Patents Examined by Catherine Rastovski
  • Patent number: 9854334
    Abstract: A method and device are provided for managing transmissions of a plurality of sets of measurements performed periodically by a measurement sensor capable of communicating with a collection device via a radio network. The method determines, according to a random distribution law, a date of transmission for each set of measurements of the plurality and transmits a message relating to at least one set of measurements, on one of the dates of transmission determined for the plurality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: ORANGE
    Inventor: Apostolos Kountouris
  • Patent number: 9851241
    Abstract: A method for calibrating a WIM (Weigh in Motion) sensor built into a road during travel of a calibrating vehicle measures the dynamic wheel force on the road and on the WIM sensor directly at the measuring wheel, depending on time or location. These wheel force data are transmitted to an evaluating unit. As the calibrating vehicle passes over, WIM signal data are simultaneously measured at the WIM sensor and transmitted to the evaluating unit. The wheel force data are synchronized with the WIM signal data in the evaluating unit. A calibration function is determined by comparing the dynamic wheel force data with the WIM signal data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: KISTLER HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Adrian Hofmann, David Cornu, Reto Calderara
  • Patent number: 9851412
    Abstract: A method for performance analysis and use management of a battery module is disclosed, wherein the battery module includes a multitude of interconnected battery cells and a battery management system with a plurality of dedicated analysis/control units (ACUs) that analyze performance of the battery module, the ACUs being assigned to individual battery cells and/or battery blocks of battery module. The method includes measuring current and voltage of one or more of an individual battery cell and a battery block; calculating a charge removal from the one or more of the individual battery cell and the battery block; calculating a loading charge of the one or more of the individual battery cell and the battery block; determining the remaining charge of the one or more of the individual battery cell and the battery block; and failure monitoring of the one or more of the individual battery cell and the battery block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Haag, Rainer K. Krause, Thorsten Muehge, Joerg Weyerhaeuser
  • Patent number: 9797758
    Abstract: Method for operating a vortex flowmeter device for measuring the flow of a fluid that flows through a measuring tube in which a baffle is arranged for producing eddies in the fluid. A signal-processing device processes signals of first and sensors produced by pressure fluctuations. A first signal is obtained by multiplication of the signal of the first sensor with a correction factor, and the second signal is obtained by multiplication of the signal of the second sensor with another correction factor such that a wanted signal is obtained from the deviation between the first signal and second signals, and a sum signal is formed from the sum of the first and second signals. A correlation between the wanted signal and the sum signal is determined and the correlation is minimized by variation of the correction factors, whereby same-phase interfering signals superimposed on anti-phase sensor signals are at least minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: KROHNE Messtechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Kai Gossner
  • Patent number: 9772374
    Abstract: Methods and structures for leakage screening are disclosed. A method includes sorting devices manufactured from the same device design into voltage bins corresponding to a respective supply voltage. The method further includes determining a respective total power of each of the voltage bins. The method further includes determining a respective uplift power of the voltage bins. The method further includes determining a respective first leakage screen value for each of the voltage bins based on the respective uplift power of each of the voltage bins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeanne P. Bickford, Kevin K. Dezfulian, Susan K. Lichtensteiger, Jeanne H. Raymond
  • Patent number: 9766993
    Abstract: Quality of information (QoI) assessment in dynamic sensor networks that includes evaluating, by a computer, a first value reflective of available reports from sensors that are dynamically associated with the computer. A second value reflective of reports expected to have been available for evaluation about the observed phenomena is estimated. A QoI of the available reports is assessed. The assessing is based on the first value reflective of the available reports and the second value reflective of reports expected to have been available for evaluation. A third value, based on the assessing is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dakshi Agrawal, Chatschik Bisdikian
  • Patent number: 9753109
    Abstract: At least two chemical species are imaged using magnetic resonance imaging with signal separation for two chemical species resulting in separate signal datasets for these two chemical species. First and second echo data are acquired at different echo times resulting in a first and second acquired complex dataset. The first and second acquired datasets are modelled by employing a spectral signal model of at least one of the chemical species. The modelling results in a first and second modelled complex dataset. The first and second modelled datasets include a first and second phase error and the separate signal datasets for the two chemical species. From the first and second acquired dataset and the first and second modelled dataset the separate signal datasets for the two chemical species are determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Holger Eggers
  • Patent number: 9695016
    Abstract: A method of checking the functional capability of at least one safety element of a safety circuit of an elevator installation utilizes a first processing unit and a second processing unit for the at least one safety element. The at least one safety element is connected with a control unit by a communications network. At least one signal is provided by the first processing unit on the basis of at least one communication from the control unit. The at least one provided signal is detected by the second processing unit connected with the first processing unit and is communicated to the control unit by way of the communications network. The at least one communicated signal is checked for the validity thereof by the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Astrid Sonnenmoser, Martin Hess, David Michel
  • Patent number: 9678167
    Abstract: A deterioration rate estimation method for a lithium-ion battery of estimating the deterioration rate of the lithium-ion battery including a negative electrode having stage structures switching depending on an electric storage amount includes a first step of acquiring first information about the stage structure, a second step of acquiring second information about the battery temperature of the lithium-ion battery, and a third step of estimating the deterioration rate from the first information and the second information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoshi Goto
  • Patent number: 9671308
    Abstract: A method for helium mass spectrometric fine-leak test is based on quantitative determination of maximum test-waiting time, which gives a method for quantitative determination of the maximum test-waiting time for fine-leak test during a helium mass spectrometric test process of the sealability, and gives a method for determining the criterion for measured leak rate by taking the minimum helium gas exchange time constant, i.e., a rigour grade ?Hemin, of an acceptable sealed electronic component as a basic criterion for helium mass spectrometric fine-leak test. Based on the inventive method for quantitative determination of the maximum test-waiting time, for most of the cavity volume ranges, the maximum test-waiting time that is determined accurately may be much longer than 1 hour or 0.5 hour as determined qualitatively by the existing related standards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: BEIJING KEYTON ELECTRONIC RELAY CORPORATION LTD.
    Inventors: Genglin Wang, Fei Li, Caiyi Wang, Ningbo Li, Liyan Wang, Lijun Dong, Yongmin Liu
  • Patent number: 9658337
    Abstract: A method of optically detecting the presence of a bimodal droplet size distribution in the atmosphere. The method comprising monitoring statistical fluctuations in a backscattered signal received from a series of pulsed laser light beams directed into a cloud and analyzing the statistics of the fluctuations of the backscattered signals to identify the presence of larger diameter droplets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Rosemount Aerospace Inc.
    Inventors: Mark D. Ray, Kaare Josef Anderson, Mark Sherwood Miller
  • Patent number: 9652349
    Abstract: Quality of information (QoI) assessment in dynamic sensor networks that includes evaluating, by a computer, a first value reflective of available reports from sensors that are dynamically associated with the computer. A second value reflective of reports expected to have been available for evaluation about the observed phenomena is estimated. A QoI of the available reports is assessed. The assessing is based on the first value reflective of the available reports and the second value reflective of reports expected to have been available for evaluation. A third value, based on the assessing is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dakshi Agrawal, Chatschik Bisdikian
  • Patent number: 9647454
    Abstract: Techniques for determining conditions of power lines in a power distribution system based on measurements collected by a plurality of sensor units deployed in the power distribution system. Techniques include obtaining first transformed data associated with a first set of one or more measurements collected by a first sensor unit in the plurality of sensor units and second transformed data associated with a second set of one or more measurements collected by a second sensor unit in the plurality of sensor units, and determining, by using at least one processor and based at least in part on one or more features calculated from the first transformed data and the second transformed data, at least one condition of at least one power line in the power distribution system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: ACLARA TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Muhammad A. Afzal, Venkat Pothamsetty, Roger A. Smith, Rebecca W. Ross
  • Patent number: 9624031
    Abstract: A method of storage tank monitoring including calculating liquid inventory within the storage tank. Real-time parameters associated with evaporative loss of a liquid stored within the storage tank are determined to produce input data. The real-time parameters include at least one condition within the storage tank and at least one environmental condition. Evaporative loss is automatically calculated with an inventory calculation algorithm using the input data and at least one known physical property of the liquid in the storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Honeywell-Enraf B.V.
    Inventor: Frank Van Bekkum
  • Patent number: 9625295
    Abstract: A fluid flow measurement instrument is provided. The measurement instrument includes a sensor producing a time domain signal representative of reflections of an emitted signal; and a meter being coupled to the sensor and configured to: receive the time domain signal; create two or more spectral estimates for the time domain signal, wherein said two or more spectral estimates have different frequency ranges and resolutions; determine a frequency offset value using one or more of the two or more spectral estimates; and convert the frequency offset value into a fluid velocity. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Hach Company
    Inventor: David Langley Rick
  • Patent number: 9612293
    Abstract: A novel method for real-time small-signal stability analysis for power electronic-based components in a power system. The method may be used to monitor a power system in real-time by perturbing the source side of an electronic-based component of the power system of about 0.5 to 1 percent of a nominal current of the power system at the source side, and perturbing the load side of the power electronic-based component by varying the voltage at the load side. Time-domain results of the simultaneous perturbations may be transferred to frequency-domain results and the stability of the power system may be monitored by obtaining a Nyquist contour and employing Generalized Nyquist Criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: The Florida State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohamadamin Salmani, Chris S. Edrington
  • Patent number: 9612292
    Abstract: A novel method for real-time small-signal stability analysis for power electronic-based components in a power system. The method may be used to monitor a power system in real-time by perturbing the source side of an electronic-based component of the power system of about 0.5 to 1 percent of a nominal current of the power system at the source side, and perturbing the load side of the power electronic-based component by varying the voltage at the load side. Time-domain results of the simultaneous perturbations may be transferred to frequency-domain results and the stability of the power system may be monitored by obtaining a Nyquist contour and employing unit circle criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: The Florida State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohamadamin Salmani, Chris S. Edrington
  • Patent number: 9594146
    Abstract: In a trajectory correction method and apparatus for k-space data points in magnetic resonance imaging, a magnetic resonance data acquisition unit is operated to execute a sampling sequence to obtain k-space to be corrected. Empirical points are selected used to divide k-space to be corrected into a central region and a peripheral region. The trajectories of the data points in the central region and the peripheral region are corrected and the sampling sequence is executed again, with the corrected trajectories, to obtain corrected k-space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: De He Weng, Qiong Zhang
  • Patent number: 9569397
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a condition based replacement life (CBRL) approval system configured to receive a turbomachinery component data and to approve a turbomachinery component for CBRL based on the turbomachinery component data. The system further includes a CBRL validation system configured to repair the turbomachinery component into a repaired turbomachinery component, wherein the repaired turbomachinery component is configured to operate in a turbomachinery beyond a service time of the turbomachinery component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christopher Dean Higgins, Thomas Bradley Beddard, David Stephen Muench, Michael Edward Bernard, Patrick Clinton Bowling
  • Patent number: 9566875
    Abstract: A method detecting a battery capacity of a secondary battery, in which charging mode includes first mode including only ON state, and second mode including ON state and OFF state, the method includes: charging mode selection process of selecting the charging mode; internal resistance calculation process calculating internal resistance of secondary battery when ON state and OFF state are switched; remaining capacity calculation process calculating remaining capacity of secondary battery; remaining capacity variation amount calculation process calculating variation amount of remaining capacity from most recent full charge capacity calculation time; charged electricity amount calculation process of calculating amount of charged electricity in accordance with integrated value of current that flowed from point of time at which most recent full charge capacity is calculated; and full charge capacity detection process of detecting full charge capacity of secondary battery based on variation amount of remaining capac
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Koji Kawakita