Patents Examined by Regis Betsch
  • Patent number: 9427016
    Abstract: A method for monitoring the function of a pasteurization installation, and to a pasteurization installation having a device for monitoring the function, providing a quick and simple way of detecting malfunctions. For this purpose, a theoretical expected value of the resource consumption, in particular of the energy and/or water consumption, is calculated, the actual value is determined and from a deviation between the expected value and the actual value a malfunction of the pasteurization installation is concluded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Falko Wagner
  • Patent number: 9429623
    Abstract: A system for use in automated test equipment. In one embodiment, the system includes a configurable integrated circuit (IC) programmed to provide test patterns and an interface to at least one device under test (DUT). The system also includes a connection to the at least one DUT, wherein the connection is coupled directly between the configurable IC and the at least one DUT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: ADVANTEST CORPORATION
    Inventors: W Scott Villareal Filler, Ahmed S. Tantawy, Erik H. Volkerink
  • Patent number: 9407098
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a system that determines a battery chemistry for a battery in a peripheral device. During operation, the system determines a first voltage of the battery at a first time and a second voltage of the battery at a second time. The first voltage and the second voltage are then compared to one or more predetermined battery usage profiles to determine the battery chemistry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Marco Sebastiani, Louis W. Bokma, Nima Parivar
  • Patent number: 9387736
    Abstract: A system for detecting deflated tires by making a relative comparison among rotation speeds of tires attached to a vehicle. The system includes a rotation speed information detection means for detecting rotation speed information of the tires; a rotation speed calculation means for calculating rotation speeds of the tires; and a determination means for determining deflated tires by comparing a decreased pressure determination value using the calculated rotation speeds with a predetermined threshold value. The determination means determines that the vehicle is going straight when it is found, with regard to factors composed of a lateral G, a yaw rate, and a steering angle of the vehicle, at least two of the factors including the yaw rate show that a difference between the maximum value and the minimum value at a predetermined time is lower than a predetermined value, thereby detecting deflated tires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignees: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD., HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Minao Yanase, Seigou Sakagami, Yuji Oshiro, Tomonori Sakai, Shinya Notomi, Kazutaka Saito, Kazunari Okada, Ichiro Ueno
  • Patent number: 9390388
    Abstract: A computerized method of determining the end of a measurement and verification period of a building management system is provided. The method includes calculating, for a plurality of periods, a target amount of energy savings resulting from energy conservation measures in a building. The method further includes calculating, for a plurality of periods, a least amount of energy savings resulting from energy conservation measures in a building. The method further includes comparing the target amount to the least amount. The method further includes ending the measurement and verification period, before the end of a maximum measurement and verification period, when the least amount is greater than the target amount. The method further includes outputting an indication that the measurement and verification period has ended to at least one of a memory device, a user device, or another device on the building management system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Kirk H. Drees, James P. Kummer, Michael J. Wenzel
  • Patent number: 9354043
    Abstract: Methods are disclosed wherein the structural health of a civil structure, pressure vessel, or the like is measured by electronic distance measurement (EDM) from a plurality of stable locations to a plurality of cardinal points on the structure in a methodical manner. By measuring the coordinates of the cardinal points, the dynamic and long-term static behavior of the structure provide an indication of the health of the structure. Analyses includes: comparison to a Finite Element Model (FEM); comparison to historical data; and modeling based on linearity, hysteresis, symmetry, creep, damping coefficient, and harmonic analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignees: Sophie Lin, Trustee of the John Michael Payne Family Trust
    Inventors: David H. Parker, John M. Payne, Sophie Lin
  • Patent number: 9339205
    Abstract: A waveform analyzer includes a converter which converts a logical function, where a pair of data including a time and a value at the time is variable, created according to data sets of a time and a value of a signal waveform at the time into a second function expressed by a binary decision diagram, an acquisition unit which obtains for each of characteristic points of a reference waveform a condition representative of constraints on a relationship between time information specified by the points and a value corresponding to the time information in the signal waveform according to a value of the reference waveform at the points and a specified tolerance given to a value of the reference waveform, and a searching unit which applies the condition for each of the points to the second function to obtain a time range which meets the entirety of the conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Yutaka Tamiya, Hiroaki Iwashita, Hiroyuki Higuchi
  • Patent number: 9322871
    Abstract: A current measurement circuit includes first and second input nodes which receive the respective voltages at either side of a resistive element through which electrical current can flow, a differential amplifier means which produces an output signal indicative of the difference in voltage between its input terminals, electrical path forming means providing a connection between each of the input nodes and a respective input terminal of the differential amplifiers, a controllable voltage source for selectively applying an offset voltage to at least one input of the differential amplifier in response to a control signal, a control signal generator which generates the control signal applied to the voltage source such that at a first instance an offset voltage is applied which is greater than that applied at a second instance, and a diagnostic means which is adapted to identify faults present in the electrical path between the first input node and the respective input to the amplifier by comparing the output from
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: TRW Limited
    Inventors: Stephen Edwin Crozier, Andrew Stephen James Williams
  • Patent number: 9318920
    Abstract: A method for maximizing the benefits of Fault Circuit Indicators on an electrical feeder has two steps. In the first step a data set for the feeder is obtained based on historical data. In the second step, the number of FCIs and their location is calculated based on the data set obtained in the first step. The number of FCIs and their location is determined utilizing a simulation algorithm that ensures each FCI is used efficiently and provides actionable information to the utility's crew.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: BALTIMORE GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Aleksandar Vukojevic, Paul Frey
  • Patent number: 9316761
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for estimating reservoir connectivity using gravity estimates at a fluid contact for each of two or more boreholes. The method may include identifying fluid contacts in the boreholes. The method may include additional gravity estimates at and/or between a well head and the fluid contact of each borehole. The method may include gravity estimates along a surface between well heads of the boreholes. The method may include estimating true vertical depth for the boreholes. The apparatus may include at least one gravimeter and a processor configured to estimate reservoir connectivity using estimates from the gravimeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Carl M. Edwards, Daniel T. Georgi, Antonius M. Loermans
  • Patent number: 9310094
    Abstract: A portable monitoring system that monitors various aspects of the operation of a refrigerant-cycle system is described. In one embodiment, the system includes a processor that measures power provided to the refrigerant-cycle system and gathers data from one or more sensors and uses the sensor data to calculate a figure of merit related to the efficiency of the system. In one embodiment, the measurements performed by the monitoring system include one or more of: an evaporator input air temperature, an evaporator output air temperature, evaporator air flow, evaporator air humidity, condenser air input temperature, condenser air output temperature sensor, electrical power. In one embodiment, the portable monitoring system receives information about the refrigerant-cycle system from either the system itself or from a computer network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence Kates
  • Patent number: 9310321
    Abstract: A system and associated method for quickly and automatically determining if the safety and performance of a gun tube have been compromised by firing damage or by an excessive number of fatigue cycles. An electromagnetic resonant cavity inspection provides a means of rapidly evaluating the health of the gun tube by monitoring the resonant frequencies that evolve from microwave signals introduced into the cavity or bore of the gun tube. This approach exploits the high sensitivity of the electromagnetic cavity resonance phenomena. Defects and degradation in the structure's cavity produce quantifiable changes in the quality factor, frequency shifts, and mode splitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Mark Johnson, Paul J. Cote, Sara Lorene Makowiec, Joseph Carter
  • Patent number: 9297917
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for reducing propagation delay uncertainty while conducting a survey. The apparatus includes a plurality of nodes along a communication path configured to allow communication between nodes with only one clock domain boundary crossing. Each node may include a clock, a memory, and a processor. The plurality of nodes is arranged in a linear topology. The linear topology may have first and second nodes on the ends of the line. The method may include reducing propagation delay uncertainty using at least one time marker transmitted to each of the plurality of nodes without crossing a clock domain boundary of any other node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: INOVA Ltd.
    Inventors: Wah Hong Mah, Hua Ai, Lin Zhu, Timothy D. Hladik
  • Patent number: 9293949
    Abstract: Electric power grid monitoring methods and apparatus are described. According to one aspect, an electric power grid signal processing method includes accessing a plurality of signals which are individually indicative of a characteristic of electromechanical energy within an electric power grid, using the plurality of signals, generating a composite signal, and analyzing the composite signal to provide information regarding an oscillatory mode within the electric power system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignees: Montana Tech of the University of Montana, University of Wyoming
    Inventors: Dan Trudnowski, John Pierre
  • Patent number: 9287713
    Abstract: A statistical technique is used to estimate the status of switching devices (such as circuit breakers, isolator switches and fuses) in distribution networks, using scares (i.e., limited or non-redundant) measurements. Using expected values of power consumption, and their variance, the confidence level of identifying the correct topology, or the current status of switching devices, is calculated using any given configuration of real time measurements. Different topologies are then compared in order to select the most likely topology at the prevailing time. The measurements are assumed as normally distributed random variables, and the maximum likelihood principle or a support vector machine is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Yoav Sharon, Anuradha Annaswamy, Motto Alexis Legbedji, Amit Chakraborty
  • Patent number: 9261456
    Abstract: A method and system for analyzing noisy terahertz spectroscopy data transforms the measured time-dependent data into frequency space, for example, using a discrete Fourier transform, and then transforms the frequency spectrum into wavelet frequency space. The twice-transformed data is analyzed to identify spectroscopic features of the signal, for example, to identify a resonance frequency. The method may be used, for example, in a stand-off detector to identify particular chemicals in a target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: University of Washington through its Center for Commercialization
    Inventors: Mohammad Hassan Arbab, Dale P. Winebrenner, Antao Chen, Eric I. Thorsos
  • Patent number: 9254615
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optical lens, the method comprising the steps of blocking a lens member at a first position on a blocker; determining the first position of the lens member with respect to the blocker; comparing the first position of the lens member with a predetermined position in order to determine a positioning error between the first position and the predetermined position; determining a surface position of the surface to be manufactured with respect to the blocker according to the positioning error; and configuring operational parameters of a lens manufacturing tool in order to manufacture a surface according to the determined surface position such that the desired optical properties of the optical lens are respected. The invention further relates to an apparatus for manufacturing an optical lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: ESSILOR INTERNATIONAL (COMPAGNIE GENERALE D'OPTIQUE)
    Inventor: Alexandre Gourraud
  • Patent number: 9255974
    Abstract: A determination of particular parameters for modeling a battery such as a lithium-ion battery, for example the charge transfer resistance and the double layer behavior at the surface of electrical connections, by extrapolating results obtained in a stationary mode, for example without charge or discharge current, to quick charge or discharge modes, where traditional measurements are too slow, since the parameters vary as a function of the charge or discharge state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives
    Inventors: Trung-Kien Dong, Angel Zhivkov Kirchev, Florence Mattera
  • Patent number: 9213998
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the volume of hot water dispensed during a given timeframe from a hydrocarbon fueled water heater based on the volume of fuel consumed by the water heater during the timeframe and the average temperature difference between the inlet water temperature and the outlet water temperature during the timeframe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John K. Besore, Chelsea Rose Miko, Brian Michael Schork
  • Patent number: 9207108
    Abstract: A meter controller comprises a first input, a second input, and a processor. The processor is configured to receive first and second volumetric flow measurements and to calculate a quasi fluid density value required to cause the first volumetric flow measurement to equal the second volumetric flow measurement. The processor is further configured to subtract a first fluid density value from the quasi fluid density value for calculating a density correction factor. The density correction factor is subtracted from the first fluid density value to calculate a corrected second density value. The corrected second density value is applied to at least one of the first volumetric flow measurement and the second volumetric flow measurement for calculating a mass flow rate measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Bruce Paradise