Systems, methods and piezoelectric patches are provided for monitoring the structural health of connectors in overhead transmission lines. A plurality of piezoelectric patches is mounted to different locations on the connector. At least one of the patches is actuated using an AC voltage and certain electrical properties either from the same patch or of a different patch are evaluated over time to determine the structural health of the connectors.

A method for performing diagnostics on a target transformer includes applying a voltage output of a voltage generator to a winding or phase of the target transformer; controlling the voltage generator to output an AC voltage at a first frequency and then a second frequency and measuring first and second excitation currents flowing into the target transformer associated with the first frequency and second frequency, respectively. The method further includes determining an actual excitation current of the target transformer as a function of both the first and second excitation currents, and comparing the actual excitation current of the target transformer to excitation currents associated with one or more benchmark transformers having known electrical characteristics. And when the actual excitation current of the target transformer matches an excitation current of one of benchmark transformers, determining the electrical characteristics of the target transformer to match electrical characteristics of the one benchmark transformer.

The present invention includes scalable and cost-effective auxetic foam sensors (AFS) created through conformably coating a thin conductive nanomaterial-sensing layer on a porous substrate having a negative Poisson's ratio. In general, the auxetic foam sensors possess multimodal sensing capability, such as large deformation sensing, small pressure sensing, shear/torsion sensing and vibration sensing and excellent robustness in humidity environment.

There is provided a print apparatus including: a piezoelectric member; an individual electrode formed in the piezoelectric member; a first common electrode formed in the piezoelectric member so that the first common electrode is opposed to the individual electrode; a second common electrode formed in the piezoelectric member so that the second common electrode is opposed to the individual electrode, a voltage to be applied to the second common electrode being different from a voltage to be applied to the first common electrode; and a detection circuit configured to detect a capacitance of a first capacitor configured by the piezoelectric member, the individual electrode, and the first common electrode and a second capacitor configured by the piezoelectric member, the individual electrode, and the second common electrode. The detection circuit includes an oscillation circuit configured to be connected to the individual electrode.

There is provided a print apparatus including: a piezoelectric member; an individual electrode formed in the piezoelectric member; a first common electrode formed in the piezoelectric member so that the first common electrode is opposed to the individual electrode; a second common electrode formed in the piezoelectric member so that the second common electrode is opposed to the individual electrode, a voltage to be applied to the second common electrode being different from a voltage to be applied to the first common electrode; and a detection circuit configured to detect a capacitance of a first capacitor configured by the piezoelectric member, the individual electrode, and the first common electrode and a second capacitor configured by the piezoelectric member, the individual electrode, and the second common electrode. The detection circuit includes an oscillation circuit configured to be connected to the individual electrode.

The present invention includes scalable and cost-effective auxetic foam sensors (AFS) created through conformably coating a thin conductive nanomaterial-sensing layer on a porous substrate having a negative Poisson's ratio. In general, the auxetic foam sensors possess multimodal sensing capability, such as large deformation sensing, small pressure sensing, shear/torsion sensing and vibration sensing and excellent robustness in humidity environment.

The present invention includes scalable and cost-effective auxetic foam sensors (AFS) created through conformably coating a thin conductive nanomaterial-sensing layer on a porous substrate having a negative Poisson's ratio. In general, the auxetic foam sensors possess multimodal sensing capability, such as large deformation sensing, small pressure sensing, shear/torsion sensing and vibration sensing and excellent robustness in humidity environment.

An apparatus for determining information indicative of cardiac malfunctions and abnormalities includes a processing device (502) configured to detect amplitude variation from a signal indicative of cardiovascular motion, where the amplitude variation element variation of the amplitude of a wave pattern, e.g. the AO-peak, repeating on the heart-beat rate on the signal. The processing device is configured to determine, at least partly on the basis of the detected amplitude variation, an indicator of cardiac malfunction and abnormality.

An apparatus for determining information indicative of cardiac malfunctions and abnormalities includes a processing device (502) configured to detect amplitude variation from a signal indicative of cardiovascular motion, where the amplitude variation element variation of the amplitude of a wave pattern, e.g. the AO-peak, repeating on the heart-beat rate on the signal. The processing device is configured to determine, at least partly on the basis of the detected amplitude variation, an indicator of cardiac malfunction and abnormality.

The present invention concerns a method for estimating a level of damage or a lifetime expectation of a power semiconductor module comprising at least one die that is mechanically and electrically attached to a ceramic substrate. The ceramic substrate has piezoelectric properties and the method comprises the steps of: controlling the at least one power die, the control of the at least one power die generating changes in the electrical potential across the ceramic substrate, obtaining information representative of a mechanical deformation of the ceramic substrate, determining if a notification indicating the level of damage or the lifetime expectation has to be performed according to the obtained information and reference information, notifying the level of damage or the lifetime expectation if the determining step determines that the notification has to be performed.