A road condition detection device, to be coupled to the wheel of a vehicle, is provided with: an electrostatic charge variation sensor, to provide a charge variation signal indicative of an electrostatic charge variation associated with the rotation of the wheel; and a processing unit, coupled to the electrostatic charge variation sensor to receive the charge variation signal and furthermore for receiving a rotation speed signal indicative of the rotation speed of the wheel. In particular, the processing unit jointly processes the rotation speed signal and the charge variation signal to detect a road condition of a wet road condition and a dry road condition.

A road condition detection device, to be coupled to the wheel of a vehicle, is provided with: an electrostatic charge variation sensor, to provide a charge variation signal indicative of an electrostatic charge variation associated with the rotation of the wheel; and a processing unit, coupled to the electrostatic charge variation sensor to receive the charge variation signal and furthermore for receiving a rotation speed signal indicative of the rotation speed of the wheel. In particular, the processing unit jointly processes the rotation speed signal and the charge variation signal to detect a road condition of a wet road condition and a dry road condition.

One embodiment provides a technique of adjusting a gate voltage to be applied to at least one MOS capacitor and an amount of electric charges to be stored in the MOS capacitor so as to determine a sensitivity of a change in the amount of electric charges stored in the MOS capacitor, and exposing the MOS capacitor to an electric filed for a predetermined amount of time and then reading an electron inflow or outflow result due to the electric field so as to interpret the intensity and the direction of the electric field, thereby measuring the intensity and the direction of the electric field.

One embodiment provides a technique of adjusting a gate voltage to be applied to at least one MOS capacitor and an amount of electric charges to be stored in the MOS capacitor so as to determine a sensitivity of a change in the amount of electric charges stored in the MOS capacitor, and exposing the MOS capacitor to an electric filed for a predetermined amount of time and then reading an electron inflow or outflow result due to the electric field so as to interpret the intensity and the direction of the electric field, thereby measuring the intensity and the direction of the electric field.

An apparatus and a method for measuring a microwave electric field at continuous frequencies based on an alternating current (AC) Stark effect of Rydberg atoms. A cesium vapor cell is used as an atomic sample cell. A cesium atom is excited to a Rydberg state by using detection light and coupling light that are emitted by two laser light sources, an electromagnetically induced transparency spectrum is generated. Further, a strong electric field is used as a local field EL, to cause AC Stark frequency shift and splitting of a Rydberg energy level. E.sub.S of to-be-detected signal electric field is applied. In this case, the Rydberg atom serves as a frequency converter, to directly read a beat frequency signal Δf of the local field and the signal field. From the beat signal, the strength of E.sub.S of signal filed can be directly read out.

An apparatus and a method for measuring a microwave electric field at continuous frequencies based on an alternating current (AC) Stark effect of Rydberg atoms. A cesium vapor cell is used as an atomic sample cell. A cesium atom is excited to a Rydberg state by using detection light and coupling light that are emitted by two laser light sources, an electromagnetically induced transparency spectrum is generated. Further, a strong electric field is used as a local field EL, to cause AC Stark frequency shift and splitting of a Rydberg energy level. E.sub.S of to-be-detected signal electric field is applied. In this case, the Rydberg atom serves as a frequency converter, to directly read a beat frequency signal Δf of the local field and the signal field. From the beat signal, the strength of E.sub.S of signal filed can be directly read out.

A method for indicating a cycle of operation in a laundry treating appliance having a space that includes at least one electrically conductive element disposed in the space and coupled with a controller, the method includes producing in the at least one electrically conductive element the voltage or the current in reaction to the energized e-field apart from the article. Receiving in the controller a signal from the at least one electrically conductive element indicative of a value of a parameter associated with the voltage or the current of the at least one electrically conductive element. And, generating an indication, by the controller, indicative of a cycle of operation and wherein the indication increases or decreases in intensity proportional to the value of the parameter associated with the voltage or the current.

A method for indicating a cycle of operation in a laundry treating appliance having a space that includes at least one electrically conductive element disposed in the space and coupled with a controller, the method includes producing in the at least one electrically conductive element the voltage or the current in reaction to the energized e-field apart from the article. Receiving in the controller a signal from the at least one electrically conductive element indicative of a value of a parameter associated with the voltage or the current of the at least one electrically conductive element. And, generating an indication, by the controller, indicative of a cycle of operation and wherein the indication increases or decreases in intensity proportional to the value of the parameter associated with the voltage or the current.

The present disclosure is directed to a device configured to detect whether the device is in a bag or being taken out of the bag. The device determines whether the device is in a bag or being taken out of the bag based on motion measurements generated by a motion sensor and electrostatic charge measurements generated by an electrostatic charge sensor. By using both distance measurements and motion measurements, the device is able to detect whether the device is in the bag or being taken out of the bag with high efficiency, accuracy, and robustness.

The present disclosure is directed to a device configured to detect whether the device is in a bag or being taken out of the bag. The device determines whether the device is in a bag or being taken out of the bag based on motion measurements generated by a motion sensor and electrostatic charge measurements generated by an electrostatic charge sensor. By using both distance measurements and motion measurements, the device is able to detect whether the device is in the bag or being taken out of the bag with high efficiency, accuracy, and robustness.