Patents Examined by Andre Allen
  • Patent number: 10288510
    Abstract: A pressure measuring device comprising a bracket supporting a pressure sensor which defines a first sealed enclosure with a first face of the bracket, with the pressure measuring device comprising a substrate having opposite faces, opposite which a first deformable membrane and a second deformable membrane respectively extend, with the first membrane and the second membrane respectively defining with the substrate a second sealed enclosure and a third sealed membrane, with the pressure sensor comprising a cover in order to define a fourth sealed enclosure connected through a second channel to the first enclosure, with the pressure sensor comprising means for measuring the deformation of the first and the second deformable membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: SAFRAN ELECTRONICS & DEFENSE
    Inventors: Jean-Christophe Riou, Eric Bailly
  • Patent number: 10252584
    Abstract: A tire condition monitoring apparatus includes a tire-based sensor configured to sense tire operating conditions and transmit a tire condition signal including the sensed tire operating conditions. The apparatus also includes a vehicle-based controller configured to receive the tire condition signal and monitor the tire operating conditions. At least one of the sensor and the controller are configured to determine that a tire pressure adjustment condition exists in response to determining, based on the sensed operating conditions, that a predetermined change in the number of moles of air in the tire has taken place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE U.S. LLC
    Inventor: David Leonard Juzswik
  • Patent number: 10240986
    Abstract: A system includes a thermographic temperature sensor that may measure a temperature of a fluid. The thermographic temperature sensor includes a probe, an optical source coupled to the probe, and a detector coupled to the probe. The system also includes a housing of the probe; and a light pipe of the probe disposed within the housing and including a thermographic phosphor that may phosphoresce in response to absorbing light from the optical source. The phosphorescence by the thermographic phosphor is representative of a temperature of the fluid within a flow path of the fluid, and the detector may detect the phosphorescence by the thermographic phosphor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Donald W. Shaw, Andrew David Ellis, David Beshears, Duane Weldon Dinkel, Jason Ryan Henderson, Stephen W. Allison
  • Patent number: 10227139
    Abstract: An air data probe includes a probe head defining a longitudinal axis between a forward tip and aft base. The probe includes a thermocouple having a sense end in the forward tip to measure the temperature in the forward tip. The probe includes a port opening defined in a side of the probe head and opening at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis. The probe includes a bulkhead within the probe head. The bulkhead has a chamber in fluid communication with the port opening. The chamber includes a single chamber inlet having an elongated cross-sectional shape. The single elongated chamber inlet is in fluid communication with two downstream pressure conduits to provide redundancy in case one of the two pressure conduits is blocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Rosemount Aerospace Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy T. Golly, Paul R. Johnson, Greg Seidel
  • Patent number: 10222274
    Abstract: A thermographic temperature sensor includes a probe having a housing and a light pipe disposed within the housing. The light pipe includes a thermographic phosphor that may phosphoresce in response to absorbing light. The phosphorescence by the thermographic phosphor is representative of a temperature of a fluid in contact with the probe, and a surface area of the light pipe is not in contact with an inner surface of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andrew David Ellis, Donald W. Shaw, David Beshears, Duane Weldon Dinkel, Jason Ryan Henderson, Stephen W. Allison
  • Patent number: 10215653
    Abstract: A sensor includes groups of sense elements coupled to one another to form multiple Wheatstone bridges, each being configured to produce an output voltage across first and second output nodes. A signal interface circuit for the sensor includes switched capacitor structures, one each of the switched capacitor structures being associated with one each of the Wheatstone bridges. Each switched capacitor structure includes a capacitor having first and second terminals, a first switch for selectively interconnecting the first node of an associated Wheatstone bridge with the first terminal of the capacitor, and a second switch for selectively interconnecting the second node of the associated Wheatstone bridge with the second terminal of the capacitor. A switch state element toggles the first and second switches between a charge state and a readout state to provide a readout voltage that is equivalent to a summation of the voltage outputs of the Wheatstone bridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Paige M. Holm, Lianjun Liu
  • Patent number: 10207396
    Abstract: A multi-functional TPMS sensor fastener torque tool includes a torque driver and a user interface which allows a user to identify the TPMS sensor to be serviced, obtain a recommended fastener torque from a reference torque value database, measure the torque applied to the sensor fastener and alert the user when the reference torque has been reached or exceeded. In one example, the reference TPMS fastener torque values are stored in a memory device in the torque tool which are accessible through a plurality of graphic user interface menus on a display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: ATEQ
    Inventor: Morgan Brebant
  • Patent number: 10194872
    Abstract: A blood pressure monitor, particularly of the type having an inflatable cuff communicating with a pressure sensor and suitable for home use, may be calibrated by applying a sealed canister containing gas at a known pressure to a port so as to apply the known pressure to the pressure sensor, and comparing a pressure signal from the pressure sensor with the known pressure so as to determine a calibration error of the sensor and/or adjust the calibration of the sensor, e.g. by electronically adjusting the sensor. Several canisters may be used to calibrate the sensor across a range of pressures, each canister having a different known pressure. Each canister is preferably ruptured when attached to the port and is not re-usable, and may comprise an identifier such as an electronically readable identifier which is stored in a memory in association with the value of the known pressure within the canister.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Inventor: Yury Grotov
  • Patent number: 10197475
    Abstract: A tire tester includes a rotary member, a tire support mechanism, and an actuator configured to advance and retreat at least one of the rotary member and the tire support mechanism with respect to the other. The tire support mechanism includes a main frame connected with the actuator, a subframe supporting an axle extending in a second direction orthogonal to a first direction in which the rotary member or the tire support mechanism advances and retreats with the actuator, and movably attached to the main frame such that a distance of the subframe from the main frame decreases and increases in a direction crossing the first direction; and at least one measurement unit provided between the main frame and the subframe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignees: IHI CORPORATION, IHI LOGISTICS & MACHINERY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michinari Okabe, Hidenari Ota, Naoyuki Neagari
  • Patent number: 10188784
    Abstract: One embodiment relates to a pressure sensor apparatus, including a housing with a flexible member and an aperture configured to receive a fluid. The pressure sensor apparatus further includes a first member disposed on the flexible member, a second member removably coupled to the first member configured to move in response to a pressure of the fluid and a sensor configured to detect the movement of the second member. The pressure sensor apparatus generates a pressure signal for the fluid based on the displacement of the second member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: FENWAL, INC.
    Inventors: Steven R. Katz, Salvatore Manzella, Terry Chung, Greg Pieper, Natalie Osterweil
  • Patent number: 10175146
    Abstract: A lifting device (10, 40) for at least one wheel (8) of a vehicle or for a tire (6), said device (10, 40) comprising at least one platform (12, 41, 42) on which the wheel (8) or tire (6) moves, said platform (12) being liftable relative to a fixed surface (P). The movable platform (12) is associated with a laser scanner (20) for detecting the state of wear of the tire (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: SNAP-ON EQUIPMENT S.R.L.
    Inventors: Francesco Braghiroli, Lillo Gucciardino, Paolo Sotgiu, Marco Tralli
  • Patent number: 10175129
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining a pressure measurement signal in a capacitive pressure measurement cell which comprises a main body and a measurement membrane that is arranged on the front of said main body. Electrodes are arranged on said main body and measurement membrane and form a measurement capacitance in a region of the measurement membrane which has a high degree of pressure sensitivity, and form a reference capacitance in a region of the measurement membrane which has a lower degree of pressure sensitivity, said measurement capacitance and reference capacitance being determined independently of one another, the pressure measurement signal being determined in a first measurement range from the measurement capacitance and the reference capacitance, in accordance with the first evaluation, and said pressure measurement signal being determined in a second measurement range from the reference capacitance in accordance with a second evaluation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: VEGA GRIESHABER KG
    Inventors: Jörn Jacob, Bernhard Weller
  • Patent number: 10177358
    Abstract: A method for film production includes the steps of obtaining information on the position of a defect (D) in a separator (12a) and providing marks (LA, LB) at the respective positions in the vicinity of the defect (D), the marks indicating the position of the defect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Koji Kashu, Yusuke Kon, Tatsuya Sakamoto, Jian Wang
  • Patent number: 10168217
    Abstract: Methods for detecting irregularities in a composite structure can include obtaining temperature data from a surface of the composite structure while the composite structure undergoes a thermal change. An irregularity in the composite structure is detected based on the temperature data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Prescott Gee Glynn, Robert Todd Marks, Steven McGinnis, Armando Medina Romero, Mark Gerald Munster, Jr., Adrian Timothy Wallace
  • Patent number: 10161807
    Abstract: A thin-film thermocouple for measuring the temperature of a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) component includes a first thermocouple leg and a second thermocouple leg deposited on a surface of a CMC component, where each of the first and second thermocouple legs has a length extending from a reference end to a working end thereof. The working ends of the first and second thermocouple legs are joined at a junction region on the surface. At least one of the first thermocouple leg and the second thermocouple leg comprises silicon carbide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun Shi, Brandon Anderson
  • Patent number: 10154399
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided. The electronic device may include a sensor module including sensing circuitry configured to sense a temperature of at least part of the electronic device and a processor electrically connected with the sensor module. The processor is configured to perform a function using a first output device operatively connected with the electronic device, to determine a temperature of the electronic device using the sensor module, while the function is executed, and to perform at least part of the function using a second output device operatively connected with the electronic device, if the temperature is within a predetermined temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Dwivedi Gaurav
  • Patent number: 10139301
    Abstract: A pressure sensor chip that includes a sensor diaphragm; and a first holding member and a second holding member bonded respectively to first surface and the second surface of the sensor diaphragm with peripheral portions thereof being positioned to face each other, each of the first holding member and the second holding member has a pressure introduction hole, the first holding member includes a non-bonding region formed inside the first holding member and communicating with a periphery of the pressure introduction hole, first and second grooves each has an annular shape formed in a peripheral edge portion of the non-bonding region, an end of the second groove is positioned closer to the pressure introduction hole than an end of the first groove, and the second holding member includes a recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: AZBIL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuki Seto
  • Patent number: 10124900
    Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to determining, based on a spatial extent of ice accretion, a maximum size of super-cooled droplets contained in an atmosphere and/or if an atmosphere contains super-cooled water droplets that equal and/or exceed a predetermined size. A testing region on an exterior surface of an aircraft is monitored for ice accretion by an ice detector. A boundary calculator determines a specific location to be tested within the testing region. The determined specific location corresponds to a calculated boundary that separates an ice-accretion region from an ice-free region if the atmosphere contains super-cooled water droplets of no larger than the predetermined size. If the ice detector detects ice accretion at the determined specific location, an alert is generated. The alert can advantageously inform a pilot of the aircraft that the atmosphere contains super-cooled water droplets that equal or exceed the predetermined size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Rosemount Aerospace Inc.
    Inventor: Vincent R. LoPresto
  • Patent number: 10124633
    Abstract: A patch-type passive acoustic waving sensing device includes a surface acoustic wave sensor and at least a first and second rubber sheets. A cross-section of each of the first and second rubber sheets is larger than that of the surface acoustic wave sensor. A bottom of the surface acoustic wave sensor is on an upper surface of the first rubber sheet, and a first central hole allowing the surface acoustic wave sensor to penetrate therethrough is formed in a center of the second rubber sheet. The surface acoustic wave sensor penetrates the first central hole, and the second rubber sheet is fixedly connected to the upper surface of the first rubber sheet. The surface acoustic wave sensor includes pins at the bottom thereof such that free ends of the pins are connected to an antenna, and the antenna and some of the pins are inside the first rubber sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: MESNAC Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhongxue Yuan, Jiangjia Zheng, Lanfei Dong, Jiangbo Wei, Xuezhi Teng, Haijun Chen, Peifeng Sun
  • Patent number: 10126424
    Abstract: The present invention essentially comprises a system, method, computer program and combinations thereof to utilize dual-polarization generated data generally associated with weather and non-weather events for mapping data, producing geo-referenced data, producing mosaics, generation of precipitation masks, non-precipitation mask, and classification masks in general, production of vertical cross sections and predetermined fly throughs, producing short term forecasting, prediction of specific weather phenomenon, correcting or adjusting rain gauge data as well as quantitative precipitation estimation, and combining other meteorological data to correct or adjust estimated rainfall accumulation gathered by dual-polarization radar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Weather Decision Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Eilts, James T. Johnson, Jr., Christopher Porter, Matthew Gaffner, John William Conway, Noah A. Lock, Andrew MacKenzie