Patents Examined by Katina Wilson
  • Patent number: 6805016
    Abstract: A sensing assembly senses varying parameters of a bearing mechanism. The bearing mechanism includes a circular bearing housing. The sensing assembly includes a sensor case. The sensor case is fixedly secured to the bearing mechanism. The sensor case includes a peripheral surface and a top plate with extensions protruding outwardly therefrom. The sensing assembly also includes a sensor housing that is removably insertable into the sensor case. The sensor housing selectively engages the extensions of the sensor case to secure the sensor housing in the sensor case at a location spaced from the bearing mechanism. The sensing assembly includes a sensor that is disposed within the sensor housing. The sensor senses the parameters of the bearing mechanism, wherein the sensor and the sensor housing may be removed from the bearing mechanism and replaced without replacing the bearing mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Arquimedes Godoy, Aida I. Parada
  • Patent number: 6799458
    Abstract: An oil level/condition sensor includes a first level sensing tube, a common tube, and a second level sensing tube. The tubes are concentric to each other around a central axis. Moreover, the tubes are separated by plastic spacers which insulate the level sensing tubes from the common tube and maintain the concentricity of the tubes. Installed in the end of the first level sensing tube is a coupling/plug and disposed around the coupling/plug is a first condition sensing tube. The coupling/plug insulates the first level sensing tube from the first condition sensing tube and prevents fluid communication therebetween. A second condition sensing tube is attached to the second level sensing tube around the common tube and the first condition sensing tube. A ring-shaped insulator electrically isolates the second condition sensing tube from the second level sensing tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith N. Ismail, Oscar Alfonso Lecea, Steven Douglas Thomson
  • Patent number: 6786105
    Abstract: Provided is a personal sampler for PM that allows separation of airborne particles in several size ranges and operates at a high flow rate (9 L/min) by personal sampling standards that makes chemical analysis of the size-fractionated particles possible within a period of 24 hours or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventor: Constantinos Sioutas
  • Patent number: 6779385
    Abstract: A method and device for monitoring moisture content level of a solid dielectric material, or paper, immersed in a dielectric fluid, or oil, both of which having respective moisture content, and known water solubility properties varying with temperature. The device includes a moisture detector and a temperature detector for measuring moisture content level and temperature level of the oil, respectively. A microprocessor, electrically connected to both the moisture and the temperature detectors, computes the moisture content level of the paper. The microprocessor has the known water solubility properties of the paper and the oil stored therein and processes the oil moisture content level and the oil temperature level so as to determine the paper moisture content level. The latter being displayed on a display connected to the microprocessor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Inventor: Michel Belanger
  • Patent number: 6779412
    Abstract: The invention concerns a pipette comprising a body, an arm mobile relative to the body along a longitudinal direction to eject a tip fixed to the body and a push button controlling the movement of the arm. The pipette is designed such that the push button is mobile relative to the body in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction by being able to take up any one particular position in a continuous range of positions in said plane and enabling to control the movement of the arm in said any particular position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Gilson S.A.S
    Inventor: Francois Viot
  • Patent number: 6766687
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for determining the level (F) of a medium (3) in a container (2) using a capacitive sensor (4). A voltage source which subjects the sensor (4) to a measuring frequency (fM) is provided, as is a measuring/evaluating circuit (6) which establishes the measured capacitance (CM), compares this to a predetermined capacitance value and provides the information concerning the level (F) of the medium (3) in the container (2). The aim of the invention is to increase the measuring sensitivity of a capacitive sensor (4) without increasing the sensitivity of the sensor to interfering signals. To this end, the measuring/evaluating circuit (6) has at least one inductance (L) which together with the measured capacitance (CM), forms a resonant circuit (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Endress & Hauser GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Hans-Jörg Florenz, Armin Wernet
  • Patent number: 6763714
    Abstract: Method for controlling the level of a liquid (2) contained in at least one vessel (3), which comprises the following operative steps: inserting a measure tube (1) in the liquid (2); arranging an auxiliary duct (6; 21) inside or outside the vessel (3); measuring the pressure in said measure tube (1); measuring the pressure in said auxiliary duct (6; 21); determining the difference between the pressures in the measure tube (1) and in the auxiliary duct (6; 21); determining the value of the density or the specific weight of the liquid (2) in the vessel (3); dividing said pressure difference by said value of the density or specific weight of the liquid (2). The present invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out said method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Gigi Molina Brevetti Plastici, S.p.A.
    Inventors: Mario Molina, Antonio Pasquale
  • Patent number: 6761067
    Abstract: A sensor for use in determining a level of a medium or detecting an object includes a plurality of spaced-apart electrically conductive members disposed on a nonconductive support. Each of the conductive members are connected to an astable multivibrator for selectively generating a first plurality of signals each having a frequency based on a capacitive value due to a respective conductive member, an at least one ground member, and at least one of an absence of the medium and a presence of the medium. A microcontroller enables determining the level of the medium or detection of the object based on the frequencies of the first plurality of generated signals. The microcontroller may be configured for compensating for buildup of a material on the sensor to enhance the accuracy of the sensor. Self-correcting features and safety features employed in the sensor are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Environment One Corporation
    Inventor: David Capano
  • Patent number: 6758107
    Abstract: An integrated mesopump-sensor suitable for disposition in two- and three-dimensional arrays having small dimensions is disclosed. One mesopump is formed of an electrostatically attractable flexible diaphragm disposed through cavities or pumping chambers formed between two opposing electrostatically chargeable material layers. Fluid is pumped through the chambers by sequentially moving the diaphragm toward the first chargeable layer, then towards the second chargeable layer, which can pull and push the fluid through a series of chambers, and past the sensor. One group of sensors utilizes multiple and varied chemoresistive sensors which can vary in resistance differently in response to the presence of various analytes. Another group of sensors utilizes chemo-fluorescent sensors that fluoresce in the presence of particular analytes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Cleopatra Cabuz
  • Patent number: 6748805
    Abstract: A liquid level measuring apparatus is provided, which includes an input circuit configured to receive electrical signals from level sensors configured to provide an electrical signal proportional to a liquid level in a tank portion. The input circuit provides a single output signal proportional to the combined liquid level in one or more liquid storage vessel portions. The apparatus may further include or be connected to a transmitter such as a wireless transmitting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Shaw Controls Company
    Inventor: Benjamin N. Lease
  • Patent number: 6725718
    Abstract: Described is a method for a coarse differentiation between a liquid and a bulk material of a filling material present in a receptacle using a filling level measuring device that scans a reflected echo signal. The coarse differentiation is made in dependence on the width of the individual echoes of an envelope curve in an echo signal. Alternatively, the coarse differentiation may also be made in dependence on the number of equidistant echoes in an echo signal, or in dependence on the detection of a stirring apparatus. All these alternatives may also be combined with each other. Also described are devices and filling level measuring devices configured for the realization of the methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Vega Grieshaber KG
    Inventor: Martin Gaiser
  • Patent number: 6725704
    Abstract: A gas analyzer has a measuring chamber, a gas inlet channel, a gas outlet channel, a pump for providing a gas flow through the chamber, a device for irradiating the gas in the chamber with pulsating electromagnetic energy to generate acoustic pressure fluctuations therein, and at least one microphone communicating with the chamber for detecting the fluctuations. The inlet channel and the outlet channel each has an acoustic filter formed by channels with reduced sectional area of flow and a plurality of cavities associated therewith. The gas analyzer has at least one sandwich device formed of joined plate-like elements. The channel sections of the inlet and/or outlet channel are defined by at least two elements and the vibration-reducing cavities are also defined by at least two elements. The connections between the respective channels and cavities are formed as transverse apertures in the elements or element portions adjoining the channel and the cavities, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: PAS Technology A/S
    Inventors: Jesper Lange, Jorgen Christensen
  • Patent number: 6715350
    Abstract: A level sensor mechanism for detecting liquid levels in storage tanks. A conduit is provided having an upper portion and a lower portion. The conduit may be adapted to receive a cable therein, may be substantially rigid and adapted to resist deflection. A sensor assembly body is provided and adapted to locate a level sensor therein. The sensor assembly body may be located in fixed relation to said conduit, and may be rigidly composed and adapted to resist deflection. A coupling member may be secured to said lower portion of said conduit, said coupling member fixedly securing said conduit to said sensor assembly body, said sensor assembly body being secured on said offset portion of said coupling member. The level sensor mechanism may thereby resist or eliminate deflection through the construction of the conduit, coupling member and sensor assembly body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Practical Tank Management, Inc.
    Inventor: Dale E. Roberts
  • Patent number: 6715348
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for correctly detecting the level of a processing liquid such as HPM in a processing tank in the event that any drift occurs in a detector is disclosed. A liquid level detecting apparatus (70) comprises a pressure sensor (73) operable to generate an output signal S0 which is maintained at a constant signal level until the level of HPM reaches a predetermined position M in the tank and rises in the signal level as the liquid level rises in the tank after reaching the predetermined position M, a determination circuit (93) for determining whether the liquid level reaches the predetermined position M and a liquid level detecting circuit (94) for detecting the liquid level. The output signal S0 from the pressure sensor is input to an amplifier (92). The liquid level detecting circuit (94) comprises a low-pass filter (97) which receives the amplified signal and generates an output pressure signal S4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Shori Mokuo
  • Patent number: 6715349
    Abstract: An aircraft fuel-gauging system has multiple ultrasonic gauging probes providing fuel height outputs at several locations within a tank. The output of an inertial sensor is used to compute the attitude of the fuel surface with respect to the tank. The system uses the attitude information to determine whether outputs from a group of two or more probes are compatible with one another. Where a probe is identified as having an output incompatible with the fuel surface attitude and the outputs of other probes its output is excluded from the computation of the fuel quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Smiths Group PLC
    Inventor: Harry Atkinson
  • Patent number: 6711937
    Abstract: A sensor module for an incubator or other patient support includes a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the air within the interior of the hood of support, a humidity sensor for determining the relative humidity of air drawn from the hood, a temperature sensor for determining the temperature of the air sensed by humidity sensor, and a correlator for adjusting the sensed relative humidity to provide an indication of the relative humidity within the hood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Richards, Ronald S. Kolarovic
  • Patent number: 6705162
    Abstract: A probe assembly for monitoring the water level in boilers with an electric immersion resistor heater, of the type that comprises at least one sensor element to be arranged inside a hollow body which is in turn associated and partially inserted in the boiler. The hollow body has, on the portion arranged outside the boiler, a plug which axially supports the sensor element; the end of the sensor element arranged at the plug is connected, when the plug is installed, by way of at least one electrical contact, to an electrical power supply cable, whose contact end is arranged at the portion of hollow body that is arranged outside the boiler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: T.P.A. Impex S.p.A.
    Inventor: Luigi Amoretti
  • Patent number: 6701784
    Abstract: A carburetor fuel level management system includes a fuel level sensor mounted in the float bowl of the carburetor for monitoring actual fuel level and providing a signal indicative of the fuel level. The sensor may be used for data acquisition and/or to provide feedback to a controller which maintains fuel level at or near a preferred level by varying fuel flow rate into the float bowl in response to an indication from the sensor that the actual fuel level differs from the preferred fuel level. Fuel flow rate may be controlled by selectively bypassing a fuel pressure regulator in the carburetor inlet line or by varying voltage to an electric fuel pump, among other methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Aeromotive, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve M. Matusek, Shawn D. Wessol
  • Patent number: 6694831
    Abstract: A method and system for automatically locating a component connected to a planar, such as a printed circuit board, is disclosed. The method and system comprises providing at least one substantially clear latch coupled to the component, mounting a light emitting element on the planar beneath the at least one latch, and activating the light emitting element, thereby illuminating the at least one latch of the component such that the component can be readily located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Assimos, II, Mohamad Hassan Tawil
  • Patent number: 6688171
    Abstract: A device for recording the fill level of a liquid inside a container in which an elongated, flexible tubular electrical contact element is arranged, one end area of which is provided with connections at which an electrical signal can be measured. Electrically conductive coatings are disposed on the inner surface of the contact element and facing towards one another, which coatings may be brought into contact with one another by means of a contact producing acquisition element which is disposed on the outside and is movable relative to the flexible contact element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Kramp