• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Information Technology Applications Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.285-288
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• 2005

We propose a novel programmable miniature vision module based on a custom designed analog VLSI (aVLSI) chip. The vision module consists of the optical flow vision sensor embedded with commercial off-the-shelves digital hardware; in our case is the Intel XScale PXA270 processor enforced with a programmable gate array device. The aVLSI sensor provides gray-scale imager data as well as smooth optical flow estimates, thus each pixel gives a triplet of information that can be continuously read out as three independent images. The particular computational architecture of the custom designed sensor, which is fully parallel and also analog, allows for efficient real-time estimations of the smooth optical flow. The Intel XScale PXA270 controls the sensor read-out and furthermore allows, together with the programmable gate array, for additional higher level processing of the intensity image and optical flow data. It also provides the necessary standard interface such that the module can be easily programmed and integrated into different vision systems, or even form a complete stand-alone vision system itself. The low power consumption, small size and flexible interface of the proposed vision module suggests that it could be particularly well suited as a vision system in an autonomous robotics platform and especially well suited for educational projects in the robotic sciences.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2000.04b
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• pp.154-161
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• 2000

As a mass flow controller is widely used in many manufacturing processes for controlling a mass flow rate of gas with accuracy of 1%, several investigators have tried to describe the heat transfer phenomena in a sensor tube of an MFC. They suggested a few analytic solutions and numerical models based on simple assumptions, which are physically unrealistic. In the present work, the heat transfer phenomena in the sensor tube of the MFC are studied by using both experimental and numerical methods. The numerical model is introduced to estimate the temperature profile in the sensor tube as well as in the gas stream. In the numerical model, the conjugate heat transfer problem comprising the tube wall and the gas stream is analyzed to fully understand the heat transfer interaction between the sensor tube and the fluid stream using a single domain approach. This numerical model is further verified by experimental investigation. In order to describe the transport of heat energy in both the flow region and the sensor tube, the Nusselt number at the interface between the tube wall and the gas stream as well as heatlines is presented from the numerical solution.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2019

This paper presents an air flow sensor (AFS) based on a polymer thin film. This AFS primarily consists of a polymer membrane attached to a metal-patterned glass substrate and a temperature-sensing element composed of NiCr. These two components were integrated on a single glass substrate. The AFS measures changes in capacitance caused by deformation of the polymer membrane based on the air flow and simultaneously detects the temperature of the surrounding environment. A readout integrated circuit (ROIC) was also fabricated for signal processing, and an ROIC chip, 1.8 mm by 1.9 mm in size, was packaged with an AFS in the form of a system-in-package module. The total size of the AFS is 1 by 1 cm, and the diameter and thickness of the circular-shaped polymer membrane are 4 mm and $15{\mu}m$, respectively. The rate of change of the capacitance is approximately 11.2% for air flows ranging between 0 and 40 m/s.

• Journal of the Semiconductor & Display Technology
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.29-34
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• 2008

This paper describes the fabrication and characterization of a differential pressure type integrated mass-flow controller made of stainless steel for reactive and corrosive gases. The fabricated mass-flow controller is composed of a normally closed valve and differential pressure sensor. A stacked solenoid actuator mounted on a base-block is utilized for precise and rapid control of gas flow. The differential pressure flow sensor consisting of four diaphragms can detect a flow rate by deflection of diaphragm. By a feedback control from the flow sensor to the valve actuator, it is possible to keep the flow rate constant. This device shows a fast response less than 0.3 sec. Also, this device shows accuracy less than 0.1% of full scale. It is confirmed that this device is not attacked by toxic gas, so the integrated mass-flow controller can be applied to advanced semiconductor processes which need fine mass-flow control corrosive gases with fast response.

• Journal of ILASS-Korea
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.49-57
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• 2000

This study presents the flow visualization results, velocity and turbulence intensity measurements made within an air filter cover and entry region of a mass air flow sensor (MAFS) which is used in an induction system of 3.8L engine. Flow structure in two air filter cover assemblies were examined. The first was a clear plastic replica of the production cover while the second was a modified clear plastic cover with a geometry configured to reduce fluctuations. High speed flow visualization and laser doppler velocimetry (LDV) systems were used to reveal and analyze the flow field characteristics encountered in the sensor design process under steady flow conditions. A 40-watt copper vapor laser was used as a light source. Its beam is focused down to a sheet of light approximately 1.5mm thick. The light scattered off the particles was recorded by a 16mm high speed rotating prism camera at 5000 frames per second. A comparison of the flow patterns and LDV measurements in the original and modified air filter covers is presented to illustrate the controlling effect of the cover design on the turbulence structure formation near the bypass and on the sensor output signal. In both axial and radial planes of the main passage it was found that the turbulence flow pattern is remarkably influenced by the air filter cover and main passage configuration.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2003.05c
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• pp.19-22
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• 2003

For use in constructing highly sensitive thermal detectors, the present authors have been studying the preparation of Superconducting Flux Flow Sensor(SFFS). In this research, SFFS with five channel ($5{\mu}m$/1channel) has been fabricated based on the flux flow using high temperature superconducting thin films by the ICP etching technique. We have designed a bolometer based on the temperature dependence of the kinetic inductance of a superconducting flux flow thin film. In this paper examines the fabrications and flux flow resistance and thermometer responses of the highly sensitive sensor constructed of a thin YBCO film. It is also suggested that they will be applicable to a new type of flux flow sensor.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.433-445
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• 2000

The interfacial area concentration (IAC) is one of the most important parameters in the two-fluid model for two-phase flow analysis. The IAC can be measured by a local conductivity probe method that uses the difference of conductivity between water and air/steam. The number of sensors in the conductivity probe may be differently chosen by considering the flow regime of two-phase flow. The four sensor conductivity probe method predicts the IAC without any assumptions of the bubble shape. The local IAC can be obtained by measuring the three dimensional velocity vector elements at the measuring point, and the directional cosines of the sensors. The five sensor conductivity probe method proposed in this study is based on the four sensor probe method. With the five sensor probe, the local IAC for a given referred measuring area of the probe can be predicted more exactly than the four sensor probe. In this paper, the mathematical approach of the five sensor probe method for measuring the IAC is described, and a numerical simulation is carried out for ideal cap bubbles of which the sizes and locations are determined by a random number generator.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.384-398
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• 1996

An improved multi-channel Impedance Void Meter (IVM) is developed to measure an area-averaged void fraction. It consists of a main sensor, a reference sensor and a signal processor. The sensor was designed to be flush-mounted to the inner wall of the test section to avoid the flow disturbances. Guard electrodes are used to obtain evenly distributed electrical field in a measuring volume. A reference sensor is also installed to eliminate the drift in void signal caused by the changes in electrical properties of working fluid. The signal processor with three channels is specially designed so as to minimize the inherent error due to the phase difference between channels. As an example of applications, the mean and fluctuating components of void fraction are measured for bubbly and slug flow regime, and it is shown that IVM has good dynamic resolution which is required to investigate the structural developments of bubbly flow and the propagation of void waves in a flow channel.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.573-579
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• 2009

A thermal mass air flow sensor, which consists of a micro-heater and thermal sensors on the silicon-nitride thin membrane structure, is micro-fabricated by MEMS processes. Three thermo-resistive sensors, one for the measurement of microheater temperature, the others for the measurement of membrane temperature upstream and downstream of the micro-heater respectively, are used. The micro-heater is operated under the constant temperature difference mode via a real time controller, based on inlet air temperature. Two design models for microfabricated flow sensor are compared with experimental results and confirmed their applicabilities and limitations. The thermal characteristics are measured to find the best flow indicator. It is found that two normalized temperature indicators can be adopted with some advantages in practice. The flow sensor with this control mode can be adopted for wide capability of high speed and sensitivity in the very low and medium velocity ranges.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.32 no.7
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• pp.542-548
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• 2008

A thermal mass air flow sensor (MAFS), which consists of a micro-heater and thermo-resistive sensors on the silicon-nitride ($Si_3N_4$) thin membrane structure, is micro-fabricated by MEMS processes. Two thermo-resistive temperature sensors are located at $100{\mu}m$ upstream and downstream from the micro-heater respectively. The thermal characteristics are measured to find the best measurement indicator. The micro-heater is operated under constant power condition, and four flow indicators are investigated. The normalized temperature indicator shows good physical meaning and is easy to use in practice. It is found that the configurations and heating power of thermal-resistive elements are the dominant factors to determine the range of the flow measurement in the MAFS with higher sensitivity and accuracy.