Abstract:
For hard of hearing people, speech sounds are recognized electronically and displayed on eyeglasses at syllable speed, consonants are shown as a symbol resembling a hand sign, and vowels by the symbol's location in a quadrant display, or by color.
Abstract:
An electrodynamic force measuring apparatus comprising a force coil arranged in a stationary magnetic field and movable out of a null position by means of the force which is to be measured. The force coil is supplied with a current through the agency of an amplifier as a function of its deviation out of the null position as detected by a feeler. This current, under the action of the stationary magnetic field, produces a restoring force which forces back the force coil into the null position. The force coil is connected in series with a compensation coil which varies the field intensity of the stationary magnetic field. The compensation coil is dimensioned to alter the magnetic field resulting from the stationary magnetic field and the magnetic field produced by the current in the force coil in such a manner that the restoring force acting upon the force coil remains proportional to the current.
Abstract:
A DYNAMOMETER COMPRISING A BEAM BALANCE HAVING A MOTOR-DRIVEN FRICTION ROLLER AND A FRICTION WHEEL IN CONTACT THEREWITH, THE WHEEL BEARING VIA A GUIDE BAR AGAINST A RAIL EXTENDING PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF THE FRICTION ROLLER SO THAT WHEN A LOAD IS APPLIED TO THE DYNAMOMETER THE FRICTION WHEEL IS AXIALLY AND LINEARLY DISPLACED WITH RE-
SPECT TO FRICTION ROLLER UNTIL A NEW POINT OF BALANCE IS REACHED. THE PARALLEL MOTION OF THE FRICTION ALONGSIDE THE FRICTION ROLLER IS ACHIEVED BY MEANS OF A DRIVE MECHANISM CONSISTING OF ARTICULATED LEVERS.
Abstract:
A load measuring method and a load measuring apparatus employ two piezoelectric elements having the same characteristic. When a load is applied to a first piezoelectric element, a voltage applied to the first piezoelectric element is feedback-controlled so as to cause the output from a first strain gauge affixed to the first piezoelectric element to be reduced to zero, whereby deformation of the first piezoelectric element applied with the load is suppressed to zero. The load applied to the first piezoelectric element is measured from a deformation amount of a second strain gauge affixed to the second piezoelectric element to which is applied the same voltage as the voltage applied to the first piezoelectric element and which is deformed in amount accurately corresponding to that of deformation to be naturally generated in the first piezoelectric element.
Abstract:
An instrumentation system for use in measuring and processing industrial process variables, such as flow, pressure, or temperature, includes a resonant element sensor whose resonant frequency varies in accordance with changes in the desired process variable communicating through an optical fiber link to a distant control room. The sensor is activated into resonant physical motion by light energy from a source in the control room, while the motion of the wire is sensed optically and retransmitted to the control room to produce an output signal whose frequency is equal to that of the resonating element. A feedback network maintains the sensor in resonance by synchronizing the delivery of light energy to the motion of the resonant element. The powering and sensing aspect may be performed by individual fiber optic cables or alternatively this function may be combined by utilizing a single fiber optic strand.
Abstract:
Gyroscopic input systems and methods are provided. A gyroscopic input apparatus (100) can include a rigid surface (110) having an aperture (120) disposed therein. An input surface (130) can be flexibly attached to the rigid surface via a flexible member (140). The input surface can be disposed proximate at least a portion of the aperture. A gyroscopic sensor (150) can be operatively connected to the input surface.
Abstract:
An active micro-force sensor is provided for use on a micromanipulation device. The active micro-force sensor includes a cantilever structure having an actuator layer of piezoelectric material and a sensing layer of piezoelectric material bonded together. When an external force is exerted on the sensor, the sensor deforms and an applied force signal is recorded by the sensing layer. The applied force signal is then fed back to the actuating layer of the sensor via a servoed transfer function or servo controller, so that a counteracting deformation can be generated by the bending moment from the servoed actuating layer to quickly balance the deformation caused by the external micro-force. Once balanced, the sensor beam comes back to straight status and the tip will remain in its equilibrium position, thus the sensor stiffness seems to be virtually improved so that the accurate motion control of the sensor tip can be reached, especially, at the same time, the micro-force can also be obtained by solving the counteracting balance voltage applied to the actuating layer.