Patents Examined by Max Noori
  • Patent number: 10054504
    Abstract: A load change detection apparatus is provided with a base member, an elastic member, a first plate, a fixing member and heat flow sensors. The elastic member deforms according to a changed load applied to the elastic member, received by the receiving member. The first plate supports a surface of the elastic member on a side of the base member. The fixing member fixes the lower plate and the elastic member to the base member. The heat flow sensors, provided between the base member and the lower plate, output signals according to heat flowing between the lower plate and the base member. The heat flows due to heat generated or heat absorbed when the elastic member changes the elasticity shape thereof. Stress occurring when the elastic member deforms, is shut off by the first plate, thus direct transmission of the stress to the heat flow sensors is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Norio Gouko, Toshihisa Taniguchi, Atusi Sakaida, Keiji Okamoto, Yoshihiko Shiraishi, Masahiro Asano
  • Patent number: 10048143
    Abstract: A sensor unit and a sensor apparatus are provided in which the size of the sensor unit itself is prevented from varying regardless of whether or not a redundant sensor is included, eliminating the need to change the design of a component to which the sensor unit is attached. Terminals of a sensor unit include a plurality of lead connection portions to which Hall ICs can be attached and a plurality of cable connection portions electrically connected to outside. The terminals are provided according to the number of sensors so as to enable the Hall ICs corresponding to two magnetic sensors to be attached to the terminals. A lead to the Hall IC corresponding to at least one magnetic sensor is connected to the terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuichi Toyama, Takatsugu Asano
  • Patent number: 10048092
    Abstract: In a torsional moment and angle sensor for determining a torsional moment to be transferred from a drive member to a driven member, an at least partially circumferential drive side encoder ring section is provided. A contactless sensor scans the drive side encoder ring section. A driven side encoder ring section is provided via which an angular position of the driven member is scanned. The sensor for scanning the drive side encoder ring section is coupled to the drive side encoder ring section via a torsion spring bridge having a predetermined torsional elasticity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSON AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Stefan Kolbenschlag
  • Patent number: 10048179
    Abstract: Techniques for determining rock properties include exerting a compressive load with a test apparatus across a rock sample that includes a specified length-to-diameter ratio; measuring, with a strain gauge, a strain on the rock sample during the compressive loading; determining, based at least in part on the compressive load, a mechanical property of the rock sample; and determining, based at least in part on the measured strain and the compressive load, an elastic property of the rock sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Bitao Lai, Hui Li, Hui-Hai Liu, Yanhui Han
  • Patent number: 10041846
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a force sensor including a housing and a support coupled to the housing, where the apparatus can couple to a rotary component. The housing also includes a handle coupled to the support to facilitate applying a force to the apparatus. The apparatus further includes an angular position sensor to sense rotation related to the apparatus, which can include a rotation of the rotary component to which the apparatus is coupled, a relative rotation between the housing and the handle, where the handle is rotatably coupled to the housing, and/or the like. The apparatus also includes a force sensor enabled to measure an amount of force applied to the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Douglas Duff, Andrew Sweigart, Evan Yarrington
  • Patent number: 10041856
    Abstract: Provided is a displacement sensor assembly which includes a cantilever beam, a reaction block, a strain sensor, and a temperature sensor. The cantilever beam is physically oriented such that the longitudinal axis of the cantilever beam is perpendicular to the direction of displacement. A first end of the cantilever beam is fixably mounted to a fixed reference and a first end of the reaction block is fixably mounted to a moving reference. A second end of the cantilever beam is joined to a second end of the reaction block. The strain sensor is mounted and calibrated to detect displacement between the fixed and moving reference by measuring strain on the second end of the cantilever beam, and the temperature sensor is mounted and calibrated to counteract the effect of thermal strain on the sensor assembly and a method of use therefore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Cleveland Electric Laboratories Company
    Inventors: Michael McNeilly, John J. Martin
  • Patent number: 10041845
    Abstract: A force sensor device for determination of a measurement value of a force and generation of an electrical signal based on the measurement value includes a force ring with a force application surface and a support surface for support of a circuit board, on which passive and active electronic components are arranged. The circuit board is mechanically or adhesively fixated on the support surface. At least one force transducer is electrically connected with the circuit board, and arranged and configured at the force ring in such a way that deformations of the force ring, as a result of an axial force applied on the force ring, are measured. A housing lid is connected with the force ring, so that the force ring and the housing lid enclose the circuit board and the force transducer. Also provided is an external connection for picking up an electrical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: FIRST SENSOR MOBILITY GMBH
    Inventors: Lars Petersen, Sebastian Hagedorn
  • Patent number: 10036700
    Abstract: A numerical simulation tool for progressive failure in laminates utilizes a low fidelity approach. The numerical model includes an enriched element that is initially in a low fidelity form. The enriched elements may increase fidelity by splitting locally to simulate an ongoing damage process such as delamination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF NASA
    Inventor: Mark W. McElroy
  • Patent number: 10036766
    Abstract: A method for producing a force-measuring element (10) having at least one articulation point (20) which separates one region of the force-measuring element (10) into two connected subregions (11, 12) which can be deflected in relation to one another. The method includes: providing a force-measuring element blank (10), removing material from the force-measuring element blank (10) in order to produce the articulation point (20), checking whether the deflection behavior of the subregions (11, 12) which is produced by the articulation point corresponds to a predefined specification, defining a correction form (30) which can be produced through material removal and compensates for an ascertained deviation from the predefined specification, correcting the articulation point geometry using a laser and the previously defined correction form (30), through material removal at the articulation point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Sartorius Lab Instruments GmbH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Winfried Graf, Friedrich Helmsen, Detlev Erben, Helga Covic, Tanja Mueck
  • Patent number: 10035399
    Abstract: A mechanical component for a vehicle, such as a ball stud, having a cylindrical measurement region with an outer surface. A force sensor is associated with the cylindrical measurement region for detecting at least one force to which the component is exposed. The forces detected by the nanotube sensor may include compressive and/or tensile stress forces. The force sensor includes a layer of carbon nanotubes applied to the outer surface of the cylindrical measurement region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Klaus Haskamp, Michael Klank, Peter Hofmann
  • Patent number: 10036676
    Abstract: A force sensor may comprise a sensing die comprising a cap and a support. Generally, a first surface of the support may comprise a buried cavity and one or more channels. The one or more channels may extend from the buried cavity towards the outer edges of the support and may ensure the force sensor is not sensitive to ambient or atmospheric pressure variation. The cap may be bonded to the first surface of the support, thereby forming a sensing diaphragm located above the buried cavity. Additionally, the force sensor may comprise an actuation element to sense a change in force from an external media. The actuation element may transmit the force to the sensing diaphragm causing it to deflect into the buried cavity. The one or more sense elements on the sensing diaphragm may provide an indication of the change in force based on the amount of deflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Inventors: Alistair David Bradley, Richard Alan Davis, Richard Wade
  • Patent number: 10031036
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a substrate including a first area, a second area, and a bending area, the bending area disposed between the first area and the second area and bending about a bending axis running along a first direction; a first piezoelectric device disposed over the bending area; and a pressure sensor. The first piezoelectric device is configured to contract or expand according to a pressure variation sensed by the pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Minsung Kim, Thanhtien Nguyen, Kiju Im
  • Patent number: 10024742
    Abstract: A system includes a magnetostrictive sensor having a sensor head including a driving pole. The driving pole includes a driving coil that may receive a driving current and may emit a magnetic flux portion through a rotary structure. The sensor head also includes a sensing pole including a sensing coil that may receive the magnetic flux portion and may transmit a signal based at least in part on the received magnetic flux portion. The received magnetic flux portion is based at least in part on a force on the rotary structure. The sensor head also includes a temperature sensor disposed on the sensor head. The temperature sensor may measure a temperature of the rotary structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dan Tho Lu, Pekka Tapani Sipila, Clifford James Uber
  • Patent number: 10018264
    Abstract: A gear includes a gear body and a first gear tooth. The gear body extends radially between an outer portion and an inner portion. The first gear tooth has a first tooth portion, a second tooth portion, and a first slot. The first tooth portion extends radially from the outer portion towards a first land. The second tooth portion is circumferentially spaced apart from the first tooth portion and extends radially from the outer portion towards a second land. The first slot is defined between the first tooth portion and the second tooth portion and extends from at least one of the first land and the second land towards a first slot root.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Adam W. Lee, Jeffrey E. Beyerlein, Jason T. Rutkiewicz, Keith A. Kidder, Niklaus A. von Matt
  • Patent number: 10018524
    Abstract: A load determining system having a sensorized rolling element bearing in a hub unit for wheels. The bearing includes a first ring and a second ring as an inner and outer ring. The first and second ring may be the inner ring, the other ring being the outer ring. The system includes at least two magnetic sensors attached to the first ring interact with a target wheel attached to the second ring. The system includes a signal processing unit configured to receive the magnetic sensor output of the at least one magnetic sensor, to determine at least axial forces acting on the bearing based on the amplitude of the magnetic sensor output and to calculate averages value of the outputs of the at least two magnetic sensors and to calculate a logarithm of a ratio of the average values to determine a load acting on the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventor: Hendrik Anne Mol
  • Patent number: 10018544
    Abstract: An electromagnetic multiaxial fatigue testing machine includes a test piece fixing platform and an electromagnet loading mechanism arranged on a frame, wherein the electromagnet loading mechanism includes a first loading device for bend loading, and a second loading device for axial and torsional loading. The first loading device includes a first permanent magnet and a first electromagnet with a direction of a magnetic force generated therebetween is orthogonal to an axial direction of a test piece; the second loading device includes a second permanent magnet and a second electromagnet mounted on a swinging pair with a direction of a magnetic force generated therebetween is parallel to the axial direction of the test piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Hohai University
    Inventors: Zhongqiu Fu, Bohai Ji, Faxiang Xie, Lin Chen
  • Patent number: 10012869
    Abstract: A method and a device for detecting a rubbing cloth, the method includes rubbing a coloring sheet with the rubbing cloth; and detecting the rubbing cloth according to a pattern in a rubbed region. The device includes a base platform, a coloring sheet is provided on the base platform; and a rubbing roller, a rubbing cloth to be detected is provided on an outer surface of the rubbing roller, the rubbing roller is disposed in parallel to the base platform and the rubbing roller is configured to rub on the coloring sheet. By coloring the rubbing cloth with the coloring sheet, and detecting the rubbing cloth with a pattern in a rubbed region, the quality of the rubbing cloth can be detected by observing the depth and the arrangement of the pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jian Li, Yan Yang, Shichao Wang, Yuguang Fan, Jingpeng Li, Yuekai Gao
  • Patent number: 10001423
    Abstract: A pressure measurement device includes a platen, a pressure sensor, a signal acquisition section, and a data processing section. The pressure sensor includes a plurality of pressure-sensitive points arranged on the platen. The signal acquisition section is configured to acquire measurement data that is obtained when a measurement object in contact with a surface of the platen passes over the pressure sensor a plurality of times. The measurement object moves relative to the platen and along a circular orbit on the platen. The data processing section is configured to calculate periods in each of which the measurement object passes over the pressure sensor and to acquire period data for each of the periods from the measurement data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Nitta Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Yamamoto, Akira Ozeki
  • Patent number: 10001393
    Abstract: A metal mold includes a restraining part that is fitted in a recess provided at a part of surfaces of at least two resin parts that serves as an outer surface of a resin hollow body. A linear space is filled with high-pressure resin fluid injected at a predetermined injection pressure. The resin parts are joined together. The mold receives injection pressure of resin fluid, with which the space is filled, through the resin parts, and applies pressing force, which pushes back the resin parts toward the space, to the resin parts as reaction force against injection pressure. Stress is produced on a hollow wall surface in a direction in which the wall surface projects into a hollow portion due to injection pressure. The restraining part applies pressing force to the resin parts in a direction opposite from the stress projecting the wall surface into the hollow portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akiyuki Sudou
  • Patent number: 10001418
    Abstract: Embodiments generally relate to device and methods for detecting force. A force sensor may include a sense die, a substrate, one or more sense elements supported by the sense die, one or more electrical contacts located on the sense die and electrically coupled to electrical traces on the substrate, and an actuation element configured to transmit a force to the sense die. The width of the actuation element may be less than the distance between the one or more electrical contacts. In some embodiments, the actuation element may include a thin wedge/plate configured to interact with the sense die at a contact point. The thin wedge/plate may allow use of a smaller sense die and/or may allow closer placement of the one or more sense elements to the contact point and/or may prevent accidental contact with the one or more electrical contacts which may lead to a short circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: James F. Machir, Jason Dennis Patch