, at the location of the measurement point, each sensor comprises a thin wall capable of being subjected to microdeformation under the effect of the pressure applied by the orthosis, and means such as a strain gauge bridge, for example. The thin wall can constitute a portion of a support pellet which is fitted to the former in such a manner that its outside surface, which includes the thin wall, is flush with the outside surface of the former.

Abstract: Disclosed is a beam strain gauge to measure strain in a material which incorporates the theory of beam mechanics and the use of a full Wheatstone bridge circuit. In all cases the beam or beams used are not attached directly to the material to be measured, thereby making the beam or beams insensitive to transverse strain. The use of beam mechanics allows the use of the full Wheatstone bridge circuit, which has many desirable properties for strain measurement. Some of these properties are self compensation for temperature and a higher gauge output signal. The beam strain gauge can be employed using silicon chip technology and provides many advantages over the current conventional strain gauges.

Abstract: A method of, and apparatus for, detecting level and blockages in an ore pass or other near-vertical shaft is described. The level and blockage detector includes a flexible metal strip in which a plurality of strain gages have been located, spaced apart from one another, preferably at known distances. A plurality of anchors secure the metal strip to the interior surface of the shaft such that the metal strip is displaced a fixed distance from the interior surface. The anchors are located intermediate the strain gages. When the ore pass fills up with bulk material, the bulk material causes the metal strip to deflect toward the interior surface of the shaft. This causes the resistance of the strain gage in the region of the deflection to change. To detect the location of the blockage, a microcontroller cycles through each strain gage, placing it as the fourth arm of a bridge circuit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a beam strain gauge to measure strain in a material which incorporates the theory of beam mechanics and the use of a full Wheatstone bridge circuit. In all cases the beam or beams used are not attached directly to the material to be measured, thereby making the beam or beams insensitive to transverse strain. The use of beam mechanics allows the use of the full Wheatstone bridge circuit, which has many desirable properties for strain measurement. Some of these properties are self compensation for temperature and a higher gauge output signal. The beam strain gauge can be employed using silicon chip technology and provides many advantages over the current conventional strain gauges.

Abstract: A plurality of strain gages are installed on a structural body at n positions thereon. A concentrated reference load is applied to the structural body at one of the n positions and strains developed in the structural body at the respective n positions are measured when the concentrated reference load is applied to the structural body. The measured deformations are divided by the concentrated load reference to produce strains per unit load. The above process is repeated at each of the n positions to generate the practical equations given below: ##EQU1## where .kappa.11.about..kappa.nn represent strains per unit load, A1.about.An represent estimated loads (unknowns), and .epsilon.1.about..epsilon.n represent measured strain data.

Abstract: An elastic modulus of an element of a material including fibers in a selected direction is determined as follows. First, a parallel elastic modulus, an orthogonal elastic modulus and fiber orientation of the material are stored. The elastic modulus of the element is determined based on the first elastic modulus, the second elastic modulus and an angle between the fiber orientation of the element and the selected direction such that the elastic modulus is determined as a function of the angle between the fiber orientation of the element and the selected direction when the selected direction is neither parallel nor orthogonal to the fiber orientation of the element.

Abstract: A deformation sensing device, and related method, for measuring overall deformation of a structural member subject to deformation by an actuator. The device includes a first sensor located in a region of influence of the actuator and a second sensor located outside but near to the region of influence of the actuator. The device takes a weighted average of output signals from the two sensors, using weighting factors that, in one embodiment, are applied either electronically and are selected either as proportional to the lengths of the member regions under the influence of the actuator and not under the influence of the actuator, or are selected to provide a desired transfer function between input to the actuator and output from the sensing device. In other embodiments, weighting of the output signals is obtained by using different surface areas for the sensors or by appropriately positioning two shear-mode sensors in relation to the region of influence of the actuator.

Abstract: A plurality of individual frames or stampings provided in a sheet strip material by a stamping device are passed in proximity to a sensing device. As each individual frame or stamping is passed in proximity to the sensing device, the sensing device provides a voltage signal to a controller. The voltage signal is proportional to the amount of, or mass of, metallic material in each frame or stamping and the distance between the frame or stamping and the sensing device. The controller generates an individual waveform from the voltage signal for each frame passed in proximity to the sensing device. Each individual waveform is a function of the position of the movable portion of the stamping device for one cycle. As the plurality of individual frames are passed in proximity to the sensing device, a plurality of individual waveforms are generated within the controller. The waveforms are compared within the controller to detect a deviation between waveforms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for scanning a plurality of sensor units. The device is comprised of at least one remote data acquisition unit which sequentially scans a plurality of sensor units and which stores data corresponding to the stress measured and the location of the sensor unit measuring the stress. A master control unit is provided for receiving address and stress data from the at least one remote data acquisition unit and comparing the magnitude of the stress with respect to predetermined stress values. A display unit is provided which illustrates the relative magnitude of stress measured with the above mentioned predetermined stress values.

Abstract: Early detection of cracks in structural members subject to stress is accomplished before cracks traverse the member by(a) affixing multiple liquid impermeable enclosures to the material to be monitored such that a crack forming in the monitored material will provide passage for liquid to enter the enclosures either through the monitored materials or by destroying the integrity of said liquid impermeable enclosures;(b) sealing a resistor having a known value onto each of the enclosures, each of the resistors having one lead capable of liquid contact within the enclosure, said lead electrically isolated from the material being monitored and/or a second wire in the enclosures;(c) forming a circuit connecting the multiple enclosures wherein the opposite resistor leads in each enclosure are connected by insulated wire to means for measuring resistance and/or conductance wherein each resistor alone or together with any combination of other resistors in said enclosures within the circuit provides a unique total resi

Abstract: An extensometer readout circuit conditions a strain information signal, representing strain of a specimen being tested, in such a way that yield point measurements and final elongation measurements of such specimen may be concurrently obtained. The strain information signal is provided by subjecting the specimen to a tensile or compression test by any conventional means known in the prior art. The strain information signal is first applied to a preamplifier. The preamplified strain information signal is then concurrently applied to both a high gain amplifier and a low gain amplifier. The signal obtained from the high gain amplifier is used for performing modulus calculations and for obtaining yield point measurements. The signal obtained from the low gain amplifier is used to obtain the total elongation measurement.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of determining the average plastic strain ratio (r) of sheet material of known density. This is effected by computation utilizing an empirical relationship existing for the material between r and an elastic property thereof, the elastic property being manifest as the velocity of mechanical vibrations propagated in the sheet.

Abstract: This process involves detecting piezo-electric potentials which are characteristic of a mechanical strain exerted on a long rigid member made of organic material. For this purpose, the potentials at two points spaced apart on this member are measured by means of two operational amplifiers CI.sub.1 and CI.sub.2 in order to obtain a signal which is characteristic of the stress rather than of its derivative and these signals are processed by means of analog operators OA.sub.1, OA.sub.2, OA.sub.3 in order to identify the bending .DELTA. F and torsional T stresses which are then compared with reference values RT, RF in order, for example, to trigger a signal. This process can be used for opening a safety ski binding.

Abstract: A load monitor for a reciprocating machine having a selective sensor connection for monitoring the total load or the individual load on each machine support member. A sensor is mounted on each one of a pluralityof support members. The sensors are connected in series and to an outlet through which a portable detector may be connected. A multi-position switch selectively connects the sensors to the outlet so that the total load or the individual load on each support member may be monitored.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for the determination of the standard tensile yield point in which the extension of a test body is monitored, comprises determining in the course of continuous extension within the elastic limit, the ratio of the instantaneous extension and the associated load, storing this ratio and in the course of further continuous extension the ratios of a given residual extension as well as that of the instantaneous extension and the instantaneous load are determined, the stored ratio value is summed with the ratio of the given residual extension and the instantaneous load, and the thus obtained sum is compared with the ratio of the instantaneous load whereby the instantaneous load at which the compared values become substantially equal gives the tensile yield stress at the given residual.

Abstract: A multipoint measuring device comprising a matrix of transducers of the measured quantity and switching elements, the columns of said matrix being formed by serially connected switching elements and each transducer having one of its terminals connected to a respective switching element of the column and the other terminal connected to a common bus of a respective row. At the beginning and at the end of each row there are provided switching elements. The matrix is connected to a measuring circuit via two compensators.

Abstract: A system for continuously monitoring both compressive and tension loads on a force carrying member. The system includes a transducer having a pair of physically aligned piezoelectric elements which each are adapted to sense changes in stresses in the load carrying member to produce electrical output signals which can be separately utilized by tension and compression load monitoring circuits. The illustrated system discloses a compression load monitoring circuit that is responsive to electrical output signals generated by one of the piezoelectric elements upon an increase in compressive stresses in the member and a tension load indicating circuit which is responsive to electrical signals generated by the other piezoelectric element upon an increase in tension stresses in the transducer.

Abstract: The level of heat treatment of metal strip in a process line is determined by first strain gauge producing a voltage proportional to longitudinal strip tension; selective means deflecting the strip in a lateral direction without materially effecting tension; second strain gauge producing a voltage proportional to lateral force and an amplifier means combining such voltages; setable means coupled to amplifier means output for establishing a predetermined output signal for a specific strip size; means producing voltage proportional to the lateral deflection; means differentiating between a voltage indicative of a gradual strip difference and a voltage resulting from sudden strip deflections; and means combining differentiated signal and latter voltage to produce a combined signal indicative of heat treatment level.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a mechanism for gauging the expansion of a trawl net in correspondence with the number of fish caught within the trawl. The mechanism includes sensors adapted to be fastened to the .[.masks.]. .Iadd.meshes .Iaddend.of the trawl net in order to sense changes in the geometry of the .[.mask.]. .Iadd.meshes.Iaddend.. Each sensor includes a permanent magnet and a reed contact disposed to be activated by the magnet as a result of a predetermined trawl net expansion, thereby transmitting a signal indicative of such expansion to a detection and indication mechanism located on board an associated trawler.

Abstract: A signal classifier system is disclosed that includes an on-line apparatus for monitoring various electrical signal inputs derived from vibration signals without data interruption, and providing an output from each of several levels of classifications. Classification is by a three-level classification algorithm. A first level of classification provides for the independent processing without structural or operational information of each signal input. The output of the first level is stored according to a strain gauge in a spatial file. The second level of classification provides a combination of the output of the spatial file with structural information (such as compressor structural information) and on-line operational information to provide an output indicative of event probabilities which are stored.