1057 results about "Electrical measurements" patented technology

A method of determining information about cell viability and other characteristics relating to cell membrane permeability is disclosed. The method involves determining the effect of a cell on current flow and relating that effect to a known standard which standard may be a known healthy cell and thereby deducing the viability of the cell being tested. The cells being tested can be subjected to different environmental conditions such as surrounding chemicals, temperature, pH and pressure to determine the effects of such conditions on cell viability and / or cell permeability. The cell being tested can be in a cell suspension, grown on s ubstarte, in tissue in vitro or in tissue in vivo. The method provides substantially instantaneous results and need not include the use of dyes or other markers.

Apparatus and method assure the electrical characteristics of a stimulation waveform to an electrode of an Implantable Neuro Stimulator. The embodiment comprises a regulator, a measurement module, a generator, and a processor. The generator provides an input signal to the regulator. The regulator consequently regulates the input signal in order to form a pulse that is applied to the electrode. The processor instructs the measurement module to perform an electrical measurement that is indicative of an amplitude of the pulse. If the electrical measurement is sufficiently different from a desired value, the processor instructs the generator to be reconfigured in order that the amplitude of the pulse is within an acceptable value. A redundant capacitor pair may be inserted in a capacitor arrangement in order to compensate for a reduced battery voltage, or a detected faulty component such as a capacitor or a regulator may be replaced with a redundant component.

A system for monitoring a physiological parameter comprises a substrate, a pair of drive electrodes, a pair of detection electrodes, and an RFID apparatus. The substrate is arranged to be removably securable to a biological organism. At least the pair of drive electrodes or the pair of detection electrodes is secured to the substrate. The RFID apparatus is arranged to be in electrical communication with at least the pair of drive electrodes or the pair of detection electrodes. Methods of using the device are also provided.

A method and system for positioning a detachment zone and an implant, such as a vaso-occlusive coil or a stent, attached thereto in a body. A catheter is inserted within a vascular cavity in the body. The implant is attached to a distal end of a delivery member using a temporary connection, such as an electrolytic, mechanical, hydraulic, heat-sensitive or Radio Frequency (RF) sensitive connection, with an insulation member between the wire and the implant. The delivery member, temporary connection and implant are advanced through the catheter. An electrical condition, such as current, voltage and impedance, related to the position of the temporary connection in the catheter is monitored with an electrical measurement device or sensor. The electrical condition changes when the temporary connection reaches or exits a predetermined location, for example, the distal end of the catheter and contacts a conductive component of the body, such as blood in an aneurysm.

Implantable in vivo sensors used to monitor physical, chemical or electrical parameters within a body. The in vivo sensors are integral with an implantable medical device and are responsive to externally or internally applied energy. Upon application of energy, the sensors undergo a phase change in at least part of the material of the device which is then detected external to the body by conventional techniques such as radiography, ultrasound imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, radio frequency imaging or the like. The in vivo sensors of the present invention may be employed to provide volumetric measurements, flow rate measurements, pressure measurements, electrical measurements, biochemical measurements, temperature, measurements, or measure the degree and type of deposits within the lumen of an endoluminal implant, such as a stent or other type of endoluminal conduit. The in vivo sensors may also be used therapeutically to modulate mechanical and / or physical properties of the endoluminal implant in response to the sensed or monitored parameter.

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention, a portable inspection system is disclosed to capture inspection data, such as for example an infrared image, sound information, and / or electrical measurement information. The inspection data may be securely recorded (e.g., with an encryption algorithm) along with associated information, which may include for example date, time, system settings, operator identification, and location.

The invention relates to a method for measuring distances, based on the phase measurement of an optical measuring beam that is reflected or scattered by an object, on which the beam is sighted. According to said method, the measurement object is exposed to an optical measuring beam of modulated intensity emitted by a measuring device and is converted into electrical measurement signals. The signals are then compared with a reference signal that is generated from the detection and conversion of a portion of measuring light that has been guided on a known reference trajectory, in order to determine the distance between the measuring device and the measurement objet, based on the phase difference that has been determined. The emitted measuring beam is modulated in bursts and the measurement signal of the receiver is only evaluated during the active burst period. The invention also relates to devices for carrying out said method.

Techniques for identifying a portion of a molecule are described herein. In one example, multiple electrical measurements associated with a molecule are acquired, wherein each of the multiple electrical measurements corresponds to a discrete position of the molecule within a nanopore. The multiple electrical measurements are correlated with one or more sequences of electrical measurements corresponding to a possible structure of the molecule. The portion of molecule is determined to include the possible structure of the molecule based on the correlation.

An entrance slit of the spectrometer is illuminated with optical radiation. An optical component images the entrance slit to an optical modulator by the optical radiation and disperses the optical radiation into a spectrum. The spectrum is modulated by the optical modulator The optical component composes spectral non-dispersive measurement radiation of the spectrum and images the entrance slit included in the measurement radiation to an exit slit which may be the same one as the exit slit or a different one. Measurement radiation is detected from the entrance slit with a detector, which converts the measurement radiation into an electrical measurement signal.

A means for improving the dynamic and voltage stability of utility transmission systems is provided by the coordinated control of windfarms. Electrical measurements of the system, which may include synchronized phasors, are supplied to one or more windfarm controllers, which in turn perform a regulation function improving the damping of electromechanical oscillations or voltage performance in the utility system. The control structure is of a decentralized nature, which maintains operation in case of communication failures. The benefits are improved damping to electromechanical oscillations and better voltage performance and ultimately increased utilization of assets, reducing the install additional network assets.

A load-monitoring interfacing device obtains and processes sensor data from an electrical load. The interfacing device can include at least one power outlet to provide power to a corresponding electrical load. During operation, the interfacing device can obtain sensor data from a local power outlet coupled to an electrical load, such that the sensor data can indicate an electrical measurement associated with the electrical load. The interfacing device selects a rule to process based on the obtained sensor data, and processes the rule to determine whether to perform an action. If the rule's condition is satisfied, the interfacing device proceeds to processing the rule's action description to perform the action, such as to enable or disable a power outlet, or to perform any other pre-defined action.

An analog to digital converter system includes first and second delta sigma converters, a calculation engine, and a serial interface on a single chip. The calculation engine is configured to calculate energy, power, rms current and voltage for single phase 2 or 3 wire power meters. Voltage and current are measured with a shunt or transformer, and a divider or transformer, respectively. The serial interface is bidirectional for communication with a microprocessor or controller, and provides a fixed width programmable frequency output proportional to energy. The digital converter system is user system calibratible.

A battery management system includes one or more lithium ion cells in electrical connection, each said cell comprising: first and second working electrodes and one or more reference electrodes, each reference electrode electronically isolated from the working electrodes and having a separate tab or current collector exiting the cell and providing an additional terminal for electrical measurement; and a battery management system comprising a battery state-of-charge monitor, said monitor being operable for receiving information relating to the potential difference of the working electrodes and the potential of one or more of the working electrodes versus the reference electrode.

An optical detector (110) is disclosed. The optical detector (110) comprises: —an optical sensor (112), having a substrate (116) and at least one photosensitive layer setup (118) disposed thereon, the photosensitive layer setup (118) having at least one first electrode (120), at least one second electrode (130) and at least one photovoltaic material (140) sandwiched in between the first electrode (120) and the second electrode (130), wherein the photovoltaic material (140) comprises at least one organic material, wherein the first electrode (120) comprises a plurality of first electrode stripes (124) and wherein the second electrode (130) comprises a plurality of second electrode stripes (134), wherein the first electrode stripes (124) and the second electrode stripes (134) intersect such that a matrix (142) of pixels (144) is formed at intersections of the first electrode stripes (124) and the second electrode stripes (134); and —at least one readout device (114), the readout device (114) comprising a plurality of electrical measurement devices (154) being connected to the second electrode stripes (134) and a switching device (160) for subsequently connecting the first electrode stripes (124) to the electrical measurement devices (154).

A method for electrically investigating a wall of a borehole in a geologic formation including injecting a current into the formation at a first position along the wall and returning the current at a second position along the wall, the formation current having a frequency below about 100 kHz, measuring a voltage in the formation between a third position and a fourth position along the wall, the third and fourth positions being located between the first and second positions, and determining an amplitude of a component of the voltage in phase with the current.

A thin, flat capacitive load sensor, such as of layered sandwich construction, having a variety of shapes, so as to provide a seal between two or more opposing surfaces. The load sensor includes a thin first and second insulating outer layer between which an inner layer is secured. The inner layer can be formed of dielectric material of a known dielectric constant, with at least one thin electrical conductor to accommodate load sensing disposed against a first face, and another thin electrical conductor to accommodate load sensing disposed against a second face. Electrical conductors connect the thin conductive areas on the first and second faces to the distal end of a tab extending beyond the load or connection measurement area. The distal end of the tab accommodates a connection with electrical measurement apparatus. As the inner layer is compressed, the spacing between the electrically conductive areas on the opposing faces is decreased such that compressive forces can be measured as a function of the changes in capacitance of the sensor. In this manner, proper compression can be achieved by monitoring capacitance during installation. Follow-up sampling or continuous measurement of sensor compression provides early detection prior to failure to allow corrective action.

The present invention relates to a device and method for making quantified determinations of the quality of surfaces and wherein the device comprises an optical system with a first optical means and a second optical means as well as a control and evaluation means and an output (display) means. Said first optical means comprises an illuminating means having at least one LED as its light source and serves the function of illuminating the measurement surface at a predetermined angle. Said second optical means is likewise directed at a predetermined angle to the measurement surface and receives the reflected light. A photo sensor of said second optical means emits an electrical measurement signal which is characteristic of said reflected light.The light emitted from the illuminating means is configured such that its spectral characteristic comprises blue, green and red spectral components in the visible light spectrum. A filter means is arranged in the path of radiation between the light source and the photo sensor and which changes the spectral characteristics of the incident light so as to approach a predetermined spectral distribution. The control and evaluation means control the measurement sequence and evaluate the reflected light, deriving therefrom at least one parameter which is characteristic of the surface.

A monitoring, managing and protecting system is provided that includes a monitoring probe working in conjunction with an ablating device. The probe is configured to be positioned in close proximity to a region of non-targeted tissue proximate an ablation site of targeted tissue and to be operatively connected to an electrical response assessment system or component. The probe includes an elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends, with a handle disposed at the proximal end thereof and a tissue monitoring and protecting apparatus disposed at the distal end thereof. The ablating device includes an elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends, with a handle mounted at the proximal end thereof and an ablation element mounted at the distal end thereof. The monitoring probe measures electrical characteristics of the non-targeted tissue and / or of the tissue between the monitoring electrode and the ablation electrode. The electrical response assessment system determines whether the tissue is being damaged based on the electrical measurements. The monitoring, managing and protecting system can notify a practitioner based on the determination, or modify or stop the ablation procedure.

For the contact opening in advanced IC processing, it becomes critical to monitor the degree of overetching of the thin silicide layer and also to obtain the etching rate of the silicide layer. A method is disclosed which will allow the electrical measurements of the sheet resistance of the exposed (by the contact etch) silicide layer, thus allowing electrical measurements to the integrity as well as the thickness of the remaining silicide layer. A main feature of the disclosed test method is a modification of the conventional van der Pauw test structure, or of the cross-bridge structure (which will allow electrical measurement of the line width, in addition to the sheet resistance information). Contrary to the conventional van der Pauw structure or cross-bridge structure where the contact opening pattern is designed to expose only the specific areas needed for allowing electrical connection to the four measurement pads, the contact opening mask is designed to expose some or all of the van der Pauw or cross-bridge structure, thus allowing the electrical measurement of the degree of silicide overetching during contact opening. The disclosed test method and corresponding structure can be applied as an on-wafer process monitor tool following the complete normal process flow, thus serving as a convenient on-wafer monitor.

The invention provides a multifunctional implanted gastrointestinal electrical stimulation system in the technical field of medical apparatus and instruments. The system comprises an in-vivo implantation device and an in-vitro control device and has the functions of multichannel gastrointestinal electrical stimulation signal generation, in-vivo gastrointestinal track pressure detection, in-vivo gastrointestinal electrical detection and in-vitro wireless charging, wherein the in-vivo implantation device comprises an energy receiving coil, an implanted electrical stimulator, a stimulating electrode, a detection electrode and a minitype pressure sensor. According to the invention, the setting and regulation of electrical stimulation parameters and transmission of various control commands can be flexibly achieved through the wireless communication between the in-vitro control device and the in-vivo implantation device, and the in-vivo implantation device can transmit the in-vivo gastrointestinal track pressure and the gastrointestinal electrical detection result to the in-vitro control device in real time for receiving and storage. By using the system, the working life of a device can be greatly prolonged without frequently changing a battery when operation is carried out; and the limitation of the millisecond-stage impulse in the existing gastrointestinal stimulator is broken through, the intestinal pressure and intestinal electrical measurement accuracy can be improved, and convenience is provided for detecting or researching the effect of the gastrointestinal electric stimulation.

The invention discloses a device for measuring object stress by utilizing a graphene membrane, and a preparation method and a testing method of the device. The testing method is characterized in that graphene is arranged on a flexible stretchable substrate by utilizing a growth and transfer technology of the graphene and is tightly adhered to the surface of a to-be-measured object or a single crystal silicon substrate which is provided with a through hole, a characteristic peak of a Raman spectrum of the graphene can be subjected to shifting and splitting when the to-be-measured object is subjected to deformation or gas pressure difference exists between the internal part and the external part of the through hole, and sensing on strain or gas pressure can be realized basing on shifting and splitting amount of the characteristic peak. According to the device, the preparation method and the testing method, disclosed by the invention, the technical design is simple, the performance is stable, non-contact with the to-be-measured object is realized, and the complexity of an electrical measurement method which is in need of arranging leading wires can be avoided; the strain loading range is large, and the stress measurement accuracy degree is high.

An electrical monitor comprising a via array and method for determining and reducing an electrically charged state of a semiconductor process wafer the method including providing a metal filled via array including a plurality of interspersed electrically isolated dummy metal portions to form a via array monitor; exposing the semiconductor process wafer including the via array monitor to an electrical charge altering process including to produce an electrically charged state over at least a portion of the semiconductor wafer; carrying out electrical measurements of the via array monitor to determine a level of the electrically charged state; and, carrying out an electrically charge neutralizing process to reduce a level of the electrically charged state to a predetermined acceptable level prior to carrying out a subsequent process.

A handheld colour measurement device includes a housing in which an optoelectronic measurement unit is located which receives measurement light originating from a measurement object, converts it into corresponding electrical measurement signals and processes these measurement signals into preferably digital measurement data characterizing the colour of the measurement object. It further includes passive components required for the realization of different application functions, such as measurement windows and reference standards, which can be selectively positioned into the measurement beam path of the measurement unit. The passive components are positioned in a first housing block (100) and the opto-electronic measurement unit as a whole in a second housing block (200). The second housing block is adjustable into several defined application positions relative to the first housing block, in which application positions respectively one of the passive components is located in the measurement beam path of the opto-electronic measurement unit. This special division into two mutually relatively adjustable housing blocks allows an easy realization of a compact colour measurement device suitable for many application functions, which is distinguished by a particular user friendliness.

The invention discloses an intelligent mobile terminal and a temperature control method during charging of the intelligent mobile terminal. The intelligent mobile terminal comprises batteries, a charging module, a temperature sensor, an electric quantity measurement module and a processor, wherein the charging module is used for charging the batteries, the temperature sensor is used for acquiring the temperature of the intelligent mobile terminal, the electric quantity measurement module is used for measuring the electric quantity of the batteries, and the processor is used for controlling magnitudes of charging currents of the charging module according to the temperature when the temperature is smaller than the preset largest operating temperature threshold value and controlling magnitudes of charging currents of the charging module according to the electric quantity when the temperature is larger than or equal to the preset largest operating temperature threshold value. Accordingly, the temperature of the intelligent mobile terminal can be controlled within the preset range by controlling the magnitudes of charging currents, and performance of the intelligent mobile terminal is ensured.

What is described are a signal detecting device for detecting a vital parameter of a living being, having a plurality of electrodes and an electrode selecting device for selecting a pair of electrodes from the plurality of electrodes such that a difference signal suitable for measuring the vital parameter is derivable, an electrode arrangement and a method.

Methods and systems for detecting a falling power line in a power transmission or distribution system are described. Electrical measurements at various points in the power distribution system are used to detect changes in a power line indicating that the conductor has broken or become disconnected. Upon detection, control mechanisms are used to deenergize the conductor while the conductor is falling and / or before it contacts the ground.

Techniques for surface exploration and monitoring are presented. In representative embodiments, a system is provided that can perform multiple types of measurements of a surface. For example a single system of survey probes and one or more survey controllers can be used to offer both seismic and electrical measurements. A survey controller can be configured to automatically poll survey probes to obtain identifiers of the probes and determine a relative order the probes. Survey probes can be configured to: (a) collect signals associated with a surface; (b) digitize the signals to form digital data; and (c) store the digital data for later transmission to the survey controller. Relative positions of survey probes can be automatically determined using a transmitting beacon or other techniques. Survey probes can automatically disconnect from a power conduit while measuring a surface property and operate using an internal source of power when disconnected, to reduce noise. The survey controller can be remotely accessible through a computer network for remote control of the survey probes.