Patents Examined by John E. Breene
  • Patent number: 11513031
    Abstract: Conformance testing of a rebuilt motor includes disposing a motor under test in a motor test stand, coupling a plurality of sensors to the motor under test including a first vibrational sensor to the motor under test; a first temperature sensor to the motor under test; a first rotational speed sensor to the motor under test. A set of test parameters are received comprising parameters for a conformance test, the test parameters including a vibrational sensor parameter, a temperature sensor parameter, and a rotational speed parameter. A motor under test is placed in an on-state and a processing device receives sensor data simultaneously from the sensors, determines that the rotational speed satisfies the rotational speed parameter, and stores time sampled sensor data received from the plurality of sensors relative to a time zero corresponding to a time when the rotational speed satisfies the rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Inventors: Douglas Johnson, Michael Ingram, Greg Ziegler, Soenke Petersen
  • Patent number: 11467216
    Abstract: For each cell in a plurality of cells from a same manufacturing run, a first and a second cell characteristic are received in order to obtain a plurality of cell characteristics. For each cell, a batch compatibility number that is associated with a number of compatible cells that that cell is compatible with is determined based at least in part on the plurality of cell characteristics. The plurality of cells is sorted according to the batch compatibility numbers to obtain a sorted list of cells. A plurality of compatible cells to include in a battery is selected from the plurality of cells, including by evaluating the plurality of cells according to the order of the sorted list of cells and beginning with the lowest batch compatibility number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Wisk Aero LLC
    Inventors: Lewis Romeo Hom, Thomas P. Muniz, Patrick K. Herring
  • Patent number: 11460488
    Abstract: An electrical measurement device for monitoring the current and power taken by a plurality of electrical loads that may be powered by a selected one of multiple AC power sources comprises sampling the voltage of said sources and the current taken by said loads at a integral number of samples per cycle at sample times determined by an independent processor clock. The integral number of samples of each measured parameter for each cycle are processed to determine a complex number for each parameter representative of the amplitude and the phase relative to the independent processor clock. The phase drift of the substantially constant source voltages may be determined as a measure of frequency of the sources, and may be used to cancel drift of the current measurement to enable averaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: KOOLBRIDGE SOLAR, INC.
    Inventor: Paul Wilkinson Dent
  • Patent number: 11456194
    Abstract: A high-dimensional variable selection unit determines a list of critical parameters from sensor data and parametric tool measurements from a semiconductor manufacturing tool, such as a semiconductor inspection tool or other types of semiconductor manufacturing tools. The high-dimensional variable selection model can be, for example, elastic net, forward-stagewise regression, or least angle regression. The list of critical parameters may be used to design a next generation semiconductor manufacturing tool, to bring the semiconductor manufacturing tool back to a normal status, to match a semiconductor manufacturing tool's results with that of another semiconductor manufacturing tool, or to develop a specification for the semiconductor manufacturing tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: KLA-TENCOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wei Chang, Joseph Gutierrez, Krishna Rao
  • Patent number: 11454674
    Abstract: If a charging quantity charged to a battery pack since switching from discharging to charging is more than or equal to a reference charging quantity, an ECU estimates the SOC from the OCV by referring to a charging OCV. If a discharging quantity discharged from the battery pack since switching from charging to discharging is more than or equal to a reference discharging quantity, the ECU estimates the SOC from the OCV by referring to a discharging OCV. If the electric quantity is less than the reference charging quantity or if the electric quantity is more than the reference discharging quantity, the ECU estimates the SOC from the OCV using a straight line for supplementing SOC-OCV characteristics in a region enclosed by the charging OCV and the discharging OCV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11425863
    Abstract: Yield monitoring systems for round baling machines and methods that can provide weight estimations for round bales at the time of formation are described. Balers can include those that incorporate hydraulically actuated bale kicking or pushing assemblies as well as those that incorporate spring-loaded off ramps. Farm implements including baling machines and cotton module builders are encompassed. The system includes a sensor that can ascertain a physical parameter associated with ejection of a round bale from the farm implement. Physical parameters as may be ascertained can include pressures, velocities, accelerations, etc. associated with bale ejection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Clemson University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Kendall R. Kirk, H. Guy Ramsey, IV, Perry J. Loftis
  • Patent number: 11430529
    Abstract: A method for capacitance coupling parameter estimation includes determining a plurality of mean voltages among a plurality of memory cells of the memory in each of a plurality of cases related to inter-cell interference, generating a plurality of middle state mean voltages in response to the mean voltages, and adjusting one or more threshold voltages used to read from the memory based on the middle state mean voltages to operate independently of knowledge of middle state distributions in the memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Meysam Asadi, Zhengang Chen, Erich F. Haratsch
  • Patent number: 11415630
    Abstract: In one aspect, an embodiment of this invention comprises an apparatus for updating an active fuel gauge of a battery cell. The apparatus comprises a memory, a sensor, and a processor. The memory stores data regarding an active fuel gauge of the battery cell based on a first voltage and state of charge (SOC) relationship. The processor receives first, second, and third resting voltage measurements at different times. The processor calculates differences in capacity between pairs of the resting voltage measurements based on the first voltage and state of charge (SOC) relationship. When the differences are equal the reference capacity difference, the processor identifies an estimate of a remaining capacity of the battery cell corresponding with the active fuel gauge. When the differences are not equal to the reference capacity difference, the processor updates the active fuel gauge based on an identified second voltage and SOC relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII
    Inventors: Matthieu Dubarry, Arnaud Devie
  • Patent number: 11415432
    Abstract: A standalone odometry device includes an accelerometer and/or gyroscope configured to be mounted on a wheel or axle of a vehicle. A controller in communication with the accelerometer and/or gyroscope is configured to receive data from the accelerometer and/or gyroscope. The controller processes the data to determine one or more of the speed, wheel rotation direction, accumulated distance travelled, stationary status, acceleration, deceleration, wheel diameter, and grade of surface on which the wheel is in contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: THALES CANADA INC.
    Inventors: Marco De-Thomasis, Alon Green
  • Patent number: 11401803
    Abstract: A system and method to determine effective fracture surface-area per cluster of hydraulic fractures of a hydraulically-fractured well by estimating total effective fracture-area associated with a wellbore and estimating relative distribution of effective fracture surface-area along the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Huseyin Onur Balan, Anuj Gupta
  • Patent number: 11378203
    Abstract: A method for determining the degree of wear of a valve, the degree of wear of the valve being dependent on the degree of wear of an operating element that is made of an expandable material and performs a mechanical movement each time the temperature changes, the change in temperature resulting in wear, the operating element made of an expandable material being mechanically connected to a piston; the movements of the operating element (3) made of an expandable material are calculated by initially sensing the change in temperature on the operating element (3), whereupon the changes in temperature are recalculated as movements on the basis of the temperature/expansion curve applicable to the operating element (3) made of an expandable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Inventor: Werner Zahlhaas
  • Patent number: 11378474
    Abstract: This disclosure presents a dimensionless relationship between a fluid flow rate, a viscosity, and a brake horsepower (BHP) in a pump operation and a method that uses the dimensionless relationship to predict a BHP for viscous performance of a pump from water performance specifications. Using the dimensionless relationship, i.e., K-R number, the methods determine a BHP correlation that allows the prediction of the BHP specification to satisfy a pump performance metric at any given speed, flow rate, and viscosity. This prediction can be calculated from water performance specifications without physically testing the pump in the viscous implementation environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Ketankumar Kantilal Sheth, Robert Charles de Long
  • Patent number: 11366135
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for GNSS statistical speed calibration An example vehicle includes a wheel, a speed sensor for determining a first vehicle speed, an inertial sensor, and a processor. The processor may be configured for determining a second vehicle speed based on information from the inertial sensor and information from a satellite based system, determining that a difference between the first and second vehicle speeds is statistically significant, and responsively adjusting a value of the radius of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Anthon Mueller, Gregory William Farrey, David A. Herman, Christopher Henderson, Boris Gorovets
  • Patent number: 11366977
    Abstract: A method for determining a threshold for spike detection in a noisy signal in real-time is provided. The method includes estimating a current variability of noise in the noisy signal according to a measured instantaneous value and a window of previous instantaneous values using a sigma-delta control loop, determining the threshold based on the estimated variability of the noise; and repeating the steps to update the estimate of the variability of the noise and adjust the threshold in real-time as the noisy signal changes. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for executing the method on a processing unit, and a low-power digital system implementing the method are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: UNIVERSITÉ LAVAL
    Inventors: Gabriel Gagnon-Turcotte, Benoit Gosselin
  • Patent number: 11361132
    Abstract: A system and method for using weather applied metrics for determining the impact of weather conditions on the flight of a ball at an outdoor sports venue. Historical and current data for weather parameters, including wind, air pressure, humidity, temperature, and precipitation, are obtained to calculate the influence of each parameter on the flight of a ball. The influences of each of the parameters are summed to model the flight of the ball based on the current weather conditions. Weather instruments, such as weather sensors, anemometers, LiDAR and SODAR devices, weather consoles, data routing devices, and processors can be included in a system for using weather applied metrics to predict the flight of a ball based on current weather conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Martin Meter LLC
    Inventors: William Martin, John Paul Farley, John Amirault Farley, Peter Jackson, Douglas Milton Sinton, Metin Ozen
  • Patent number: 11360153
    Abstract: Methods and systems for rerating a battery pack based on fuel gauge data are described, including capturing operational or fuel gauge data for a first battery pack that contains a plurality of battery cells, and determining, based on the fuel gauge data, a remaining capacity of the first battery pack. When the remaining capacity of the first battery pack falls below the minimum capacity; a new battery pack can be configured using some or all of the battery cells, and a second fuel gauge can be configured with new initial capacity and minimum capacity ratings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ligong Wang
  • Patent number: 11360000
    Abstract: Systems and methods to dynamically allocate resources in product test automation. In a testing lab, multiple tests are run on multiple machines to test multiple products, where each product has an initial priority. A test distributor calculates, for each product, a specific number of machines on which that product is to be tested based on the initial priority of that product; determines a number of remaining machines not being used in testing; determines one or more products being tested that need one or more additional machines for testing; and determines, for each product identified as needing one or more additional machines for testing, a number of machines to be allocated to run the tests for that product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Svetlana Bayarovich, Maryia Smouzh
  • Patent number: 11353443
    Abstract: Methods of combining mineral composition and laboratory test results for reservoir rock samples to predict future responses to secondary and tertiary oil recovery treatments are disclosed. Particular, SEM and EDS will be combined to produce a mineral map, including mineral distribution around the rock's pore space, for comparison with laboratory data to predict and/or interpret how certain mineral distributions will respond to various fluid-rock interactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: James J. Howard, Gary Lovell
  • Patent number: 11357149
    Abstract: A component orientation determination data creation device for creating component orientation determination data used in a component orientation determination system that determines an orientation of the component by comparing a brightness value of a determination region specified in the component orientation determination data within an image of the component captured by a camera with a determination threshold. A difference image between an image of the component in a correct orientation and an image of the component in another orientation is calculated by acquiring multiple images of the component in different orientations by changing the orientation with respect to the camera of the component that is the target for the component orientation determination data creation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: FUJI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuya Kotani, Masafumi Amano
  • Patent number: 11347612
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for determining a current condition of an electronic device configured to communicate over a wireless network. For example, the method can include collecting units of condition data of the electronic device. In some instances, each unit of condition data is generated by a sensor of the electronic device that performs an ongoing measurement of a parameter of the electronic device or detects an occurrence of an event that affects the condition of the electronic device. The electronic device provides the units of condition data over a network to a manager node. The units of condition data are then stored in a distributed ledger. The network node can determine a current condition of the electronic device based on the units of condition data stored in the distributed ledger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Knostman, Christopher Spanton, Yunhang Chen