Patents Examined by Jamel Williams
  • Patent number: 9812792
    Abstract: A pressing element is configured for an electrical component which needs to be pressed against another element for contact. The electrical component includes at least one electrically conductive touch contact. The pressing element has an annular pressing surface for the electrical component. An outer contour of the pressing surface is greater than an outer contour of the electrical component which needs to be pressed. The pressing surface has an annular elevation which forms a bearing surface for the electrical component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Herrmann, Conrad Haeussermann, Wolfgang Woernle, Benjamin Bertsch
  • Patent number: 9809209
    Abstract: An Antilock brake system (ABS) cover for an ABS sensor on a motorcycle to protect the ABS sensor from environmental dust, grime and debris from the roads and other terrains through which the motorcycle travels as well as to cover the somewhat non-symmetrical ABS sensor structure and fill in the unsightly empty space located directly around the ABS sensor, to give the wheels an aesthetic appearance. The ABS sensor cover can be held in place over the ABS sensor by screws or permanently attached with a suitable adhesive. The ABS sensor cover of the present invention additionally has the benefit of a positive effect on the aerodynamics of the front of the motorcycle when it is mounted on the ABS sensor located on the wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Inventor: Jonathan Reed
  • Patent number: 9810590
    Abstract: Provided according to one or more embodiments is a thermostat having a housing, the housing including a forward-facing surface, the thermostat comprising a passive infrared (PIR) motion sensor disposed inside the housing for sensing occupancy in the vicinity of the thermostat. The PIR motion sensor has a radiation receiving surface and is able to detect the lateral movement of an occupant in front of the forward-facing surface of the housing. The thermostat further comprises a grille member having one or more openings and included along the forward-facing surface of the housing, the grille member being placed over the radiation receiving surface of the PIR motion sensor. The grille member is configured and dimensioned to visually conceal and protect the PIR motion sensor disposed inside the housing, the visual concealment promoting a visually pleasing quality of the thermostat, while at the same time permitting the PIR motion sensor to effectively detect the lateral movement of the occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Huppi, John B. Filson, Fred Bould, David Sloo, Matthew L. Rogers
  • Patent number: 9804004
    Abstract: A sensor assembly is provided for detecting a concentration of a fluid. The sensor assembly includes a sensing unit and a cover assembly. The sensing unit includes a transmitter configured to transmit a signal into a sensing volume and a receiver configured to receive the signal after the signal passes through a portion of the sensing volume. The cover assembly at least partially encloses the sensing volume and is substantially impermeable to a gas portion of the fluid. The cover assembly includes apertures defined therein which are permeable to the gas portion of the fluid. A first plurality of apertures are defined along a top surface of the cover assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Ryan J. Kruse, Michael F. Flanagan, Jonathan R. Copeland, Francis J. Lahey
  • Patent number: 9804003
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with environmental sensors. Environmental sensors may include one or more environmental sensor components and one or more acoustic components. Acoustic components may include a speaker or a microphone. Environmental sensor components may include a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a humidity sensor, a gas sensor, or other sensors or combinations of sensors for sensing attributes of the environment surrounding the device. The environmental sensor may have an enclosure with an opening. The enclosure may be formed from a rigid support structure and a portion of a printed circuit. The opening may be formed in the rigid support structure or the printed circuit. The opening in the enclosure for the environmental sensor may be aligned with an opening in an outer structural member for the device. The outer structural member may be a housing structure or a cover layer for a device display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Henry H. Yang
  • Patent number: 9791304
    Abstract: An air data probe includes a probe body. The air data probe also includes a housing surrounding the probe body, wherein a cavity is defined between the probe body and the housing. The air data probe also includes a heater element disposed within the cavity between the probe body and the housing. The air data probe also includes a low melting point metal disposed within the cavity between the probe body and the housing, wherein engaging the heater element causes at least a portion of the low melting point metal to transition from a solid state to a liquid state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Yates Wong, Grant A. Gordon, Patrick Flynn, Morris Anderson, James B. Cox
  • Patent number: 9778123
    Abstract: A position indicator includes a capacitor having a capacitance that changes in correspondence to a force applied to one end part of a housing. The capacitor is configured by a pressure detecting chip that includes a first electrode and a second electrode disposed opposite to the first electrode with a predetermined distance defined therebetween to have capacitance Cv formed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The capacitance Cv changes when the force applied to the one end part of the housing is transmitted to the first electrode to thereby change a relationship (e.g., the distance) between the two electrodes. A pressure transmitting member having predetermined elasticity is disposed on the first electrode such that the force applied to the one end part of the housing is transmitted to the first electrode of the semiconductor element via the pressure transmitting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Horie, Hidetaka Takiguchi
  • Patent number: 9772248
    Abstract: This disclosure provides example systems and methods for high pressure flat plate transducer assemblies. A first example embodiment of the transducer assembly is provided, which includes a transducer, a housing, and a transducer header. The transducer header can be configured for accepting the transducer and for mating with the housing at an interface between the header back side and the housing. The first embodiment of the transducer assembly is configured such that a pressure exerted on the transducer compresses the interface between the header back side and the housing. A second example embodiment is provided that includes a one-piece housing having a built-in header portion configured for accepting the transducer. In this second embodiment, the interface adapter is configured for attaching to a mating surface and to the housing. In the second example embodiment, the transducer assembly is configured such that the pressure presses the transducer against the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Kulite Semiconductor Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Gardner, Louis DeRosa, Leo Geras, Dick Martin
  • Patent number: 9766101
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining or monitoring a process variable of a medium in a pipeline, which has a predetermined inner cross section, comprising a sensor and a T-shaped adapter. The adapter has a first portion and a second portion arranged essentially perpendicular to the first portion. The first portion has essentially the same inner cross section as the pipeline and the sensor is so arranged in the second portion that the end face of the sensor facing the medium is flush with the inner surface of the first portion of the adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Robert Schmidt, Andreas Krumbholz
  • Patent number: 9764607
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for attaching a sensor for a TPMS. The device for attaching a sensor for a TPMS includes: a module housing including a sensor module for a TPMS; a binding unit including a wire that is long enough to be wrapped on a wheel circumference portion of a vehicle and a rotation shaft installed in the module housing to wind or unwind the wire by a normal/reverse rotation; an engaging and fixing unit including an engaged groove and an engaged protrusion formed to generate an engaging and contacting force while being able to control an unwinding rotation corresponding to the rotation shaft of the binding unit; and a rotation unit disposed to rotate the rotation shaft of the binding unit and formed to release an engaging and contacting state of the engaging and fixing unit in connection with the rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Seetron Inc.
    Inventors: Sung Sun Uh, Byoum Youn Cho, Jin Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 9759586
    Abstract: A gas sensor includes a gas sensor element, a metallic shell, and a tubular protector fixed at a front side of the metallic shell. A front end of the gas sensor element faces an internal space formed between an inner surface of the protector and an inner surface of the metallic shell. The protector includes: a fixing portion surrounding the front side of the metallic shell and fixed to the metallic shell; a space partition portion extending radially and having inner gas introduction holes communicating with the internal space; a side wall connected to a radially inner side of the space partition portion; and a bottom wall formed on a front side of the side wall with an inner gas discharge hole. The gas sensor element is located rearward relative to an inner surface of an inner gas introduction hole located on the frontmost side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kentaro Mori
  • Patent number: 9746391
    Abstract: A fluid monitoring assembly includes a segment of tubing having a wall defining a lumen through which the fluid passes and a sensor at least partially embedded within a wall of the tubing. The assembly includes a housing having first and second portions connected to one another at a hinge, the housing defining an interior portion configured to hold the segment of tubing and the sensor. The housing may be opened and closed as needed using a fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: ALPHINITY, LLC
    Inventors: Michael C. Gagne, Steven V. Cates, Dean C. Richards
  • Patent number: 9733110
    Abstract: A housing equipped with a viewing window. The housing includes: a housing segment which adjoins a radially inwardly extending shoulder, which terminally externally surrounds a housing opening conically tapering from the housing interior toward the housing exterior. Flushly mounted in the opening, a disk shaped viewing window pane, which has bordering on its outwardly facing surface an external lateral surface conically tapering form the housing interior toward the housing exterior. A one-piece, shaped seal, which has a first portion, which externally completely surrounds the viewing window pane, and which has a second portion, which lies against an outer edge of a surface of the viewing window pane facing inwards into the housing. A support ring secured in the housing segment clamps the viewing window pane in the housing segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventor: Thierry Moser
  • Patent number: 9725287
    Abstract: A lifting apparatus for a vehicle wheel comprising a wheel support which is selectively movable in order to lift or lower a vehicle wheel which is positioned thereon. An actuator group is connected to the wheel support in order to actuate the lifting and lowering thereof. A control unit is operationally connected to the actuator group in order to control the actuation. A lifting sensor member is provided to detect the height of the wheel support. At least one actuation instruction brings about the actuation of the actuator group in order to lift the wheel support from a lowered rest position to a predetermined lifting position, which is detected by the lifting sensor member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Snap-On Equipment S.R.L.
    Inventors: Francesco Braghiroli, Gianluca Cavalli, Paolo Sotgiu, Marco Tralli
  • Patent number: 9726576
    Abstract: The invention concerns an asset monitoring system (10) having a monitoring unit 8 and a plurality of sensors (4) onboard the asset. The sensors (4) are arranged to measure a plurality of operational variables for the asset in use and the monitoring unit (8) is arranged to receive operational variable measurements output from the sensors. The monitoring unit is also arranged to determine a current value of a sensor characteristic (ZA1; ZB1) for each sensor and to compare the current sensor characteristic value with a predetermined sensor characteristic value in order to determine automatically whether a change of one or more sensors has occurred between instances of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: Andrew Peter MacDonald
  • Patent number: 9719900
    Abstract: This invention installs multiple miniature strain gauges inside a regular dimensioned bolt washer to accurately measure bolt preload. To enhance the strain gauge sensitivity, an alloy with low elastic modulus and high yield strength is selected to fabricate the metal washer. In addition, multiple gauges are connected in series to multiply the effective gauge length and enhance measurement sensitivity. Further, the stain gauges are encapsulated in the middle of the washer as opposed to on the external surface which offers much improved sensitivity and physical protection of the strain gauges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Ge Wang
  • Patent number: 9719862
    Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for temperature measurement of a target site, such a human body site. The invention includes an intelligent temperature probe configured to physically contact a target site and to communicate with a host device, which can be implemented as a hand-held device or as a personal computer. The host device can compute, store and display an accurate predicted temperature, or an actual temperature at thermal equilibrium, of the target site for each of a plurality of different intelligent temperature probes that each have unique and varied operating characteristics. A set of unique operating characteristics for each temperature probe is represented by information communicated between each respective temperature probe and the host device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Welch Allyn, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig M. Meyerson, David E. Quinn, John A. Lane, Anthony P. Wagner, Matthew J. Kinsley, Scott A. Martin, Matthew D. Mullin
  • Patent number: 9719875
    Abstract: A pressure sensor may comprise a nylon socket, an upper PCB, a lower PCB, and a hex housing. The nylon socket may include a plurality of co-molded electrical pin conductors extending axially from electrical connectors defined within a top end of the nylon socket for receiving an external electrical cable to a bottom end of the nylon socket. A top side of the upper PCB may have electrical contacts configured to contact the electrical pin conductors. The lower PCB may be connected to the upper PCB by at least one structural member, and electrically coupled to the upper PCB and to strain gauges coupled to a diaphragm. The hex housing may have an interior axial port extending from a bottom of said hex housing to a counterbore for holding the diaphragm, thereby exposing a first side of said diaphragm to the fluid within the axial port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Measurement Ltd.
    Inventor: Steven Petrucelli
  • Patent number: 9719505
    Abstract: A medication pump test device and method of use including a test device for use with a medication pump and a depth indicator, the test device including: an external body portion defining a depth indicator recess operable to receive the fixed portion of the depth indicator; an internal body portion attached to the external body portion, the internal body portion defining a slide spindle passage operable to allow free axial movement of the slide spindle of the depth indicator. The test device maintains the fixed portion of the depth indicator at a fixed axial position along the central axis relative to the medication pump when the fixed portion of the depth indicator is seated in the depth indicator recess, the external contact portion contacts the medication pump, and the internal body portion is seated in the open end of the reservoir compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew A. Weiner, David L. Canfield, Carl A. Link, Edward C. Morrow
  • Patent number: 9719812
    Abstract: A housing for a gas sensor module is described herein. The housing can include a first portion and a second portion. The first portion can include at least one wall forming a cavity having a first cavity portion and a second cavity portion. The first portion can also include an inlet tube coupling feature and a distribution channel disposed adjacent to the first cavity portion. The first portion can further include an outlet tube coupling feature and a receiving channel disposed adjacent to the second cavity portion. The second portion can include a tuning fork coupling feature disposed adjacent to the second cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Abhijeet Vikram Kshirsagar, Chinmaya Rajiv Dandekar, Amit Barjatya