Patents Examined by Philip L Cotey
  • Patent number: 11978680
    Abstract: A microelectronic chip device includes a semiconductor substrate and multiple on-chip strain sensors (OCSSs) constructed on the substrate at various locations of the substrate. The OCSSs may each include multiple piezoresistive devices configured to sense a strain at a location of the various locations and produce a strain signal representing the strain at that location. A strain measurement circuit may also be constructed on the semiconductor substrate and configured to measure strain parameters from the strain signals produced by the OCSSs. The strain parameters represent the strains at the various location. Values of the strain parameters can be used for analysis of mechanical stress on the chip device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth William Marr, Chiara Cerafogli, Michele Piccardi, Marco-Domenico Tiburzi, Eric Higgins Freeman, Joshua Daniel Tomayer
  • Patent number: 11976952
    Abstract: A self-cleaning thermal conductivity sensor comprises: a bellows coupled to a support structure; a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder; a sensor configured to measure a thermal conductivity of a fluid and extending from the pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, wherein the sensor comprises an exposure end configured to contact the fluid during sensing by the thermal conductivity sensor, a temperature sensor, and a heat source; sensor wires connected with the thermal conductivity sensor and extending to a control system; a self-cleaning system comprising: a hood having walls extending radially outward and defining a volume; and a cleaning brush integrated with or adjacent the bottom of the support structure. In a retracted configuration, the exposure end of the sensor is positioned at a retracted position a distance from cleaning brush, and, in an extended configuration, the exposure end of the sensor extends a distance along the central axis away from the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale E. Jamison, Andrew Vos
  • Patent number: 11971377
    Abstract: The present invention describes a versatile, robust and environmentally controlled platform with a linear temperature gradient for massively parallel chemical or biochemical processing. This apparatus is capable of probing the phase transition behavior of macromolecules in solution, both thermodynamically and kinetically. This includes—but is not limited to—liquid/liquid phase transition behavior of antibody solutions and in situ gelation of thermo-responsive polymers. The device can be operated in a multiplex fashion using a controlled temperature gradient architecture and visualized by dark field microscopy or by other optical intensity measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignees: The Penn State Research Foundation, MEDIMMUNE LLC
    Inventors: Tinglu Yang, Bradley Rogers, Jifeng Zhang, Paul S. Cremer
  • Patent number: 11963742
    Abstract: A medical device for the measurement of brain temperature data through the Abreu brain thermal tunnel (ABTT) is described. Brain temperature measurement is the key and universal indicator of both disease and health equally, and is the only vital sign that cannot be artificially changed by emotional states. Currently, brain temperature is difficult to measure. However, the present disclosure describes a device that readily locates the Abreu brain thermal tunnel, and is configured to provide a non-contact temperature reading of the brain. Embodiments of the disclosed device enable an individual to measure their own temperature and enable medical professionals to measure the temperature of others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Brain Tunnelgenix Technologies Corp.
    Inventor: Marcio Marc Abreu
  • Patent number: 11959934
    Abstract: A high precision weighing system and weighing method has a weighing plate and weighing unit separation mechanism and a weight loading mechanism. The weighing plate and weighing unit separation mechanism controls separation of a weighing plate and a weighing unit, so that the weighing plate or the weighing plate and its carried material do not apply force to the weighing unit. The weight loading mechanism loads a weight onto the weighing unit or removes a weight from the weighing unit; the weighing system records a weighing value of the weighing unit during the action of the weighing plate and weighing unit separation mechanism and a sensitivity value during the action of the weight loading mechanism. The weighing system modifies the weighing value at the time of the most recent combination of the weighing plate and the weighing unit based on the recorded weighing and sensitivity values, achieving a high precision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignees: Mettler Toledo Precision Instrument Company Limited, Mettler Toledo Measurement Technology Company Limited, Mettler-Toledo International Trading (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Lei Xu, Jean-Christophe Emery
  • Patent number: 11959811
    Abstract: A temperature sensor including a sapphire optical fiber and a nanoporous cladding layer covering at least a portion of the sapphire optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignees: SSAB Enterprises, LLC, Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Meng Lu, Jingjing Qian, Sunday O. Abraham, Randy Petty, Matthew J. Werner
  • Patent number: 11946812
    Abstract: A food thermometer includes a tip portion and an outer shell including a minimum food insertion depth indicator visible on an exterior of the outer shell. A thermal barrier member is located inside the outer shell along a center virtual axis defined by the outer shell at or adjacent a projected position of the minimum food insertion depth indicator on the virtual axis, or closer to the tip portion than the orthogonally projected position of the minimum food insertion depth indicator. In another aspect, a food thermometer includes a first portion and a second portion connected to the first portion. A third portion connected to the second portion includes an antenna. A thermal barrier member is located in at least one of the first portion and the second portion to thermally insulate the interior of the first portion from at least a portion of the interior of the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Apption Labs Limited
    Inventors: Teemu Nivala, Joseph Cruz
  • Patent number: 11946814
    Abstract: A window can comprise a first side and a second side substantially parallel to the first side. The window can comprise an optical grating operatively positioned with respect to one of the first side and the second side. The optical grating can be used to determine a temperature at or near the respective one of the first side and the second side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean P. Rodrigues, Ercan Mehmet Dede
  • Patent number: 11933714
    Abstract: A calculation apparatus includes a first acquisition unit that acquires a first approximation expression based on a change in a temperature of a temperature controlled member with respect to a change in an outside temperature measured for a plurality of temperatures of a temperature controlling member, a second acquisition unit that obtains a second approximation expression based on the first approximation expression, a temperature input unit that receives input of a first set temperature of the temperature controlled member and a second set temperature of the temperature controlling member, a generation unit that substitutes the second set temperature into the second approximation expression to generate a third approximation expression representing relationship between the outside temperature and the temperature of the temperature controlled member, and a calculation/output unit that substitutes the first set temperature into the third approximation expression to calculate an outside temperature to be set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hisatoshi Kasahara, Tomoyasu Nagai, Norihiro Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 11920991
    Abstract: A sensing device includes a sensing module configured to obtain a measurement data of an object to be measured, a first processing module coupled to the sensing module and configured to receive the measurement data of the object to be measured from the sensing module, and a power module coupled to the sensing module and the first processing module. The power module is configured to produce a supply voltage based on a magnetic field generated by an electromagnetic device to power the sensing module and the first processing module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuming Song, Shaoyong Wang, Mingjie Fan
  • Patent number: 11920965
    Abstract: A method for determining a temperature of a fluid flowing through a pipe section includes: determining a temperature of the pipe section; obtaining a reference temperature at a distance from a surface of the pipe section; determining a heat transfer behaviour, in particular a thermal resistance, of a boundary layer of the fluid on an inner wall of the pipe section based on at least one material property and/or at least one value of a state variable of the fluid; and determining the temperature of the fluid based on the heat transfer behaviour of the boundary layer, a heat transfer behavior, in particular a thermal resistance, of the pipe section, the temperature of the pipe section, and the reference temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Joerg Gebhardt, Guruprasad Sosale, Andreas Decker, Wilhelm Daake, Juergen Horstkotte, Peter Ude, Paul Szasz, Ulf Ahrend
  • Patent number: 11920969
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system (100) and a method (200) for measuring the filling level of a silo (110) for storing and mixing at least one bulk material, the silo being provided with a plurality of support legs (111) on the ground. The system comprises: a single deformation sensor (120) provided to be fixed to a single support leg of the silo so that the deformation sensor can detect deformations of the support leg in order to generate at least one measurement signal which comprises the deformation values, a first wireless communication means (130) provided to transmit the measurement signal, and a remote server (140) which comprises a second wireless communication means and a processor, the processor being provided to process the measurement signal so as to obtain an estimation of the filling level of the silo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: NANOLIKE
    Inventors: Lucas Digianantonio, Jean-Jacques Bois
  • Patent number: 11920923
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a water heater, and a scale detection system and method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventors: Tao Chen, Hongfei Ma, Shufeng Liu
  • Patent number: 11913840
    Abstract: A device for determining and/or monitoring a process variable of a medium includes a measuring insert, having a sensor element for sensing the process variable arranged in an end region of the measuring insert, and a dipping body for receiving the measuring insert which at least temporarily and/or partially protrudes into the medium and surrounds the measuring insert at least in a subregion nearest the medium. The device further includes a coupling unit introduced into the dipping body and designed to fill up an inner volume between an inner wall of the dipping body and an outer wall of the measuring insert at least in the subregion in which the sensor element is located as to ensure mechanical coupling between the dipping body and the measuring insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Wetzer GmbH+Co. KG
    Inventors: Christian Peuker, Pavo Vrdoljak, Alfred Umkehrer
  • Patent number: 11906368
    Abstract: A temperature measurement technology includes generating an input optical signal at a wavelength using an optical signal generator, splitting the input optical signal into a first beam and a second beam, optically transmitting the first beam through the first arm of an interferometer, transmitting the second beam through a second arm of the interferometer that introduces a phase shift in the second beam relative to the first beam, combining at least a portion of the transmitted first beam and the transmitted phase-shifted second beam to produce an output optical signal, measuring an optical signal intensity of the output optical signal, and correlating the measured optical signal intensity with a temperature to produce a measured temperature. Alternatively, the input optical signal may be transmitted through two or more interferometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventors: Mohammad Amin Tadayon, Kevin R. Williamson
  • Patent number: 11906484
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a system and method for measuring the structural characteristics of an object. The object is subjected to an energy application processes and provides an objective, quantitative measurement of structural characteristics of an object. The system may include a device, for example, a percussion instrument, capable of being reproducibly placed against the object undergoing such measurement for reproducible positioning. The system does not include an external on/off switch or any remote on/off switching mechanism. The system also includes a disposable feature or assembly for minimizing cross-contamination between tests. The structural characteristics as defined herein may include vibration damping capacities, acoustic damping capacities, structural integrity or structural stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: PERIMETRICS, INC.
    Inventors: James C. Earthman, Cherilyn G. Sheets, John Michael Elam, Robert Hayman
  • Patent number: 11883270
    Abstract: A method for measuring airflow through a channel comprised in an absorbent article core, said method comprising the steps of: providing an absorbent core adapted to be sandwiched between a liquid permeable topsheet and a liquid impermeable backsheet of an absorbent article, wherein the absorbent core comprises at least one channel; providing a thermal imaging camera; loading the absorbent core with a warm liquid, wherein said warm liquid has a temperature of greater than 30° C.; simultaneously visually recording said absorbent core with said thermal imaging camera, and spraying said channel(s) with a cold fluid, wherein the cold fluid has a temperature of less than 10° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignees: ONTEX BV, ONTEX GROUP NV
    Inventor: Ainas Weber
  • Patent number: 11883001
    Abstract: A surgical apparatus includes a housing, a test port retainer, a pressure test chamber, and an image capture assembly. The housing includes a pressure test port. The test port retainer includes a test port retainer housing, a probe seal, and a liquid exclusion barrier. In one aspect, the test port retainer also includes a hydrophobic membrane mounted within the test port retainer housing. The pressure test chamber includes a manifold and a central tube. The first end of the central tube is affixed to the image capture assembly to form a pressure seal, and the second end of the central tube is coupled to the test port retainer so that the pressure test port communicates with the interior volume of the central tube through the test port retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: William Jason Culman, Jaime G. Blackstad, Peter M. Herzlinger, Willard Curtis Lomax
  • Patent number: 11887047
    Abstract: A refrigerator is provided with a container for storing a substance and that has a sensing and reporting system configured to determine an amount of the substance within the container. The sensing and reporting system includes a sensor configured to sense the amount of the substance, a transmitter, and a processor in communication with the sensor and the transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Richard A McCoy
  • Patent number: 11879791
    Abstract: A temperature detection circuit includes a first temperature sensor unit that includes a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of a target object and that is configured to output a first analog signal indicating the detected temperature, a second temperature sensor unit that includes a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the target object and that is configured to output a second analog signal indicating the detected temperature, and an AD converter configured to convert the second analog signal into a digital signal and configured to output the digital signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masamichi Tokuda