An apparatus for remote inspection of fire extinguishers at one or a system of fire extinguisher stations includes, e.g., at each fire extinguisher station: a detector for lack of presence of a fire extinguisher in its installed position at the fire extinguisher station; a detector for out-of-range pressure of contents of the fire extinguisher at the fire extinguisher station; a detector for an obstruction to viewing of or access to the fire extinguisher at the fire extinguisher station; and a device for transmission of inspection report information from the fire extinguisher station to a remote central station.

An apparatus for remote inspection of fire extinguishers at one or a system of fire extinguisher stations includes, e.g., at each fire extinguisher station: a detector for lack of presence of a fire extinguisher in its installed position at the fire extinguisher station; a detector for out-of-range pressure of contents of the fire extinguisher at the fire extinguisher station; a detector for an obstruction to viewing of or access to the fire extinguisher at the fire extinguisher station; and a device for transmission of inspection report information from the fire extinguisher station to a remote central station.

A monitoring sensor for a sealed secondary battery 1 including a sealed outer casing 21 and an electrode group 22 including a polymer matrix layer 3 that is disposed in the inside accommodated in the inside of the sealed outer casing 21, of the outer casing 21 and a detection unit 4 that is disposed on the outside of the outer casing 21, wherein the polymer matrix layer 3 contains a filler that is dispersed therein and that changes an external field in accordance with deformation of the polymer matrix layer 3, and the detection unit 4 detects change in the external field.

A monitoring sensor for a sealed secondary battery 1 including a sealed outer casing 21 and an electrode group 22 including a polymer matrix layer 3 that is disposed in the inside accommodated in the inside of the sealed outer casing 21, of the outer casing 21 and a detection unit 4 that is disposed on the outside of the outer casing 21, wherein the polymer matrix layer 3 contains a filler that is dispersed therein and that changes an external field in accordance with deformation of the polymer matrix layer 3, and the detection unit 4 detects change in the external field.

Techniques for gas analysis using a parallel dipole line (PDL) trap viscometer are provided. In one aspect, a gas analysis system is provided which includes: a PDL trap including: a pair of diametric cylindrical magnets, and a diamagnetic rod levitating above the magnets; and a motion detector for capturing motion of the diamagnetic rod. The motion detector can include a digital video camera positioned facing a top of the PDL trap so as to permit capturing video images of the diamagnetic rod and the system can include a computer for receiving and analyzing video images from the video camera. Methods for measuring gas viscosity and pressure using the PDL trap system are also provided.

The disclosed invention is a MEMS environmental sensor and preparation method thereof. A transfer cavity is produced in the middle of a transfer substrate of a MEMS environmental sensor, and a transfer medium is located inside the transfer cavity. The surface area of an input port is larger than the surface area of an output port. An elastic transfer membrane is provided on the surface of the input port, and an elastic pressure membrane is provided on the surface of the output port. A load bearing cavity is provided in a load bearing substrate, a magnetic sensing element is positioned inside the load bearing cavity, and the load bearing cavity partially overlaps with the output port. The surface area of the input port of the transfer cavity is larger than the surface area of the output port, and on the basis of Pascal's principle, differences in the volume of the transmission cavity are used to transform a small displacement in a region of large volume into a large displacement in a region of small volume. In addition, because the output port and the end of the output port at least partially overlap, and a magnetic sensing element is arranged in the load bearing cavity, a change in displacement is produced, producing a change in a magnetic field, that is converted into a change in electrical resistance, which provides high-sensitivity and low-power detection.

The disclosed invention is a MEMS environmental sensor and preparation method thereof. A transfer cavity is produced in the middle of a transfer substrate of a MEMS environmental sensor, and a transfer medium is located inside the transfer cavity. The surface area of an input port is larger than the surface area of an output port. An elastic transfer membrane is provided on the surface of the input port, and an elastic pressure membrane is provided on the surface of the output port. A load bearing cavity is provided in a load bearing substrate, a magnetic sensing element is positioned inside the load bearing cavity, and the load bearing cavity partially overlaps with the output port. The surface area of the input port of the transfer cavity is larger than the surface area of the output port, and on the basis of Pascal's principle, differences in the volume of the transmission cavity are used to transform a small displacement in a region of large volume into a large displacement in a region of small volume. In addition, because the output port and the end of the output port at least partially overlap, and a magnetic sensing element is arranged in the load bearing cavity, a change in displacement is produced, producing a change in a magnetic field, that is converted into a change in electrical resistance, which provides high-sensitivity and low-power detection.

According to one embodiment, a calibration method includes placing a pressure sensor on a base material having magnetic properties, placing a magnet on the pressure sensor, attracting the magnet to the base material while interposing the pressure sensor therebetween and applying a predetermined pressing force onto the pressure sensor, detecting a sensor output of a pressure-sensitive portion pressed by the magnet, estimating the deterioration of the pressure sensor by comparing the sensor output with a specified value corresponding to characteristics of the magnet, generating correction data to calibrate the degradation and inputting the generated correction data to the pressure sensor.

According to one embodiment, a calibration method includes placing a pressure sensor on a base material having magnetic properties, placing a magnet on the pressure sensor, attracting the magnet to the base material while interposing the pressure sensor therebetween and applying a predetermined pressing force onto the pressure sensor, detecting a sensor output of a pressure-sensitive portion pressed by the magnet, estimating the deterioration of the pressure sensor by comparing the sensor output with a specified value corresponding to characteristics of the magnet, generating correction data to calibrate the degradation and inputting the generated correction data to the pressure sensor.

A vacuum insulating panel includes first and second substrates (e.g., glass substrates), a hermetic edge seal, a pump-out port, and spacers sandwiched between at least the two substrates. The gap between the substrates may be at a pressure less than atmospheric pressure to provide insulating properties. A sensor body (e.g., spinnable magnetic body, which may be substantially spherical in shape) is provided at least partially in a recess defined in at least one of the substrates, and is configured to be spun at a high rate of speed in order to measure a pressure of the recess and/or gap between the substrates.