A sensor probe for analysis of a fluid includes a base, and a pair of electrodes and a pair of shield members protruding from the base for insertion into the fluid. The electrodes have electrical oscillations generated therein for measurement of electromagnetic properties of the fluid, such as permittivity. The shield members are disposed outside the electrodes and have a dual purpose of electromagnetically shielding the electrodes and having vibrations generated therein for measurement of physical parameters of the fluid, such as density or viscosity. Thus, the single sensor probe can provide measurements of both electromagnetic properties and physical properties of the fluid.

A droplet sensor includes an optical cover that forms part of a spheroid, a major axis of the spheroid being a vertical axis, a light emitting/receiving device disposed at a position offset from a first focal point of the spheroid along the major axis, and a reflector disposed in vicinity of a second focal point of the spheroid. The optical cover has an effective detection area between the light emitting/receiving device and the reflector. The effective detection area satisfies a total internal reflection condition at an interface with a gas, and does not satisfy the total internal reflection condition at an interface with a liquid. The reflector reflects, towards a light receiving surface of the light emitting/receiving device, light totally reflected by the effective detection area, or reflects, towards the effective detection area, light directly incident on the reflector from the light emitting/receiving device.

Provided is a liquid sensor capable of relatively accurately detecting the liquid level even if vibration or the like occurs. The liquid sensor is configured to detect a liquid level in a state in which at least a portion of the liquid sensor is immersed in liquid. This liquid sensor includes a substrate. The substrate is provided with a hole. An inner circumferential surface of the substrate is formed around the hole. A first electrode and a second electrode facing the first electrode are formed on the inner circumferential surface. The liquid sensor further includes a detection circuit. The detection circuit is configured to detect capacitance between the first and second electrodes.

Provided is a liquid sensor capable of relatively accurately detecting the liquid level even if vibration or the like occurs. The liquid sensor is configured to detect a liquid level in a state in which at least a portion of the liquid sensor is immersed in liquid. This liquid sensor includes a substrate. The substrate is provided with a hole. An inner circumferential surface of the substrate is formed around the hole. A first electrode and a second electrode facing the first electrode are formed on the inner circumferential surface. The liquid sensor further includes a detection circuit. The detection circuit is configured to detect capacitance between the first and second electrodes.

A diagnostic function of a humidity sensor is exposed to the outside and the humidity sensor is likely to deteriorate.

An aspect of the present invention includes: a capacitance-voltage conversion circuit which includes a plurality of reference capacitors having different pieces of capacitance and a switch which switches the reference capacitors and outputs a voltage according to the capacitance of a humidity sensor; and a diagnosis unit which compares an output voltage of the capacitance-voltage conversion circuit with a reference voltage obtained from a reference characteristic of the humidity sensor and diagnoses the humidity sensor based on a comparison result. Also, the diagnosis unit changes the output voltage by changing the capacitance of the capacitance-voltage conversion circuit using the switch in a state in which the output voltage of the capacitance-voltage conversion circuit is within a certain range and compares the changed output voltage with the reference voltage.

The present invention relates to a sensor device (10) for detection of liquid and/or humidity. The sensor device comprises a resonance circuit comprising an inductor (13) connected to a capacitor (11), wherein the capacitor comprises a first electrode (11a) and a second electrode (11b) together sandwiching at least a portion of a dielectric substrate (14). The first and second electrodes are configured to provide an overlap mismatch relative to each other, and the overlap mismatch area (ma) is at least 0.1% of the overlapping area (o.sub.a) of the two electrodes. The present invention further relates to a system (70) for reading a sensor device and a method (100, 200) for reading a sensor device.

The present invention relates to a method of calibrating a humidity sensor device, comprising the steps determining a first dew point and a first relative humidity at a first temperature in an environment by the humidity sensor device using a first calibration offset; subsequently heating the humidity sensor device, in particular, by self-heating, thereby heating the environment to a second temperature higher than the first temperature; subsequently determining a second dew point at the second temperature by the humidity sensor device; subsequently determining whether the determined second dew point differs from the determined first dew point by more than a predetermined difference; and subsequently changing the first calibration offset of the humidity sensor device by a predetermined value to obtain a second calibration offset, if it is determined that the determined second dew point differs from the determined first dew point by more than the predetermined difference.

An electrostatically controlled sensor includes a GaN/AlGaN heterostructure having a 2DEG channel in the GaN layer. Source and drain contacts are electrically coupled to the 2DEG channel through the AlGaN layer. A gate dielectric is formed over the AlGaN layer, and gate electrodes are formed over the gate dielectric, wherein each gate electrode extends substantially entirely between the source and drain contacts, wherein the gate electrodes are separated by one or more gaps (which also extend substantially entirely between the source and drain contacts). Each of the one or more gaps defines a corresponding sensing area between the gate electrodes for receiving an external influence. A bias voltage is applied to the gate electrodes, such that regions of the 2DEG channel below the gate electrodes are completely depleted, and regions of the 2DEG channel below the one or more gaps in the direction from source to drain are partially depleted.

A collar-mounted location sensor and stimulation unit includes a body. A generally planar stimulation unit and differential impedance-based fur detector in combination protect the animal from harmful stimulation. At least one sensory stimulator is configured to provide at least one of auditory, kinesthetic, and visual stimulation responsive to an output of a location sensor. One or more of a voltage, current, oscillation frequency, extent of modulation, or other output characteristic of the stimulation unit output is varied responsive to the detected fur differential impedance to protect and benefit both the body and mind of the animal.

A material property sensor for a pressure transmitter comprises a sensing pattern immersed in a fill fluid. The pressure transmitter comprises a diaphragm configured for contact with a process fluid at an exterior surface of the diaphragm. The pressure transmitter further comprises a pressure sensor configured for sensing a pressure of the process fluid on the diaphragm. The pressure sensor and the diaphragm define a cavity within which the fill fluid is disposed such that the diaphragm of the pressure sensor is in contact with the fill fluid at an interior surface of the diaphragm. The sensing pattern is immersed in the fill fluid within the cavity and configured to measure an electrical property of the fill fluid at an initial time and at one or more subsequent times during operation of the pressure transmitter.