Patent classifications
G01B7/14
Anti-theft pusher with incremental distance detection
A retail merchandise pusher is configured for sliding along a pusher assembly track. The pusher assembly is mountable to a retail merchandise shelf. The pusher includes a housing, a spring drum rotatably mounted within the housing, and a coil spring mounted to the spring drum. The coil spring is coilable and uncoilable upon rotation of the spring drum. A controller is coupled to a sensor arrangement within the housing. The sensor arrangement has a spring drum sensor for detecting rotation of the spring drum. A direction sensor detects a direction of rotation of the spring drum. An incremental distance sensor detects incremental movement of the pusher. The controller is configured to calculate, based on data from the sensor arrangement, a total distance and direction of travel by the pusher, and to generate an alarm when the pusher travels more than a threshold distance within a predetermined period of time.
CAPACITIVE DISPLACEMENT SENSOR SYSTEM WITH INTERDIGITATED COMBS
A capacitive displacement sensor system with interdigitated combs, includes capacitive detection in a direction perpendicular to the surfaces of the combs facing one another, the combs being subjected to a sinusoidal movement in the direction, comprising: a device for converting the capacitance delivered by the sensor into a voltage; an analog/digital converter configured to digitize the voltage delivered by the conversion device, and supply a digitized signal; and a control unit comprising: a harmonic estimator configured to estimate the amplitudes of the harmonics of order less than or equal to a maximum order based on the digitized signal and a reference angle corresponding to the instantaneous angle of the input angular frequency; and a signal reconstruction module for reconstructing the signal from the amplitudes and the reference angle that are supplied by the harmonic estimator and from the digitized signal delivered by the analog/digital converter.
CAPACITIVE DISPLACEMENT SENSOR SYSTEM WITH INTERDIGITATED COMBS
A capacitive displacement sensor system with interdigitated combs, includes capacitive detection in a direction perpendicular to the surfaces of the combs facing one another, the combs being subjected to a sinusoidal movement in the direction, comprising: a device for converting the capacitance delivered by the sensor into a voltage; an analog/digital converter configured to digitize the voltage delivered by the conversion device, and supply a digitized signal; and a control unit comprising: a harmonic estimator configured to estimate the amplitudes of the harmonics of order less than or equal to a maximum order based on the digitized signal and a reference angle corresponding to the instantaneous angle of the input angular frequency; and a signal reconstruction module for reconstructing the signal from the amplitudes and the reference angle that are supplied by the harmonic estimator and from the digitized signal delivered by the analog/digital converter.
Cutting sharpness detection device
A detection arrangement for detecting a wear status of a chopping knife arrangement of a chopping device provided for processing a product flow, wherein the chopping device has a revolving chopping drum receiving the chopping knife arrangement and at least one shear bar which cooperates with the chopping knives, with a sensor arrangement which has a magnetic exciter arrangement and a flux conducting device magnetically coupled thereto. The sensor arrangement provides a pole arrangement which forms at least one magnetic pole with a pole surface for conducting magnetic flux, wherein at least a portion of the chopping knife passes the pole arrangement during a rotation of the chopping drum. A voltage induced when a chopping knife arrangement passes the sensor arrangement forms the measured magnetic value, which is used by the evaluation unit to determine the state of wear of the chopping knife arrangement.
Cutting sharpness detection device
A detection arrangement for detecting a wear status of a chopping knife arrangement of a chopping device provided for processing a product flow, wherein the chopping device has a revolving chopping drum receiving the chopping knife arrangement and at least one shear bar which cooperates with the chopping knives, with a sensor arrangement which has a magnetic exciter arrangement and a flux conducting device magnetically coupled thereto. The sensor arrangement provides a pole arrangement which forms at least one magnetic pole with a pole surface for conducting magnetic flux, wherein at least a portion of the chopping knife passes the pole arrangement during a rotation of the chopping drum. A voltage induced when a chopping knife arrangement passes the sensor arrangement forms the measured magnetic value, which is used by the evaluation unit to determine the state of wear of the chopping knife arrangement.
Server node connector mating condition health monitoring and reporting
A server node connection system uses two or more proximity sensors per server node to determine progressive, real time changes in wipe length for each individual connector on the node that is connected to an opposing header connector on header connected to a midplane of the server assembly/rack. The system is capable of scanning, monitoring, trending, and alarming.
Methods and systems for measuring gaps between exterior structures and interior structures
Disclosed herein is a method of measuring a gap between exterior structures and interior structures. The method comprises directing a transmitted m-wave signal from an exterior surface of the exterior structure into the exterior structure and the interior structure. The transmitted m-wave signal is generated by a gap sensing device that comprises an electromagnetic dual-tuned resonant coil sensor. The method also comprises measuring a received m-wave signal with the gap sensing device. The received m-wave signal comprises the transmitted m-wave signal influenced by the assembly. The method further comprises determining a size of the gap between the exterior structure and the interior structure based at least partially on at least one measured characteristic of the received m-wave signal.
DISPLACEMENT SENSOR AND ELECTRONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT
A displacement sensor includes: a detectable portion: including a first coil; and being disposed on a movable member that is displaceable in response to an operation; and a signal generator: including a second coil that opposes the first coil; and being configured to generate a detection signal based on a relative position between the first coil and the second coil. A first distance from a first end of the first coil to a second end of the first coil in a first direction differs from a second distance from a third end of the first coil to a fourth end of the first coil in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction when the first coil is viewed in plan view.
Near-far security sensor
Described is a security sensor comprising two or more sub-sensors for use in a variety of installations where different magnetic fields may be experienced by the security sensor as a result of the variety of installations. One of the sub-sensors may have a low magnetic sensitivity while the other sub-sensor may have a much higher sensitivity to magnetic fields. In operation, one or both sub-sensors are used to determine if a door or a window has been opened.
Near-far security sensor
Described is a security sensor comprising two or more sub-sensors for use in a variety of installations where different magnetic fields may be experienced by the security sensor as a result of the variety of installations. One of the sub-sensors may have a low magnetic sensitivity while the other sub-sensor may have a much higher sensitivity to magnetic fields. In operation, one or both sub-sensors are used to determine if a door or a window has been opened.