An engine sensor includes a radiation response element which in use is coupled by a radiation transmission path with a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine so that a signal is provided when combustion occurs in the combustion chamber. The radiation transmitting path is incorporated into a component such as an engine starting aid which is mounted in a bore in the cylinder head of the engine. In the sample a quartz rod is locating in a tubular member about which is wound an electric...

The disclosed apparatus for sensing the flow of liquid along a passage includes a turbine-type rotor formed of high-resistivity insulation and supported coaxially in the passage. The rotor has spiral vanes distributed about a core. A stator upstream of the rotor provides a spiralling flow pattern in the zone of the rotor. The stator has vanes that spiral in the same direction as the rotor's vanes but at a lower pitch. An electrical sensor provides a varying signal representing the rotation of th...

An inertial sensor assembly has three silicon chips that are each machined to form a respective vibrating inertial sensor, an acceleration sensor and engaging edge formations. The three chips are assembled in an orthogonal arrangement by engaging the edge formations with one another.

The invention concerns magnetic sensors and, particularly, a magnetic sensor arrangement for use in an electrical measuring device. In the device, magnetic sensors are provided within recesses formed in the arms of the device. The recesses are typically formed within laminations and act so as to shield the magnetic sensors from interference, whilst enabling them to detect a magnetic field of an electrical conductor placed between the two arms.

A pressure sensor having structure for generating a magnetic force to balance forces on opposing sides of a flexible diaphragm centered within a pressure chamber allows fluid pressure to be introduced into the chamber on one side of the diaphragm. A first magnetic coil is positioned on another side of the diaphragm and a second coil is mounted to the diaphragm. When fluid pressure is introduced into the pressure chamber, the diaphragm deflects, and the magnitude of current required to generate a...

A shock sensor including a magnetic reed switch extending in a direction in which shocks are to be detected, a member movable along the magnetic reed switch due to the shocks and including a magnet for imparting a magnetic force to the magnetic reed switch to turn on the magnetic reed switch, a coil spring for biasing the moving member toward one side of the magnetic reed switch, and an adjuster for adjusting the time duration in which the magnetic reed switch is on. The adjuster also reduces th...

A piezoelectric sensor probe comprises an elongate insulative support member supporting a plurality of piezoelectric sensing elements spaced along the length of the member, the support member has respective conductors extending from one end of the member to each of the sensing elements for conducting electrical signals to and from each sensing element.

Erythrocyte exclusion membranes suited for test strips of electrochemical sensors have a porous matrix and a mobile erythrocyte aggregating agent. The membranes typically comprise a water-insoluble hydrophobic polymer incorporating a hydrophilic polymer and with the erythrocyte aggregating agent. Such membranes can have a pore size which is several times larger than the diameter of erythrocytes, and allow rapid passage of plasma by holding back the erythrocytes as rouleaux at the surface of the ...

A method is provided for greatly increasing the ratio of direct sunlight to earthshine in a sun sensor used on a spacecraft which is orbiting the earth and is used for the attitude determination of spacecraft with respect to the sun illuminated earth. The sun sensor is provided with a detector in which radiation applied thereto is restricted to a spectral region where the earth's atmosphere is extremely absorbent. Therefore, the detector only receives radiation in that spectral region directly f...

A consistometer continuously measures the consistency of a stream of material flowing through it. The consistometer includes a resilient member located in the stream of material and a reference member located outside of the stream of material and both members rotate synchronously. Sensors spatially related to the rotating members provide corresponding signals. A circuit connected to the reference member sensor provides reference member pulses in accordance with the reference member sensor sensin...