Configuration of detection of physical conditions in and/or around a communication apparatus is described. Further, configuration of an action responsive to the detection of physical conditions, or changes in physical conditions, is described. The communication apparatus may output a user notification in response to a moisture detection notification. A user interface of the communication apparatus may receive a user response. Further actions may be then taken based on the user response to the user notification. Alternatively or in addition, an end-user may predetermine a set of actions to be performed in response to the moisture event. Further, a respective set of actions may be specified for several possible severity levels or thresholds values of the moisture detection.

In a charged particle beam apparatus that applies a retarding voltage to a sample through a contact terminal and executes measurement or inspection of a surface of the sample, potential variation of the sample when changing the retarding voltage applied to the contact terminal is measured by a surface potential meter, a time constant of the potential variation of the sample is obtained, and it is determined whether execution of measurement or inspection by a charged particle beam continues or stops based on the time constant, or a conduction ensuring process between the sample and the contact terminal is executed.

The present invention relates to a measurement device (10) for measuring a volume of liquid contained in a vessel, comprising: —a main vessel (12) for receiving a liquid; —a reference vessel (14) which has a smaller volume than the main vessel (12), wherein the main vessel (12) and the reference vessel (14) are fluidly connectable to each other as communicating vessels; —a pump (16) which is connected to the main vessel (12) and the reference vessel (14) for extracting liquid from the main vessel (12) and the reference vessel (14); —a minimum level sensor (26) which is configured to send a reference signal if a minimum liquid level within the reference vessel (14) is reached; —a first valve (20, 20′) via which the reference vessel (14) is fluidly connected to the pump (16), wherein the first valve (20, 20′) is configured to be closed off if the minimum liquid level within the reference vessel (14) is reached; and —a control unit (30) which is connected to the minimum level sensor (26, 26′) and the pump (16) and configured to measure a reference time between an activation of the pump (16) and a receipt of the reference signal, wherein the control unit (30) is further configured to calculate, based on the reference time and a flow rate of the pump (16), a liquid volume within the main vessel (12) and/or a total liquid volume within the main vessel (12) and the reference vessel (14) together.

A user-replaceable e-liquid reservoir for dispensing e-liquid, the reservoir being inserted into, or otherwise attached to, a portable, personal e-cigarette device and engaging with an electrical or electronic pump fluid transfer system in the device, the device including: an electrical or electronic pump, being configured to transfer e-liquid from the e-liquid reservoir to an atomizing unit in the device, the pump delivering a pre-defined or variable quantity of e-liquid from the reservoir; and in which the reservoir is not user-refillable.

A user-replaceable e-liquid reservoir for dispensing e-liquid, the reservoir being inserted into, or otherwise attached to, a portable, personal e-cigarette device and engaging with an electrical or electronic pump fluid transfer system in the device, the device including: an electrical or electronic pump, being configured to transfer e-liquid from the e-liquid reservoir to an atomizing unit in the device, the pump delivering a pre-defined or variable quantity of e-liquid from the reservoir; and in which the reservoir is not user-refillable.

Embodiments of the present invention include a bucket that makes it easier for a user to identify the level of a substance in a bucket. In order to achieve this, the bucket includes an interior portion that defines a cavity for receiving a substance. The interior portion includes interior measurement markings on an interior sidewall of the interior portion, which allows the user to directly visually inspect the level of the substance in the bucket.

A crossover protection system including a product transport vehicle having a tank compartment for containing a liquid product, a fluid property sensor positioned to contact liquid product stored in the tank compartment, a system controller, and a valve coupled to the tank compartment. The valve regulates a flow of liquid product from the tank compartment and has a normally locked state. The system controller may compare a received transported liquid type signal from the fuel property sensor indicative of the type of liquid product in the tank compartment and compare the type of liquid product to a stored liquid product type. If the two types match, the crossover protection controller transitions the valve to an unlocked state to allow the liquid product to unload from the tank compartment. If the two types do not match, the crossover protection controller will disable the valve from transitioning to the unlocked state.

A brine tank salt level detection apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing secured to a lid of a brine tank, where the housing supports an infrared emitter and an infrared sensor. The apparatus is configured to emit an infrared signal, receive an infrared signal, and determine whether a salt level in the brine tank is below a predetermined level using, at least in part, the receipt of the infrared signal. A method for determining a salt level in a brine tank is also disclosed. The method can include emitting an outgoing infrared signal, receiving an incoming infrared signal, determining whether the salt level is below a predetermined level based at least in part on the receipt of the incoming infrared signal, and when the salt level is below a predetermined level, alerting a user of the low salt level in the brine tank.

A load estimating device measures a voltage and a current supplied to a plurality of loads connected with a power supply, and obtains feature amounts of the plurality of loads from measurement values of the voltage and the current. A storage device stores a feature amount of each combination of two or more loads in advance. The load estimating device estimates what the plurality of loads connected with the power supply device are, on the basis of the obtained feature amounts and the feature amounts stored in the storage device. The feature amount includes a combination of an apparent power and a power factor.

A load estimating device measures a voltage and a current supplied to a plurality of loads connected with a power supply, and obtains feature amounts of the plurality of loads from measurement values of the voltage and the current. A storage device stores a feature amount of each combination of two or more loads in advance. The load estimating device estimates what the plurality of loads connected with the power supply device are, on the basis of the obtained feature amounts and the feature amounts stored in the storage device. The feature amount includes a combination of an apparent power and a power factor.