Embodiments disclosed herein comprise a sensor. In an embodiment, the sensor comprises a substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite from the first surface. In an embodiment, the sensor further comprises a first electrode over the first surface of the substrate, and a second electrode over the first surface of the substrate and adjacent to the first electrode. In an embodiment, the sensor further comprises a barrier layer over the first electrode and the second electrode.

The present disclosure provides for an electronic sensor for detecting a root of a plant in soil, the electronic sensor that includes a first conductor plate configured to be disposed in soil, a switch, a power supply, and a signal extractor. The switch is electrically coupled to the first conductor plate and is configured to switch between a first mode and a second mode. The power supply is electrically coupled to the switch and is configured to provide an electrical charge to the first conductor plate in the first mode of the switch. The signal extractor is electrically coupled to the switch and is configured to extract a signal response at the first conductor plate in the second mode of the switch. The present disclosure further provides a second conductor plate configured to be disposed in soil adjacent to and substantially parallel to the first conductor plate. The second conductor plate is electrically coupled to ground.

The present application belongs to the technical field of monitoring of durability of concrete, and particularly relates to a method for optimizing a structure of an electrical capacitance tomography sensor and analyzing an electromagnetic field. A specific process of the method includes eight steps: parameter setting, geometric setting, material setting, mesh generation, physical field setting, solution, sensor structure optimization and calculation of electromagnetic field distribution. The method proposes a new concept for solving a forward problem of an ECT system based on COMSOL software. After modeling is completed, uniformity of a sensitive field of the ECT sensor is analyzed according to calculation results, and structural parameter values of components of the ECT sensor are adjusted to seek an optimal design scheme.

There is provided a perishable goods monitoring system for monitoring the freshness or condition of a perishable product encapsulated within a package, the system comprising a sensor device, a wireless communication reader device and a processing module, said sensor device comprising a fibrous hydrophilic material based electrical sensor and a wireless communication tag chip coupled thereto and being configured to be incorporated in or on a said package, said wireless communication reader device being configured for wireless communication with said wireless communication tag by means of wireless communication technology when said reader device is within a predetermined distance of said tag, and said processing module being configured to receive sensor data from said sensor, via said reader device, correlate said sensor data against a stored calibration data set associated with said perishable product and determine thereby data representative of freshness of said perishable product.

Provided is a liquid sensor or the like that is relatively easy to manufacture. The liquid sensor includes a light emitting element, an optical waveguide, a light receiving element, and a detection circuit. The optical waveguide includes a first pillar portion, a first metal plate, a second pillar portion, and a second metal plate. The first metal plate is embedded in the first pillar portion. The second pillar portion is provided at a position opposing the first pillar portion. The second metal plate is embedded in the second pillar portion. A space for liquid is formed between the first pillar portion and the second pillar portion. The first pillar portion includes a first end surface that faces the light emitting element. The first metal plate includes a first reflecting portion that is tilted relative to the first end surface and reflects light toward the second pillar portion. The second pillar portion includes a second end surface that faces the light receiving element. The second metal plate includes a second reflecting portion that is tilted relative to the second end surface and reflects the light from the first metal plate toward the light receiving element.

A probe provides one end of an electrically conductive path with a ground stake defining a second end. The probe is supported on a tip of a cable rotatably supported by a snake, with the snake including a conductor routed toward the ground stake. A spool can optionally be located between the conductor and the ground stake. A voltage source and a current sensor are located upon this electrically conductive path. The current sensor senses current flow between the probe within the underground pipe and the ground stake. Analysis of the current flowing in this electric circuit allows for determining if underground pipe material includes lead, based at least partially on electrical conductivity of pipe segments through which the probe passes. Conductivity data is transmitted between a local processor, such as a smart phone, and a remote processor for analysis, including a prediction as to lead presence in the pipe.

A micro-total analysis system and a method thereof are provided. The micro-total analysis system includes: a microfluidic device, configured to accommodate a liquid to be detected; an optical unit, configured to form a first light irradiated to the microfluidic device; and a detection unit, configured to detect the liquid to be detected and output a detection signal to obtain detection information.

Provided is an electrical circuit for electrochemical measurement of a solution, said electrical circuit comprising: a voltage generation circuit; an operational amplifier that has an output (OUT), a non-inverting input (+IN), and an inverting input (−IN), wherein the output (OUT) is connected to a counter electrode (CE) in contact with the solution, the inverting input (−IN) is connected to a reference electrode (RE) in contact with the solution, and the non-inverting input (+IN) is connected to the voltage generation circuit; a capacitor that is connected between the output (OUT) and inverting input (−IN) and has a capacitance of 1 μF or greater; and a current measurement circuit that is connected to a working electrode (WE) in contact with the solution.

A sensor for measuring ocean water salinity is described. The sensor may include a measurement clock circuit, a control clock circuit, and a comparator circuit. The measurement clock circuit, having an output that varies with salinity of a fluid, may have a first circuit architecture that includes a capacitive gap assembly that permits a fluid to flow into a gap between two electrodes of the capacitive gap assembly. The control clock circuit, having an output that does not vary with salinity of the fluid, may have a second circuit architecture comprising a capacitor. The comparator circuit may be configured to compare the controlled clock output to the measured clock output over a duration of time to determine a salinity measurement of the fluid. The first circuit architecture may differ from the second circuit architecture in that an electrically connected position of the capacitive gap assembly within the first circuit architecture is the electrically connected position of the capacitor within the second circuit architecture.

The invention relates to a sensor device and a method for detecting properties of a liquid. The liquid is accommodated in an inner chamber 14. A capacitor arrangement 22, 26 in the inner chamber has spaced, opposing capacitor surfaces 24a, 24b, 28a, 28b so that at least part of the liquid accommodated in the inner chamber 14 is arranged between the capacitor surfaces 24a, 24b, 28a, 28b. An evaluation device 30 for supplying an output signal A depending on a capacitance value C1, C2 of the capacitor arrangement 22, 24 comprises an excitation circuit 32 and an evaluation circuit 34. The excitation circuit 32 has at least one measuring resistor R1, R2, R1a, R1b and means for applying an AC voltage to a series circuit consisting of the measurement resistor R1, R2, R1a, R1b and the capacitor arrangement 22, 24. The evaluation circuit 30 has means for supplying the output signal A by measuring a voltage U1, U2 across the capacitor arrangement 22, 24.