An array of resistive sensor circuits may be used to gather sensor data. Each resistive sensor circuit may have a resistive sensor and an associated switch. Row decoder circuitry may supply rows of the sensor circuits with control signals on row lines. Capacitors associated with respective columns of the array may be provided with an initialization voltage. The control signals on the row lines may be used to turn on the switches in a selected row of the resistive sensor circuits and thereby discharge the capacitors through the resistive sensors of that row. Comparators may have first inputs coupled to the capacitors and second inputs that receive a reference voltage. A column readout circuit may have memory and processing circuitry that receives count values from a counter and that stores the count values in response to toggling output signals from the comparators.

A fuel injector includes fixed metal components, in particular an injector body, a solenoid actuator equipped with a retaining spring that holds a control valve stem, a control valve body including a seat for the control valve stem, a spacer between the body of the control valve and an injection nozzle, a control chamber, and an injection needle seat. The fuel injector also includes movable metal components, in particular the control valve stem and an armature thereof and an injection needle. Surfaces of the metal components that are in contact with one another are contact surfaces. Resistive surface coatings are arranged on a number of the contact surfaces. The overall electrical resistivity of the injector between the body of the solenoid actuator and the body of the injector varies by at least three distinct ohm values intermittently according to the kinetics of the injection needle of the injector.

A displacement detection unit includes first and second sensors, an object, and a calculation section. The object includes first and second regions disposed periodically in a first direction, and performs displacement relative to the first and second sensors in the first direction. The first and second sensors detect first and second magnetic field changes in accordance with the displacement of the object and output the detected first and second magnetic field change as first and second signals, respectively. The first and second signals have different phases. The calculation section performs a calculation of an amount of the displacement of the object in the first direction multiple times per one period corresponding to a time period in which the object performs the displacement by an amount of displacement equivalent to a total of a continuous pair of the first and second regions, on a basis of the first and second signals.

A displacement detection unit includes first and second sensors, an object, and a calculation section. The object includes first and second regions disposed periodically in a first direction, and performs displacement relative to the first and second sensors in the first direction. The first and second sensors detect first and second magnetic field changes in accordance with the displacement of the object and output the detected first and second magnetic field change as first and second signals, respectively. The first and second signals have different phases. The calculation section performs a calculation of an amount of the displacement of the object in the first direction multiple times per one period corresponding to a time period in which the object performs the displacement by an amount of displacement equivalent to a total of a continuous pair of the first and second regions, on a basis of the first and second signals.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is directed to an apparatus for detecting loose soil having an arm with a first end and a second end. A detector wheel is engaged with the second end of the arm. A spring is configured to bias the arm or the detector wheel in a first direction. An alarm is configured to emit a signal when the movement of the arm or the detector wheel in the first direction exceeds a predetermined threshold.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is directed to an apparatus for detecting loose soil having an arm with a first end and a second end. A detector wheel is engaged with the second end of the arm. A spring is configured to bias the arm or the detector wheel in a first direction. An alarm is configured to emit a signal when the movement of the arm or the detector wheel in the first direction exceeds a predetermined threshold.

An inspection device for displacement sensor includes a sequence data obtaining unit configured to obtain sequence data as an output value of the displacement sensor according to input continuously changing in a constant temporal gradient; a difference calculation unit configured to obtain a difference between a value at a certain point in the sequence data and a value at a point advancing from the point by a predetermined evaluation pitch to calculate difference sequence data; a moving average calculation unit—configured to obtain a moving average of a predetermined number of data centered at a certain point in the difference sequence data to calculate post-averaged sequence data; and a determining unit configured to determine that the displacement sensor is normal when an amplitude of an output value of the post-averaged sequence data is smaller than a determination threshold for amplitude.

A rotation angle sensing device is provided with a magnet that is placed to be integrally rotatable with a rotary shaft of a rotating body in association with a rotating body, where the shape of the magnet as viewed along the rotary shaft is substantially circular; a magnetic sensor part that outputs a sensor signal based upon a change in a direction of a magnetic field in association with the rotation of the magnet; and a rotation angle detecting part that detects a rotation angle of the rotating body based upon the sensor signal output by the magnetic sensor part. The magnet has a component of a magnetization vector in a direction that is orthogonal to the rotary shaft. When a circular virtual plane that is orthogonal to the rotary shaft centering upon the rotary shaft is set in the vicinity of the magnet, the magnetic sensor part is placed at a position where the amplitudes of the magnetic field intensity H.sub.r in the radial direction and the magnetic field intensity H.sub.θ in the circumferential direction on the virtual plane are substantially the same, and the magnetic field intensity H.sub.r in the radial direction and/or the magnetic field intensity H.sub.θ in the circumferential direction are/is output as the sensor signal.

A rotation angle sensing device is provided with a magnet that is placed to be integrally rotatable with a rotary shaft of a rotating body in association with a rotating body, where the shape of the magnet as viewed along the rotary shaft is substantially circular; a magnetic sensor part that outputs a sensor signal based upon a change in a direction of a magnetic field in association with the rotation of the magnet; and a rotation angle detecting part that detects a rotation angle of the rotating body based upon the sensor signal output by the magnetic sensor part. The magnet has a component of a magnetization vector in a direction that is orthogonal to the rotary shaft. When a circular virtual plane that is orthogonal to the rotary shaft centering upon the rotary shaft is set in the vicinity of the magnet, the magnetic sensor part is placed at a position where the amplitudes of the magnetic field intensity H.sub.r in the radial direction and the magnetic field intensity H.sub.θ in the circumferential direction on the virtual plane are substantially the same, and the magnetic field intensity H.sub.r in the radial direction and/or the magnetic field intensity H.sub.θ in the circumferential direction are/is output as the sensor signal.

A rotation angle sensing device is provided with a magnet that has a component with a magnetization vector in a direction orthogonal to a rotary shaft, a magnetic sensor part that outputs a sensor signal, and a rotation angle sensing part that detects a rotation angle of a rotating body based upon the sensor signal; the magnet has first and second surfaces substantially orthogonal to the rotary shaft, and a concave side surface that is continuous throughout all circumferences in the circumferential direction; the magnetic sensor part is placed within the space surrounded by the concave side surface, and at a position where an amplitude of a magnetic field intensity H.sub.r and an amplitude of a magnetic field intensity H.sub.θon the virtual plane are substantially identical to each other, and outputs either the magnetic field intensity H.sub.r or the magnetic field intensity H.sub.θ as the sensor signal.