Patents Examined by Jamel Williams
  • Patent number: 9952071
    Abstract: A sensor unit includes a sensor module including a first plane and a second plane that crosses the first plane, and an armor body configured to house the sensor module. The armor body includes a first reference inner plane for positioning the first plane of the sensor module, a first reference outer plane parallel to the first reference inner plane and provided on an outer surface of the first reference inner plane, a second reference inner plane for positioning the second plane of the sensor module, and a second reference outer plane parallel to the second reference inner plane and provided on an outer surface of the second reference inner plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Mikimoto Jin, Tsutomu Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 9945748
    Abstract: A pressure sensor includes a sensor member including a sensor face to which pressure is imparted and a cover member that covers at least part of the peripheral face of the sensor member while exposing the sensor face out of one end side. With such a configuration, the sensor member can be protected from a lateral force (side pressure), whereby the sensor member can be prevented from being broken by the application of the side pressure to the sensor member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: MINEBEA MITSUMI INC.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Omori, Hiroyuki Omae, Akira Muto, Tomoaki Watanuki
  • Patent number: 9944503
    Abstract: A system for transporting and testing a crane includes a crane, a transporting frame and a foundation. A first connecting mechanism is provided for establishing a releasable connection between the crane and the transporting frame. A second connecting mechanism is provided for establishing a releasable connection between the transporting frame and the foundation. In a starting state, the crane, the transporting frame and the foundation are separate from one another. In a transporting state, the crane is connected to the transporting frame. In a testing state, the crane is connected to the transporting frame and the transporting frame is connected to the foundation. The invention also relates to a corresponding method. The invention makes it possible for the crane to be assembled, and tested, at a site remote from an offshore wind turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: SENVION SE
    Inventors: Martin Winter, Patrick Friebe, Daniel Reinhardt, Jens Nielsen, Ronny Obermüller
  • Patent number: 9939304
    Abstract: A measuring spoon device includes a rear shaft with a tapered end portion, elongated apertures, guide grooves, a rear connector section; a divider section with apertures; slidable spoon assemblies with push members, including finger button protrusions, and measuring spoons, including spoon portions and spoon stems; and a front cylindrical section; such that the measuring spoons can be retracted for storage inside the front cylindrical section, and can be extracted for use in measuring a plurality of seasonings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: ALFA TKG CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Misa Takagi
  • Patent number: 9933286
    Abstract: A sensor comprises a sensor element configured to provide a sensor signal representing at least one measurand detected by the sensor element, an electrical circuit configured to process the sensor signal to form a data signal, a photovoltaic cell configured to provide electrical energy for the sensor element and the electrical circuit, and a housing, in which the sensor element, the electrical circuit and the photovoltaic cell are positioned, the housing including a recess in which the photovoltaic cell is positioned, and a rim surrounding the recess and protruding beyond the photovoltaic cell. A method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ricardo Ehrenpfordt, Mathias Bruendel, Frederik Ante, Johannes Kenntner
  • Patent number: 9915595
    Abstract: A method for operating a gas sampling probe includes removing a gas to be analyzed from a process space in the region of a front end of a gas sampling tube and conducting it through the gas sampling tube as far as a rear end and, in the process, cooling it by passing cooling air between the gas sampling tube and at least one outer casing enclosing the gas sampling tube. The cooling air is fed and discharged at the rear end of the gas sampling tube and the temperature of the gas to be analyzed is higher in the region of the front end of the gas sampling tube than the temperature of the fed cooling air, and the gas sampling probe emits outward, wherein the temperature of the fed cooling air is higher than the temperature of the discharged cooling air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: THYSSENKRUPP INDUSTRIAL SOLUTIONS AG
    Inventors: Ludwig Könning, Michael Streffing, Heinz Bredemeier, Alfons Leuer
  • Patent number: 9908481
    Abstract: A vehicle forward information acquiring device includes a bracket fixed to a windshield, a cover mounted to the bracket by being moved along the bracket in one direction, and a vehicle forward information acquiring sensor accommodated between the bracket and the cover. The cover is mounted to the bracket while being pressed against the bracket by a first elastic force and a second elastic force generated when a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion formed on the cover are respectively engaged with a first engaged portion and a second engaged portion formed on the bracket. A position of the cover on the bracket when the first elastic force becomes a maximum value is different from a position of the cover on the bracket when the second elastic force becomes a maximum value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideaki Hayashi, Atsutoshi Sakaguchi, Tomohiko Futatsugi, Masaaki Uechi, Naoki Taki, Akio Kimura, Kumiko Kondo, Hiroshi Harada, Toshifumi Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 9904884
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for diagnosing a rotating device. In one example, a system includes a rotating device and a RFID circuit coupled to the rotating device. The RFID circuit includes a RFID chip, an antenna, and a mechanical link designed to change impedance with a changing input from the rotating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey David Willis, Bret Dwayne Worden
  • Patent number: 9903773
    Abstract: Disclosed is a rotor for a torque sensor configured to improve a mechanical coupling force with respect to a jig in a process of adjusting a torque center, thus enabling a fine adjustment, the rotor including a rotor body having a sleeve coupled to a rotating shaft and a yoke protruding from an outer circumference of the sleeve, a ring-shaped magnet coupled to an outer circumference of the yoke, and an anti-slip structure formed on the rotor body and partially coming into contact with a jig during a rotating process for adjusting a torque center, thus inhibiting slipping between the rotor body and the jig when a rotating force is transmitted, so that slipping between the jig and the rotor body is inhibited to enable precise transmission of the rotating force whereby accuracy is improved during fine adjustment of the torque center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Changhwan Lee
  • Patent number: 9897127
    Abstract: A fastening device may include a hollow void. The hollow void may contain an inner coil proximate to a first end of the device, a sensing portion to sense a characteristic associated with the fastening device during a sensing time window, and a controller. The controller may rectify an alternating current from the inner coil during a charging time window, store energy associated with the rectified alternating current, and use the stored energy to charge the sensing portion during the sensing time window. An outer coil outside the fastening device may be located proximate to a second end of the device as compared to the inner coil. An interface portion outside the fastening device may provide an alternating current to the outer coil during the charging time window, detect the sensed characteristic via the outer coil during the sensing time window, and transmit an indication of the detected characteristic value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Erik Hershey, Matthew Christian Nielsen, Christopher Donald Johnson, Michael Joseph Dell'Anno, Joji Joykutty
  • Patent number: 9891090
    Abstract: The measuring cup is a calibrated measuring device that configured for use in measuring volume. The measuring cup is configured for use with an analyte material selected from the group consisting of: a fluid analyte material, a semi-rigid analyte material, a granular analyte material, or a crystalline analyte material. The measuring cup comprises a cap, a body, and a leveler. The cap and the leveler are attached to the body. The body is a contained and calibrated volume that is used to measure the volume of the analyte material. The cap is a handle that is used to manipulate the measuring cup. The leveler is a device that levels the analyte material within the body of the measuring cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Inventor: John L. Harper, II
  • Patent number: 9868039
    Abstract: A method for use in testing sports equipment such as a baseball bat for conformity to a performance standard or specification utilizes a compression contact member having a geometrical form identical in whole or in part to a baseball. In the method one supports one side of the bat in a cradle and presses the contact member into the batting member at a point of maximum performance on the bat. One continues alternating between compressions of successively increasing depth and elasticity test compressions, pausing to measure performance when the elasticity increases by a given percentage. The bat passes if it exhibits damage prior to exceeding a maximum permissible performance level or if its performance level is still less than that maximum once a maximum compression depth is attained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Inventor: Richard A. Brandt
  • Patent number: 9863769
    Abstract: In a first aspect, the angular rate sensor comprises a substrate and a rotating structure anchored to the substrate. The angular rate sensor also includes a drive mass anchored to the substrate and an element coupling the drive mass and the rotating structure. The angular rate sensor further includes an actuator for driving the drive mass into oscillation along a first axis in plane to the substrate and for driving the rotating structure into rotational oscillation around a second axis normal to the substrate; a first transducer to sense the motion of the rotating structure in response to a Coriolis force in a sense mode; and a second transducer to sense the motion of the sensor during a drive mode. In a second aspect the angular rate sensor comprises a substrate and two shear masses which are parallel to the substrate and anchored to the substrate via flexible elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: INVENSENSE, INC.
    Inventors: Ozan Anac, Joseph Seeger
  • Patent number: 9863792
    Abstract: An encoder able to maintain liquid-tightness over a long period of time. The encoder is provided with a housing unit holding component parts of the encoder. The housing unit is formed by a housing and a cover closing an opening part of the housing. At a boundary part of the housing and the cover, an O-ring is placed. The housing is formed with a guide groove at the outside in the radial direction from the O-ring and a discharge guide groove communicated with the guide groove and opening toward the outside in the radial direction. The cover is formed with a ring-shaped guide projection projecting out toward the guide groove at a position corresponding to the guide groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Ootake, Keisuke Imai
  • Patent number: 9857206
    Abstract: A waterproofing device installed on a distance sensor enables outdoor operations of a robot or operations in wet or adverse environments. The distance sensor includes a signal transmitter and a signal receiver. The waterproofing device includes a protection member installed on the distance sensor, and covers installed on the protection member. The protection member includes sleeves aligning with the signal transmitter and the signal receiver. The cover includes a sieve plate covering one end of the sleeve to prevent liquid from entering into the sleeve and a drain plug to discharge any liquid incidentally entering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kai-Fan Lee, Yu-Wen Chen, Ya-Kuan Chuang, You-Yun Lee
  • Patent number: 9851268
    Abstract: A flexible substrate has a major surface and a sensor attached to and aligned with the major surface of the substrate. The sensor may have an elastic body containing conductive nanotubes homogeneously distributed therein to form a conductive path and at least two electrodes in electrical connection with the conductive path. Balloons and flexible elements used in medical procedures are particularly useful.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: 7-SIGMA, Inc.
    Inventors: Wade R. Eichhorn, Richard M. Duda, Kristian G. Wyrobek, Ahmet Serdar Sezen
  • Patent number: 9835471
    Abstract: Disclosed are a sensor module and a method for operating the same. The sensor module includes a module unit including a first body having a cavity and a module substrate received in the first body; and a sensor unit including a second body detachable from the cavity of the module unit and a sensor received in the second body, wherein the module unit reads an output signal from the sensor unit to generate sensing information and wirelessly outputs the sensing information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang Hun Lee, Ju Bong Park
  • Patent number: 9816960
    Abstract: A gas sensor includes a metallic shell extending along a shell axis and defining a shell attaching surface that is substantially perpendicular to the shell axis; a metallic shield extending along a shield axis and defining a shield attaching surface that is substantially perpendicular to the shield axis; and a ceramic sensing element extending along a sensing element axis, the sensing element being rigidly fixed at a first axial location of the sensing element to the shell and the sensing element being laterally supported by the shield at a second axial location of the sensing element that is axially spaced apart from the first axial location. The shield is attached to the shell at an interface formed between the shield attaching surface and the shell attaching surface, thereby accommodating misalignment between the shield axis and the shell axis. A method of making the gas sensor is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kathryn M. McCauley, Charles Scott Nelson, David M. Racine
  • Patent number: 9817014
    Abstract: A method is provided for determining a number of revolutions per minute (RPM) of a rotating object. The method includes transmitting interrogation signals at a regular period from a fixed antenna positioned adjacent to the rotating object. The method also includes transmitting echo signals from a sensor antenna positioned on the rotating object, in response to the interrogation signals. The method also includes counting a number of echo signals detected by the fixed antenna, during one revolution of the object. The method also includes determining the RPM of the rotating object based on the number of response signals and the regular period of the signals. A system is also provided for determining the number of revolutions per minute (RPM) of the rotating object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Mnemonics, Inc.
    Inventor: Nikolai Kozlovski
  • Patent number: 9814391
    Abstract: A mouth guard comprises a base member configured to fit inside the mouth of a user, and at least one shock-sensing and indicating device coupled to the base member. In one exemplary embodiment, the shock-sensing and indicating device is a passive shock-sensing and indicating device that detects a shock substantially along a selected axis with respect to the base member. In another exemplary embodiment, the at least one shock-sensing and indicating device detects a shock substantially along a plurality of selected axes with respect to the base member, each selected axis being substantially orthogonal from another selected axis. The shock-sensing and indicating devices can be configured to detect different levels of shock. In one exemplary embodiment, the shock-sensing and indicating device comprises a multi-component chemical-reaction system, such as a chemi-luminescent reaction system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Inventors: Don B. Hennig, Jeffry L. VanElverdinghe, Joseph P. Curtin