Patents Examined by Regis Betsch
  • Patent number: 9632115
    Abstract: A method for deriving characteristic values of a MOS transistor is described. A set of ?k values is provided. A set of VBi values (i=1 to M, M?3) is provided. A set of RSDi,j (i=1 to M?1, j=i+1 to M) values each under a pair of VBi and VBj, or a set of Vtq_q,j (q is one of 1 to M, j is 1 to M excluding q) values under VBq is derived for each ?k, with an iteration method. The ?k value making the set of RSDi,j values or Vtq_q,j values closest to each other is determined as an accurate ?k value. The mean value of RSDi,j at the accurate ?k value is calculated as an accurate RSD value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Yi-Ting Wu, Cheng-Tung Huang, Tsung-Han Lee, Yi-Han Ye
  • Patent number: 9612182
    Abstract: A device and method for detecting fault conditions in a fluid connection system between a first fluid containing system including a first pulse generator (e.g., an extracorporeal blood circuit) and a second fluid containing system including a second pulse generator (e.g., a human or animal vascular system). A pressure sensor detects first pulses from the first pulse generator and second pulses from the second pulse generator. A time-dependent monitoring signal based on data obtained from said pressure sensor is generated and processed to calculate a parameter value indicative of the shape of at least part of a first pulse in the monitoring signal. The parameter value is evaluated to detect the fault condition. The fault condition may involve disconnection of an access device; reversed connection of access devices; occlusion of the fluid path through an access device; or infiltration in tissue surrounding an access point in the vascular system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Gambro Lundia AB
    Inventors: Bo Olde, Kristian Solem
  • Patent number: 9593976
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pulsed level gauge system comprising frequency control circuitry. If an acquired signal indicates that the time between the previous filling level determination and the present filling level determination is shorter than a predefined time, the frequency control circuitry controls at least one of a transmit signal generating circuitry and a reference signal generating circuitry comprised in the pulsed level gauge system using previous frequency control settings stored in memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Rosemount Tank Radar AB
    Inventors: Leif Nilsson, Hakan Delin, Hakan Nyberg
  • Patent number: 9575128
    Abstract: Adaptive estimation techniques to create a battery state estimator to estimate power capabilities of the battery pack in a vehicle. The estimator adaptively updates circuit model parameters used to calculate the voltage states of the ECM of a battery pack. The adaptive estimation techniques may also be used to calculate a solid-state diffusion voltage effects within the battery pack. The adaptive estimator is used to increase robustness of the calculation to sensor noise, modeling error, and battery pack degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Frost, Brian J. Koch, Damon R. Frisch, Brett B. Stawinski, Patricia M. Laskowsky, Kurt M. Johnson, Robert C. Baraszu
  • Patent number: 9541393
    Abstract: Example methods, apparatuses, or articles of manufacture are disclosed herein that may be utilized, in whole or in part, to facilitate or support one or more operations or techniques for reducing power consumption or error of a digital compass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Christopher Brunner, Victor Kulik
  • Patent number: 9540928
    Abstract: Described herein is a method and system for characterizing in-ground rock types from measurement-while-drilling data in a mining environment. The method includes the steps of drilling holes at a plurality of selected locations within a region of interest; collecting measurements while drilling to obtain an array of data samples (162) indicative of rock hardness at various drilling depths in the drill hole locations; obtaining a characteristic measure (163) of the array of data samples; performing Gaussian Process regression (164) on the characteristic measure; and applying boundary detection (166) to the rock hardness output data obtained from the Gaussian process model to identify the distribution (280) of at least one cluster of rock type within the region of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: The University of Sydney
    Inventors: Hang Zhou, Peter James Hatherly
  • Patent number: 9530633
    Abstract: Systems and method for mass spectrometry are presented. In one embodiment, a method comprises: (a) acquiring one or more fragmentation signatures for a reference sample, wherein each fragmentation signature of the reference sample is acquired with a unique tandem mass spectrometry mode; (b) identifying one or more discriminate features across the plurality of fragmentation signatures of the reference sample; (c) acquiring one or more fragmentation signatures for an unknown sample, wherein each fragmentation signature of the unknown sample is acquired according to the discriminant features of step (b); (d) identifying one or more discriminate features across the plurality of fragmentation signatures of the unknown sample; (e) scoring the fragmentation signatures of step (c) by comparing the discriminate features of the reference sample, from step (b), against the discriminate features of the unknown sample, from step (d); and (f) identifying a structural isomer based on the score of step (e).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Javier E. Satulovsky, Magdalena Anna Bynum, Gregory Staples
  • Patent number: 9518763
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are disclosed of a climate control system that includes an igniter and a controller having an igniter relay. The controller senses a current level through the igniter and senses voltage between terminals of a second relay of the controller. In a given one of a plurality of operational phases of the system, the controller is configured to compare the sensed current level and sensed voltage to a current level and voltage associated with a specific condition of the igniter, igniter relay, or second relay in the given phase. Based on a result of the comparing, the controller is configured to distinguish between a failure of one of the relays and a failure of the igniter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: John F. Broker, John J. Heller
  • Patent number: 9508612
    Abstract: Methods and systems for accurate arc detection in semiconductor manufacturing tools are disclosed. Such methods and systems provide real-time arc detection and near real-time notification for corrective actions during a semiconductor manufacturing process. Such methods and systems utilize data with high sample rate and wavelet analysis to provide for more accurate arc detection, which leads to more effective and cost efficient semiconductor manufacturing operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Singlevich, Kommisetti Subrahmanyam, Tony Davis, Michael Johnson
  • Patent number: 9507466
    Abstract: A capacitance sensitive proximity and touch-sensitive detection device having an XY electrode grid sensor, wherein a compensation matrix is created when the capacitance sensitive touchpad is installed within a PIN Entry Device (PED), wherein the compensation matrix enables the capacitance sensitive touchpad to compensate and be balanced for the operating environment of the PED, and wherein physical keys of a keypad can be also be individually identified as an actuated key by using a unique “key profile” for each key, and wherein the insertion of a foreign conductive and/or dielectric material such as an intruding sensor in proximity of the XY electrode grid sensor of the touchpad will cause an imbalance in the electrodes on the capacitance sensitive proximity and touch-sensitive detection device, thereby alerting detection circuitry that tampering has occurred with the PED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: CIRQUE CORPORATION
    Inventors: J. Douglas Moore, Jared G. Bytheway, Dale J. Carter, David Taylor
  • Patent number: 9506987
    Abstract: A system for tracking the capacity of a battery in a portable electronic device is described. While plugged in-to a power adapter, the system measures a first open-circuit voltage for the battery while the battery rests at a first state of charge. Next, the system causes the battery to transition to a second state of charge. During the transition, the system integrates a current through the battery to determine a net change in charge. Next, the system measures a second open-circuit voltage while the battery rests at the second state of charge. Finally, the system estimates a capacity for the battery based on the first and second open-circuit voltages and the net change in charge. This capacity measurement is repeated and the multiple results are fitted to a line. The slope of fitted line is used to estimate how the battery capacity has faded since last measured using traditional techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Nils E. Mattisson, P. Jeffrey Ungar, Thomas C. Greening, Jeffrey G. Koller
  • Patent number: 9494558
    Abstract: Noise included in detection signals is distinguished with a simple configuration. Provided is a flaw-detection apparatus (1) including a flaw-detection sensor group (11) in which two flaw-detection sensors (11a and 11b) are arranged substantially in one row in a scanning direction with a distance therebetween and a processing device (15) that detects a defect in an inspection object on the basis of detection signals detected by the individual flaw-detection sensors (11a and 11b), wherein, with regard to the detection signals detected by the flaw-detection sensors (11a and 11b), when signal values detected at substantially a same positional coordinate in the scanning direction are not similar to each other, and, additionally, when signal values measured at a same time are similar to each other, the processing device (15) determines that the detection signals are not defect signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kayoko Kawata, Masaaki Kurokawa, Masayoshi Higashi, Masaya Takatsugu, Yoshihiro Asada
  • Patent number: 9496715
    Abstract: A method for determining the contribution of a grid subsystem (12) to oscillations in grid frequency experienced by an external electrical grid (14) in an electrical power network (10). A measurement of grid frequency is taken in the grid sub-system (12) and/or the external electrical grid (14). The measurement(s) of grid frequency can be used to extract oscillations in grid frequency in the grid subsystem (12) and/or the external electrical grid (14). A measurement of active power is recorded on a transmission line (16c) between the grid subsystem (12) and the external electrical grid (14). The phase relationship between the oscillations in grid frequency and the oscillations in active power allows the contribution of the grid subsystem (2) to oscillations in grid frequency in the external electrical grid (14) to be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Psymetrix Limited
    Inventor: Douglas Wilson
  • Patent number: 9488683
    Abstract: An AC measurement circuit includes a rectifier for receiving an AC signal; a peak detection circuit; and a voltage divider, interconnected with an output of the rectifier, and the input of the peak detection circuit to provide the peak detection circuit with a voltage value equal to a fraction of the AC signal. An analog to digital converter, has its analog input interconnected with an output of the peak detection circuit, for providing a digital output corresponding to its analog input. A summing circuit sums n samples of the digital output. The voltage divider is configured so that the summing circuit calculates an average measurement of the AC signal by summing n samples and without floating point division.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: TYCO SAFETY PRODUCTS CANADA LTD.
    Inventors: Andrei Bucsa, Stephen D. W. Fosty
  • Patent number: 9479184
    Abstract: A frequency calibration apparatus, applied to a phase locked loop (PLL), includes a frequency detecting module and a search module. The frequency detecting module includes a first counter, a second counter and a comparing unit. During a monitoring period, the first counter and the second counter respectively generates a first count and a second count. The comparing unit compares the first count with the second count to generate a comparison result indicating at least three situations. The search module selects a frequency curve in response to the comparison result, and calibrates configuration of a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) according to the frequency curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: MSTAR SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Ming-Yu Hsieh, Shih-Chieh Yen, Yao-Chi Wang
  • Patent number: 9471539
    Abstract: Methods and devices for determining a noise variance of an axis of a gyroscope are described. In one aspect, the method includes: representing a plurality of gyroscope readings for the axis in a histogram, the histogram including a plurality of bins associated with respective ranges; determining a bias for the axis of the gyroscope by identifying a concentration of the gyroscope readings within the histogram; and determining a noise variance for the axis of the gyroscope based on the histogram and based on the identified concentration of gyroscope readings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Nathan Daniel Pozniak Buchanan, Robert Oliver, Adam Louis Parco
  • Patent number: 9470734
    Abstract: According to this method, an electromagnetic spectrum emitted by the electronic component during operation is measured and the measured electromagnetic spectrum is compared with a predetermined template defining at least one safe operating range in order to detect possible malfunction or risk of malfunction of the electronic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: THALES
    Inventors: Didier Regis, Marc Gatti, Damien Jugie, Sebastien Thomas
  • Patent number: 9465078
    Abstract: A method of determining battery performance information indicative of a performance of a battery in a device is disclosed, the method including: receiving environmental condition information indicative of environmental conditions of the device during a usage period; receiving operating parameter information indicative of one or more operating parameters of the battery during the usage period; and determining the battery performance information based at least in part on: the environmental condition information, the operating parameter information, and a performance model corresponding to the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: FAIRFIELD INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventor: Timothy M. Betzner
  • Patent number: 9448125
    Abstract: A method, in one embodiment, can include modeling and calibrating two types of sensors that are part of a semiconductor device. In addition, the method can include determining a temperature and voltage based on data received from the two sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: NVIDIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Abhishek Singh, Wojciech Jakub Poppe, Ilyas Elkin
  • Patent number: 9429601
    Abstract: An alternating current input voltage detection circuit comprises: a first voltage waveform detection circuit that detects a voltage waveform of one alternating current input terminal of the diode rectification circuit, based on a reference potential of the device; a second voltage waveform detection circuit that detects a voltage waveform of the other alternating current input terminal of the diode rectification circuit, based on the reference potential of the device, and a voltage waveform generation circuit that: calculates a first detection voltage waveform, which is output from the first voltage waveform detection circuit, and a second detection voltage waveform, which is output from the second voltage waveform detection circuit; generates a voltage waveform signal, in which waveform distortions generated in the first detection voltage waveform and the second detection voltage waveform are eliminated; and outputs the voltage waveform signal as the voltage detection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Toru Ashikaga