7683 results about "Vibration sensor" patented technology

A configurable vibration sensor having a sensor circuit, an analog-to-digital converter and a processor is provided. The sensor circuit employs a vibration sensing element and a variable bandwidth filter controllable by the processor. In addition to the variable bandwidth filter, other configurable elements may also be employed in the sensor circuit, including a variable gain amplifier. These configurable elements allow the configurable vibration sensor to be configured for different vibration measurement applications when measuring vibrations from vibrating structures such as machinery and the like.

A system and method for detecting, monitoring and analyzing physiological characteristics. Signals from a subject are acquired from a suite of sensors, such as temperature, carbon dioxide, humidity, light, movement, electromagnetic and vibration sensors, in a passive, non-invasive manner. The signals are processed, and physiological characteristics are isolated for analysis. The system and method are to analyze sleep patterns, as well as to prevent bed sores or detect conditions such as illness, restless leg syndrome, periodic leg movement, sleep walking, or sleep apnea. However, numerous other applications of the invention are also disclosed.

The present disclosure provides an electronic smoking article adapted to provide haptic feedback to a user. The smoking article can comprise a housing that includes a haptic feedback component, such as a vibration transducer. The smoking article can be formed of a control body and / or a cartridge, and the haptic feedback component may be present in any one or both of the control body and the cartridge. The haptic feedback component is adapted to generate a waveform that defines a status of the electronic smoking article. The disclosure also provides a method for providing haptic feedback in an electronic smoking article.

A device for providing in vivo diagnostics of loads, wear, and infection in orthopedic implants having at least one load sensor associated with the implant, at least one temperature sensor associated with the implant, at least one vibration sensor associated with the implant, and at least one signal processing device operatively coupled with the sensors. The signal processing device is operable to receive the output signal from the sensors and transmit a signal corresponding with the output signal.

A method for determining a burst pipe that requires immediate feeding-valve closing using acoustic and / or vibration sensors coupled to the pipe lor detecting signals, a microprocessor for analyzing signals from said sensors in real-time, a memory coupled to said microprocessor for storing data, including digital signatures acoustic and / or vibration signatures, as well as an actuator electrically coupled to said microprocessor and mechanically coupled to said feeding-valve. When the sensor signals match stored leak-signatures or when a persistent sensor signal produces no match, the system of the present invention initiates a valve closing. To improve detection, signals from other sensors, i.e. water sensors, smoke detectors, heat sensors or acoustic / vibration sensors mounted on other pipes are also used. Some of the said systems have IP addresses and can communicate over the Internet or wirelessly with others.

A abnormality diagnosing apparatus used in a machine equipment including a rotating or sliding part relative to a stationary member includes a detecting portion 31 fixed to the rotating or sliding part or the stationary member and including a vibration sensor 32 and a temperature sensor 33, and a signal processing portion 81 for determining a state of the part from a detecting signal outputted by the detecting portion 31. The signal processing portion 81 determines presence or absence of a abnormality, or presence or absence of the abnormality and a degree of a damage of the part based on a combination of a measured result by the vibration sensor 32 and a measured result by the temperature sensor 33.

A device for providing in vivo diagnostics of loads, wear, and infection in orthopedic implants having at least one load sensor associated with the implant, at least one temperature sensor associated with the implant, at least one vibration sensor associated with the implant, and at least one signal processing device operatively coupled with the sensors. The signal processing device is operable to receive the output signal from the sensors and transmit a signal corresponding with the output signal.

To conduct a fluid, the transducer has a flow tube which in operation vibrated by an excitation assembly. Inlet-side and outlet-side vibrations of the flow tube are sensed by means of a sensor arrangement. To produce shear forces in the fluid, the flow tube is at least intermittently excited into torsional vibrations about a longitudinal flow-tube axis. An internal portion of the transducer, formed at least by the flow tube, an antivibrator, the sensor arrangement, and the excitation assembly and mounted at least on the inlet and outlet tube sections, has a centroid which is located inside the flow tube. The transducer is suitable for use in viscometers or Coriolis mass flowmeter-viscometers. In spite of using only a single straight flow tube, it is dynamically well balanced in operation, and the development of bending moments by the torsionally vibrating flow tube is largely prevented. This also effectively prevents the transducer case or the connected pipe from being excited into sympathetic vibration. Measurement signals representative of mass flow rate are readily distinguishable from measurement signals representative of viscosity, particularly if the sensors used for the viscosity measurement are also used for the mass flow measurement.

The present invention relates to vibration analysis and in particular, but not limited to, the derivation of multiple types of vibration signals from one vibration signal for vibration analysis. In the preferred method of the invention the vibrations of an object are measured using at least one vibration sensor, wherein the vibration sensor converts vibrations into an electrical vibration signal. The electrical vibration signal is digitised based on a first frequency, wherein the first frequency is selected from a plurality of possible frequency values. A first type of vibration signal is derived from the digitised vibration signal. A second type of vibration signal is then derived from the digitised vibration signal based on a second frequency. The second frequency is rationally determined from, and lower than, the value selected for the first frequency. The invention also provides apparatus for deriving multiple types of vibration signals from one measured vibration signal for vibration analysis.

In a mobile device, a bone conduction or vibration sensor is used to detect the user's speech and the resulting output is used as the source for a low power Voice Trigger (VT) circuit that can activate the Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) of the host device. This invention is applicable to mobile devices such as wearable computers with head mounted display, mobile phones and wireless headsets and headphones which use speech recognition for the entering of input commands and control. The speech sensor can be a bone conduction microphone used to detect sound vibrations in the skull, or a vibration sensor, used to detect sound pressure vibrations from the user's speech. This VT circuit can be independent of any audio components of the host device and can therefore be designed to consume ultra-low power. Hence, this VT circuit can be active when the host device is in a sleeping state and can be used to wake the host device on detection of speech from the user. This VT circuit will be resistant to outside noise and react solely to the user's voice.

The transducer (1) has at least one at least temporarily vibrating flow tube (101) of predeterminable lumen for conducting a fluid. The flow tube (101) communicates with a connected pipe via an inlet tube section (103), ending in an inlet end, and an outlet tube section (104), ending in an outlet end, and in operation performs flexural vibrations about an axis of vibration joining the inlet and outlet ends. The flow tube (101) has at least one arcuate tube section (101c) of predeterminable three-dimensional shape which adjoins a straight tube segment (101a) on the inlet side and a straight tube segment (101b) on the outlet side. At least one stiffening element (111, 112) is fixed directly on or in close proximity to the arcuate tube segment (101c) to stabilize the three-dimensional shape. By means of the at least one stiffening element (111, 112), the cross sensitivity of the transducer (1) is greatly reduced, so that cross talks from pressure to mass flow signals are minimized and the accuracy of the transducer is improved.

The invention provides a disposable sensor patch for the non-invasive detection and indication of a heart condition during a medical emergency. The patch is placed on the chest area for sensing and analyzing a surface electrocardiogram (ECG). The heart condition is rapidly indicated via an indicator integrated in the patch. The disposable smart patch is inexpensive and simple to use by a layperson assisting or living with the person experiencing the medical crisis. The patch is activated automatically upon its removal from the package and placement on the chest. The detection and indication occurs rapidly and within 90 seconds of placement on the chest. In another embodiment of the invention, a vibration sensor element is incorporated for detecting cardiovascular vibrations and for ruling out pulseless electrical activity.

A replay mode control device in which the replay mode in reproducing music or video contents is controlled so as to be suitable for a user. A headphone of a mobile music reproducing device is provided with a vibration sensor for detecting movements of the user in the up-and-down direction. A walking movement detection unit detects the walking interval of the user based on an output of the vibration sensor. A replay mode controller manages control to adjust the replay rate of music contents to the walking interval of the user.

Systems for pacing the heart include a vibrational transducer which directs energy at the heart, usually at at least a ventricle, to pace the heart and to promote synchronized contraction of the ventricles. Optionally, additional vibrational and / or electrical stimulation may be provided. The vibrational transducers are usually implantable at a location proximate the heart.

A processing apparatus includes: a mounting table on which a carriage container containing a plurality of substrates is placed; a process chamber in which predetermined processing is applied to the substrate; a temporary storage unit having a substrate loading part on which the plural processed substrates are loaded in multi-tiers; a transfer unit having a carrier arm carrying the substrate to / from the carriage container on the mounting table, the process chamber, and the temporary storage unit; a vibration sensor detecting vibration of the substrate loading part; and a control unit which compares a current detection value of the vibration sensor with a predetermined set value to judge whether or not the vibration is abnormal vibration and to stop the carrier arm when judging that the vibration is the abnormal vibration.

The invention discloses a distributed optical fiber oil channel leakage monitoring method and device based on interference theory. The monitoring system needs to lay an optical cable along the channel, and forms a fiber micro oscillation sensor with the fiber in the cable. When the channel has leakage, it will generate leakage noise, thus the fiber micro oscillator sensor can measures the micro oscillation and stress change around the channel, and it can fix on the leakage position quickly and accurately. The device is made up of distributed fiber micro oscillation sensor, guiding fiber and micro oscillation detector. The technology not only can detect the leakage, but also can detect the event which can cause the leakage, and it can send out alarm and accurate localization. The device has high sensitivity and localization precise, and the disturbance ability is strong, and it is reliable.

A configurable vibration sensor comprising a sensor circuit, an analog-to-digital converter and a processor, where each sensor circuit comprises a vibration sensing element and a variable bandwidth filter controllable by the processor. In addition to the variable bandwidth filter, other configurable elements may also be employed in the sensor circuit, including a variable gain amplifier. These configurable elements allow the configurable vibration sensor to be configured for different vibration measurement applications when measuring vibrations from vibrating structures such as machinery and the like.

An actuation system for a bodily fluid extraction device includes a detector cap, at least one vibration sensor connected to the detector cap, and at least one signal processing unit in communication with the vibration sensor. In addition, the signal processing unit is configured to receive an output signal from the vibration sensor, analyze the received output signal, and to send an actuation signal to the bodily fluid extraction device based on the analysis of the received output signal.

A skin desensitizing device for temporarily numbing and / or cooling a surface of a subject's skin. The skin desensitizing device comprises a controller, a skin-bracing interface, and at least one overloading-neural source, which includes (i) a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator (TENS)-like device capable of electrically stimulating superficial skin neurons of the subject's skin into a state of fibrillation, (ii) a thermoelectric device capable of cooling the subject's skin to approximately 30° F. to 38° F., and (iii) a vibration device capable of vibrating the subject's skin to overload the skin's vibration sensors.

To achieve vibration-dependent noise reduction by the use of a microphone to pick up an audio signal and a vibration sensor. The microphone apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is one having one or more microphone, one or more sensor, noise extraction means for extracting the noise bandwidth section from the output signal of the sensor, an adaptive filter coordinated with the microphone for receiving the output signal of the noise extraction means as the reference input signal, and an adder for subtracting the output signal of the adaptive filter from the output signal of the microphone, wherein the vibration detection directions of the microphone and the sensor match, and so do the output polarities of the vibration signal.

A directionally-sensitive device for detecting and processing vibration waves includes an array of polymeric optical waveguide resonators positioned between a light source, such as an LED array, and a light detector, such as a photodiode array. The resonators which are preferably oriented substantially perpendicularly with respect to incoming vibration waves, vibrate when a wave is detected, thus modulating light signals that are transmitted between the light source and the light detector. The light detector converts the modulated light into electrical signals which, in a preferred embodiment, are used to drive either the speaker of a hearing aid or the electrode array of a cochlear implant. The device is manufactured using a combination of traditional semiconductor processes and polymer microfabrication techniques.

An apparatus and process for monitoring fluid flow through a nozzle is disclosed. A vibration sensor, such as an accelerometer, is mounted to a nozzle. The vibration output received from the sensor is then analyzed to determine whether or not the nozzle is operating properly. Through the present invention, information can be obtained regarding variations in flow rate, and / or variations in spray pattern and droplet size spectra. If the nozzle flow pulsates, the vibration sensor may also provide information regarding whether the nozzle is pulsating according to a desired frequency duty cycle or waveform.

When outputs from two vibration detection sensors are measured by a Coriolis flowmeter in a form of phase difference time, a tube must be thinned to increase a sensitivity of the flowmeter to enable measurement and accordingly flow velocity and pressure loss increase, and a thickness of the flowmeter must be reduced and therefore a pressure resistance cannot be readily enhanced. In particular, the sensitivity of signals to flow rate is difficult to increase and, accordingly, a flow rate of a low-density gas cannot be accurately measured. In the present invention, a Coriolis vibration frame 16 carrying a U-shaped tube is swingably fixed to a forced vibration frame 19 fixed to a support base 22 to form a highly rigid frame structure limiting a vibrating direction to one degree of freedom in a Coriolis vibration direction. The forced vibration frame 19 is vibrated by a vibration exciter 20 so that a ratio of a forced vibration frequency to the Coriolis frequency of a pipeline is at least 1 to 10. The ratio of the amplitude of the forced vibration to the amplitude of the Coriolis vibration is calculated based on signals from two vibration sensors such as acceleration sensors 17 and 18 to measure the mass flow rate of a fluid flowing in the pipeline.

The viscometer provides a viscosity value (Xη) which represents the viscosity of a fluid flowing in a pipe connected thereto. It comprises a vibratory transducer with at least one flow tube for conducting the fluid, which communicates with the pipe. Driven by an excitation assembly, the flow tube is vibrated so that friction forces are produced in the fluid. The viscometer further includes meter electronics which feed an excitation current (iexc) into the excitation assembly. By means of the meter electronics, a first internal intermediate value (X1) is formed, which corresponds with the excitation current (iexc) and thus represents the friction forces acting in the fluid. According to the invention, a second internal intermediate value (X2), representing inhomogeneities in the fluid, is generated in the meter electronics, which then determine the viscosity value (Xη) using the two intermediate values (X1, X2). The first internal intermediate value (X1) is preferably normalized by means of an amplitude control signal (yAM) for the excitation current (iexc), the amplitude control signal corresponding with the vibrations of the flow tube. As a result, the viscosity value (Xη) provided by the viscometer is highly accurate and robust, particularly independently of the position of installation of the flow tube.

A sensor contains a first electrically conductive element, a second electrically conductive element, and an electrically insulative element connected to the first electrically conductive element and the second electrically conductive element. The sensor also contains a plurality of electrically conductive weights located within a cavity of the sensor, wherein the cavity is defined by at least one surface of the first electrically conductive element, at least one surface of the electrically insulative element, and at least one surface of the second electrically conductive element.

The invention discloses a method for testing the assembly performance of a rotor of an aircraft engine, which comprises the following steps of: firstly exciting and vibrating a rotor of an aircraft engine with a vibration exciter; obtaining a multiple carrier-coupled impulse response signal of the rotor of the aircraft engine with a vibrating sensor and signal-acquiring system software; analyzing the obtained multiple carrier-coupled impulse response signal of the rotor of the aircraft engine by means of dual-tree complex wavelet transform to obtain eight signal carrier-coupled impulse response signals of the rotor of the aircraft engine; and distilling the average assembly performance index of the obtained eight signal carrier-coupled impulse response signals of the rotor of the aircraft engine, wherein the assembly performance of the rotor of the aircraft engine is judged to be qualified if the obtained average assembly performance index is larger than or equal to 10, and the assembly performance of the rotor of the aircraft engine is judged not to be qualified if the obtained average assembly performance index is less than 10, so that the rotor needs to be repaired.

Method and arrangement for obtaining and conveying information about occupancy of a passenger compartment of a vehicle including at least one sensor for obtaining data from the passenger compartment. Information about the occupancy is generated based on the data and transmitted, e.g., through a cellular phone system, to emergency response personnel to enable them to respond accordingly. The information about the occupancy may be generated by a processor applying pattern recognition techniques so that any occupants of the seat may be classified and such classification transmitted to the emergency response personnel. The data may also be used to determine the number of occupants in the vehicle and / or whether the occupants are moving after a crash. The sensors may be a variety of sensors such as an ultrasonic sensor, an electromagnetic wave sensor, an electric field sensor, a chemical sensor, a weight sensor, a motion sensor, a microphone, a heartbeat sensor, a vibration sensor, an acceleration sensor and a capacitance sensor.

A touch sensitive surface having touch-capacitive and vibration sensors. This surface allows the user to rest their fingers on the keys and type as they would on a regular keyboard. As the user places their fingers on the keys, the touch capacitive sensors (one per key) report the signal strength level of each key touched to a processor, but no keystroke is issued by the processor until a corresponding “tap” (ie. vibration) is detected. When a tap is detected, the processor references the status of the touch capacitance sensors before, during, and / or immediately after the moment in time the tap occurred.