Array of Hall Effect sensors for linear positioning of a magnet independently of its strength variation. a case study: monitoring milk yield during milking in goats

Assessment of Dynamic Properties of Variable Area Flowmeters

In previous works, a non-linear equation describing variable area (VA) flowmeters in transient was presented. The use of a full nonlinear equation, despite giving accurate results, can be difficult and time-consuming and it requires having specific software and knowledge at one's disposal. The goal of this paper was to simplify the existing model so that it could be used in applications where ease of use and ease of implementation are more important than accuracy. The existing model was linearized and simple formulae describing natural frequency and damping coefficients were derived. With these parameters, it is possible to assess the dynamic properties of a variable area flowmeter. The step response form can be identified and natural frequency and settling time can be estimated. The linearized model and the experiment were in reasonable agreement. The step response type was captured correctly for each of the six VA meter types. The error in the undamped natural frequency was not larger than 15%, which means that the VA meter sensor's dynamic properties can be predicted at the design stage with sufficient precision.

A Comprehensive Review of Integrated Hall Effects in Macro-, Micro-, Nanoscales, and Quantum Devices

A comprehensive review of the main existing devices, based on the classic and new related Hall Effects is hereby presented. The review is divided into sub-categories presenting existing macro-, micro-, nanoscales, and quantum-based components and circuitry applications. Since Hall Effect-based devices use current and magnetic field as an input and voltage as output. researchers and engineers looked for decades to take advantage and integrate these devices into tiny circuitry, aiming to enable new functions such as high-speed switches, in particular at the nanoscale technology. This review paper presents not only an historical overview of past endeavors, but also the remaining challenges to overcome. As part of these trials, one can mention complex design, fabrication, and characterization of smart nanoscale devices such as sensors and amplifiers, towards the next generations of circuitry and modules in nanotechnology. When compared to previous domain-limited text books, specialized technical manuals and focused scientific reviews, all published several decades ago, this up-to-date review paper presents important advantages and novelties: Large coverage of all domains and applications, clear orientation to the nanoscale dimensions, extended bibliography of almost one hundred fifty recent references, review of selected analytical models, summary tables and phenomena schematics. Moreover, the review includes a lateral examination of the integrated Hall Effect per sub-classification of subjects. Among others, the following sub-reviews are presented: Main existing macro/micro/nanoscale devices, materials and elements used for the fabrication, analytical models, numerical complementary models and tools used for simulations, and technological challenges to overcome in order to implement the effect in nanotechnology. Such an up-to-date review may serve the scientific community as a basis for novel research oriented to new nanoscale devices, modules, and Process Development Kit (PDK) markets.

Minimization of the Settling Time of Variable Area Flowmeters

In the article a differential equation describing transient behavior of variable area (VA) meters has been developed and validated experimentally for air as a measured fluid and for two float shapes-plumb bob and sphere. A modified version of simplex algorithm adapted for nonlinear constraint optimization problems was applied to minimize the settling time of VA meters in two cases. In the first case both the float and tube geometry were altered. In the second case only the float geometry was modified. The second case has been validated experimentally. The theory and experiment is in reasonable agreement (under 5% of full scale), which is satisfactory for the purposes of optimization of VA flowmeters dynamic performance. Analytical model of VA flowmeter has been proven to be a proper tool for optimization. Settling times obtained during the optimization process were several times shorter than these of commercially manufactured instruments. Overshoot has not exceeded the assumed value of 3%.

High Accuracy Passive Magnetic Field-Based Localization for Feedback Control Using Principal Component Analysis

In this paper, a novel magnetic field-based sensing system employing statistically optimized concurrent multiple sensor outputs for precise field-position association and localization is presented. This method capitalizes on the independence between simultaneous spatial field measurements at multiple locations to induce unique correspondences between field and position. This single-source-multi-sensor configuration is able to achieve accurate and precise localization and tracking of translational motion without contact over large travel distances for feedback control. Principal component analysis (PCA) is used as a pseudo-linear filter to optimally reduce the dimensions of the multi-sensor output space for computationally efficient field-position mapping with artificial neural networks (ANNs). Numerical simulations are employed to investigate the effects of geometric parameters and Gaussian noise corruption on PCA assisted ANN mapping performance. Using a 9-sensor network, the sensing accuracy and closed-loop tracking performance of the proposed optimal field-based sensing system is experimentally evaluated on a linear actuator with a significantly more expensive optical encoder as a comparison.