A method of measuring fluid flow rate is provided. The method comprises positioning a piezoelectric sensor in a fluid flow stream and measuring a voltage output from the piezoelectric sensor caused by mechanical stress from the fluid flow stream. A fluid flow rate is calculated based on the measured voltage output according to predefined relationships between the voltage output and a number physical parameters.

A power droop handling device (400) for controlling DC electrical power delivery from an external power sourcing equipment (PSE, 402) to an external electrical load device (404) in response to the PSE receiving a predetermined maintain-power-signature pulse from the load device, wherein the power droop handling device comprises a droop sensor unit (406) configured to receive power-delivery information regarding DC electrical power delivery from the PSE to the load device and to provide a droop warning signal indicative of a power-droop condition, and a control unit (408) configured to output, in response to the droop warning signal, a maintain-operation signal to the PSE instructing the PSE to maintain the power delivery to the electrical load device for a predetermined time span, regardless of whether or not the maintain-power-signature pulse is detected during this time span.

A flow sensor apparatus for monitoring a directed stream of an agricultural product from an application port of a supply tube. The directed stream has a target directed portion and an off-target portion. A sensor housing includes a conical flow receiving element and a sensor body. The receiving element has an inlet orifice at a first end and a receiving element outlet at a second end. The first end is smaller than the second end. The sensor body has a sensor inlet end positioned to receive a target directed portion of the directed stream from the receiving element outlet of the conical flow receiving element wherein an off-target portion of the directed stream is not sensed. The sensor housing and sensor element are positioned external to the application port and thus positioned to provide measurement, targeting, and timing of the agricultural product.

A flow sensor apparatus for monitoring a directed stream of an agricultural product from an application port of a supply tube. The directed stream has a target directed portion and an off-target portion. A sensor housing includes a conical flow receiving element and a sensor body. The receiving element has an inlet orifice at a first end and a receiving element outlet at a second end. The first end is smaller than the second end. The sensor body has a sensor inlet end positioned to receive a target directed portion of the directed stream from the receiving element outlet of the conical flow receiving element wherein an off-target portion of the directed stream is not sensed. The sensor housing and sensor element are positioned external to the application port and thus positioned to provide measurement, targeting, and timing of the agricultural product.

A self-charging sensor (SCS) adapted for use in a toilet or the like. The SCS includes a housing having a rechargeable battery; a turbine module having a multilevel impeller having offset wheels that are adapted to be driven by a fluid flow via an inlet port during an event, wherein a rotation of the impeller causes the turbine module to generate electricity that recharges the rechargeable battery; and a processing module that collects count data associated with the rotation during the event; and an attachment component adapted to seat the housing on an overflow tube.

Disclosed herein is a sensor commonality platform comprising a plurality of adaptable sensors for customizable applications. Each adaptable sensor comprises a displacement structure for reacting to changes in a measurable physical property and a core sensor electronics module for measuring displacement of the displacement structure in response to the changes in the measurable physical property. At least one sensor has a displacement structure different than that of another sensor, with the core electronics being the same.

A respiratory therapy device having a diagonal feedback array, and methods for the user thereof.

In one embodiment of an aircraft emergency oxygen delivery system, power can be generated by the flow of gas over a transducer disposed inside an oxygen delivery tube. A pressure differential gives rise to a temperature difference across the transducer, and the temperature difference can be converted to a voltage. The voltage can be quadratically dependent upon the Mach number M (e.g. flow velocities from 1 to 140 m/s) and proportional to a Seebeck coefficient of the transducer. The power thus generated may be used to operate LED indicators visible from the exterior of the tube, a variety of sensors, and wireless communication with a central control system. Oxygen flow to a mask may be adjusted based on ambient oxygen content and data collected from a passenger wearing the mask, including a blood oxygen saturation level, pulse or respiration rate.

In one embodiment of an aircraft emergency oxygen delivery system, power can be generated by the flow of gas over a transducer disposed inside an oxygen delivery tube. A pressure differential gives rise to a temperature difference across the transducer, and the temperature difference can be converted to a voltage. The voltage can be quadratically dependent upon the Mach number M (e.g. flow velocities from 1 to 140 m/s) and proportional to a Seebeck coefficient of the transducer. The power thus generated may be used to operate LED indicators visible from the exterior of the tube, a variety of sensors, and wireless communication with a central control system. Oxygen flow to a mask may be adjusted based on ambient oxygen content and data collected from a passenger wearing the mask, including a blood oxygen saturation level, pulse or respiration rate.

A fiber optic flow sensor includes a fiber optic cable, a light emitter, an optical power meter, and a processing circuit. The fiber optic cable allows light to enter a first end of the fiber optic cable, reflect off a second end of the fiber optic cable and exit the fiber optic cable through the first end. The fiber optic cable is at least partially exposed to fluid flow at the second end. The light emitter emits light at an input power into the first end of the fiber optic cable. The optical power meter measures an output power of the light exiting the fiber optic cable at the first end. The processing circuit calculates a flow rate of the flow of fluid based on the input power of light entering the fiber optic cable and the output power of light exiting the first end of the fiber optic cable.