Abstract:
A method and a machine for balancing vehicle wheels with weights (18), the method comprising stages of: using a video camera (5, 6, 206) to frame a portion of a surface of a hub (101) of a wheel on which a weight (18) is to be applied, locating, in images of the hub (101) taken by the camera (5, 6, 206), at least a balancing plane (E1, E2) which is perpendicular to a rotation axis (A) of the wheel, piloting at least a pick-up device (8, 9, 209) such as to direct the at least a pick-up device (8, 9, 209) onto a point (P1, P2) of the hub (101) belonging to the balancing plane (E1, E2), detecting, by means of the pick-up device (8, 9, 209) characteristic geometric parameters of the hub (101) at the balancing plane (E1, E2), measuring an imbalance of the wheel, calculating, by means of an electronic calculator (4, 204) an entity of at least a weight (18) to be applied to the hub (101) at the balancing plane (E1, E2), and also calculating an angular position (T1, T2) of the weight (18) in the balancing plane (E1, E2).
Abstract:
Apparatus (20) for remote laser-based detection of a analyte in a remote target region (4); comprising a reference container (8) for housing a reference substance identical with the analyte; a laser unit (1) which constituted to emit a laser beam of a tuneable wavelength towards the target region (4) to be analysed and along a reference path which passes through the reference container (8) for detecting the reference substance; a laser control means (12,16,17) constituted to control wavelength of the laser beam during detection periods such that the laser wavelength is changed to allow detection of an optical absorption profile of the analyte during detection periods; an analytical detection unit (15, 16, 12) which detects light from the target region and generates analytical signals during the detection periods, a reference detection unit (10,16,12) which detects laser light passed through the reference container and generates reference signals during the detection periods; and an analysing means (12) constituted to analyse the similarity of the analytical and reference signals or of one or more calculated functions respectively calculated from the analytical and reference signals for determining the concentration of the analyte in the target region.
Abstract:
A method of modulating an infrared radiation (IR) source that includes applying a time-varying, periodic voltage signal to the IR source, measuring a parameter of the voltage signal, and adjusting the voltage signal to maintain a substantially constant delivered power to the IR source. Adjusting the voltage signal is done based on the measured parameter and a predetermined relationship between the measured parameter of the voltage pulse and a resistance of such an infrared radiation source. Alternatively, the method includes applying a the voltage pulse, measuring a first parameter of the voltage pulse and a second parameter of a current passing through the infrared radiation source resulting from the applying step, and adjusting the voltage pulse to maintain a substantially constant delivered power to the infrared radiation source based on the first parameter and the second parameter.