Patent classifications
G01N27/045
Embedded active environmental contaminant monitor
Techniques for environmental contaminant monitoring are disclosed. In some embodiments, a contaminant detection system electronically instigates a test circuit that shares an environment with another circuit to induce an electrical anomaly in the test circuit when environmental contamination is present. While electronically instigating the first circuit, the contaminant detection system monitors for an electrical anomaly indicative of the environmental contamination. Responsive to detecting an electrical anomaly in the test circuit that is indicative of environmental contamination, the contaminant detection system generates an alert that indicates that the second circuit has likely been exposed to the environmental contamination. The contaminant detection system may provide early warning of potentially caustic environments before creep corrosion or similar phenomena manifest in expensive hardware resources. Thus, hardware outages may be mitigated or avoided.
Electrode placement for verifying structural integrity of materials
A technique may include applying a first electrical signal to a first pair of drive electrodes, and, while applying the first electrical signal to the first pair of drive electrodes, determining a first measured voltage using a first measurement electrode. The technique further may include applying a second electrical signal to a second pair of drive electrodes, and, while applying the second electrical signal to the second pair of drive electrodes, determining a second measured voltage using a second, different measurement electrode. The first pair of drive electrodes, the second pair of drive electrodes, the first measurement electrode, and the second, different measurement electrode may from a set of N electrodes electrically coupled to the material. The technique also may include determining whether the material includes a crack or other defect based on a comparison between the first measured voltage and the second measured voltage.
Methods and systems for high fidelity electrical tomographic processes
Methods and systems for high fidelity electrical tomographic processes are provided for herein. Specifically, the use of a purpose-selected fluid configuration is described, used to fill the void space between mechanically fixed sensing electrodes and the target object to sense and reconstruct. In some embodiments, this fluid configuration enhances or masks changes in electrical measurements in response to certain materials known or suspected to exist within the sensed volume. In other embodiments, a plurality of fluid configurations may be employed to improve the quality of reconstruction, or resolve additional spatial dimensions. Exemplary applications in medicine and manufacturing are also provided.
Sensing device with drive sense circuit and particle sensor and methods for use therewith
A sensing device includes at least one particle sensor that responds to sensed subatomic particles. At least one drive-sense circuit is coupled to the particle sensor, wherein the at least one drive-sense circuit includes: a first conversion circuit configured to convert a receive signal component of a sensor signal corresponding to the at least one particle sensor into the sensed signal, wherein the sensed signal indicates a change in an electrical characteristic associated with the at least one particle sensor; and a second conversion circuit configured to generate, based on the sensed signal, a drive signal component of the sensor signal corresponding to the at least one particle sensor.
ELECTROMAGNETIC NON-DESTRUCTIVE QUALITY TESTING METHOD, AND TESTING CIRCUIT AND SYSTEM THEREFOR
A first-order resistor-inductor (RL) circuit is allowed to alternate a direct-current excitation response and a zero-input response so that a direct-current magnetic field generated by an inductor magnetizing coil changes alternately in magnetic field intensity with a change in magnitude of current. After a testing object is placed in the direct-current magnetic field changing alternately in magnetic field intensity, the testing object is magnetized and also causes a change in inductance of the magnetic field. Whether a change occurs in electromagnetic properties of the testing object can be determined and detected by detecting the inductance change of the magnetizing coil or detecting electrical characteristic change caused by the inductance change of the magnetizing coil, thereby determining whether quality defects such as steel wire cracks and wire breakage in a steel wire rope occur. Alternatively, the properties such as a sectional area or a zinc layer thickness can be analyzed.
STOMAL SENSOR PATCH
Disclosed is a sensor patch and a method for manufacturing a sensor patch for attachment to an adhesive surface of a base plate for an ostomy appliance. The sensor patch having a first side and a second side. The sensor patch being adapted to form a stomal opening with a centre point, the stomal opening being configured to allow passage of output through the stomal opening and into an ostomy pouch attached to a base plate. The sensor patch comprises: a sensor assembly comprising a plurality of electrodes, a first adhesive sensor layer forming the first side of the sensor patch, and a second adhesive sensor layer forming the second side of the sensor patch.
Sensor system for detecting of a presence and a phase of a medium on a surface and methods of using the same
Sensor systems, sensors, and methods for detecting a presence and a phase of a medium on a surface are described. The sensor system has a power source providing a voltage; a sensing element in electrical communication with the power source, the sensing element including: two electrodes, wherein a gap is defined between the two electrodes, and a temperature measurement device disposed between the two electrodes; a fixed resistor in electrical communication with the power source and the sensing element; and a data acquisition system in electrical communication with the power source, the sensing element, and the fixed resistor. The sensor system measures the electrical resistance of the medium, and the temperature of the surface, and identifies the phase of the medium.
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING A CHARACTERISTIC OF A MATERIAL
An apparatus for determining a characteristic of a material within a region comprises a first plurality of electrodes disposed within or about the region, an energisation source arranged to apply an applied stimulation signal to at least one of said first plurality of electrodes, a stimulation monitor arranged to monitor an electrical parameter at a second plurality of said first plurality of electrodes in response to said applied stimulation signal, the stimulation monitor being configured to generate a received stimulation signal for each of said second plurality of electrodes, a monitor configured to generate a series of data values, each data value being indicative of a phase difference and/or an amplitude relationship between the applied stimulation signal and a received stimulation signal associated with one of the second plurality of electrodes, said series of data values defining an electromagnetic fingerprint, and a controller configured to: receive the electromagnetic fingerprint, identify an interrelationship between at least some of the data values of the electromagnetic fingerprint, and determine the characteristic based on the interrelationship.
DEVICE, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETECTING NICOTINE
This application discloses a device for detecting nicotine. The device includes a nicotine sensor comprising vanadium oxide (VO.sub.2), a processor and circuitry configured to detect a change in the electrical resistance of the nicotine sensor. The processor is configured to receive, from the circuitry, a signal representative of the detected change in the electrical resistance of the nicotine sensor and output data based on the detected change in electrical resistance of the nicotine sensor. A system and method for detecting nicotine are also disclosed.
DEVICE AND METHOD FOR SEXUAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING
A system for teaching users techniques to sexually satisfy a woman, wherein a device shaped as a woman's pelvic area with sensors installed thereon is used to train users on the proper way to stimulate a woman's genital area. An external device in communication with the device shaped like the pelvic area receives the sensor data and informs the user as to whether prestored known sexual techniques were correctly implemented by the user.