A thermal sensing system includes an electrical contact, a sensing element, and a position sensor. The electrical contact includes a shaft that defines a channel. The channel extends into the shaft from an opening along an outer surface of the shaft. The sensing element is disposed at least partially outside of the channel and is operably connected to the channel through the opening. The sensing element is movable relative to the electrical contact based on a temperature change within the channel. The position sensor is spaced apart from the electrical contact and the sensing element. The position sensor is configured to detect a position change of a portion of the sensing element outside of the channel responsive to the temperature change within the channel.

A system and method for inspecting a surface of a structure for defects includes an inspection apparatus having a heating device for heating a section of the surface of the structure, an infrared camera for receiving infrared radiation from the surface in response to heating, a controller configured to generate thermographs from the received infrared radiation, and a communication device. A training system includes an expert system module configured to determine correlations between a set of thermographs generated by a thermal simulation of modeled structural elements with defects, and parameters of the modeled structural elements. A computer system communicatively coupled to the training system and the inspection apparatus, is adapted to receive thermographs received from the inspection apparatus and to detect quantitative parameters of defects in the structure using the correlations obtained from the training system.

A sensor includes a body member, a volume change body, and a detection member. The body member has a flat plate-like shape, a first end in a first direction being supported, and a storage space opening at at least one of both end faces in a thickness direction. The volume change body, whose volume changes depending on an amount of a target, is supported by the body member so that at least a part of the volume change body is stored in the storage space. The detection member is in contact with a second end in the first direction of the body member, and detects stress caused by the change in the volume of the volume change body.

A sensor configured to detect and record measured conditions, such as temperature, pressure, volume, displacement, acceleration, and/or other measureable conditions. The sensor may incorporate radio frequency identification (RFID) components. The sensor may also incorporate micro-electro-mechanical devices and/or systems (MEMS) and/or nano-electro-mechanical devices and/or systems (NEMS) that are configured to change in response to certain conditions encountered by the MEMS/NEMS and provide indications of the same. The sensor may include a detector configured to detect the changes in the MEMS/NEMS. The detected changes may be stored by the MEMS and/or the NEMS and/or the RFID components, allowing information about the changes to be retrieved through a RFID reading and/or scanning process. The sensor may be used to monitor and/or track conditions associated with certain objects and/or environments, among other uses.

An apparatus for measuring a temperature of a power device using a piezoelectric device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a substrate; at least one power device formed on one surface of the substrate; and at least one piezoelectric device disposed on the substrate as spaced from the power device and configured to measure a thermal stress generated on the substrate to sense a temperature caused by heat generation of the power device.

An apparatus for measuring a temperature of a power device using a piezoelectric device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a substrate; at least one power device formed on one surface of the substrate; and at least one piezoelectric device disposed on the substrate as spaced from the power device and configured to measure a thermal stress generated on the substrate to sense a temperature caused by heat generation of the power device.

A sensor configured to detect and record measured conditions, such as temperature, pressure, volume, displacement, acceleration, and/or other measureable conditions. The sensor may incorporate radio frequency identification (RFID) components. The sensor may also incorporate micro-electro-mechanical devices and/or systems (MEMS) and/or nano-electro-mechanical devices and/or systems (NEMS) that are configured to change in response to certain conditions encountered by the MEMS/NEMS and provide indications of the same. The sensor may include a detector configured to detect the changes in the MEMS/NEMS. The detected changes may be stored by the MEMS and/or the NEMS and/or the RFID components, allowing information about the changes to be retrieved through a RFID reading and/or scanning process. The sensor may be used to monitor and/or track conditions associated with certain objects and/or environments, among other uses.

A thermal sensing system includes an electrical contact, a sensing element, and a position sensor. The electrical contact includes a shaft that defines a channel. The channel extends into the shaft from an opening along an outer surface of the shaft. The sensing element is disposed at least partially outside of the channel and is operably connected to the channel through the opening. The sensing element is movable relative to the electrical contact based on a temperature change within the channel. The position sensor is spaced apart from the electrical contact and the sensing element. The position sensor is configured to detect a position change of a portion of the sensing element outside of the channel responsive to the temperature change within the channel.

A thermal sensing system includes an electrical contact, a sensing element, and a position sensor. The electrical contact includes a shaft that defines a channel. The channel extends into the shaft from an opening along an outer surface of the shaft. The sensing element is disposed at least partially outside of the channel and is operably connected to the channel through the opening. The sensing element is movable relative to the electrical contact based on a temperature change within the channel. The position sensor is spaced apart from the electrical contact and the sensing element. The position sensor is configured to detect a position change of a portion of the sensing element outside of the channel responsive to the temperature change within the channel.

A thermal sensing system includes an electrical contact, a sensing element, and at least one position sensor. The electrical contact releasably connects to a mating contact for establishing a conductive path across a mating interface. The electrical contact defines a channel therein that extends from an opening along an outer surface of the electrical contact. The sensing element is at least partially outside of the channel and is configured to move relative to the electrical contact from a first position to a second position based on a temperature increase within the channel that exceeds a designated threshold temperature. The at least one position sensor is spaced apart from the electrical contact and is configured to detect a position change of the sensing element from the first position to the second position, indicating that the temperature within the channel exceeds the designated threshold temperature.