Patents Examined by Luan V. Van
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Patent number: 10996190Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) based gas sensor including an electrolyte contacting one or more top electrode(s) arranged on the bottom surface of a top semiconductor substrate (TSS), and one or more bottom electrode(s) arranged on the top of a bottom semiconductor substrate (BSS), the TSS and BSS joined with an adhesive seal around the electrolyte, the sensor including one or more capillaries providing gaseous communication to the electrolyte from an external ambient environment. The electrodes may be electrically accessed by one or more vias to externally accessible bond pads. In some examples, an electrical connection may be made from an additional bond pad on top of the TSS to the electrolyte. Various embodiments may reduce the size of various gas sensors to advantageously allow their inclusion into portable electronic devices.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2018Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Scott Edward Beck, Yong-Fa Wang, Robert Higashi, Philip Clayton Foster, Keith Francis Edwin Pratt, Cristian Vasile Diaconu
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Patent number: 10980448Abstract: A sensor device, such as a biosensor, may comprise a polymer substrate, which is structured so as to form sets of microneedles and respective vias. The microneedles extend, each, from a base surface of the substrate. Each of the vias extends through a thickness of the substrate, thereby forming a corresponding set of apertures on the base surface. Each of the apertures is adjacent to a respective one of the microneedles. The device further may comprise two or more electrodes, these including a sensing electrode and a reference electrode. Each electrode may comprise an electrically conductive material layer that coats a region of the substrate, so as to coat at least some of the microneedles and neighboring portions of said base surface. Related devices, apparatuses, and methods of fabrication and use of such devices may be provided.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2018Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Neil Ebejer, Ute Drechsler, Patrick Ruch
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Patent number: 10983088Abstract: The invention provides novel microfluidic coulometric sensors having a silver (Ag) band electrode longitudinally placed in a microchannel affording visual readout suitable for the naked eye, and methods of fabrication and applications thereof.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2017Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: University of MassachusettsInventors: Kwok-Fan Chow, Jung Min Oh, Mahadurage Sachintha Wijesinghe
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Patent number: 10983085Abstract: Disclosed is a gas sensor for detecting a measurement target gas in a measurement gas atmosphere, including: a first sensor element; a first installation part defining a first inner space in which the first sensor element is installed; and a casing accommodating therein the first installation part. The casing has an opening formed to introduce the measurement target gas into an inside of the casing. The first installation part has: a first gas introduction hole formed to provide communication between the first inner space and the inside of the casing; and a membrane member arranged to cover the first gas introduction hole and having permeability to water vapor and substantially no permeability to the measurement target gas. At least a portion of the first installation part in contact with the membrane member is made of insulating ceramic material or resin material.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2018Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.Inventors: Yusuke Matsukura, Shoji Kitanoya, Masaya Watanabe, Daisuke Ichikawa, Masahiro Yamashita
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Patent number: 10981811Abstract: A wastewater treatment system and method for remediating wastewater and human waste that is self-contained and that has no connection to a municipal wastewater system and no connection to an electrical grid. The domestic toilet and wastewater treatment system can be powered by a photovoltaic panel as a source of electricity. The system includes an electrochemical cell that allows a waste stream to be disinfected in a few hours to a condition where no viable bacterial colonies can be cultured. The system produces a liquid stream that is suitable for system flushing or for uses in which non-potable water is acceptable. The system can generate hydrogen as a product that can be used to generate power. The system can generate nitrate, urea, ammonia and phosphate for use as fertilizer. The disinfected residual organic solids are also completely disinfected for potential use as an organic soil amendment for agriculture.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2013Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Michael R. Hoffman, Asghar Aryanfar, Kangwoo Cho, Clement A. Cid, Daejung Kwon, Yan Qu
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Patent number: 10976282Abstract: Herein are described an instrument and a method for using the same. The instrument comprises a fluid channel fluidly connected to at least a first fluid reservoir and a second fluid reservoir; a counter electrode (CE), a reference electrode (RE), and a working electrode (WE); and a potentiostat. The CE, RE, and WE are all disposed within the fluid channel; the potentiostat is isolated from earth ground by at least one isolator and is powered by a floating power supply; and the CE, RE, and WE are each electrically connected to the potentiostat.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2017Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: The University of Notre Dame du LacInventors: Paul Bohn, Lawrence Zaino, III
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Patent number: 10976279Abstract: Embodiments relate generally to systems and methods for identifying the concentration of an electrolyte. A method may comprise scanning a working electrode of an electrochemical sensor using cyclic voltammetry at a plurality of electrolyte concentrations; generating a variable set of readings from the first cyclic voltammetry scan using a potential difference between a hydrogen adsorption peak and a Pt-Oxide reduction peak at each of the plurality of electrolyte concentrations; and determining a correlation by plotting the variable set of readings and the plurality of electrolyte concentrations. In some embodiments, the method may comprise scanning a working electrode of a second electrochemical sensor using cyclic voltammetry, wherein the second electrochemical sensor has been employed; generating a second set of readings; and determining the electrolyte concentration of the electrolyte of the second electrochemical sensor by applying the determined correlation to the second set of readings.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2016Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Andrew Stephen Leach, Andrea Elizabeth Russell
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Patent number: 10969358Abstract: A method of calibrating a device for measuring the concentration of creatinine in a sample including one or more enzyme modulators, the device comprising an enzyme layer, the method comprising: determining sensitivities of the device for each of one or more calibration solutions; determining a degree of modulation for the sample to be measured, determining a degree of modulation for each calibration solution; wherein said determining of each of the degrees of modulation comprises estimating the concentration of an enzyme modulator in the enzyme layer of the device; and calculating the sensitivity of the device for the sample, wherein the said calculating comprises adjusting the sensitivity of the device for each calibration solution by a factor comprising the determined degrees of modulation of the sample and the calibration solution.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2016Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: RADIOMETER MEDICAL APSInventors: Thomas Steen Hansen, Thomas Pedersen Nygaard
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Patent number: 10969360Abstract: Solid-state electrodes comprising Redox Active Surface Areas for use in analyte sensing devices and various product platform devices.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2016Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Inventors: Thang Huy Vu, Jai Krishnamurthy, Srinivas Rao
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Patent number: 10942143Abstract: A biosensor electrode, comprising: a porous metal structure; and a carbon nanotube structure comprising a plurality of carbon nanotubes, the carbon nanotube structure is fixed on a surface of the porous metal structure, wherein the porous metal structure and the carbon nanotube structure are shrunk together to form a plurality of wrinkled parts.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2017Date of Patent: March 9, 2021Assignees: Tsinghua University, HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.Inventors: Hong-Ying Fu, Wen-Zhen Li
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Patent number: 10926255Abstract: An apparatus and method, the apparatus including a channel; at least one pair of electrodes provided within sides of the channel; a conductor configured to move through the channel such that when the conductor is positioned between the at least one pair of electrodes a current path is provided through the at least one pair of electrodes and the conductor; and wherein the at least one pair of electrodes are configured such that the position of the conductor within the channel controls the length of the current path and enables a time varying voltage to be provided.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2016Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: Nokia Technologies OyInventors: Darryl Cotton, Adam Robinson
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Patent number: 10921284Abstract: Techniques described herein can apply AC signals with different phases to different groups of nanopore cells in a nanopore sensor chip. When a first group of nanopore cells is in a dark period and is not sampled or minimally sampled by an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to capture useful data, a second group of nanopore cells is in a bright period during which output signals from the second group of nanopore cells are sampled by the analog-to-digital converter. The reference level setting of the ADC is dynamically changed based on the applied AC signals to fully utilize the dynamic range of the ADC.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2018Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: Roche Sequencing Solutions, Inc.Inventors: J. William Maney, Jr., Santiago Fernandez-Gomez
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Patent number: 10830729Abstract: In a sensor control device which controls a sensor, a first filter unit extracts a first filtered signal obtained by attenuating a frequency component higher than a first cutoff frequency from a digital signal indicating a current-application control value for a pump current, and a second filter unit extracts a second filtered signal obtained by attenuating a frequency component higher than a second cutoff frequency from the first filtered signal. A cutoff frequency setting unit sets at least one of the first cutoff frequency and the second cutoff frequency such that the sensor control device can control at least two types of sensors.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2018Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.Inventors: Junichiro Mitsuno, Satoru Abe, Chihiro Tomimatsu, Hidetoshi Makino
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Patent number: 10822292Abstract: A method for producing a reaction product, with which the reaction product is obtained from a starting material through a particular organic synthesis reaction, the method includes (a) a step of setting a target wavelength to a peak wavelength of a reaction region involved in the organic synthesis reaction in an infrared absorption spectrum of the starting material; (b) a step of preparing an infrared heater that emits an infrared ray having a peak at the target wavelength from a structure constituted by a metal pattern, a dielectric layer, and a metal substrate stacked in this order from an outer side toward an inner side; and (c) a step of obtaining the reaction product by allowing the organic synthesis reaction to proceed while the infrared ray having a peak at the target wavelength is being applied to the starting material from the infrared heater.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2019Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.Inventors: Kousuke Niwa, Yoshio Kondo, Hiroaki Isobe, Michiro Aoki
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Patent number: 10807091Abstract: A method of driving an active matrix electro-wetting on dielectric (AM-EWOD) device comprises (i) setting a reference electrode to a first reference voltage; (ii) writing a set of data to array element electrodes of array elements of the device; and (iii) either (a) maintaining the voltages written to the array element electrodes until a time t0 or (b) re-writing the set of data N?1 times (where N?2). The reference electrode is then set to a second reference voltage different from the first reference voltage, and features (i) to (iii) are repeated. When the data are first written, there is a delay between the time when the voltage on the reference electrode is transitioned and the time when a given array element is next written with data.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2015Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignee: Sharp Life Science (EU) LimitedInventors: Benjamin James Hadwen, Jonathan Buse
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Patent number: 10801990Abstract: An embodiment provides a method for compensating for inteferants in measurement of alkalinity in a reagent-less system, including: introducing an aqueous sample into a measurement device comprising one or more series of electrodes; applying an electrical signal to the aqueous sample using the one or more series of electrodes, wherein the electrical signal is selected from the group consisting of: current and voltage; identifying, during application of the electrical signal, that the electrical signal reaches an oxidation threshold and measuring, prior to reaching the oxidation threshold, a first electrical response to the electrical signal, the first electrical response attributable to interferants in the aqueous sample; identifying, during application of the electrical signal, that the electrical signal reaches an endpoint and measuring, from the oxidation threshold to the endpoint, a second electrical response to the electrical signal; and measuring an alkalinity of the aqueous sample based upon a differencType: GrantFiled: April 17, 2018Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: HACH COMPANYInventors: Vishnu Vardhanan Rajasekharan, Corey Alan Salzer
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Patent number: 10793963Abstract: Provided in one example is a sensor having at least one fissure, the fissure being at least partially filled by at least one polymer formation extending vertically within a passivation layer. The polymer formation protects the underlying metal containing layer from corrosive solutions. Provided in another example is a method of forming the polymer formation in a fissure of a sensor.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2018Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignee: ILLUMINA, INC.Inventor: Hayden Black
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Patent number: 10768141Abstract: Isoelectric focusing devices configured for multiplex separation of sample components of interest in a polymeric separation medium are provided. Also provided are methods of using the devices as well as systems and kits that include the devices. The devices, systems and methods find use in a variety of different applications, including diagnostic and validation assays.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2016Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: The Regents Of The University Of CaliforniaInventors: Amy E. Herr, Augusto M. Tentori, Kevin A. Yamauchi
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Patent number: 10753903Abstract: A technique for electrical detection of a molecule is provided. A fluidic bridge is formed between a nanopipette and a fluid cell, where the molecule is in the nanopipette. A voltage difference is applied between the nanopipette and the fluid cell, where the fluid cell contains an electrolyte solution. Entry of the molecule into the fluidic bridge is determined by detecting a fore pulse. The fluidic bridge between the nanopipette and the fluid cell is broken to form a nanogap. In response to waiting a time interval, the fluidic bridge is reformed between the nanopipette and the fluid cell to close the nanogap. The molecule is determined to exit the nanopipette by detecting an after pulse.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2017Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Venkat K. Balagurusamy, Stanislav Polonsky
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Patent number: 10739296Abstract: Disclosed is a biological analyte monitoring device including a strip inserter in which a test strip is to be inserted, and a processor configured to read a code sequence based on an element detected from an index region, a first code region, and a second code region of the test strip in response to the test strip being inserted in the strip inserter, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a target interval in which an index element formed in the index region is detected while the test strip is being inserted in the strip inserter, detect a first code element formed in the first code region in the target interval and detect a second code element formed in the second code region in the target interval, and identify the code sequence based on a result of detecting the first code element and the second code element.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2018Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: PHILOSYS CO., LTD.Inventor: In Hwan Choi