A device and method are provided for detecting analyte with correction for the effects of humidity. The device comprises a resonant sensor having an oscillating portion. A capacitor is positioned on the oscillating portion. The capacitor is formed by at least two electrodes and a sensing material positioned between the electrodes. A readout circuit is arranged to measure a response of the oscillating portion (e.g., frequency shift or change in resonance frequency, stiffness or strain) and a capacitance of the capacitor when substances are adsorbed or absorbed in the sensing material. This combination of measurements enables the device to distinguish between various types of adsorbed or absorbed molecules, especially distinguishing between an analyte of interest and water molecules that might interfere with the detection of the analyte. A processor determines an analyte value indicative of the presence, amount or concentration of the analyte in dependence upon measurements of both the response of the oscillating portion and the capacitance to account for the effects of water in the sensing material.

Methods and systems are provided for conducting measurements of relative humidity via the use of either an ultrasonic sensor positioned on the vehicle, or via another sensor. In one example, responsive to a request for a relative humidity measurement and an indication of fueled engine operation, the ultrasonic sensor may be utilized, whereas responsive to an indication of non-fueled engine operation, another sensor may be utilized. In this way, robust measurement of relative humidity with desired accuracy may be actively determined, rather than opportunistically, and such measurements of relative humidity may be utilized to adjust vehicle operating parameters, which may improve overall vehicle operation.

Methods and systems are provided for conducting measurements of relative humidity via the use of an ultrasonic sensor. In one example, the ultrasonic sensor for conducting the relative humidity measurement is selected from a plurality of ultrasonic sensors positioned at various locations on the vehicle, and where the selecting is accomplished in some examples via the use of one or more onboard cameras configured to identify suitable objects that are stationary with respect to the vehicle. In this way, robustness and accuracy of relative humidity measurements may be improved, lifetime of individual ultrasonic sensors may be extended, and vehicle operating conditions that depend on accurate relative humidity measurements may be improved.

Methods and systems are provided for conducting measurements of relative humidity using an ultrasonic sensor. In one example, a plurality of ultrasonic signals having different frequencies are transmitted from a single sensor, and attenuation values of reflected signals are determined only for those signals determined to have the same transit time from transmission to receipt, and where frequency of the plurality of ultrasonic signals may be changed responsive to an indication that the signals may be below a signal-to-noise threshold. In this way, by determining a difference between attenuation values between pairs of signals, where the signals comprise different frequencies and where the signals comprise the same transit times, relative humidity may be accurately determined.

Acoustic ambient temperature and humidity sensing based on determination of sound velocity is described, in addition to sensors, algorithms, devices, systems, and methods therefor. An exemplary embodiment employs sound velocity in the determination of ambient temperature and humidity. Provided implementations include determinations of sound velocity based on time of flight of a coded acoustic signal and/or based on resonance frequency of a Helmholtz resonator.

A photo acoustic non-destructive measurement apparatus and method for quantitatively measuring texture of a food snack is disclosed. The apparatus includes a laser generating tool, an acoustic capturing device, and a data processing unit. The laser generating tool directs a laser towards a food snack placed on a surface and creates pressure waves that propagate through the air and produce an acoustic signal. The acoustic capturing device records and forwards the signal to a data processing unit. The data processing unit further comprises a digital signal processing module that processes the received acoustic signal. A statistical processing module further filters the acoustic signal from the data processing unit and generates a quantitative acoustic model for texture attributes such as hardness and fracturability. The quantitative model is correlated with a qualitative texture measurement from a descriptive expert panel. Texture of food snacks are quantitatively measured with the quantitative acoustic model.

A photo acoustic non-destructive measurement apparatus and method for quantitatively measuring texture of a food snack is disclosed. The apparatus includes a laser generating tool, an acoustic capturing device, and a data processing unit. The laser generating tool directs a laser towards a food snack placed on a surface and creates pressure waves that propagate through the air and produce an acoustic signal. The acoustic capturing device records and forwards the signal to a data processing unit. The data processing unit further comprises a digital signal processing module that processes the received acoustic signal. A statistical processing module further filters the acoustic signal from the data processing unit and generates a quantitative acoustic model for texture attributes such as hardness and fracturability. The quantitative model is correlated with a qualitative texture measurement from a descriptive expert panel. Texture of food snacks are quantitatively measured with the quantitative acoustic model.

A method of determining the phase compositions of a multiphase fluid flow in a fluid line, including obtaining a vibration signal from the fluid flow using a vibration sensor comprising a target disposed in the fluid flow which vibrates in response to fluid flow in the fluid line. The vibration signal is analyzed to determine a first energy parameter which is related to the energy of the vibration signal within a first frequency band, and a second energy parameter which is related to the energy of the vibration signal within a second frequency band; and a phase composition parameter, such as a dryness parameter, relating to the phase compositions of the fluid flow is determined using the first and second energy parameters. An apparatus for determining the phase compositions of a multiphase fluid flow in a fluid line.

Technologies are generally described for measuring hair moisture using a hair moisture measuring device including a vibrator, a sound wave detector, a heater, and/or a processor. The vibrator may generate and propagate first sound waves through a strand of hair, which may be detected by the sound wave detector. The processor may then measure a first time-delay between the first sound waves and the first driving signals. After heating the hair by the heater, the vibrator may generate and propagate second sound waves through the strand of hair, which may be detected by the sound wave detector. The processor may measure a second time-delay between the second sound waves and the second driving signals, and also measure an amount of the moisture by calculating a time-delay difference between the first time-delay and the second time-delay.

A photo acoustic non-destructive measurement apparatus and method for quantitatively measuring texture of a food snack is disclosed. The apparatus includes a laser generating tool, an acoustic capturing device, and a data processing unit. The laser generating tool directs a laser towards a food snack placed on a surface and creates pressure waves that propagate through the air and produce an acoustic signal. The acoustic capturing device records and forwards the signal to a data processing unit. The data processing unit further comprises a digital signal processing module that processes the received acoustic signal. A statistical processing module further filters the acoustic signal from the data processing unit and generates a quantitative acoustic model for texture attributes such as hardness and fracturability. The quantitative model is correlated with a qualitative texture measurement from a descriptive expert panel. Texture of food snacks are quantitatively measured with the quantitative acoustic model.