and PROGNOSTIC AND HEALTH MONITORING SYSTEMS FOR CIRCUIT BREAKERS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A system can include at least one circuit breaker. The system can also include a prognostic and health monitoring (PHM) system. The PHM system can include at least one measuring device that measures at least one parameter associated with the at least one circuit breaker. The PHM system can also include a controller that receives measurements made by the at least one measuring device and analyzes the measurements to evaluate a performance of the at least one circuit breaker. The measurements can be made while the at least one circuit breaker is in service. Full Article
and SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE, BATTERY MONITORING SYSTEM, AND SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE DIAGNOSING METHOD By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device including: a power supply input section to which a first voltage from a battery cell is input; a boosting section including one end to which the first voltage from the power supply input section is input, and another end that, based on a control signal from a controller, outputs the first voltage or a second voltage boosted from the first voltage from as a power supply voltage; and a comparison section including an output section, a first input section connected to the power supply input section and the one end of the boosting section, and a second input section connected to the another end of the boosting section, the comparison section outputting a voltage from the output section that corresponds to a difference between voltages input to the first input section and the second input section. Full Article
and SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE, BATTERY MONITORING SYSTEM, AND DIAGNOSTIC METHOD FOR SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A semiconductor device for measuring a voltage of a battery cell, including first and second nodes, and first and second battery voltage measurement units. The first node is configured to receive a first voltage, the first voltage being a voltage of a capacitor that accumulates an electric charge based on the voltage of the battery cell. The first battery voltage measurement unit measures the first voltage through a first path. The second node is configured to receive a second voltage based on the voltage of the battery cell, the second node being different from the first node. The second battery voltage measurement unit measures the second voltage through a second path that is different from the first path. Full Article
and BATTERY SENSING METHOD AND APPARATUS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A method and apparatus is provided the battery sensor for a large-scale battery system. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to the architecture and measurement scheme for a high-accuracy battery voltage sensor based on a calibration scheme. The present disclosure also related to the architecture and measurement method for a cell-level current sensor to effectively and reliably manage a battery pack. Full Article
and METHOD AND SYSTEM OF APPARATUSES FOR TESTING UTILITY POWER DEVICES By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Test measurements on a utility power device by a switch matrix apparatus and a common voltage source as separate devices is performed. Through the switch matrix apparatus, the common voltage source selectively sends a first high voltage signal via a first lead to a first terminal of the utility power device, measures a first corresponding signal returned via a second lead of the switch matrix apparatus from a second terminal of the utility power device. While the first lead and the second lead of the switch matrix apparatus remain electrically coupled to the first and the second terminal of the utility power device, a second high voltage signal is selectively sent via the second lead to the second terminal of the utility power device, and a second corresponding signal returned from the first terminal of the utility power device via the first lead of the switch matrix apparatus is measured. Full Article
and MAGNETIC SENSOR APPARATUS AND CURRENT SENSOR APPARATUS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A sensor apparatus adjusts output timings of a detection signal and a sensing signal for sensing an abnormality in the detection signal. Provided is a magnetic sensor apparatus comprising a magnetic sensor element, an amplifying section that amplifies and outputs an output of the magnetic sensor element, a plurality of comparing sections that compare the output of the magnetic sensor element or an output of the amplifying section to a threshold value, and a plurality of delaying sections that each delay and output a comparison result output by a corresponding comparing section among the plurality of comparing sections. Also provided is a current sensor apparatus including a current path through which a current serving as a measurement target flows and a magnetic sensor apparatus that is arranged corresponding to the current path and detects a magnetic field generated according to the current serving as the measurement target. Full Article
and MAGNETIC FIELD SENSING APPARATUS AND DETECTION METHOD THEREOF By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A magnetic field sensing apparatus and detection method thereof are provided. The magnetic field sensing apparatus includes an anisotropic magneto-resistive (AMR) magnetic field detector, a reference magnetic field detector, and a controller. The AMR magnetic field detector generates a first output voltage according to a detected magnetic field. The reference magnetic field detector generates a second output voltage according to the detected magnetic field. The controller identifies whether an absolute value of a field density of the detected magnetic field is larger or smaller than a predetermined value or not, and selects the first output voltage or a saturation voltage to be a magnetic field detection result accordingly. Full Article
and MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS AND RF COIL APPARATUS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT According to one embodiment, magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a transmission coil, a plurality of reception channels, transmission/reception circuitry, and processing circuitry. The transmission coil transmits an RF wave to a subject. The reception channels receive MR signals generated from the subject. The transmission/reception circuitry controls the transmission coil to change the flip angle of a nucleus contained in the subject and excited by the transmitted RF wave. The processing circuitry determines whether the reception channels include an impaired channel, based on the comparison between the distributions of the signal values of the received MR signals with respect to the changing flip angles among the reception channels. Full Article
and SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A system and method for magnetic resonance imaging is provided. The method includes dividing k-space into a plurality of regions along a dividing direction; scanning an object using a plurality of sampling sequences; acquiring a plurality of groups of data lines; filling the plurality of groups of data lines into the plurality of regions of the k-space; and reconstructing an image based on the filled k-space. Full Article
and UNIVERSAL, MODULAR TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED MRI PHANTOM FOR CALIBRATED ANISOTROPIC AND ISOTROPIC IMAGING INCLUDING HOLLOW FLUID FILLED TUBULAR TEXTILES FOR CALIBRATED ANISOTROPIC IMAGING By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A universal, modular, temperature controlled MRI phantom for calibration and validation for anisotropic and isotropic imaging comprises an outer insulating shell configured to be received within an MRI chamber; an inner shell received within the outer insulating shell; a fluid conduits adjacent the inner shell for receiving temperature controlling fluid or gas cycling there-through; and a series of stacked layers of frames containing test points for the MRI phantom, each layer including at least one fiducial and including at least some anisotropic imaging test points in at least one frame and at least one isotropic imaging test point in at least one frame. The anisotropic imaging comprises hollow tubular textile fibers, wherein each hollow tubular fiber has an outer diameter of less than 50 microns and an inner diameter of less than 20 microns, wherein at least some hollow tubular fibers are filled with a fluid. Full Article
and MEASUREMENT WHILE DRILLING SYSTEM AND METHOD By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A measurement while drilling (MWD) system for use in a drilling string, the MWD system comprises: a resistivity module that is configured to generate resistivity information about a resistivity of a formation that is drilled by the drilling string; a near bit sub that is configured to generate inclination information about an inclination of a drill bit of the drilling string; a MWD module; a first wireless communication module that is configured to wirelessly send the resistivity information from the resistivity module to the MWD module; a second wireless communication module that is configured to wirelessly send inclination information from the near bit sub module to the MWD module; and wherein the MWD module is configured to participate in a transmission of the inclination information and the resistivity information towards an upper surface of the formation. Full Article
and DISPLAY PANEL, METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MEASURING SCREEN FLICKERING, AND DISPLAY DEVICE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The present disclosure provides a display panel, a method and a device for measuring screen flickering, and a display device. The display panel includes a substrate, data lines and gate lines arranged on the substrate and crossing each other, and subpixel units defined by the data lines and the gate lines. Each subpixel unit includes a TFT, a pixel electrode, a first common electrode and a second common electrode. The second common electrode is connected to an input end capable of providing an alternating voltage at a first frequency. An orthogonal projection of the second common electrode onto the substrate at least partially overlaps an orthogonal projection of the pixel electrode onto the substrate. Full Article
and POWER CONTROL APPARATUS AND POWER CONTROL SYSTEM By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A power control apparatus according to an embodiment includes an acquisition unit and a determination unit. The acquisition unit acquires information relating to a voltage and an electric current of a chargeable/dischargeable secondary battery during charging/discharging. The determination unit determines a maximum current of the secondary battery during charging on the basis of the information acquired by the acquisition unit so that the voltage of the secondary battery does not exceed a predetermined voltage. Full Article
and HEAT GENERATION RATE WAVEFORM CALCULATION DEVICE OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE AND METHOD FOR CALCULATING HEAT GENERATION RATE WAVEFORM By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A first-half combustion period, for example, is estimated/evaluated, with a required accuracy, more simply than the conventional art, while reducing man-hours to produce a heat generation rate waveform of an internal combustion engine. Within a combustion period of an air-fuel mixture, a period from an ignition time FA to a heat generation rate maximum time dQpeakA where the heat generation rate is maximum is defined as the first-half combustion period a that is one of characteristic values of the heat generation rate waveform. The first-half combustion period a is estimated based on an in-cylinder volume at the heat generation rate maximum time, and furthermore by being corrected using an exponential function of the engine rotation speed with a value depending on a tumble ratio as exponent. Thus, the heat generation rate waveform is produced using the estimated first-half combustion period a. Full Article
and DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DETECTING WALL ABRASION OF SOLID FILLER FEEDING WELL By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed is a device for detecting wall abrasion of a solid-filling feeding well and a detection method thereof. The device comprises a well wall abrasion detector, a horizontal displacement meter, a vertical displacement monitor, and a limit guide rod. One end of the limit guide rod is connected to the well wall abrasion detector. The signal output terminal of the well wall abrasion detector is connected to the signal input terminal of the horizontal displacement meter, and the other end of the limit guide rod passes through the vertical displacement monitor for slidable setting. This disclosure mainly utilizes a resistance strain displacement sensor to detect the abrasion and deformation degree of the well wall, determines the position of damages with the vertical displacement monitor, and draws wall abrasion curves by using the obtained data. The device provided is easy to use, has low cost, has high reliability, and can effectively detect the wall abrasion condition of a solid-filling feeding well, thereby providing a basis for ensuring the working efficiency of the feeding well. Full Article
and SYSTEM FOR DETECTING DEFORMATION OF CUSHION PAD AND PRODUCTION THEREOF By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides a cushion pad with improved durability without feeling of a foreign object. The present invention thus provides a system for detecting a deformation of a cushion pad, comprising; the cushion pad comprising a matrix layer, in which electroconductive or magnetic filler is dispersed, and a soft polyurethane foam including the matrix layer incorporated therein, anda detecting portion that detects an electric or magnetic change caused by a deformation of the cushion pad,wherein the matrix layer has a hardness lower than the soft polyurethane, and it production method. Full Article
and MICROELECTROMECHANICAL GYROSCOPE WITH REJECTION OF DISTURBANCES AND METHOD OF SENSING AN ANGULAR RATE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A gyroscope includes a substrate, a first structure, a second structure and a third structure elastically coupled to the substrate and movable along a first axis. The first and second structure are arranged at opposite sides of the third structure with respect to the first axis A driving system is configured to oscillate the first and second structure along the first axis in phase with one another and in phase opposition with the third structure. The first, second and third structure are provided with respective sets of sensing electrodes, configured to be displaced along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis in response to rotations of the substrate about a third axis perpendicular to the first axis and to the second axis. Full Article
and Ultrasonic Measurement System and Measurement Method Thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An ultrasonic measurement system and a measurement method thereof are disclosed. The system includes a subsystem summarization processing device, and at least two measurement subsystems mounted on different regions to be measured, each measurement subsystem includes a primary measurement sensor and a secondary measurement sensor, the primary measurement sensor includes a first housing, and a first transduction element, a measurement processing element and a signal control element mounted within the first housing respectively, the signal control element is coupled to the first transduction element and the measurement processing element respectively, the first transduction element is mounted on a bottom end surface of the first housing, the secondary measurement sensor includes a second housing and a second transduction element mounted on a bottom end surface of the second housing, the second transduction element is coupled to the signal control element, and the measurement processing element of each of the measurement subsystems is coupled to the subsystem summarization processing device respectively. The measurement accuracy can be improved by implementing the present invention. Full Article
and FLOW SPEED MEASUREMENT METHOD AND FLOW SPEED MEASUREMENT SYSTEM By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A flow speed measurement method includes conducting a heat exchange at a prescribed part of a surface of a pipe, the flow speed measurement method further includes measuring a temperature distribution in a pipe-axis-direction on the surface of the pipe in a case that the heat exchange has been conducted at the prescribed part, and the flow speed measurement method further includes determining a flow speed of a thermal fluid flowing inside the pipe, based on the temperature distribution measured. Full Article
and METHOD OF OPERATING A SENSOR ASSEMBLY FOR A FLUID TANK OF A MOTOR VEHICLE, AND CORRESPONDING SENSOR ASSEMBLY By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT In a method of operating a sensor assembly for a fluid tank of a motor vehicle, plural sensor elements of the sensor assembly are electrically connected to a sensor controller. The sensor controller determines measuring data from the sensor elements, and transmits the measuring data from at least some of the sensor elements separately and at least in part sequentially to a reprogrammable control unit. Full Article
and METHOD FOR DETERMINING A LIQUID LEVEL AND QUALITY IN A TANK By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to a method for determining a liquid level in a tank (1) comprised in a vehicle, wherein said method uses an ultrasonic sensor (4) for emitting and receiving ultrasonic waves (11). Basically the liquid level is determined based upon measuring the transition time of an ultrasonic wave (11) emitted by the ultrasonic sensor, wherein said emitted wave is deflected two times before being reflected by the surface (2) of the liquid contained in the tank. Full Article
and ON-TOOL MASS FLOW CONTROLLER DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEMS AND METHODS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Mass flow controllers with on-tool diagnostic capabilities and methods for on-tool diagnosis of mass flow controllers are disclosed herein. One method includes opening a control valve to a fixed position and closing an upstream valve to produce a flow rate that decreases from a high flow rate, across a range of flow rates, to a low flow rate. A pressure signal is generated that is indicative of a pressure of the fluid within a volume between the upstream valve and a sensor tube, and a flow sensor signal is provided with the mass flow sensor that is indicative of a mass flow rate of the fluid through the main flow path. Ratio curves are produced that relate, across the range of flow rates, a rate of change of the pressure signal to the flow sensor signal and comparing a test ratio curve to a previously generated baseline ratio curve. Full Article
and ROTATING MACHINE ABNORMALITY DETECTION DEVICE, ROTATING MACHINE ABNORMALITY DETECTION METHOD, AND ROTATING MACHINE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An abnormality detecting apparatus (10) for a rotating machine includes: a calculating part (15) which calculates a phase difference between signals respectively output from two sensors of one or more sets, the one or more sets being predetermined combinations of two sensors among the plurality of sensors, the plurality of sensors each of which detects an elastic wave generating in the rotating machine (1) having a rotor during rotation of the rotor, the sensors being arranged at predetermined different locations of the rotating machine (1); a storing part (16) which stores in advance information concerning a relationship between a phase difference and a contact position when a contact occurs during the rotation of the rotor, regarding the one or more sets; and a specifying part (17) which specifies a contact position by using a phase difference calculated by the calculating part (15) and the information stored in the storing part (16). Full Article
and FORCE DETECTOR, ROBOT, ELECTRONIC COMPONENT CARRYING APPARATUS, ELECTRONIC COMPONENT TESTING APPARATUS, PART PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND MOVING OBJECT By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A force detector includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a circuit board provided between the first substrate and the second substrate, and an element mounted on the circuit board and outputting a signal in response to an external force, wherein a hole is formed in the circuit board at a location where the element is placed, and a first convex part inserted into the hole and protruding toward the element is provided on the first substrate. Further, the element is placed within a periphery of the first convex part as seen from a direction perpendicular to the first substrate. Full Article
and Detection and Assessment of Damage to Composite Structure By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A system comprising: a parent structure made of composite material and having a repair site; a repair patch made of composite material, the repair patch being bonded to the parent structure at the repair site; and a sensor embedded in the repair patch. The system may further comprise non-volatile memory and an interface unit embedded in the repair patch and electrically connected to the sensor. In one embodiment, the sensor is a loop-shaped sensor comprising an electrically conductive structure having an electrical conductivity that varies as a function of a pressure exerted on the repair patch. In another embodiment, the sensor comprises a sensor chip having nonvolatile memory. In a further embodiment, the sensor comprises an optical fiber that is sensitive to changes in pressure on or strain in the repair patch. Full Article
and PHYSICAL QUANTITY DETECTION APPARATUS, MEASUREMENT SYSTEM, AND MEASUREMENT APPARATUS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A detecting element unit of a physical quantity detection apparatus includes a detection part and a supporting part. The detection part has a base part, a movable part coupled to the base part via a joint part, and a vibrator provided over the base part and the movable part, and the supporting part includes a fixing portion to be fixed to a base for supporting the base part. A processing unit of the physical quantity detection apparatus extracts vibration response signals at a resonance frequency of the detecting element unit from output of the vibrator. Full Article
and SENSOR ARRANGEMENT AND MEASUREMENT METHOD FOR A TURBOMACHINE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A sensor arrangement with a sensor element for measuring at least one physical and/or chemical fluid characteristic in a turbomachine is provided. The sensor element detects the at least one fluid characteristic inside a non-contact seal, in particular a labyrinth seal, between a rotor stage and a stator stage, wherein during operation the sensor element is in contact with the fluid flow along the flow path inside the labyrinth seal. Full Article
and TRACK VEHICLE COLLISION TESTING DEVICE AND TRACK VEHICLE COLLISION TESTING METHOD By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A rail vehicle collision test rig used for a collision test on a tested vehicle is provided, and includes: a track configured to support and guide the tested vehicle; a small vehicle configured to push the tested vehicle; a drive motor configured to drive the small vehicle to advance and arranged at a first end of the track; a first rotating hub arranged at the first end of the track and connected to the drive motor; a brake motor configured to brake the small vehicle; a second rotating hub arranged at the second end of the track and connected to the brake motor; a connecting rope wound on the first rotating hub and the second rotating hub; a detector configured to detect a velocity and a position of the tested vehicle; and a controller connected to the detector and is allowed to be in communication with the detector. Full Article
and AN APPARATUS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A percolation network of functionalised reduced graphene oxide flakes, the percolation network configured to allow for hopping of charge carriers between adjacent reduced graphene oxide flakes to enable a flow of charge carriers through the percolation network, and wherein the reduced graphene oxide flakes are functionalised to facilitate detectable changes in the flow of charge carriers in response to a stimulus to the percolation network. Full Article
and AEROSOL PARTICLE MASS SENSOR AND SENSING METHOD By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A mass sensor is provided for measuring a particle mass within an aerosol. The duration of a sensing cycle is set such that a pre-set change in mass resulting from particles deposited is caused. In the absence of cleaning, the lifetime of the sensor is dependent on the total mass deposited. As a result, the lifetime is made essentially constant by this approach, because each sensing operation is made to give rise to a constant amount of deposited particle mass. This means the lifetime can be predicted more accurately. Full Article
and SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ULTRASONIC INSPECTION OF TURBINE COMPONENTS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Embodiments of the disclosure relate to ultrasonic inspection of turbine components. In one embodiment, a method for ultrasonic inspection of a turbine component can include mounting at least one array of transducer elements to the turbine component, (a) separately pulsing a transducer element of the at least one array of transducer elements to transmit a signal to the turbine component, (b) capturing reflected signals from the turbine component at each transducer element in the at least one array of transducer elements, repeating (a) and (b) for each of the other transducer elements in the at least one array of transducer elements, maintaining a constant relative position of the array of transducer elements with respect to the turbine component, analyzing the captured reflected signals using a computer, generating an image of the interior volume of the turbine component by reconstruction of the captured reflected signals and based at least in part on detecting an anomaly in the image of the interior volume of the turbine component, identifying at least one defect or failure in the turbine component. Full Article
and Quantitative Liquid Texture Measurement Apparatus and Method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A photo acoustic non-destructive measurement apparatus and method for quantitatively measuring texture of a liquid. The apparatus includes a laser generating tool, an acoustic capturing device, and a data processing unit. The laser generating tool directs a laser towards a surface of a liquid contained in a container and creates pressure waves that propagate through the air and produce an acoustic signal. The acoustic capturing device records and forwards the signal to a data processing unit. The data processing unit further comprises a digital signal processing module that processes the received acoustic signal. A statistical processing module further filters the acoustic signal from the data processing unit and generates a quantitative acoustic model for texture attributes such as hardness and fracturability. The quantitative model is correlated with a qualitative texture measurement from a descriptive expert panel. Textures of liquids are quantitatively measured with the quantitative acoustic model. Full Article
and MULTI-PARAMETRIC ENVIRONMENTAL DIAGNOSTICS AND MONITORING SENSOR NODE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The multi-parametric environmental diagnostics and monitoring sensor node (10) provides monitoring and diagnostics of a variety of different ambient environmental factors and is powered by multiple sources of renewable energy. The multi-parametric environmental diagnostics and monitoring sensor node (10) includes a base (38) and a plurality of environmental condition sensors (36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e, 36f) mounted thereon. A controller (47) is also mounted on the base (38), the plurality of environmental condition sensors (36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e, 36f) being in communication therewith. An external photovoltaic cell (18) is mounted to the base and an internal photovoltaic cell (34) is mounted in an opposed orientation on a cover (32). The external photovoltaic cell (18) and the internal photovoltaic cell (34) charge a power storage module (52), which powers the plurality of environmental condition sensors (36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e, 36f) and the controller (47). Full Article
and DEVICES AND METHODS FOR IDENTIFYING A BIOLOGICAL OR CHEMICAL RESIDUE IN AN LIQUID SAMPLE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The invention discloses methods and devices for rapidly detecting a biological and/or chemical residue in a liquid sample. In some embodiments of the instant invention, a single antenna is generally employed in proximity to an aqueous solution in a disposable cup, with electrical outputs being recorded by an electrical metering device in communication with the single antenna. Commercial plastic cups may be used for detection of electric fields related to cleanliness of water samples. General and specific target detection may be performed with various embodiments of the instant invention. Full Article
and Sensor and Method for Producing a Sensor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A sensor includes a sensor core, a deviating component, and an aligning component. The sensor core has a cable that leaves the sensor core in essentially an exit direction, and a counter-structure. The aligning component has an aligning structure adapted to the counter-structure. The deviating component and aligning component define a final alignment of the cable in a direction different than the exit direction. The deviating component is pushed onto the sensor core. The aligning component is pushed laterally onto the sensor core in a mounting direction relative to the sensor core, and is engaged with the counter-structure of the sensor core. Full Article
and APPARATUS, METHOD, AND SYSTEM FOR DETECTING ACCELERATION AND MOTOR MONITORING By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Described is a system which includes: a cable including: a first fiber optic interconnect to provide an input light; and a second fiber optic interconnect to provide an output light; and a first housing coupled to the cable, the first housing including: a first deflection circuit to deflect the input light received from the first fiber optic interconnect in response to a vibration or movement of the first housing; and a second housing coupled to the cable, the second housing including: a light source to generate the input light for transmission to the first deflection circuit via the first fiber optic interconnect; and a photo detector to receive the output light from the first deflection circuit via the second fiber optic interconnect. Full Article
and SUBSTRATE FOR SENSOR, PHYSICAL QUANTITY DETECTION SENSOR, ACCELERATION SENSOR, ELECTRONIC APPARATUS, AND MOVING OBJECT By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A substrate for a sensor includes: a base section; a movable section connected to the base section; an arm portion as a support portion extending along the movable section from the base section; a first gap portion having a protrusion portion in which one of the movable section and the arm portion protrudes toward the other of the movable section and the arm portion, and having a predetermined gap between the protrusion portion on one side and the other of the movable section and the support portion; and a second gap portion which is located further toward the base section side than the first gap portion has a gap wider than the predetermined gap, in which in the first gap portion, one of the movable section and the arm portion has a ridge portion on the side facing the first gap portion. Full Article
and SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR THERMALLY REGULATING SENSOR OPERATION By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Systems and methods are provided for calibrating and regulating the temperature of a sensor. One or more temperature adjusting devices can be provided to regulate the temperature of the sensor. One or more of the temperature adjusting devices can be provided to perform a calibration to determine a relationship between sensor bias and sensor temperature. The one or more temperature adjusting devices can be built into the sensor. Full Article
and VIBRATION ANALYZING SYSTEM, VIBRATION ANALYZING APPARATUS, AND VIBRATION ANALYZING METHOD By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A vibration analyzing apparatus includes a vibration detecting unit set in a building where a person can reside and configured to detect vibration and output a detection signal based on the detected vibration, a mode determining unit configured to determine presence or absence of vibration of the building caused by an earthquake, and a control unit including a vibration analyzing unit configured to analyze the vibration on the basis of the detection signal, the control unit setting an analysis mode of the vibration analyzing unit. The control unit sets one of a normal time analysis mode for causing the vibration analyzing unit to analyze a vibration waveform indicated by the detection signal on the basis of a first condition and obtaining information concerning residence of the person and an earthquake analysis mode for obtaining information concerning deformation of the building. Full Article
and PROCESSES FOR FABRICATING ORGANIC PHOTODETECTORS AND RELATED PHOTODETECTORS AND SYSTEMS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A process for fabricating an organic photodetector is presented. The process includes providing an array of thin film transistor assemblies, each thin film transistor assembly including a first electrode disposed on a thin film transistor; disposing an organic semiconductor layer on the array; disposing a second electrode layer including a first inorganic material on the organic semiconductor layer through a shadow mask to form a first etch stop layer; and removing portions of the organic semiconductor layer unprotected by the first etch stop layer using a dry etching process to form a multilayered structure. An organic photodetector, for example an organic x-ray detector fabricated by the process is further presented. An x-ray system including the organic x-ray detector is also presented. Full Article
and LASER APPARATUS AND EXTREME ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT GENERATING APPARATUS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A laser beam having desired properties is output at desired timings. A laser apparatus is a laser apparatus for use with an extreme ultraviolet light generating apparatus that generates extreme ultraviolet light at a repetition frequency which is set in advance, and may be equipped with: a semiconductor laser that outputs a laser beam when a trigger signal is input thereto; an optical switch that switches between a state in which the laser beam passes therethrough and a state in which the laser beam does not pass therethrough, provided along the optical path of the laser beam; and a control unit configured to output the trigger signal to the semiconductor laser at a frequency which is an integer multiple of the repetition frequency, and to control the optical switch such that the laser beam passes therethrough at the repetition frequency. Full Article
and PROCESS FOR CONTROLLING, UNDER VOID, A JET OF PARTICLES WITH AN AERODYNAMIC LENS AND ASSOCIATED AERODYNAMIC LENS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to a method for controlling the divergence of a jet of particles in vacuo with an aerodynamic lens, the aerodynamic lens including at least one chamber; a diaphragm, a so-called inlet diaphragm, intended to form an inlet of the aerodynamic lens for a jet of particles, the inlet diaphragm having a given diameter (d1); and another diaphragm, a so-called outlet diaphragm, intended to form an outlet of the aerodynamic lens for this jet of particles; the method including: a step for generating the jet of particles from the inlet to the outlet, in vacuo, of the aerodynamic lens; and a step for adjusting the diameter (ds) of the outlet diaphragm for controlling the divergence of the jet of particles. Full Article
and PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD AND OPTICAL MODULE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The application provides a printed circuit board and an optical module so as to alleviate poor contact between the electro-conductive contact sheet group and the clamping piece due to the solder resist. The printed circuit board includes a substrate, and electro-conductive wirings and electro-conductive contact sheet group both laid on the surface of the substrate, where the substrate is overlaid with solder resist, and the solder resist has no contact with the electro-conductive contact sheet group. Full Article
and APPARATUS CONFIGURED FOR COLLECTION AND STERILIZATION OF EXPECTORATES By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed is an apparatus configured for collection and sterilization of expectorates. According to the embodiments of the invention, the apparatus includes a receptacle having an interior space defined by a bottom wall, and one or more side walls, an opening at a top portion for selectively receiving a separator for the expectorates to pass therethrough and be received at the interior space, and a power source, one or more light sources, such as ultraviolet (UV) light source radiating rays of sufficient wavelengths capable of sterilizing the expectorates received at the interior space, a reflective source surrounding the interior space of the receptacle for substantially reflecting the radiated rays throughout the interior space to effectively sterilize the expectorates received at the interior space, and a receptacle lid removably engaging the separator to close the opening at the top portion of the receptacle. Full Article
and ELECTRON BEAM GENERATOR AND ELECTRON BEAM STERILIZING DEVICE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Electron beam generator comprising an electron emitting device adapted to emit an electron beam when heated to an elevated temperature, wherein the electron emitting device comprises a filament having a spiral portion. Full Article
and ENCODER, HOLDING MEMBER, METHOD OF MOUNTING AN ENCODER, DRIVE APPARATUS, AND ROBOT APPARATUS, AND STAGE APPARATUS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An encoder, including: a scale that has a pattern and is mountable to a rotary member of an object to be measured; a main body including a detector that detects the pattern, the main body being mountable to a non-rotating portion of the object to be measured; and a holding member including: an abutment portion that is removably provided to the main body from outside the main body and passes through the main body to abut the scale; and a pushing portion that is capable of pushing the abutment portion toward the scale. Full Article
and PROXIMITY SENSING DEVICE AND LIGHT GUIDING METHOD THEREOF By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A proximity sensing device includes: a light source, a sensing unit, a light guide unit, and a window. The light source emits light, which is guided by the light guide unit to the window. The emitted light reflected by an object is received by the same window. The light guide unit includes a partial-transmissive-partial-reflective (PTPR) optical element, whereby the light emitted from the light source is reflected by the PTPR optical element, while the light reflected by the object passes through the PTPR optical element. There is only one window required. Full Article
and IMAGING DEVICE AND METHOD By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An imaging device and method are provided. Light from an object is provided as a plurality of sets of light beams to a phase difference array having a plurality of elements. The phase difference array is configured to provide different optical paths for light included within at least some of a plurality of sets of light beams. The light from the phase difference array is received at an imaging element array. The imaging element array includes a plurality of imaging elements. Information obtained from hyperspectral imaging data based on output signals of the imaging element array can be displayed. Full Article
and FLUID ANALYZER WITH MODULATION FOR LIQUIDS AND GASES By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A fluid analyzer includes an optical source and an optical detector defining an optical beam path through an interrogation region of a fluid flow cell. Flow-control devices conduct analyte and reference fluids through a channel and the interrogation region, and manipulate fluid flow in response to control signals to move a fluid boundary separating the analyte and reference fluids across the interrogation region. A controller generates control signals to (1) cause the fluid boundary to be moved across the interrogation region accordingly, (2) sample an output signal from the optical detector at a first interval during which the interrogation region contains more analyte fluid than reference fluid and at a second interval during which the interrogation region contains more reference fluid than analyte fluid, and (3) determine from samples of the output signal a measurement value indicative of an optically measured characteristic of the analyte fluid. Full Article
and MAIL DETECTION DEVICE AND METHOD By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The present invention discloses a mail detection device and method. The device comprises a broad-band terahertz generator, a collimator, a beam splitter, a fixed reflector, a movable reflector, a wave buncher, a matrix detector, an acquisition card and an information processing module; wherein the information processing module is used for generating a terahertz image of a mail to be detected according to the electric signals sent by the acquisition card when the movable reflector is motionless; and when finding suspicious articles according to the terahertz image of a mail to be detected, the information processing module controls the movable reflector to move, and generates spectral information of the suspicious articles according to an electric signal sequence sent by the acquisition card during the movement of the movable reflector. Full Article