Patents Examined by Regis Betsch
  • Patent number: 8918301
    Abstract: A motor characteristic inspecting device is capable of inspecting the condition of a motor installed in an apparatus without removing the motor from the apparatus. The motor characteristic inspecting device includes: a vector variation computing section configured to compute a voltage vector variation amount when a mover of a three-phase motor is moved by an external force; a speed variation detecting section configured to detect a speed variation amount; a constant computing section configured to compute a counter electromotive force constant; and a result display section. Armature windings of the motor installed in the apparatus and the motor characteristic inspecting device are electrically connected with power supply lines disconnected from the motor. An external force is applied to the mover of the motor. The condition of the motor is determined based on the computed result displayed on the result display section of the motor characteristic inspecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Sanyo Denki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akihiko Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8898017
    Abstract: A method and system for estimating reservoir pressure in a hydrocarbon reservoir from downhole pressure measurements of producing wells is disclosed. Pressure measurements are obtained from wells in the production field over time, and communicated to a server that applies the pressure measurements for a well to a model of that well. The server operates the model using the pressure measurements to determine an operating mode of the well, such as producing or shut-in. Upon detection of a change in operating mode indicative of an abrupt change in flow at the well, such as corresponding to a shut-in event, additional downhole pressure measurement data is acquired until a steady-state condition is reached. The pressure measurements are used to determine a reservoir pressure, which is transmitted to a responsible reservoir engineer or other user. Modification of the determined reservoir pressure value by the user can be received, and the stored reservoir pressure and well model are updated accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignees: BP Corporation North America Inc., BP Exploration Operating Company Limited
    Inventors: Tor Kristian Kragas, John Foot, Hugh Richard Rees
  • Patent number: 8880363
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the mass fractions of water and oil in a flowing mixture of oil and water through a pipe includes a sensor portion that measures sound velocity and temperature of the flowing oil water mixture at a first time and at a second time. The apparatus includes a temperature changer in thermal communication with the flowing fluid which changes the temperature of the flowing oil water mixture by a measurable amount between the first time and the second time. A method for measuring water mass fraction in a flowing mixture of oil and water through a pipe includes the steps of measuring sound velocity and temperature of the flowing oil water mixture at a first time with a sensor portion. There is the step of changing the temperature of the flowing oil water mixture by a measurable amount with a temperature changer in thermal communication with the flowing fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Herbert Estrada, Calvin R. Hastings, Donald R. Augenstein
  • Patent number: 8874382
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling operational parameters of a CO2 compression surface facility or pipeline in order to maintain a CO2 stream having impurities flowing in the pipeline in a liquid or supercritical phase. Sensors may be provided to sense whether the flow is single-phase or two-phase flow, and feedback provided to adjust the pressure and/or temperature at the pipeline inlet. The system is preferably optimized to limit power consumption and/or cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Sandeep Verma, Charles S. Oakes, Terizhandur S. Ramakrishnan
  • Patent number: 8868363
    Abstract: Electrochemical Impedance Spectrum data are used to predict pulse performance of an energy storage device. The impedance spectrum may be obtained in-situ. A simulation waveform includes a pulse wave with a period greater than or equal to the lowest frequency used in the impedance measurement. Fourier series coefficients of the pulse train can be obtained. The number of harmonic constituents in the Fourier series are selected so as to appropriately resolve the response, but the maximum frequency should be less than or equal to the highest frequency used in the impedance measurement. Using a current pulse as an example, the Fourier coefficients of the pulse are multiplied by the impedance spectrum at corresponding frequencies to obtain Fourier coefficients of the voltage response to the desired pulse. The Fourier coefficients of the response are then summed and reassembled to obtain the overall time domain estimate of the voltage using the Fourier series analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignees: Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC, Qualtech Systems, Inc., Montana Tech of the University of Montana
    Inventors: John L. Morrison, William H. Morrison, Jon P. Christophersen, Chester G. Motloch
  • Patent number: 8868378
    Abstract: The invention provides a hierarchically accessible monitoring system configured to be used with a standby generator, and a method of remotely accessing generator information from a standby generator. The hierarchically accessible monitoring system includes an interface unit configured to receive information from the standby generator and to communicate the generator information, and a remote data server in communication with the interface unit. The remote data server receives the generator information from the interface unit, stores the generator information, and controls access to the generator information based upon at least two hierarchical levels, each hierarchical level having different access privileges. The hierarchically accessible monitoring system also includes a user interface configured to display the generator information from the remote data server to at least one user. The user has access privileges to read the generator information based upon the user's assigned hierarchical level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Briggs and Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Brandon M. Batzler, Kenny J. Stair, Russell C. Nordman, John A. Fiorenza, Wesley C. Sodemann
  • Patent number: 8862424
    Abstract: Processing test results from a plurality of individual semiconductor testers by analyzing each test result at an adaptive test engine. A centralized system jointly analyzes all the test results from the plurality of individual semiconductor testers. The adaptive test engine or the centralized system identifies, based on the analysis of each test result or the joint analysis of all the test results, one or more of: a test environmental issue, a tester variability issue, a tester calibration issue, a product variability issue, and a manufacturing process variability issue. The adaptive test engine or the centralized system determines whether one or more of the plurality of individual semiconductor testers causes one or more of the identified issues or whether semiconductor products tested by the plurality of individual semiconductor testers causes one or more of the identified issues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mark C. Johnson, Deepak S. Turaga, Olivier Verscheure
  • Patent number: 8855959
    Abstract: Processing test results from a plurality of individual semiconductor testers by analyzing each test result at an adaptive test engine. A centralized system jointly analyzes all the test results from the plurality of individual semiconductor testers. The adaptive test engine or the centralized system identifies, based on the analysis of each test result or the joint analysis of all the test results, one or more of: a test environmental issue, a tester variability issue, a tester calibration issue, a product variability issue, and a manufacturing process variability issue. The adaptive test engine or the centralized system determines whether one or more of the plurality of individual semiconductor testers causes one or more of the identified issues or whether semiconductor products tested by the plurality of individual semiconductor testers causes one or more of the identified issues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mark C. Johnson, Deepak S. Turaga, Olivier Verscheure
  • Patent number: 8843324
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method to calibrate a NIR analyzer to measure monomer concentrations at one or more locations in a reactor system. The regression coefficients for the NIR analyzer are transferable between reactors using the same process (solution polymerization to solution polymerization) and may be used to control the reaction, or calibrate flow meters on line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Nova Chemicals (International) S.A.
    Inventor: Yves Lacombe
  • Patent number: 8838392
    Abstract: Passive seismic data is collected from measurements of seismic sensors in respective sensor assemblies, where the passive seismic data is based on measurements collected during periods when no active seismic source was activated. Attenuation of surface noise in the passive seismic data is performed using data from divergence sensors in at least some of the sensor assemblies. The passive seismic data with surface noise attenuated is output to allow for performing an operation related to a subterranean structure using the passive seismic data with the surface noise attenuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventors: David Fraser Halliday, Everhard Muyzert, Pascal Edme
  • Patent number: 8825448
    Abstract: In a spectroscopic reflectometer, in order to make it possible to omit a supplementary measurement (specifically, measurement of a calibration sample) which has been needed every time a light reflectance of an inspection work is measured to promote the reduction in measurement time and simplification in measurement configuration, an internal reflection mechanism having a constant light reflectance is arranged inside a head so that light reflected by the internal reflection mechanism is received by a photo-detector, whereby the light reflectance of the inspection work is calculated based on an output value of the photo-detector in a state of having substantially no light introduced, an output value of the photo-detector when a dark sample that substantially reflects no light is used, an output value that is an output value of the photo-detector when a calibration sample of a known light reflectance is used as the object, and an output value of the photo-detector when an inspection work to be measured is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Horiba, Ltd.
    Inventor: Fumitaka Fujii
  • Patent number: 8812261
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically providing a virtual sensor have been described. In one embodiment, a method for automatically providing a virtual sensor includes receiving a plurality of virtual sensor templates from a server. The method further includes selecting a virtual sensor template from the plurality of virtual sensor templates. The selected virtual sensor template has an algorithm to provide a desired functionality. The method further includes selecting at least one parameter to configure the selected virtual sensor template. The method further includes automatically creating a virtual sensor associated with the selected virtual sensor template.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Natalia Kroupnova, Aleksey Yanovich, Thorsten Kril, Mikhail B. Kozine
  • Patent number: 8798952
    Abstract: A calibration apparatus includes a fixture, which is coupled to hold a distal end of a medical probe. A plurality of weights, which have respective masses and respective bottom surfaces that are oriented at respective angles with respect to the distal end of the probe, are coupled to rest on a distal tip of the probe so as to apply to the distal tip respective force vectors that cause a deformation of the distal tip relative to the distal end. A calibration processor is configured to receive from the probe measurements indicative of the deformation of the distal tip in response to the force vectors, and to compute, based on the measurements, the masses and the angles, calibration coefficients for assessing the force vectors as a function of the measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Biosense Webster (Israel) Ltd.
    Inventors: Assaf Govari, Andres Claudio Altmann, Yaron Ephrath
  • Patent number: 8798957
    Abstract: A method for the computer-aided calculation of the movement of an object using sensor data from a sensor arranged on the object is provided. The sensor data comprise measuring point set measured at different time points, and the movement of the object is determined between different measuring point sets. From the measuring point sets, initially structural information is extracted and stored together with the measuring points that are not to be associated with any structural type. Subsequently, associations between the structural elements with the same structure type are determined and a corresponding transformation for representing the structural elements is performed. An association of the unassignable measuring points and the structural elements is created and a corresponding transformation of the superimposed associated measuring points and structural elements is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wendelin Feiten, Michael Fiegert
  • Patent number: 8788227
    Abstract: A method for measuring critical current density of superconductor wires according to the present invention is characterized in that it includes: (a) applying an external magnetic field to the superconductor wires, (b) measuring a magnetization loss of the superconductor wires according to the application of the external magnetic field, (c) normalizing the measured magnetization loss, and then calculating a fully-penetration magnetic field of the superconductor wires according to the normalized magnetization loss, (d) calculating a critical current density of the superconductor wires according to the calculated fully-penetration magnetic field. Therefore, the critical current density of parallel superconductor wires such as stacked superconductor wires may be measured without applying current to the superconductor wires directly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignees: Korea Polytechnic University Industry Academic Cooperation Foundation, Woosuk University Industry Academic Cooperation Foundation
    Inventors: Kyeong Dal Choi, Ji Kwang Lee, Woo Seok Kim, Chan Park, Byung Wook Han, Se Yeon Lee
  • Patent number: 8781747
    Abstract: A method of determining parameters relating to the flow performance of subterranean sources is described using the steps of measuring a total flow rate and pressure at a reference datum for at least two different flow rates, allocating the flow from each of the sources using identified concentrations of characteristic components, and using the total flow rate, pressure and the allocation to determine selective inflow performance relationships for each source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Murtaza Ziauddin
  • Patent number: 8781782
    Abstract: A method for predicting sensor output values of a sensor monitoring system, includes providing a set test input values to a system of sensors, and one or more known sensor output values from the sensor system, where other sensor output values are unknown, calculating, for each unknown sensor output value, a predictive Gaussian distribution function from the test input values and the known output sensor values, and predicting each unknown output ym by integrating over a product of the predictive Gaussian distribution function and a conditional Gaussian distribution of the unknown output sensor values with respect to the test input values and other unknown output sensor values. A mean and covariance of the predictive Gaussian distribution function are determined from a training phase, and a hyperparameter of the conditional Gaussian distribution are determined by another training phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Chao Yuan
  • Patent number: 8775125
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a computer-implemented method and system for improving processing performance for a group of computing resources, the method implemented on at least one computer having a processor and accessing at least one data storage area. The method comprises implementing the processor for calculating a benchmark for each computing resource in the group of computing resources and normalizing the benchmark across the group of computing resources to determine a number of performance units for each computing resource. The method additionally includes providing a graphical user interface for facilitating visual comparison for comparing processing performance indicators for multiple computing resources in the group of computing resources and reconfiguring at least some of the computing resources represented on the graphical user interface based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
    Inventors: Michael Aguiling, Donald V. Alecci
  • Patent number: 8775104
    Abstract: A method and system for protecting an electrical power transmission network comprising the steps of: measuring a voltage and a current at a first location in the network other than at a generator in the network; determining positive and negative sequence voltages and currents based on the measured voltage and measured current; determining a negative sequence Thévenin impedance based on the negative sequence measured voltage and negative sequence measured current; defining a positive sequence Thévenin impedance as equal to the negative sequence Thévenin impedance; determining a Thévenin voltage based on the positive sequence measured voltage, positive sequence measured current and the positive sequence Thévenin impedance; determining a load impedance based on the positive sequence measured voltage and positive sequence measured current; and determining the stability of the network using the load impedance and one or more of the Thévenin voltage and positive sequence Thévenin impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Inventor: Jose R. Marti
  • Patent number: 8756015
    Abstract: A method for increasing sensitivity in a measurement of at least one of magnitude and direction of resistivity in a subsurface material, the method including: performing a first set of measurements of resistivity of the subsurface material using a first logging instrument; constructing a model of a background signal using the first set of measurements; calculating a predicted response of a second logging instrument to the model of the background signal; performing a second set of measurements of at least one of magnitude and direction of resistivity of the subsurface material using the second logging instrument; deriving a second logging instrument response from the second set of measurements; and subtracting the predicted response from the second logging instrument response to produce a corrected response that has greater sensitivity than the second logging instrument response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Wallace H. Meyer