Abstract:
A method is disclosed for providing calibration of sensor signals in a sensor having a measuring sensor and a reference sensor. The method includes receiving a sensor signal and a reference signal from the measuring sensor and the reference sensor, respectively. The method further includes providing a first compensation signal to the sensor signal based on a gain characteristic and providing a second compensation signal to the reference signal based on the gain characteristic and an offset characteristic; combining the first compensation signal and the sensor signal, and the second compensation signal and the reference signal to create a compensated sensor signal; and, adjusting the compensated signal for temperature effects by coupling a component having a high thermal coefficient to the sensor. An apparatus is also described herein.
Abstract:
An organic material can be used in a modified strain gauge for IR transduction, resulting in an organic IR sensor. Infrared radiation incident on the organic material modulates a displacement of the material in order to detect the presence and intensity of IR radiation. This innovative design doesn't require cooling, and is sensitive to 9 and 3 µm - wavelengths that are emitted by mammals and forest fires, respectively. In addition, a photomechanical polymer can be used in a transistor based on a thin-film transistor (TFT), also resulting in an IR sensor. Through careful synthesis of the polymers, the photomechanical response of the transistor can be tailored to certain IR bands for detection purposes.
Abstract:
Die Messanordnung (18) hat eine Messeinheit (21) zur Erfassung einer Betriebsgröße einer Maschine und eine mittels einer bidirektionalen digitalen Datenverbindung (4) an die Messeinheit (21) angeschlossene Steuereinheit (3) zur Steuerung der Maschine. Die Messeinheit (21) umfasst Sensormittel (8) zur Erfassung eines analogen Messsignals (A1, A2) für die Betriebsgröße und eine Auswerteeinheit (14) zur Digitalisierung und Auswertung des analogen Messsignals (A1, A2) sowie eine Überwachungseinheit (15) zur Schwellwertüberprüfung des analogen Messsignals (A1, A2). Die Datenverbindung (4) ist zur Übertragung von der Auswerteeinheit (14) und der Überwachungseinheit (15) ermittelter digitaler Mess- bzw. Überwachungsinformationen (M, F) von der Messeinheit (21) zu der Steuereinheit (3) und zur Übertragung eines digitalen Steuerbefehls zur Einleitung eines Selbsttests der Überwachungseinheit (15) von der Steuereinheit (3) zu der Messeinheit (21) ausgelegt. Außerdem sind Modifikationsmittel (19, 20) zur gezielten Verstärkung oder Dämpfung des während des Selbsttests der Überwachungseinheit (15) als Testsignal zugeführten analogen Messsignals (A1, A2) vorgesehen.
Abstract:
Methods are provided for calibrating analytical instruments that comprise a quantitative device, such as spectrometers, particularly where a complex mixture is analyzed over a broad spectral range. Associated computer and analytical systems as well as software are also provided.
Abstract:
A calibrator (100, 200, 300, 350, 500) for field devices is provided. In one aspect, the calibrator (100, 200) has the ability to communicate in accordance with at least two process communication protocols, and tests an attached process connection before engaging communication. In another aspect, the calibrator (500) includes isolation circuitry to facilitate compliance with at least one intrinsic safety requirement, while communicating with field devices using an all -digital process communication protocol. In another aspect, a method (600) of calibrating field devices is provided which accesses device descriptions of the field devices to generate calibration tasks.
Abstract:
Methods and an apparatus for reducing the effect of background ionizing radiation depression in vehicle and container monitoring systems due to shielding effects from components of the vehicle or container or modifications thereof. The methods utilize measurements of background radiation in two spectral regions of interest to calculate a normalization constant, and then utilize the normalization constant to normalize measurements in the same regions of interest when a vehicle or container is tested for the presence of a relevant ionizing radiation source such as 137Cs and 76Ga. Subtracting the two measurements to calculate a net difference provides a substantially valid measure of radiation counts in one spectral region of interest. Preferably the regions of interest abut or overlap, and preferably the spectral widths of the regions of interest are selected so that the attenuation of radiation counts due to background shielding effects in the two regions of interest is substantially equal.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a quality assurance system and method that generates a quality assurance (QA) scorecard for technologists, clinicians, patients, radiologists and/or administrators that use digital devices in a radiological-based medical imaging study. According to one embodiment, client computers, servers, imaging devices, databases, and/or other components may be coupled to provided a unified data collection system. According to one embodiment, systems and methods are provided that analyze various parameters that are derived from the unified data collection system to calculate a QA score for the technologist, clinicians, patients, radiologists and/or administrators. The QA score provides a combined subjective and objective feedback system that includes performance evaluations from other users, including technologists, administrators, radiologists, clinicians and patients. According to one embodiment, the feedback may be provided in real-time.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for calibrating an NIRS system which includes a sensor portion and for evaluating an NIRS system for proper functioning is provided that includes an enclosure with at least two windows disposed in a wall of the enclosure. The windows allow the light source and one or more detectors of an NIRS system sensor to interface with the enclosure. One window is dedicated to the light source while each light detector has a window dedicated thereto. Thus, the enclosure includes a number of windows equal to the number of light detectors in the NIRS system sensor plus one. The inner surface of the wall(s) of the enclosure is of a light-absorbing color; e.g., black. A diffuse reflectance member of a light-reflecting color, e.g., white, is disposed in the enclosure spaced apart from the surface with the windows disposed therein.
Abstract:
A method for self-calibrating a sensor can be implemented in a system having a calibration circuit. The calibration circuit has differential circuitry which compares an output signal of the sensor with a predetermined reference signal associated with a reference property. A bias controller increments or decrements the sensor operating bias according to the deviation between the predetermined reference signals and sensor output signal such that the sensor output corresponds to the predetermined reference voltage. The calibration circuit can be embedded in the sensor to provide a self-calibrating sensor. Logic circuitry can be used to form the calibration circuit.
Abstract:
A data structure includes a measurement component including a collection of measurements, where each measurement represents at least one control signal by which a sample color measurement is obtained by effecting a corresponding color output from or input to the color device, or a set of color coordinates which correlate to the at least one control signal, or both. The data structure also includes a characterization process component, which includes platform-independent code for a characterization process by which the collection of measurements is processed to produce a color behavior model for the color device.