A braking device of a fishing reel comprises: a braked part made of a conductor, the braked part being attached to a spool designed to wind a fishing line; a braking part generating braking force by providing a magnetic field for the braked part; a part being detected that is provided on the braked part; and a rotation detection sensor sensing rotation of the spool by detecting the part being detected.

The disclosure includes: an electrode pad connected between a capacitor that is a target of detection and a first node for externally connecting the capacitor; a reference capacitive circuit that has a reference electrostatic capacity and applies the reference electrostatic capacity to a second node; a determination circuit that includes first and second relay terminals, supplies a charging current from the first relay terminal to an electrode pad via the first node, supplies a charging current from the second relay terminal to the reference capacitive circuit via the second node, and subsequently detects electrostatic capacity of the capacitor and determines whether or not the electrostatic capacity of the capacitor has changed by comparing magnitudes of potentials at the first relay terminal and the second relay terminal; and a correction capacitive circuit that applies a designated electrostatic capacity to the first node and is capable of varying the electrostatic capacity.

A sensor assembly for use in synchronizing seed placement and the dispensing of liquid agricultural product during planting. The sensor assembly includes a signal conditioning circuit configured to provide an output signal representing an indication of the presence of liquid agricultural product and seed for use in determining the synchronization of the seed placement with the dispensing of the liquid agricultural product. The presence of both a seed mass component and a liquid mass component of the output signal defines a package mass. The output signal has a pre-defined value and is transmitted to a controller to determine whether there is an error. The controller is configured to generate an error signal that is capable of being displayable on a remote display/user interface system that can be monitored by the system operator.

A foot presence sensor system for an active article of footwear can include a sensor housing configured to be disposed at or in an insole of the article, and a controller circuit, disposed within the sensor housing, configured to trigger one or more automated functions of the footwear based on a foot presence indication. In an example, the sensor system includes a capacitive sensor, and the sensor is configured to sense changes in a foot proximity to the sensor in footwear. A baseline or reference condition for the capacitive sensor can be updated to accommodate different use conditions.

An analyte test meter that detects contact between a user and an electrochemical test strip includes a test strip port, a capacitive sensor positioned proximate to the test strip port, and a controller connected to the test strip port and the capacitive sensor. The controller is configured to identify insertion of the electrochemical test strip into the test strip port, apply a drive signal to the capacitive sensor, measure a first response to the drive signal from the capacitive sensor, identify dosing of a fluid sample on the electrochemical test strip, apply the drive signal to the capacitive sensor after the dosing, measure a second response to the drive signal from the capacitive sensor, and detect contact between a body of a user and at least one electrode in the electrochemical test strip in response to a difference between the first and second responses exceeding a predetermined threshold.

A foot presence sensor system for an active article of footwear can include a sensor housing configured to be disposed at or in an insole of the article, and a controller circuit, disposed within the sensor housing, configured to trigger one or more automated functions of the footwear based on a foot presence indication. In an example, the sensor system includes a capacitive sensor configured to sense changes in a capacitance signal in response to proximity of a body. A dielectric member can be provided between the capacitive sensor and the body to enhance an output signal from the sensor.

The oscillation circuit includes a drive circuit and an amplitude limiting circuit. A vibrator-output signal is input to the drive circuit from one end of the vibrator, and the drive circuit outputs a drive signal obtained by inverting the vibrator-output signal. The amplitude limiting circuit is disposed between an output node of the drive circuit and the other end of the vibrator, and outputs an amplitude-limited drive signal obtained by reducing an amplitude of the drive signal to the other end of the vibrator.

A multi-layer electrode of a capacitive pressure sensor is manufactured by roll to roll printing a conductive layer onto a polymer layer and forming a mutual capacitance sensor layer of the capacitive pressure sensor, co-extruding a conductive polymer layer and a foam dielectric layer and forming a coextruded layer of the capacitive pressure sensor, and pressure rolling the mutual capacitance sensor layer and the coextruded layer together and forming the multi-layer electrode. The conductive polymer layer includes between about 2 wt. % to about 15 wt. % graphene and between about 0.01 wt. % and 5 wt. % of the carbon nanotubes. Also, the conductive polymer layer has a flexural modulus equal to or greater than 5,000 MPa and an electrical resistivity less than or equal to 10 Ohm/mm.sup.3, and the polymer layer and/or the conductive polymer layer is formed from recycled polyethylene terephthalate.

A foot presence sensor system for an active article of footwear can include a sensor housing configured to be disposed at or in an insole of the article, and a controller circuit, disposed within the sensor housing, configured to trigger one or more automated functions of the footwear based on a foot presence indication. In an example, the sensor system includes a capacitive or magnetic sensor configured to sense changes in a body's proximity to the sensor in footwear. Characteristics of the sensed proximity can be used to update an automated footwear function, such as an automatic lacing function, or can be used to determine a step count, foot strike force, a rate of travel, or other information about a foot or about the footwear.

An article of footwear can include a ferromagnetic body disposed in the article, and a magnetometer to measure a strength or direction of a magnetic field that is influenced by a position of the ferromagnetic body. One of the ferromagnetic body and the magnetometer can be configured to move relative to the other one of the ferromagnetic body and the magnetometer, for example according to movement of a foot in the article. In an example, the ferromagnetic body is disposed in a compressible insole and the ferromagnetic body moves in response to compression or relaxation of the insole. The magnetometer can be disposed in a platform or sole portion of the article that is relatively stationary compared to the ferromagnetic body. Rate of change information about the magnetic field can be used to control article functions or to provide information about a foot strike or step rate.