The invention provides a semiconductor testkey pattern, the semiconductor testkey pattern includes a high density device region and a plurality of resistor pairs surrounding the high density device region, wherein each resistor pair includes two mutually symmetrical resistor patterns.

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.

The disclosure provides a resonant sensor integrated with an active amplifier chip. The sensor includes: a first metal dielectric layer, an air-like dielectric layer, a second metal dielectric layer, and an excitation layer. The excitation layer is sequentially covered with the second metal dielectric layer, the air-like dielectric layer, and the first metal dielectric layer. The first metal dielectric layer includes an active amplifier chip. Based on the disclosure, the resolution and the sensitivity of the sensor can be improved.

An electric measurement method and apparatus for detecting a mass by an electric capacity (permittivity) or a material's dielectric constant, or alternatively, electric inductance (permeability). The mass may be any phase or combination of phases. The mass may be stationary or flowing. It may comprise discrete particles such as grain, or manufactured products such as ball bearings or threaded fasteners, etc. The mass may be a flow element in a rotameter or similar flow measurement device. The sensor comprises a volume which may be completely full or only partially full of the material. The material may be discrete components or a continuum. Sensor signals may be received by existing planter monitoring systems. In some embodiments the flow sensors are positioned external to the application port. In some embodiments sensors may be utilized which are responsive to the refractive index variation of specific chemicals.

An electric measurement method and apparatus for detecting a mass by an electric capacity (permittivity) or a material's dielectric constant, or alternatively, electric inductance (permeability). The mass may be any phase or combination of phases. The mass may be stationary or flowing. It may comprise discrete particles such as grain, or manufactured products such as ball bearings or threaded fasteners, etc. The mass may be a flow element in a rotameter or similar flow measurement device. The sensor comprises a volume which may be completely full or only partially full of the material. The material may be discrete components or a continuum. Sensor signals may be received by existing planter monitoring systems. In some embodiments the flow sensors are positioned external to the application port. In some embodiments sensors may be utilized which are responsive to the refractive index variation of specific chemicals.

A level sensing controller includes a signal generator circuit to generate an excitation signal. The controller also includes a connection to route an inverse of the excitation signal to a first polar electrode of a first capacitor. The first polar electrode is coupled to a container to hold liquid. The controller also includes a connection to route the excitation signal to a second polar electrode of a second capacitor. The second positive polar electrode is coupled to the container. The controller also includes a connection to a sense electrode to form the first capacitor with the first polar electrode and to form the second capacitor with the second polar electrode. The controller also includes a measurement circuit configured to measure charge at sensing electrode and determine, based on the measured charge, whether a liquid in the container has reached a level of the second polar electrode.

A method is described for determining the resistance temperature characteristic of a ceramic glow plug, wherein the glow plug is heated at a specified power, wherein before the heating it is first determined whether the glow plug is an aged glow plug, and then, if the glow plug has not been detected as an aged glow plug, the glow plug is heated at a first specified power and the resistance value thereby achieved is assigned to a temperature that is anticipated to be the final temperature when heating a factory-outlet glow plug at this first power, or if the glow plug has been detected as an aged glow plug, the glow plug is heated at a reduced power which is smaller than the first power, and the resistance value achieved thereby is assigned to the same temperature that is also anticipated when heating a factory-outlet glow plug at the first power.

An apparatus with embedded water detection and heater includes a substrate including a number of conductive traces and a lid including multiple electrodes. Each electrode is coupled to at least one of the conductive traces through vias. A sensor is placed inside a cavity of the lid and is electrically coupled to one or more conductive traces of the substrate. A gel at least partially fills the lid and covers the sensor. The presence of water on the apparatus is detected by measuring a dielectric permittivity between at least two of the plurality of electrodes, and the electrodes can generate heat to eliminate the water.

An electric measurement method and apparatus for detecting a mass by an electric capacity (permittivity) or a material's dielectric constant, or alternatively, electric inductance (permeability). The mass may be any phase or combination of phases. The mass may be stationary or flowing. It may comprise discrete particles such as grain, or manufactured products such as ball bearings or threaded fasteners, etc. The mass may be a flow element in a rotameter or similar flow measurement device. The sensor comprises a volume which may be completely full or only partially full of the material. The material may be discrete components or a continuum. Sensor signals may be received by existing planter monitoring systems. In some embodiments the flow sensors are positioned external to the application port. In some embodiments sensors may be utilized which are responsive to the refractive index variation of specific chemicals.

A sensor system has an integrated sensor cartridge, and instrument, and an instrument side connector. The integrated sensor cartridge has a mechanical support, a flexible sensor array, and a rigid connector. The mechanical support is shaped to facilitate sensor measurements on a test object. The rigid connector has a mechanical connection and an electrical connection for simultaneous electrical and mechanical mating of the sensor cartridge to the instrument side connector. The flexible array has a connecting portion, a lead portion, and a sensing portion. The sensing portion is attached to the mechanical support, and the connecting portion interfaces with the rigid connector. The connecting portion may form the electrical connection of the rigid connector or may simply mate internally with the electrical connection. The instrument side connector is connected to the instrument which measures the response of the flexible sensor array. Test objects may include bolt holes, fillets, disk slots, and other types of parts or components.