l Pre-Loaded Force Sensors By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Pre-loaded force sensitive input devices, force sensing resistors (FSR), are formed as a multiple membrane assembly that is capable of detecting low intensity pressure inputs and quantifying varying applications of pressure to the sensor surface. Pre-loading the force sensor elements results in controlled amount of force between the two substrates causing a constant state of pre-load and eliminating the low-end or minimal pressure signal noise associated with unloaded sensors. Pre-loading the force sensing resistor sensors also enables the sensor to detect removal of low intensity pressure input such as might occur during theft of light weight articles placed in contact with the pre-loaded force sensor. Using an FSR or FSR Matrix Array will enable any handling of protected retail packaging to be detected and identified. A library of “touches” can be established that will yield cutting, ripping, twisting, etc. making the detection of a theft in progress more accurate. Full Article
l TORQUE SENSOR TERMINAL BLOCK STRUCTURE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Provided is a torque sensor terminal block structure including an electric motor (1) which outputs driving force for driving a load (8), a strain body (3) interposed on a way of a power transmission system from the electric motor (1) to the load (8), a power detector (4) which outputs a detection signal according to a strain of the strain body (3) as a signal indicating a driving force transmitted from the electric motor (1) to the load (8), and a terminal block (6) which acquires the detection signal of the power detector (4) and transmits the output result to a signal processing circuit section. The terminal block (6) is set parallel to a magnetic flux output from the electric motor (1). Full Article
l TORQUE SENSOR TERMINAL BLOCK STRUCTURE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Provided is a torque sensor terminal block structure including an electric motor (1) which outputs driving force for driving a load (8), a strain body (3) interposed on a way of a power transmission system from the electric motor (1) to the load (8), a plurality of power detectors (4) which output a detection signal according to strain of the strain body (3) as a signal indicating the driving force, and a terminal block (6) which acquires the detection signal of the power detectors (4) and transmits the output result to a signal processing circuit section (10). The wirings to the signal processing circuit section (10) are twisted spirally as a single stranded wire, and an opening degree between single wirings when the stranded wire extending from the power detectors (4) to the terminal block (6) is unwound, is set to be same for each of the power detectors (4). Full Article
l PLANET GEAR TRAIN BASED TORQUE DETECTOR By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A planet gear train based torque detector is provided with idler gears between an input shaft and an output shaft wherein a rotation of the input shaft rotates the idler gears which rotate the output shaft, and a force is applied to a tangent line between each idler gear and the input shaft; peripheral resilient members, each having a fixed first end and a second end for receiving force applied thereon by the revolution of idler gears; and at least one strain gauge, each attached on one resilient member for measuring a deformation at the resilient member due to the revolution of the idler gears. A torque between the input shaft and the output shaft is obtained by calculating the deformation. The resilient members parallel the input shaft. Full Article
l SENSOR FOR DETECTING A PRESSURE OF A FLUID MEDIUM By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A sensor for detecting a pressure of a fluid medium is provided. The sensor includes a sensor element for detecting the pressure of the fluid medium, a supply duct for supplying the fluid medium to the sensor element and a control and/or evaluation circuit for processing signals of the sensor element. The control and/or evaluation circuit is situated on the sensor element. Full Article
l 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
l 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
l Drilling-Resistance Measuring Device for Use Underwater By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to a drilling-resistance measuring device (10) and to a method for material testing in a humid environment or underwater. The drilling-resistance measuring device (10) comprises a housing (1), in which a drive and a drill chuck (3) coupled to the drive are arranged, in which drill chuck a drilling needle (4) is or can be releasably held, wherein the housing (1) has a drilling-needle outlet opening (5') enclosed by a drilling-needle outlet guide (5), through which drilling-needle outlet opening the drilling needle (4) extends out of the housing (1). The drilling-resistance measuring device (10) comprises at least one water-tight bellows (6), which is arranged in the interior of the housing (1) around the drilling needle (4) between the drill chuck (3) and the drilling-needle outlet guide (5), wherein moisture or water can enter the bellows (6) through the drilling-needle outlet opening (5'). Full Article
l 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
l 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
l 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
l Heated Transfer Line By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A flexible, foldable light-weight gas chromatography transfer line suitable for connecting a gas chromatograph (GC) to a spectrometer, such as a mass spectrometer or optical spectrometer, in particular to the ion source of the spectrometer, such as an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) ion source. The transfer line has a heating arrangement that allows maintaining an even temperature profile, which improves quality of spectra. The transfer line has low thermal mass and the heating can be controlled with the control unit of the GC. Full Article
l Volumetric Flow Regulation in Multi-Dimensional Liquid Analysis Systems By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A multi-dimensional liquid analysis system includes a first dimension system and a second dimension system, wherein outflow from the first dimension system is separated at a flow splitter under controlled conditions. The flow splitter separates the first dimension outflow into first and second split outlet flows, with one of the split outlet flows being metered to a designated flow rate with a flow metering device disposed downstream from the flow splitter. The flow metering device selectively closes or opens an outlet flow path to define a volumetric flow rate along that outlet flow path, so that the other split outlet flow is correspondingly controlled. Full Article
l VACUUM-ASSISTED IN-NEEDLE CAPPLICARY ADSORPTION TRAP WITH MULTIWALLED POLYANILINE/CARBON NANOTUBE NANOCOMPOSITE SORBENT By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A vacuum-assisted in-needle capillary adsorption trap (VA-INCAT) device for sampling and delivering materials to an analytical device is disclosed. A sorbent is multiwall carbon nanotube/polyaniline (PANI/MWCNT) nanocomposite and is coated within an interior space of the needle between the second end and the side aperture to entrap an analyte within a sample. The VA-INCAT device also includes a vacuum device configured to vacuum the vacuum flask to improve the extraction of the analytes vapors from the sample matrix to the sorbent bed. Full Article
l METHOD FOR OPERATING A TEST STATION FOR PORTABLE GAS-MEASURING DEVICES AS WELL AS TEST STATION FOR PORTABLE GAS-MEASURING DEVICES By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A method for operating a test station (10) for portable gas-measuring devices (20) is provided. The gas-measuring device (20) is arranged in fluid-communication with the test station (10) via at least one interface (13). A flow time is set, during which the test gas (30) is fed and a waiting time is set, during which no test gas (30) is fed. After an end of the feed of the at least one test gas results of the test are analyzed. The test station (10) is configured for feeding at least one test gas (30) to the interface (13). The test station (10) for portable gas-measuring devices (20) has at least one interface (13) for the fluid-communicating arrangement of the gas-measuring device (20), and wherein the test station (10) is configured for feeding at least one test gas (30) to the interface (13). Full Article
l 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
l 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
l Technologies for controlling degradation of sensing circuits By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Technologies for controlling degradation of a sensor mote including detecting a trigger event and initiating degradation of at least a portion of the sensor mote in response to the trigger event. The trigger event may be embodied as any type of event detectable by the sensor mote such as a trigger signal, particular sensed data, expiration of a reference time period, completion of a task, and so forth. The sensor mote may imitate the degradation by, for example, controlling a valve to release a chemical stored in the sensor mote or allow a substance into the sensor mote. Full Article
l 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
l 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
l MEMS DEVICE TO SELECTIVELY MEASURE EXCITATION IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A method and system for a sensor system of a device is disclosed. The sensor system includes a first MEMS sensor (FMEMS), a second MEMS sensor (SMEMS) and a signal processor (SP). An excitation is imparted to the device along a first axis (FA). The FMEMS has a first primary sense axis (FPSA), moves in response to a component of the excitation along the FA aligned with the FPSA and outputs a first signal proportional to an excitation along the FPSA. The SMEMS has a second primary sense axis (SPSA), moves in response to a component of the excitation along the FA aligned with the SPSA and outputs a second signal proportional to an excitation along the SPSA. The SP combines the first signal and the second signal to output a third signal proportional to the excitation along the FA. The FA, the FPSA and the SPSA have different orientations. Full Article
l MICRO-ELECTROMECHANICAL APPARATUS HAVING CENTRAL ANCHOR By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A micro-electromechanical (MEMS) apparatus includes a substrate, two first anchors, a frame, and two elastic members. The substrate is provided with a reference point thereon. The frame surrounds the two first anchors, and each of the elastic members connects the corresponding first anchor and the frame. Each of the first anchors is disposed near the center of the MEMS apparatus to decrease an effect caused by warpage of the substrate. The MEMS apparatus can be applied to an MEMS sensor having a rotatable mass, such as a three-axis accelerometer or a magnetometer, to improve process yield, reliability, and measurement accuracy. Full Article
l 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
l 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
l AMPLIFYING ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT WITH REDUCED START-UP TIME FOR A SIGNAL INCLUDING QUADRATURE COMPONENTS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An electronic circuit for amplifying signals with two components in phase quadrature, which includes: a feedback amplifier with a feedback capacitor; a switch that drives charging and discharging of the feedback capacitor; an additional capacitor; and a coupling circuit, which alternatively connects the additional capacitor in parallel to the feedback capacitor or else decouples the additional capacitor from the feedback capacitor. The switch opens at a first instant, where a first one of the two components assumes a first zero value; the coupling circuit decouples the additional capacitor from the feedback capacitor in a way synchronous with a second instant, where the first component assumes a second zero value. Full Article
l TRIPLE QUADRUPOLE MASS SPECTROMETRY COUPLED TO TRAPPED ION MOBILITY SEPARATION By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The invention provides a method for acquiring fragment ion spectra of substances in complex substance mixtures wherein a trapped ion mobility spectrometer (“TIMS”) is used as the ion mobility separation device coupled to a triple quadrupole mass filter assembly. The fragment ion spectra may be used for the identification of high numbers of proteins in complex mixtures, or for a safe quantification of some substances, by their fragment ion mass spectra in a mass spectrometer with upstream substance separator. TIMS, in particular equipped with parallel accumulation, provides the unique possibility to prolong the ion accumulation duration to find more detectable ion species without decreasing the measuring capacity for fragment ion mass spectra. The high measurement capacity for fragment ion mass spectra permits the repeated measurement of low abundance ion species such as to improve the quality of the fragment ion spectra. Full Article
l SPAD ARRAY WITH PIXEL-LEVEL BIAS CONTROL By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A sensing device includes an array of sensing elements. Each sensing element includes a photodiode, including a p-n junction, and a local biasing circuit, coupled to reverse-bias the p-n junction at a bias voltage greater than a breakdown voltage of the p-n junction by a margin sufficient so that a single photon incident on the p-n junction triggers an avalanche pulse output from the sensing element. A bias control circuit is coupled to set the bias voltage in different ones of the sensing elements to different, respective values that are greater than the breakdown voltage. Full Article
l 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
l POWER SYSTEM FOR SUPPLYING HIGH VOLTAGE TO AN ELECTRON BEAM EMITTER By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Power system for supplying high voltage to an electron beam emitter, which is adapted to sterilize a packaging container or a packaging material by electron beam irradiation, the power system comprising a voltage multiplier for generating a high voltage, a first voltage measurement device for measuring an output voltage level of the voltage multiplier and providing a first measured voltage value, and an actuator for modifying the output voltage level of the voltage multiplier based on the first measured voltage value provided by the first voltage measurement device, characterized in that the power system further comprises a second voltage measurement device adapted to independently measure the output voltage level of the voltage multiplier and provide a second measured voltage value. Full Article
l EUV LPP SOURCE WITH IMPROVED DOSE CONTROL BY TRACKING DOSE OVER SPECIFIED WINDOW By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A method and apparatus for controlling a dose of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation generated by a laser produced plasma (LPP) EUV light source. In one embodiment, a running total of the EUV energy generated over a predetermined number of laser pulses is measured; once that number of pulses is exceeded, the energy from the pulse immediately preceding the most recent predetermined number of pulses is dropped from the running total, so that the running total is from the most recent predetermined number of pulses. If the running total of the EUV energy exceeds a target dose, the next pulse is caused to not hit a droplet. This avoids the unwanted side effects of various prior art solutions, such as needing to miss many droplets in a row, or requiring the laser pulses to be shortened or reduced in power as in other prior art solutions. Full Article
l 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
l 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
l 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
l 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
l USE OF FLUORESCENT POLYMERS IN MARKING COMPOSITIONS FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC DETERMINATION OF CLEANING PERFORMANCE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The present invention generally relates to fluorescent marking compositions and their use to determine whether a surface has been cleaned. More particularly, the marking compositions comprise fluorescent polymers. Full Article
l LENS PLATE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT In a lens plate (18) for an optical sensor device in a vehicle, in particular for a rain sensor, with a transmitter-side lens structure (28) and a receiver-side lens structure (32), the transmitter-side lens structure (26) partially is provided with anti-transmission features which In individual regions of the lens plate (18) partially or completely prevent the passage of the light emitted by a light transmitter (14). Full Article
l 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
l 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
l Optical Fibre Sensor System By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An optical fibre sensor system and a method for determining a location of a disturbance having a signal processor with a plurality of activation cells adapted to react to components of a back-scattered signal and label the disturbance. Full Article
l 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
l OPTICAL DETECTION SYSTEM WITH LIGHT SAMPLING By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT System, including methods and apparatus, for optical detection. The system may comprise a light source to generate a beam of light, an optical element, and a detector. The optical element may include a light guide having a shaft and a tip, with the tip forming a beveled end of the light guide. The optical element may extend into the beam, such that the tip and at least a portion of the shaft are located inside the beam, and a window of the optical element is located outside the beam. Light of the beam incident on the tip may be transmitted longitudinally through the light guide and out the window, while light of the beam incident on the shaft may be transmitted transversely through the shaft and remains in the beam downstream. The detector may be configured to detect light received from the window. Full Article
l Low power, high resolution solid state lidar circuit By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An optical circuit includes solid state photonics. The optical circuit includes a phased array of solid state waveguides that perform beamsteering on an optical signal. The optical circuit includes a modulator to modulate a bit sequence onto the carrier frequency of the optical signal, and the beamsteered signal includes the modulated bit sequence. The optical circuit includes a photodetector to detect a reflection of the beamsteered optical signal. The optical circuit autocorrelates the reflection signal with the bit sequence to generate a processed signal. Full Article
l SPECTROMETER MODULE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A spectrometer module comprising a plurality of separate electronic circuit modules is disclosed. Each separate electronic module comprises an integrated sensor circuit including a light sensitive area occupying part of an area of the integrated sensor circuit, the integrated sensor circuit being arranged to detect incident light. In one aspect, the plurality of separate electronic circuit modules includes a group of adjacent electronic circuit modules. The light sensitive areas of the electronic circuit modules in the group are so arranged on the respective integrated sensor circuits that the group of adjacent electronic circuit modules is mounted so that the light sensitive areas thereof are arranged in vicinity to each other. The spectrometer module includes an optical module, which is common to said plurality of separate electronic circuit modules and arranged to direct incident light towards the light sensitive areas of each of said electronic circuit modules. Full Article
l 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
l MEASUREMENT OF PROPERTIES OF AN ORGANIC MATERIAL By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Measuring system for measuring the properties of an organic material, e.g. meat, comprising a light source unit emitting light within at least one chosen range of wavelengths, the light source unit being coupled to a light guide in a ferrule being adapted to be introduced into said material, the system also comprising detector means for being adapted to receive light within said at least two wavelength ranges comprised within said emitted range of wavelengths, having passed through a chosen length in said material, and analyzing means for evaluating the condition of the material based on the measured absorption in the material in said at least two ranges of wavelengths Full Article
l SPECTROSCOPIC ANALYSER By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An analyser 10 for identifying or verifying or otherwise characterising a liquid based drug sample 16 comprising: an electromagnetic radiation source 11 for emitting electromagnetic radiation 14a in at least one beam at a sample 16, the electromagnetic radiation comprising at least two different wavelengths, a sample detector 17 that detects affected electromagnetic radiation resulting from the emitted electromagnetic radiation affected by the sample, and a processor 18 for identifying or verifying the sample from the detected affected electromagnetic radiation, wherein each wavelength or at least two of the wavelengths is between substantially 1300 nm and 2000 nm, and each wavelength or at least two of the wavelengths is in the vicinity of the wavelength(s) of (or within a region spanning) a spectral characteristic in the liquid spectrum between substantially 1300 nm and 2000 nm. Full Article
l 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
l SENSOR CAP FOR OPTOCHEMICAL SENSOR By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The present disclosure relates to a sensor cap for an optochemical sensor for determining or monitoring at least one analyte present in a medium having a substantially cylindrical plug-in component and a sleeve-shaped outer component. The plug-in component has an optical component with a convex-shaped surface region for optimal flow, and the optical component at least partially consists of a material transparent to measuring radiation. On the surface region of the optical component is an analyte-sensitive matrix having at least one functional layer. The plug-in component and the sleeve-shaped component are designed such that the connecting region coming into contact with the medium is between the plug-in component and the sleeve-shaped outer component in the edge region of the optical component or is at a radial distance from the edge region of the optical component, and is sealed, without a gap, facing the medium. Full Article
l VEHICLE TRACTION SYSTEM AND RADIATION IMAGING CHECK SYSTEM By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The present disclosure relates to vehicle traction apparatus and radiation imaging check systems. One illustrative implementation may comprise two parallel tracks, two sets of traction mechanisms and a driving unit, wherein the tracks are disposed on a ground. The two sets of traction mechanisms may be respectively disposed on the two tracks. Further, the driving unit may be adapted for driving the two sets of traction mechanisms to synchronously move along the two tracks. In some embodiments, each of the two sets of traction mechanisms includes a body, a cantilever, a lifting driving mechanism and a wheel supporting assembly, and may include features such as the body being mounted on the track, the cantilever being disposed parallel to a direction of the tracks, and/or both ends of the cantilever being respectively connected with the lifting driving mechanism and the wheel supporting assembly. Full Article
l RAY CALIBRATION DEVICE AND OPERATING METHOD THEREOF, AND RADIATION IMAGING SYSTEM AND OPERATING METHOD THEREOF By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The present disclosure provides a ray calibration device and a working method thereof, and a radiation imaging system and a working method thereof, and belongs to the field of radiation imaging technology. The present disclosure can solve the problems that the existing calibration devices have low calibration efficiency and require relatively large spaces. The ray calibration device of the present disclosure includes a driving part, a cam part and a calibration part, wherein the calibration part is located below the cam part; the driving part is adapted to drive the cam part to rotate; and the cam part is adapted to exert a force on the calibration part to enable the calibration part to move into a ray area downwards. Full Article