Methods and systems are described for operating an intra-oral imaging sensor that includes a housing, an image sensing component at least partially housed within the housing, and a temperature sensor. An output of the temperature indicative of a sensed temperature is received and evaluated to determine whether the intra-oral imaging sensor is positioned in the mouth of the patient. The determination of whether the temperature sensor may be based on one or more determined conditions including whether a current temperature exceeds a threshold, whether a first derivative of the sensed temperature exceeds a rate-of-change threshold, and whether a second derivative of the sensed temperature exceeds a temperature acceleration threshold. In some implementations, the operation of the intra-oral imaging sensor is automatically adjusted in response to a determination that the sensor has been placed inside the mouth of a patient.

As mobile computing devices are increasingly expected to be smaller, thinner, and/or lighter, less space is available for incorporating such structurally stiff perimeter components, as well as energy-absorbing components. The electroactive perimeter stiffening devices, systems, and methods described herein detect a free-fall event or condition, anticipate a subsequent impact event, and actively stiffen one or more electroactive perimeter stiffeners of an associated mobile computing device in preparation for the impact event. The electroactive perimeter stiffeners direct impact energy away from, and in some cases, distribute and/or dissipate the impact energy, in an effort to prevent damage to impact-sensitive components of the mobile computing device.

As mobile computing devices are increasingly expected to be smaller, thinner, and/or lighter, less space is available for incorporating such structurally stiff perimeter components, as well as energy-absorbing components. The electroactive perimeter stiffening devices, systems, and methods described herein detect a free-fall event or condition, anticipate a subsequent impact event, and actively stiffen one or more electroactive perimeter stiffeners of an associated mobile computing device in preparation for the impact event. The electroactive perimeter stiffeners direct impact energy away from, and in some cases, distribute and/or dissipate the impact energy, in an effort to prevent damage to impact-sensitive components of the mobile computing device.

A tunable and resettable shock sensor using a parallel dipole line (PDL) trap system is provided. In one aspect, a shock sensor includes: a PDL trap having a pair of diametric magnets separated from one another by a gap g.sub.M, and a diamagnetic rod levitating in between the diametric magnets; and contact pads below the PDL trap, wherein the contact pads are separated from one another by a space that is less than a length l of the diamagnetic rod. A shock monitoring system is also provided that includes a network of the shock sensors, as is a method for shock monitoring using the shock sensors.

An environmental physical sensor is provided that includes a power input terminal, a sensor output terminal, and a resonant switch. The resonant switch includes a mechanical element that is responsive to an environmental stimulus and is coupled to an electrical switch. The electrical switch is operable between an open position and a closed position and electrically connects the power input terminal to the sensor output terminal when in the closed position. The mechanical element is configured to intermittently actuate the electrical switch into the closed position responsive to the environmental stimulus.

Methods and systems are described for operating an intra-oral imaging sensor that includes a housing, an image sensing component at least partially housed within the housing, and a temperature sensor. An output of the temperature indicative of a sensed temperature is received and evaluated to determine whether the intra-oral imaging sensor is positioned in the mouth of the patient. The determination of whether the temperature sensor may be based on one or more determined conditions including whether a current temperature exceeds a threshold, whether a first derivative of the sensed temperature exceeds a rate-of-change threshold, and whether a second derivative of the sensed temperature exceeds a temperature acceleration threshold. In some implementations, the operation of the intra-oral imaging sensor is automatically adjusted in response to a determination that the sensor has been placed inside the mouth of a patient.

Methods and systems are described for operating an intra-oral imaging sensor that includes a housing, an image sensing component at least partially housed within the housing, and a temperature sensor. An output of the temperature indicative of a sensed temperature is received and evaluated to determine whether the intra-oral imaging sensor is positioned in the mouth of the patient. The determination of whether the temperature sensor may be based on one or more determined conditions including whether a current temperature exceeds a threshold, whether a first derivative of the sensed temperature exceeds a rate-of-change threshold, and whether a second derivative of the sensed temperature exceeds a temperature acceleration threshold. In some implementations, the operation of the intra-oral imaging sensor is automatically adjusted in response to a determination that the sensor has been placed inside the mouth of a patient.

A method of adjusting a switch of a device, wherein the method comprises using a biasing force-adjusting element to adjust a magnitude of a biasing force that is imparted to a switching element of the switch by a biasing element that is disposed about the switching element. The biasing force places the switching element in one of a first position and a second position, wherein the first position corresponds to a first electrical state and the second position corresponds to a second electrical state.

A method of adjusting a switch of a device, wherein the method comprises using a biasing force-adjusting element to adjust a magnitude of a biasing force that is imparted to a switching element of the switch by a biasing element that is disposed about the switching element. The biasing force places the switching element in one of a first position and a second position, wherein the first position corresponds to a first electrical state and the second position corresponds to a second electrical state.

Methods and systems are described for operating an imaging sensor, the imaging sensor including a multi-dimensional sensor. An electronic processor receives an output from the multi-dimensional sensor and transitions the imaging sensor from the low-power state into a ready state in response to a determination by the electronic processor, based on the output from the multi-dimensional sensor, that a first state transition criteria is satisfied and transitions the imaging sensor from the ready state into an armed state in response to a determination that a second state transition criteria is satisfied. In some implementations, the electronic processor operates the imaging sensor to capture image data only when operating in the armed state and prevents the imaging system from transitioning from the low-power state directly into the armed state.