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In this scientific research, an innovative sensor system is developed to prevent child heatstrokes in vehicles. The system incorporates a 24 GHz Continuous-Wave (CW) radar system, which identifies vital signs of an infant through a 4-by-1 patch antenna array embedded in a specifically designed circuit board. Intelligent signal processing algorithms analyze data generated by the radar chip and execute processing tasks on a robust microcontroller. The child’s respiration
rate can be extracted qualitatively from the data in nearly real-time, enabling the system to differentiate between a child and a mere shopping bag on the seat. In the event of identifying a critical condition, the system transmits this information via a data bus to a central ECU within the vehicle. This ECU is integrated with GSM and GPS connections, allowing communication with the driver or emergency services. The development of the sensor system adheres to existing
automotive industry standards, featuring a cost-effective design intended as a prototype for large-scale production. Through rigorous evaluation across various scenarios, including realworld
situations with children, the sensor system is refined. The continuously reliable function of the developed radar-based sensor system holds the potential to save children’s lives, making
a major contribution to automotive safety.
The highly successful lecture series on the topic of measurement and sensor technologies as part of the IEEE Workshop at the University of Applied Sciences Ruhr West (HRW) is being continued in collaboration with the University of Siegen, the TU Chemnitz and the ITMO National Research University of Information Technologies, Mechanics and Optics in St. Petersburg. This time the event is featuring an even more international orientation by linking it with the Russian SENSORICA. The topics cover industrial and medical measurement technology as well as sensor technology in vehicles. Our event offers a platform for knowledge transfer between industry and public and commercial research institutions in the area of measurement technology.
This Abstract Book offers the opportunity of contacting speakers even after the event.
In addition we are very pleased to have selected contributions published in a special edition of the journal „tm Technisches Messen“ (De Gruyter Oldenbourg Verlag) again this year.
The detection of soil erosion processes in dams, hydraulic heave failure or corrosion processes of reinforcing steel in concrete are a small selection of measuring applications in civil engineering where the impedance analysis can be used to determine the measurand. Those measuring applications are having high requirements for the measuring hardware. For example a common interface for fast data exchange, high resolution, independent functionality and easy customizability to suit the measuring application. For that reason, a well-known application for steel-mill process monitoring can be used as a development platform. This hardware platform is based on a vector network analyzer and is meeting the requirements mainly. However, a couple of modifications has to be made, like replacing the ADC for a higher sample rate, Ethernet for easy and fast data exchange and the microcontroller for more calculation power.
Process Monitoring in Steel-Mills using Impedance Analysis: VNA Improvement for Data Acquisition
(2017)
The process automation extends over every manufacturing step of a product in the steel-mill to increase the quality, quantity and energy efficiency. The product dimensions are an important part of the quality control; these must maintain the specified tolerances. Additional to the cross-sectional-area, the measured data contains much more information about the manufacturing process, e.g. eccentricity, condition of the rolls and defects of the rod. For analyzing the measured data and to gather more information about the manufacturing process it is necessary to increase the speed of the data acquisition by performing some modifications of the VNA, e.g. faster analog to digital converter and microcontroller, improved firmware and optimized values of the passive electrical components for faster time constants and transient responses.
Rolling mills are continually improved and opti-mized by implementing innovative technology to decrease costs and scrap. Despite of the progressive automation and experience, some important process parameters can still not be determined with sufficient accuracy. As part of the research project PIREF, the velocity of the hot rolled rod shall be measured by using im-pedance analysis to estimate the volumetric flow rate of the mate-rial. For a high accuracy measurement of the impedance, a pow-erful VNA is used. To minimize errors in the measurement, caused by e.g. temperature drift, a correction of the measurement fre-quency is needed. This must be achieved without recalibration of the VNA to avoid faulty behavior of the online control. To solve this problem, an approach based on a polynomial regression is presented in this work.
Quality and dimensional accuracy of hot rolled steel rods depend on several process parameters. In fact many of these crucial parameters are not be sufficiently determined yet. By improving automation and process control costs and scrap of production can be decreased. As part of the research project PIREF, one of these parameters – the roll gap – is under investigation beside other topics. Before starting rolling, the roll gap is typically set to a fixed value according to the planed dimensions of the product, but the forces during the rolling of the rod cause an enlargement of the roll gap. In which way the rolls change their position and form shall be examined in our research project. Therefore a first experimental setup has been built up to determine the change in position of the rolls under applied force. This is realized by a pot core coil as sensor using impedance analysis. The first results are presented in this work as a proof-of-principle.
Process diagnosis is an important method for improving product quality in rolling mills. In addition, the measurement of process variables such as roll gap, cross-sectional area, velocity, and volume flow of the material during production enables the implementation of model-based control concepts to improve product quality. The non-contact speed measurement of hot wire and bar is still a big challenge due to the rough environmental conditions and is solved mainly with optical measuring methods in production. The alternative measurement principle with eddy current sensors presented in this paper enables velocity measurement at locations in a rolling mill where optical measurement methods are not suitable.
In the field of producing hot-rolled steel bars and wires, hot rolling mills are incomplete or barely equipped with measuring technology for recording relevant process parameters. Therefore, there is a big potential to increase product quality and to decrease costs and scrap by improving process control establishing new sensor systems. One of these crucial parameters is the roll gap,which is investigated as part of the research project PIREF. In this paper an experimental setup for examining the roll gap during a rolling process is presented and based on these results different sensor arrangements are discussed.
Velocity Approximation of Hot Steel Rods Using Frequency Spectroscopy of the Cross-Section Area
(2019)
In this work, an approach for velocity approximation of hot steel rods based on frequency spectroscopy is presented. For this purpose, a sensor already implemented in a rolling mill for measuring the cross-sectional area of the rolling stock is used to obtain information about the velocity of the hot rods. Moreover, the effect of forward slip is briefly discussed.
The development of innovative measuring technology for process optimization in hot rolling mills becomes more and more relevant because of increasing demands on product quality. Measurement technology for high-resolution non-contact cross-sectional area measurement has shown that the variation in cross-sectional area contains information about the rolling process. This information can be used for the development of new measurement devices and analytical methods for process optimization. The harsh environmental conditions and strict safety regulations result in great effort when implementing a new sensor prototype in hot rolling mills. For this reason, this work presents a mechatronic test stand that can simulate the cross-sectional area variation under laboratory conditions realistically.
Mobile Walzenmesstechnik
(2003)
In the field of magnetic inductance tomography,
signal processing is a real challenge. This is due to the divergent
nature of magnetic fields. The sensitivity, i.e. the change in the
receiving signal by means of an electrically conductive sample
in a measuring volume depends strongly on the positioning
of the sample. Objects that are located near the transmitting
or receiving coils are very well locatable, where objects in
larger distance are hard to detect. In this paper an approach
is presented that improves the topology of the magnetic fields
in the ”magnetic induction tomography” (MIT) by changing
geometric constructions and current patterns of coils so far,
as to allow a sharper localization of objects within the space.
The aim is to level the distribution of the sensitivity in the
measuring volume, so that electrically conductive objects with
a larger distance between transmitting and receiving unit can
be detected with almost the same signal intensity as objects
close to the transmitting and receiving unit. The simulation tool
Comsolic is used for the geometric modeling making a finite
element analysis (FEA). The subsequent signal processing and
analysis of the simulation results are implemented in Matlabic .
Within this FEA the coil geometries and current patterns are
changed numerically, so that the minimum object size, that is
still detectable, is, compared to the known MIT, reduced and the
sensitivity of the system is improved. To validate the simulation in
Comsolic , first simulation results are compared with analytical
models and analyses.
Methods of red-hot rod shape testing require a robust non-contact measurement principle as a touch point could lead to damages to the rod and the detection unit. Therefore a new basic approach based on high frequency eddy current (HFEC) has been investigated. Due to the robustness and the ability to determine the rod shape even above the Curie temperature this principle is especially well suited and can be implemented in the production process directly. The first automatic measurement setup was successfully developed with promising results. Hereby a defect of ovality was detected with a parallel RLC-oscillator. The capacity of this RLC-oscillator is constant whereas the inductance is the measurement part that varies due to eddy current interactions with the rod.
Fat content of liver is an essential parameter to decide whether a liver is suitable for transplantation or not. The determination of fat content is often challenging and usually there is not enough time to bring a specimen to a pathologic laboratory. That is why transplantation clinics need a technique to measure the fat content of a graft. In this paper the theoretical basics and an existing laboratory setup are presented.
The harmonic and interharmonic analysis recommendations are contained in the latest International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards on power quality. Measurement and analysis experiences have shown that great difficulties arise in the interharmonics detection and measurement with acceptable levels of accuracy. In this paper, the spectral leakage problems of the discrete Fourier transform due to synchronization errors of interharmonics are analyzed. The time-domain averaging is investigated for the processing of harmonics in the framework of the IEC standards. A difference filter is proposed to detect interharmonics and can be compatible with the IEC standards. Simulations and the field results show the usefulness of the proposed methods.
The transurethral resection (TUR) is a standard technique in urological treatment procedures. Both, monopolar and bipolar electrosurgical systems, are used for TUR. Whereas electrical and physical processes in surgery surroundings are well understood for monopolar systems, there is no sufficient data base for the assessment of the processes with the use of bipolar systems. In this context a multi-electrode measuring system was developed to visualize the spatial potential distribution around bipolar electrosurgical devices as a first step to risk analysis. To simulate the anatomic surroundings of a transurethral surgery a cylinder filled with isotonic saline solution was used as a complexity reduced experimental environment.
The bipolar transurethral resection is a further development of monopolar transurethral resection, being the gold standard in surgical treatment of prostate and bladder diseases. To create the metrological basis for understanding of electrical and physical processes during bipolar transurethral resection an experimental set-up to visualize spatial potential distribution around bipolar devices was developed. A hardware based signal conditioning and specific undersampling are presented as data acquisition methods for a sampling rate up to 1 MS/s. These methods are compared with the possibilities of a high speed data acquisition card. For more than four measuring channels and depending on the output bandwidth of the electrosurgical generator either hardware based signal conditioning or specific undersampling is suggested.
Bipolar electrosurgical systems are used for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in urology. In order to analyse electrothermal processes during surgery the power loss density distribution around a bipolar resectoscope is calculated out of the measured potential distribution in isotonic saline solution ex situ. During further analysis power loss density values act as input for the Penne's bioheat equation. To achieve results, which are as realistic as possible, a method to obtain power loss density values, depending on the observed tissue or medium in the operating field, is presented. Applying this method, the power loss density distribution in isotonic saline solution at 25 °C is compared to the distribution calculated for the average conductivity of biological tissue in the region of interest.
Detection of air trapping in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by low frequency ultrasound
(2012)
Background: Spirometry is regarded as the gold standard for the diagnosis of COPD, yet the condition is widely underdiagnosed. Therefore, additional screening methods that are easy to perform and to interpret are needed. Recently, we demonstrated that low frequency ultrasound (LFU) may be helpful for monitoring lung diseases. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether LFU can be used to detect air trapping in COPD. In addition, we evaluated the ability of LFU to detect the effects of short-acting bronchodilator medication.Methods: Seventeen patients with COPD and 9 healthy subjects were examined by body plethysmography and LFU. Ultrasound frequencies ranging from 1 to 40 kHz were transmitted to the sternum and received at the back during inspiration and expiration. The high pass frequency was determined from the inspiratory and the expiratory signals and their difference termed F. Measurements were repeated after inhalation of salbutamol.Results: We found signi ficant differences in F between COPD subjects and healthy subjects. These differences were already significant at GOLD stage 1 and increased with the severity of COPD. Sensitivity for detection of GOLD stage 1 was 83% and for GOLD stages worse than 1 it was 91%. Bronchodilator effects could not be detected reliably.Conclusions: We conclude that low frequency ultrasound is cost-effective, easy to perform and suitable for detecting air trapping. It might be useful in screening for COPD
Photoluminescence (PL) in GaN or InGaN layers monitored during epitaxial growth at high temperatures permits a quasi-continuous in situ characterization of opto-electronic properties. Therefore, epitaxial parameters can now be optimized at the earliest possible stage. A pulsed and high-power UV laser was required for PL excitation at high temperatures. Herein, the underlying nonlinear mechanism was studied via time-resolved PL experiments and rate equation-based modeling. A temperature-activated and saturable path for quenching over defects was identified. Beyond the saturation threshold, reasonably-intensive PL sets in. At high temperatures not only is the near band gap-PL present, but also—as a new observation—a defect-assisted PL emerges. Apart from these specific electronic transitions in high-temperature PL of GaN, a simple, but reasonably predictive model of the luminescent thin film has been set up to track down interference fringes in the PL spectra. It is worth mentioning that the spectral PL modulation (aiming at the Purcell effect) is often mixed up with ordinary Fabry–Pérot interference. A distinction has become key to properly analyze the spectral signatures of high-temperature PL in order to provide a reliable in situ characterization of GaN layers during epitaxial growth
This experimental study demonstrates for the first time a solid-state circuitry and design for a simple compact copper coil (without an additional bulky permanent magnet or bulky electromagnet) as a contactless electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) for pulse echo operation at MHz frequencies. A pulsed ultrasound emission into a metallic test object is electromagnetically excited by
an intense MHz burst at up to 500 A through the 0.15 mm filaments of the transducer. Immediately thereafter, a smoother and quasi “DC-like” current of 100 A is applied for about 1 ms and allows an
echo detection. The ultrasonic pulse echo operation for a simple, compact, non-contacting copper coil is new. Application scenarios for compact transducer techniques include very narrow and
hostile environments, in which, e.g., quickly moving metal parts must be tested with only one, non-contacting ultrasound shot. The small transducer coil can be operated remotely with a cable
connection, separate from the much bulkier supply circuitry. Several options for more technical and fundamental progress are discussed.
Optimization of Encircling Eddy Current Sensors for Online Monitoring of Hot Rolled Round Steel Bars
(2014)
Modern manufacturing industries are continually working on quality enhancements for the hot rolling process of round products. One method for improving the finalisation of the rods is the implementation of an automatic size control system. As a result of these trends over the last few years, there has been an increasing demand for more accurate online measurements. Thus the reason for the research performed for this thesis. A particular challenge throughout this research was dealing with the temperature changes (up to 1200°C) from the in- and output of the fervent rolling stocks, and the effect this temperature changes had on the sensors. Furthermore, there is also high demand for developing fast and practical electronic measuring equipment, capable of measuring during high transport velocities (up to 120 m/s). The eddy current principle is just one of the very few methods available which can with-stand such harsh industrial environments. In fact, eddy current sensors are already being integrated into online monitoring tasks for hot rolling processes. The measurement uncertainty, however, is still considerably large for process control purposes. One reason for this lies within the ability for eddy current detectors to receive signals influenced by outward forces, i.e. forces dependent on its location, its geometry, the outside temperature and the material properties of a particular target. Thus the current accuracy for a cross-sectional area measurement, for example, is no higher than 1%. As a result, this thesis investigates the magnitude of all individual influential factors on the eddy current detectors, using model-based analysis techniques. The analytical model provides a solution for all rotationally symmetrical targets and the FEA model covers all of the other influencing parameters in a more time consuming manner. This thesis then provides different methods which are developed to separate the cross-sectional area measurement of a rod from all of the other influencing parameters. In addition, a material tracking approach for round products is developed. Two different kinds of prototypes, capable of measuring approximately 466 Tons of red-hot steel rods during the production process, are finally introduced in this thesis. The usefulness of the eddy current principle is validated by the provided field test results. The count accuracy for the identification of 2876 bars was found to be 99.93%, and the average measurement accuracy for the cross-sectional area experiments was reduced to ± 0.29 % when including all of the findings.
A Large and Quick Induction Field Scanner for Examining the Interior of Extended Objects or Humans
(2017)
This study describes the techniques and signal properties of a large, powerful, and linear-scanning 1.5 MHz induction field scanner. The mechanical system is capable of quickly reading the volume of relative large objects, e.g., a test person. The general approach mirrors Magnetic Induction Tomography (MIT), but the details differ considerably from currently-described MIT systems: the setup is asymmetrical, and it operates in gradiometric modalities, either with coaxial excitation with destructive interference or with a single excitation loop and tilted receivers. Following this approach, the primary signals were almost completely nulled, and test objects' real or imaginary imprint was obtained directly. The coaxial gradiometer appeared advantageous: exposure to strong fields was reduced due to destructive interference. Meanwhile, the signals included enhanced components at higher spatial frequencies, thereby obtaining a gradually improved capability for localization. For robust signals, the excitation field can be powered towards the rated limits of human exposure to time-varying magnetic fields. Repeated measurements assessed the important signal integrity, which is affected by the scanner´s imperfections, particularly any motions or respiratory changes in living beings during or between repeated scans. The currently achieved and overall figure of merit for artifacts was 58 dB for inanimate test objects and 44 dB for a test person. Both numbers should be understood as worst case levels: a repeated scan with intermediate breathing and drift/dislocations requires 50 seconds, whereas a single measurement (with respiratory arrest) takes only about 5 seconds.
In this work we report the first quasi-continuous in-situ photoluminescence study of growing InGaN LED structures inside an industrial-grade metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE) reactor at growth temperature. The photoluminescence spectra contain information about temperature, thickness and composition of the epitaxial layers. Furthermore, the in-situ spectra – even at an early stage of the growth of the active region – can be used to predict the photoluminescence emission wavelength of the structure at room temperature. In this study an accuracy of this predicted wavelength in the range of ± 1.3 nm (2σ) is demonstrated. This technique thus appears suitable for closed-loop control of the emission wavelength of InGaN LEDs already during growth.
A simple copper coil without a voluminous stationary magnet can be utilized as a non-contacting transmitter and as a detector for ultrasonic vibrations in metals. Advantages of such compact EMATs without (electro-)magnet might be: applications in critical environments (hot, narrow, presence of iron filings…), potentially superior fields (then improved ultrasound transmission and more sensitive ultrasound detection).
The induction field of an EMAT strongly influences ultrasound transduction in the nearby metal. Herein, a simplified analytical method for field description at high liftoff is presented. Within certain limitations this method reasonably describes magnetic fields (and resulting eddy currents, inductances, Lorentz forces, acoustic pressures) of even complex coil arrangements. The methods can be adapted to conventional EMATS with a separate stationary magnet.
Increased distances (liftoff) are challenging and technically relevant, and this practical question is addressed: with limited electrical power and given free space between transducer and target metal, what would be the most efficient geometry of a circular coil? Furthermore, more complex coil geometries (“butterfly coil”) with a concentrated field and relatively higher reach are briefly investigated.
The production and deformation of perforated sheets introduces high levels of mechanical stress into the material. In a significant fraction, such stress levels lead to crack formation in the processed sheets. Additionally, the material might be thinned and weakened in the exposed areas; these areas tend to crack at any later dates. Currently no measuring device for the detection of such material cracks or narrowing in perforated sheet metals is in practical use. Such device should be able to test the deformed circumference of the processed sheets within the very limited time of the production cycles. This paper describes the physical principles and a metrological implementation of a potential method for fast crack detection in perforated sheet metals. Even a critical material thinning - prior to the formation of a crack - can be observed. The measuring task appears to be solvable on the basis of high frequency electromagnetic fields.
The transurethral resection (TUR) is a standard technique in urological treatment procedures. Both, monopolar and bipolar electrosurgical systems, are used for TUR. Whereas electrical and physical processes in surgery surroundings are well understood for monopolar systems, there is no sufficient data base for the assessment of the processes with the use of bipolar systems. In this context a multi-electrode measuring system was developed to visualize the spatial potential distribution around bipolar electrosurgical devices as a first step to risk analysis. To simulate the anatomic surroundings of a transurethral surgery a cylinder filled with isotonic saline solution is used as a complexity reduced experimental environment. Investigations about time stability and a qualitative assessment of the experimental set-up show deviations of measured values less than 5%. This is sufficient for further analysis of calculated power loss density distributions based on measured potential distributions. The spatial potential distribution around a bipolar devices is presented by horizontal and vertical sections through the experimental environment.
To analyze the electric field around bipolar resectoscopes, used in urology, in terms of reasons for late complications after a surgical treatment a flexible multielectrode system was developed to measure the 3-D potential distribution. A high spatial resolution is achieved with the least possible individual measurements under the conditions of a quasi-static electric field. A flexible arrangement and positioning of the measuring points in the vertical direction of the experimental environment enable an adjustable spatial resolution and the selection of the region of interest. The existing influence of the multielectrode system on the measuring results is described and a correction method is presented to achieve significant results. Thus, the multielectrode system is usable for a comparative study of bipolar resectoscopes varying in the arrangement of resection and return electrode.
Gallium Nitride (GaN) and Indium Gallium Nitride (InGaN) have become important semiconductor materials for the LED lighting industry. Recently, a photoluminescence (PL) technique for direct in-situ characterization of GaN and InGaN layers during epitaxial growth in a planetary metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE) reactor was reported. The PL signals reveal – at the earliest possible stage – information about current layer thickness, temperature, composition, surface roughness, and self-absorption. Thus, the PL data is valuable for both controlling and optimizing the growth parameters, thereby promising both better devices and a better yield for the LED industry. This technical report describes an extension of this PL technique to close coupled showerhead (CCS) reactors with narrow optical viewports. In contrast to the wide aperture optics in previous investigations, a compact and all-fiber optical probe without voluminous lens optics, filter elements or beam splitters was used.