The invention involves the incorporation and enablement of multiple interactive elements into high-volume consumables products to increase utility, function and features of the consumable product at minimal incremental cost and adjustment to production and manufacturing processes. The invention further reports processes and compositions that enable consumable products with differentiating features which product would otherwise be deficient for their intended use and application.

The invention involves the incorporation and enablement of multiple interactive elements into high-volume consumables products to increase utility, function and features of the consumable product at minimal incremental cost and adjustment to production and manufacturing processes. The invention further reports processes and compositions that enable consumable products with differentiating features which product would otherwise be deficient for their intended use and application.

A method for measuring thermal resistance between a thermal component of an instrument and a consumable includes contacting a known consumable with a thermal component to be tested; driving the thermal component using a periodic sine wave input based on a predetermined interrogation frequency; measuring temperature outputs from a thermal sensor responsive to the periodic sine wave input; multiplying the temperature outputs by a reference signal in phase with the periodic sine wave input and calculating the resultant DC signal component to determine an in-phase component X; multiplying the plurality of temperature outputs by a 90° phase-shifted reference signal and calculating the resultant DC signal component to determine a quadrature, out-of-phase component Y; calculating a phase offset responsive to the periodic sine wave input based on tan.sup.−1 (Y/X) or atan2(X, Y); and determining a resistance value for the thermal interface using a calibrated resistance-phase offset equation and the calculated phase offset.

Methods for determining phase fractions of a downhole fluid via thermal properties of the fluids are provided. In one embodiment, a method includes measuring a temperature of a fluid flowing through a completion string downhole in a well and heating a resistive element of a thermal detector at a position along the completion string downhole in the well by applying power to the resistive element such that heat from the resistive element is transmitted to the fluid flowing by the position. The method also includes determining, via the thermal detector, a flow velocity of the fluid through the completion string and multiple thermal properties of the fluid, and using the determined flow velocity and the multiple thermal properties to determine phase fractions of the fluid. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.

Methods for determining phase fractions of a downhole fluid via thermal properties of the fluids are provided. In one embodiment, a method includes measuring a temperature of a fluid flowing through a completion string downhole in a well and heating a resistive element of a thermal detector at a position along the completion string downhole in the well by applying power to the resistive element such that heat from the resistive element is transmitted to the fluid flowing by the position. The method also includes determining, via the thermal detector, a flow velocity of the fluid through the completion string and multiple thermal properties of the fluid, and using the determined flow velocity and the multiple thermal properties to determine phase fractions of the fluid. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.

A furnace for relieving glass products of stress is provided. The furnace has a furnace interior and a thermal element that measures temperatures in the furnace interior. The thermal element is enclosed by an enveloping tube composed of an inorganic material.

A vaporizer device may include a pressure sensor and an ambient pressure sensor. The pressure sensor may be configured to measure a first pressure in an air flow path in the vaporizer device. The ambient pressure sensor may be configured to measure a second pressure corresponding to an atmospheric pressure. The vaporizer device may further include a controller. The controller may be configured to transition the vaporizer device to a first standby mode when the first pressure is equal to or greater than the second pressure for a first threshold quantity of time. While the vaporizer device is in the first standby mode, the controller may be further configured to transition the vaporizer device to a second standby mode when the second pressure is a threshold quantity greater than the first pressure and no motion event is detected for a second threshold quantity of time.

Features relating to a vaporizer body are provided. The vaporizer body may include an outer shell that includes an inner region defined by an outer shell sidewall. A support structure is configured to fit within the inner region of the outer shell. The support structure includes a storage region defined by a top support structure, a bottom support structure, a bottom cap, and a gasket. An integrated board assembly is configured to fit within the storage region of the support structure. The integrated board assembly may include a printed circuit board assembly formed of multiple layers that form a rigid structure and that include an inner, flexible layer. A first antenna is integrated at a proximal end of the flexible layer, and a second antenna is integrated at a distal end of the flexible layer.

An optical fiber sensing system according to the present disclosure includes: an optical fiber network (10) configured to detect first sensing information related to a first monitoring target and second sensing information related to a second monitoring target; a reception unit (21) configured to receive an optical signal from the optical fiber network (10); a specification unit (22) configured to specify a first monitoring target based on first sensing information superimposed on the optical signal and specify a second monitoring target based on second sensing information superimposed on the optical signal, and a provision unit (23) configured to provide information related to the first monitoring target and information related to the second monitoring target specified by the specification unit (22) for a service providing destination.

A system for measuring a number of layers in a layered environment includes an ultrasound transducer positioned at an exterior surface of a first layer at a first location. At least one receiving sensor is positioned perpendicular to the exterior surface of the first layer at a second location. The ultrasound transducer and the at least one receiving sensor are in communication with a computer processor, power source, and computer-readable memory. The ultrasound transducer is configured to emit a first ultrasound signal into the first layer at the first location. The at least one receiving sensor is configured to receive a plurality of propagated ultrasound signals. The processor is configured to determine a total number of layers in the layered environment based on at least one from the set of: a number of signals received and a number of propagation direction changes only of the first ultrasound signal.