Patents Examined by Rodney T. Frank
  • Patent number: 10955278
    Abstract: A method for a vehicle, comprising: indicating a true fill level of a fuel tank based on a fuel vapor canister temperature profile during a refueling event. In this way, a quantity fuel dispensed over the maximum fill level of the fuel tank may be accounted for, regardless of the fuel level sensor reading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aed M. Dudar, Damien Baldwin, Dennis Seung-Man Yang, Robert Roy Jentz
  • Patent number: 10955434
    Abstract: A resonant sensor device includes a base and a detection substrate. The detection substrate includes a movable portion configured to move in a first direction, a supporter includes one or more supporting portions which extend in a direction along an intersecting plane intersecting the first direction, an intermediate fixing portion which is connected to the movable portion via the supporter, a connection portion which connects a mounting portion fixed to the base to the intermediate fixing portion in a second direction that is one direction along the intersecting plane, and a resonator at least partially embedded in the one or more supporting portions. The maximum dimension of the connection portion in a third direction orthogonal to the second direction in the intersecting plane is smaller than a maximum dimension of the supporter in the third direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeto Iwai, Makoto Noro
  • Patent number: 10948378
    Abstract: A device, system, and method for detecting a leak (and determining the leak rate of the leak) for equipment, particularly generators, the device including a main body connected to the tested equipment and to an air supply source, wherein the main body includes a number of stages each having a valve and orifice such that flow of air through the independent stages is selectively controllable, where a change in the differential pressure recorded during flow of the air through a particular stage indicates a leak, and wherein the differential pressure recorded can be used to calculate the rate of leak in the equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Inventor: Nick Rebich
  • Patent number: 10935678
    Abstract: The invention discloses a monitoring system for deformations and destructions of a gas storage, including an acoustic emission sensor installed in a borehole of a monitored rock mass and a ground workstation. The acoustic emission sensor includes an acoustic emission probe and a probe installation mechanism for installing the acoustic emission probe and a transmission mechanism for transmitting the probe installation mechanism. The probe installation mechanism includes a shell, a probe sleeve and two sets of pistons hydro-cylinder components. The present invention realizes the control of the moving direction of the shell and the probe sleeve by the piston hydro-cylinder component and the hydraulic pump, thus solving the problem of effective installation and coupling of the acoustic emission probe, ensuring the effective coupling between the acoustic emission probe and the wall of the borehole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF PETROLEUM EXPLORATION & DEVELOPMENT, PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Dewen Zheng, Zhide Wu, Guosheng Ding, Huayin Zhu, Jianfeng Liu, Lina Ran, Tong Lin
  • Patent number: 10921210
    Abstract: A substantially air-tight triple seal arrangement along a seam between first and second tool segments comprises inner, middle and outer seals forming first and second substantially air tight vacuum chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Kenneth M. Dull
  • Patent number: 10921347
    Abstract: A sensor is provided including: an element outputting detection signals according to magnitude of physical quantity; a drive circuit outputting a driving signal to the element and receiving a monitor signal from the element; a detection circuit that includes amplifiers amplifying the detection signals and a first synchronous demodulation circuit performing synchronous demodulation on a signal from the amplifier, receives the detection signals, and outputs a physical quantity signal according to the physical quantity; a processing circuit processing a signal from the first synchronous demodulation circuit; a first diagnostic circuit that receives a signal into the processing circuit and a signal from the processing circuit, and outputs a first error signal when abnormalities occur in the processing circuit; and a second diagnostic circuit that outputs a diagnostic signal to the first diagnostic circuit, instead of the signal into the processing circuit or instead of the signal from the processing circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keisuke Kuroda, Takeshi Mori
  • Patent number: 10914584
    Abstract: In a first aspect, the angular rate sensor comprises a substrate and a rotating structure anchored to the substrate. The angular rate sensor also includes a drive mass anchored to the substrate and an element coupling the drive mass and the rotating structure. The angular rate sensor further includes an actuator for driving the drive mass into oscillation along a first axis in plane to the substrate and for driving the rotating structure into rotational oscillation around a second axis normal to the substrate; a first transducer to sense the motion of the rotating structure in response to a Coriolis force in a sense mode; and a second transducer to sense the motion of the sensor during a drive mode. In a second aspect the angular rate sensor comprises a substrate and two shear masses which are parallel to the substrate and anchored to the substrate via flexible elements. In further embodiments, a dynamically balanced 3-axis gyroscope architecture is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: INVENSENSE, INC.
    Inventors: Doruk Senkal, Robert Hennessy, Houri Johari-Galle, Joseph Seeger
  • Patent number: 10907426
    Abstract: Apparatus for early detection of drilling mud gains or losses that is positioned in the return wellbore of oilwell drilling operations, includes a pair of an upper and lower pressure sensor in an apparatus that is positioned in the return wellbore of an oilwell drilling operation as well as a flow chamber having an inlet port, an outlet port, a flow tube and a flow sensing device for determining the gains or losses in the return wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Inventor: H. Udo Zeidler
  • Patent number: 10910549
    Abstract: This disclosure reveals a resonator where at least one suspended inertial mass is driven into rotational oscillation by a piezoelectric drive transducer, or where the rotational motion of at least one suspended inertial mass is sensed by a piezoelectric sense transducer. The disclosure is based on the idea of suspending the inertial mass with a one-sided suspender arrangement, where only one suspender is attached to each anchor point, and on the optimal positioning of the suspender in relation to the effective center of gravity of the resonator. The resonator may be employed in a resonator system, a clock oscillator or a gyroscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Heikki Kuisma
  • Patent number: 10901371
    Abstract: A method of determining a calibration or maintenance time interval after which a specific measurement device of a given type for measuring a quantity to be measured on a measurement site of an industrial site shall be re-calibrated or maintained is described, comprising the steps of: determining a criticality (C) of the specific device, based on the criticality (C) setting a reliability target (RT) for the device, wherein the reliability target (RT) denominates the probability of the device to be compliant according to a predefined criterion at the end of the calibration or maintenance time interval to be determined by this method, defining compliancy ranges for a measurable degree of compliance of the device, selecting a reliability model for a reliability of the device as a function of a normalized time interval (tn) and a set of at least one parameter (c1, . . .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: ENDRESS+HAUSER GROUP SERVICES AG
    Inventor: Dimitri Vaissiere
  • Patent number: 10883864
    Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a sensor configured to monitor loading of particulate material through an open top of a containment structure, which includes a covering sheet movable between an extended position in which the sheet spans across the open top to substantially enclose an interior of the structure and a retracted position in which the open top is substantially unobstructed by the sheet so that the particulate material can be suitably loaded into the interior, comprises a sensor support arm mounted to the containment structure at a location within a periphery thereof and lying along a movement path of the covering sheet between its two positions. The sensor is mounted on a raised distal end of the arm still located within the structure periphery. The arm is movable to a lowered transport position responsive to the movement of the covering sheet from the retracted to the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Inventor: Roland Wohlgemuth
  • Patent number: 10883979
    Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for breath gas analysis when determining the difference in the concentrations of at least one gas in the exhaled breathing air on the one hand and in the ambient air on the other hand. The device may include at least one gas sensor, by means of which the concentration of a gas can be determined, and a line system, through whose lines the exhaled air to be examined, the ambient air and a calibrating gas can be selectively pumped to the gas sensor. The method may include feeding ambient air; feeding calibrating gas to the gas sensor; feeding exhaled air to the gas sensor; feeding calibrating gas to the gas sensor again; and feeding exhaled air to the gas sensor again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: VYAIRE MEDICAL GMBH
    Inventor: Juergen Reinstaedtler
  • Patent number: 10876941
    Abstract: A system may include a strain gauge and a pulse detection system positionable on a fluid end of a pressure pump. The strain gauge may generate a strain signal representing strain in the chamber. The pulse detection system may include a pulse generator and a pulse detector for generating timing signals that are useable to determine a travel time of a corresponding pulse generated by the pulse generator. The strain signal and the timing signals may be useable to determine a density of the fluid in the pressure pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Beisel
  • Patent number: 10871500
    Abstract: A vehicle, and a method of controlling a vehicle, is capable of selecting a wheel speed that is most appropriate to obtain a speed of the vehicle from among wheel speeds of the vehicle to obtain an accurate speed of the vehicle. The vehicle includes a sensor configured to obtain wheel speed information of at least one wheel. The vehicle also includes a controller configured to select wheel speed information from among the wheel speed information of the at least one wheel based on a driving state of the vehicle and configured to determine a speed of the vehicle based on the selected wheel speed information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: SungYun Kim, Sukki Min, Jongmo Kim, DaeHwan Kim, Bongchul Ko
  • Patent number: 10870970
    Abstract: According to at least one aspect, a fluid flow monitoring system includes an ultrasonic sensor for generating measurement signals associated with respective ultrasonic signals propagating through the fluid in the lumen, a shut-off valve for blocking fluid flow in the lumen, and a controller. The controller can be communicatively coupled to the ultrasonic sensor and to the shut-off valve. The controller can be configured to compute a plurality of fluid flow parameter estimates based on a plurality of measurement signals generated by the ultrasonic sensor over a time window while the shut-off valve is open. The controller can obtain an offset value associated with fluid flow parameter measurements during a zero flow state of the shut-off valve. The controller can then check for presence of a fluid leak event based on the fluid flow parameter estimates over the time window and the offset value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: RELIANCE WORLDWIDE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Hammond, Francis M. Mess, Samuel Elia, Jorge C. Almirall, Brian Gestner, Jeffrey L. Leaders, Mathew Shane Smith
  • Patent number: 10871428
    Abstract: A fluid sample collection card assembly in one embodiment is assembled by forming a tray assembly by supporting an absorbent layer configured to receive a fluid sample on a base portion, the base portion including a tray portion, by positioning the absorbent layer on an upper surface of a holder portion of the tray portion, the holder portion located beneath an upper surface of the tray portion, removably inserting the formed tray assembly into a tray assembly receiving cavity of a case through a mouth portion of the case, and closing, at least substantially, the mouth portion of the case with a faceplate portion of the base portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Advance Dx, Inc.
    Inventor: Ned Bedrio
  • Patent number: 10866178
    Abstract: A vibratory cavity density meter (100-300) is provided. The vibratory cavity density meter (100-300) includes a pipe (110-310) extending from a first end (110a-310a) to a second end (110b-310b). The first end (110a-310a) includes an aperture (114-314) configured to receive a material from a container (10) and the second end (110b-310b) is self-enclosed so as to contain the material in the pipe (110-310). The vibratory cavity density meter (100-300) also includes at least one transducer (118, 218) coupled to the pipe (110-310), the at least one transducer (118, 218) configured to one of induce and sense a vibration in the pipe (110-310) to measure a property of the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew S. Kravitz, Martin Andrew Schlosser, Mark James Bell
  • Patent number: 10865546
    Abstract: According to at least one aspect, a fluid flow monitoring system includes an ultrasonic sensor for generating measurement signals associated with respective ultrasonic signals propagating through the fluid in the lumen, a shut-off valve for blocking fluid flow in the lumen, and a controller. The controller can be communicatively coupled to the ultrasonic sensor and to the shut-off valve. The controller can be configured to compute a plurality of fluid flow parameter estimates based on a plurality of measurement signals generated by the ultrasonic sensor over a time window while the shut-off valve is open. The controller can obtain an offset value associated with fluid flow parameter measurements during a zero flow state of the shut-off valve. The controller can then check for presence of a fluid leak event based on the fluid flow parameter estimates over the time window and the offset value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Reliance Worldwide Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Hammond, Francis M. Mess, Samuel Elia, Jorge C. Almirall, Brian Gestner, Jeffrey L. Leaders, Mathew Shane Smith
  • Patent number: 10859548
    Abstract: Method and device for the analysis of a gas sample; the method provides for the sample to be conveyed from an inlet along a feeding duct and from the feeding duct, divided into equal portions, along a plurality of passage channels and through a plurality of detecting stations; in the area of each detecting station a sensor is arranged, which detects a different characteristic of the sample; the gas sample portions are conveyed directly and precisely onto the sensors so as to increase the speed and sensitivity of the detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: SACMI COOPERATIVA MECCANICI IMOLA SOCIETA' COOPERATIVA
    Inventor: Marco Remondini
  • Patent number: 10852318
    Abstract: An inner housing part has through-holes for connecting first lead pins (power supply terminal, output terminal, ground terminal) with the connector pins. The inner housing part has grooves that house second lead pins for adjusting output signals of a sensor chip. Three of the grooves each has a shape in which a distance between opposing sides of the groove is less than a diameter of the second lead pin that corresponds to the groove. The inner housing part is fixed to a case by a thermoset adhesive so as to house lead pins arranged in the case included in a sensor element. The second lead pins are fitted in the grooves, suppressing lifting of the inner housing part during curing of the adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Fumiya Ueno