Patents Examined by Helen C. Kwok
  • Patent number: 11714030
    Abstract: A wastewater sampling system including: an inlet tube; an outlet port; a high-flow circuit fluidly coupling the inlet tube to the outlet port; a first pump, along the high-flow circuit, configured to pump wastewater through the high flow circuit; a sampling circuit, fluidly coupled to the high-flow circuit via a junction, comprising a solid waste filter fluidly coupled to the junction and a solid-phase extraction cartridge fluidly coupled to an outlet of the solid waste filter; a second pump along the sampling circuit; a controller configured to, during a sampling cycle at a first time, activate the first pump; at a second time, activate the second pump; and at a third time succeeding the second time by a sampling duration, deactivate the second pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Inventors: Mariana G. Matus Garcia, Newsha Ghaeli, Nikhil B. Lal, Noriko Endo
  • Patent number: 11714100
    Abstract: A process for producing a piezoelectric sensor includes the following steps: a step of providing a housing made of stainless steel; a step of producing a solution of a compound comprising a metal or metalloid element; a step of depositing a layer of the solution over at least one inner surface of the housing; a step of oxidizing the deposited layer of solution; a step of placing a piezoelectric element inside the housing; a step of closing the housing. A piezoelectric sensor obtained by such a process and comprising a closed steel housing, a piezoelectric element arranged inside the housing and a layer of a solution of a compound comprising a metal or metalloid element that is arranged over at least one inner surface of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Frédéric Navacchia, Laurent Brissonneau, Christian Lhuillier
  • Patent number: 11703521
    Abstract: An example system comprising: a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) vibrating beam accelerometer (VBA) comprising: a proof mass; and a first resonator mechanically coupled to the proof mass; a first electrode configured to apply a force to the proof mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: John Reinke
  • Patent number: 11692972
    Abstract: An ultrasonic sensing technique and a signal interpretation method based on a spectral element multiphase poromechanical approach overcomes critical gaps in permafrost, frozen soil, and saturated soil characterization. Ultrasonic sensing produces high-quality response signals that are sensitive to the soil properties. A transfer function denoting a ratio of induced displacement and applied force in the frequency domain, is independent of the distribution of the stress force applied by the transducer to the sample, and allows interpretation of the measured electrical signal using a theoretical transfer function relation to efficiently determine the most probable properties from response signals using an inverse spectral element multiphase poromechanical approach. This ultrasonic sensing technique enables rapid characterization of soil samples in terms of both physical and mechanical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: University of Manitoba
    Inventors: Pooneh Maghoul, Hongwei Liu, Ahmed Shalaby
  • Patent number: 11693023
    Abstract: In an inertial sensor, a first movable body configured to swing around a first rotation axisrotation axis along a first direction has an opening; the opening includes a second movable body configured to swing around a second rotation axisrotation axis along a second direction, a second support beam supporting the second movable body as the second rotation axisrotation axis, a third movable body configured to swing around a third rotation axisrotation axis along the second direction, and a third support beam supporting the third movable body as the third rotation axisrotation axis; and a protrusion is provided at a surface facing the second movable body and the third movable body, or at the second movable body and the third movable body, the protrusion protruding toward the second movable body and the third movable body or the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Inventors: Teruo Takizawa, Kazuyuki Nagata, Satoru Tanaka, Seiji Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 11686710
    Abstract: A scanning device is provided. The scanning device includes a frame having a first portion and a second portion pivotably coupled to the first frame portion. The scanning device also has a first set of wheels coupled with the first frame portion and a second set of wheels coupled with the second frame portion. In addition, the scanning device has a rail movably disposed on the first frame portion that includes a channel and a rail along with a rail arm coupled with the channel. The scanning device has a sensor assembly that includes sensor forks, a sensor coupled with the sensor forks and a sensor arm. The sensor arm is coupled with the sensor forks and with the rail arm. In addition, the sensor is adjustable between a first position and a second position via the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Evident Canada, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Spay, Martin Dupuis, Luis Cooper, Veronique Simard
  • Patent number: 11680864
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a condition monitoring device and method for monitoring an electrical machine. The method includes obtaining, at periodic instants, measurements from sensors of the condition monitoring device, where each sensor is one of a magnetometer and an accelerometer. The method also includes comparing, for one or more instants, amplitude data of the measurements with condition monitoring data, wherein the comparison is performed for the amplitude data in one or more axes and at one or more frequencies. The condition monitoring data includes a relation between a plurality of parameters, a plurality of conditions and a plurality of frequencies. The method additionally includes detecting a condition and at least one parameter associated with the condition, based on the comparison. According to the detection, the method includes utilizing the measurements of the at least one parameter for determining a health condition of the electrical machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Maciej Orman, Heqing Sun, Prasad Venikar, Kavitha Ramasamy
  • Patent number: 11680797
    Abstract: A physical quantity sensor includes a substrate, an anchor portion, a surrounding portion, a detecting element, a moving portion, and a beam portion. The anchor portion is formed on the same side as a principal surface of the substrate and fixed to the substrate. The surrounding portion is formed on the same side as the principal surface of the substrate and surrounds the anchor portion. The detecting element detects a physical quantity as a target of detection. The moving portion is provided with at least a part of the detecting element, formed on the same side as the principal surface of the substrate, and connected to the surrounding portion. The beam portion is formed on the same side as the principal surface of the substrate and connects the anchor portion and the surrounding portion together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takanori Aoyagi, Hiroyuki Aizawa, Chunzhi Dong, Shinichi Kishimoto
  • Patent number: 11680858
    Abstract: A device and a method for ultrasonic detecting a rotating member based on magnetic fluid coupling, wherein the device comprises an ultrasonic probe, magnetic field protection rings, magnetic fluid and a magnetic fluid protection cover. The ultrasonic probe is arranged above the rotating member that is horizontally placed. Front ends of a transmitting ultrasonic transducer and a receiving ultrasonic transducer of the ultrasonic probe are provided with the magnetic field protection rings for generating magnetic fields in the magnetic field protection rings. The protective cover is sleeved on a circumferential outer side of the rotating member where a detected position is located, and the front ends of the ultrasonic probe are arranged to penetrate through the magnetic fluid protective cover. A cavity formed between the magnetic fluid protective cover and the rotating member is filled with the magnetic fluid and the magnetic fluid is a liquid mixture solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Inventors: Chunguang Xu, Shuangyi Li, Yuren Lu, Peng Yin, Dezhi Li, Wenyuan Song
  • Patent number: 11674972
    Abstract: A measuring sensor includes a housing in which an acceleration sensor is arranged and in which a circuit board is retained with a sensor electronics arranged thereon and a mounting element functions to secure the measuring sensor to a test object, wherein the acceleration sensor is mechanically rigidly coupled to the mounting element and connected to the sensor electronics via a flexible line connection, where in order to optimize the coupling of the acceleration sensor to the test object to be monitored, in terms of detecting oscillations, vibrations or structure-borne noise, the acceleration sensor is directly connected to the mounting element without mechanical contact with the housing, and the housing is retained elastically on the mounting element and supported by the mounting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ens, Stefan Klehr, Stefan von Dosky
  • Patent number: 11674344
    Abstract: A hinge for a microelectromechanical system includes a fixed part and a part movable relative to the fixed part along at least an out-of-plane direction, the hinge being intended to suspend the moving part from the fixed part. The hinge includes a first rigid part, a second part fixed to the first part at one end and intended to be anchored to the fixed part or the moving part. The second part deforms in bending in a first direction, two third parts are fixed to the first part and are anchored to the moving part or the fixed part, and the third parts deform in bending along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Samer Dagher, Loic Joet
  • Patent number: 11673769
    Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator system includes a machine including a motor and a brake. The machine is configured to selectively cause movement of an elevator car. At least one vibration sensor situated near the machine provides an indication of operation of the machine to indicate at least stops and starts of the machine associated with stopping and starting movement of the elevator car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Sandeep Sudi, Michael C. Lang, Martin J. Hardesty
  • Patent number: 11669100
    Abstract: A system includes an inspection robot having an input sensor comprising a laser profiler and a plurality of wheels structured to engage a curved portion of an inspection surface, wherein the laser profiler is configured to provide laser profiler data of the inspection surface; a controller, comprising: a profiler data circuit structured to interpret the laser profiler data; determine a feature of interest is present at a location of the inspection surface in response to the laser profiler data; and wherein the feature of interest comprises a shape description of the inspection surface at the location of the feature of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Gecko Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Loosararian, Joshua Moore, Yizhu Gu, Kevin Low, Edward Bryner, Logan MacKenzie, Ian Miller, Alvin Chou, Todd Joslin
  • Patent number: 11668728
    Abstract: An acceleration transducer defines a rectangular coordinate system with two orthogonal horizontal axes that are both normal to a vertical axis and includes a main body defining tangential side faces arranged tangentially to the vertical axis, and normal side faces arranged normally to the vertical axis. The transducer includes exactly three piezoelectric elements and three seismic masses. Exactly one piezoelectric element is secured to each of the three tangential side faces, and exactly one seismic mass is secured to each of the three piezoelectric elements. Each piezoelectric element has a high sensitivity for a shear force exerted by the attached seismic mass along a principal tangential axis that is another one of the three axes for each of the three piezoelectric elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: KISTLER HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Marco Laffranchi, Tobias Frommenwiler, David Weber
  • Patent number: 11656077
    Abstract: An extensional mode electrostatic microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) gyroscope is described. The MEMS gyroscope operates in an extensional mode. The MEMS gyroscope comprises a vibrating ring structure that is electrostatically excited in the extensional mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Igor P. Prikhodko, Michael Judy
  • Patent number: 11656239
    Abstract: An acceleration transducer for measuring acceleration data of a target device. The acceleration transducer includes a transducer body, an electronic assembly arranged inside the transducer body, a fastener having a cavity, an accelerometer arranged into the cavity, and a communication means connecting the accelerometer with the electronic assembly for transmitting acceleration data of the target device to the electronic assembly. The fastener is arrangeable into the portion of the target device in a manner that the fastener is substantially fitted into the portion of the target device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: TREON OY
    Inventors: Jari Toivanen, Joni Korppi, Tero Kontkanen, Taija Välilä
  • Patent number: 11656078
    Abstract: A sensor element includes a piezoelectric body and a plurality of electrodes. The piezoelectric body, when viewed on a plane, includes a base part and at least one arm part extending from the base part. The plurality of electrodes are located on a surface of the arm part. The piezoelectric body, when viewed on the plane, further includes a frame part which surrounds the base part and the at least one arm part and upon which the base part is bridged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventor: Munetaka Soejima
  • Patent number: 11650055
    Abstract: A MEMS gyroscope and a method for compensating drift of sensitivity of a MEMS gyroscope are disclosed. The method comprises demodulating an angular rate signal with an in-phase carrier signal for producing a raw rate signal, and obtaining a DC test signal The DC test signal is filtered for obtaining a raw test signal, and zeroing offset of the raw test signal is performed by comparing each sample of the raw test signal to a test signal normalization value for producing an offset zeroed test signal that represents a deviation of the sample of the raw test signal from the test signal normalization value. A sensitivity compensation multiplier is determined based upon the offset zeroed test signal and a predefined gain coefficient, and drift of sensitivity is compensated by multiplying the raw rate signal with the sensitivity compensation multiplier for providing a sensitivity compensated rate signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Lasse Aaltonen
  • Patent number: 11644306
    Abstract: A road surface state determination apparatus includes a plurality of tire-side devices each of which detects vibration applied to corresponding tire and produces road surface data indicative of a road surface state based on data of the vibration, and a vehicle-body-side system that determines the road surface state based on the road surface data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryosuke Kanbayashi, Yoichiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11644313
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical resonator includes a resonator member suspended over a surface of a substrate by at least one anchor that is connected to the substrate. The resonator member includes outer and inner frames that are concentrically arranged and mechanically coupled by support structures extending therebetween. Related apparatus and gyroscopes are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Haoran Wen, Farrokh Ayazi