Patents Examined by Rodney T. Frank
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Patent number: 10670440Abstract: In order to provide a flow measuring device high in thermal responsiveness, the flow measuring device includes a temperature detecting element 2 for temperature detection, and a conductive metal lead frame 3 that supports and fixes the temperature detecting element. Of the metal lead frame, a part of the metal lead frame mounted with the temperature detecting element has a portion which is thinner than the thickness of the other metal lead frame or narrower than the width of the other metal lead frame.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2018Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.Inventors: Shinobu Tashiro, Keiji Hanzawa, Noboru Tokuyasu, Takeshi Morino, Ryosuke Doi
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Patent number: 10670623Abstract: A capacitive accelerometer comprises: a substantially planar proof mass mounted to a fixed substrate by flexible support legs so as to be linearly moveable in an in-plane sensing direction. The proof mass comprises first and second sets of moveable capacitive electrode fingers. First and second sets of fixed capacitive electrode fingers interdigitates with the first and second sets of moveable electrode fingers respectively. A set of moveable damping fingers extend from the proof mass substantially perpendicular to the sensing direction, laterally spaced in the sensing direction. A set of fixed damping fingers mounted to the fixed substrate interdigitates with the set of moveable damping fingers and comprises an electrical connection to the proof mass so that the interdigitated damping fingers are electrically common. The damping fingers are mounted in a gaseous medium that provides a damping effect.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2016Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: Atlantic Inertial Systems LimitedInventors: Kiran Mysore Harish, Alan Malvern
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Patent number: 10669837Abstract: A technique includes inducing a distributed temperature change along a portion of a wellbore and measuring a time varying temperature along the portion of the wellbore due to the induced change. The technique includes determining a distributed flow rate in the portion based at least in part on the measured time varying temperature before the temperature reaches equilibrium.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2014Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: John R. Lovell, Valery Shako
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Patent number: 10656004Abstract: A measuring device for measuring a level of a liquid in a container is disclosed. The measuring device comprises a sensor line and a float. The sensor line has a plurality of magnetic-field sensors, at least one of the plurality of magnetic-field sensors uses a magnetoresistive effect or is a Hall effect sensor or a magnetoresistor or an extraordinary magnetoresistive sensor. The float is movable along and relative to the sensor line between a first measuring location and a second measuring location. The float has a magnet generating a magnetic field extending substantially parallel to the sensor line at both the first measuring location and the second measuring location.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2016Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: TE CONNECTIVITY SENSORS GERMANY GMBHInventors: Axel Bartos, Armin Meisenberg, Andreas Voss
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Patent number: 10648896Abstract: An apparatus for assessment of a fluid system includes a scaffold housing with a plurality of internal cavities; a debris monitor module assembly to be selectively inserted into a first cavity of the plurality of internal cavities, the debris monitor module assembly to determine wear debris information in a lubricant; a lubricant condition monitor module assembly to be selectively inserted into a second cavity of the plurality of internal cavities, the lubricant condition monitor module assembly to determine lubricant condition information in the lubricant; and a processing module assembly that is configured to be selectively inserted into a third cavity of the plurality of internal cavities, the processing module assembly to provide communication to an external interface of at least one of the wear debris information and the lubricant condition information.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2015Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATIONInventors: Cody Michael Ture, Christopher M. Minnella
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Patent number: 10634536Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting a condition of multi-phase flow through a component with a first sensing cable having a first sensor location and aligned with a heating element and a second sensing cable having a second sensing location a predetermined distance from the first sensing location. A heat pulse is propagated through the heating element. A first temperature profile at the first sensing location and a second temperature profile at the second sensing location, each corresponding to the heat pulse, are measured over time. A flow velocity is determined by correlating the first temperature profile with the second temperature profile. A condition of flow of the media is detected by determining a phase of at least one medium exposed to the sensing cable at the first sensing location based on the first temperature profile and the determined flow velocity.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2014Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Limin Song, Yibing Zhang
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Patent number: 10613064Abstract: Methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, are described for measuring greenhouse gas. A calibration device receives a first sample of atmospheric gas from a first port exposed to the earth's atmosphere. The calibration device receives a second sample of atmospheric gas from a second port exposed to the earth's atmosphere. The calibration device routes the first sample and the second sample to a measurement device for greenhouse gas analysis. The measurement device determines a characteristic of a greenhouse gas present in at least one of the first sample and the second sample. The measurement device transmits data associated with the determined characteristic of the greenhouse gas to a computing device for determining sinks and sources of the gas.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2016Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignees: Earth Networks, Inc., The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Christopher Dale Sloop, Elena Novakovskaia, Robert S. Marshall, Ray F. Weiss, Ralph Keeling, Lisa Welp-Smith
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Patent number: 10613073Abstract: Various embodiments of microfluidic optical computing devices coupled with Integrated Computational Element cores are described.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2013Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: David L. Perkins, Christopher Michael Jones
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Patent number: 10598582Abstract: An orthogonal superposition rotational rheometer that applies a rotational torque and an orthogonal axial oscillatory stress to a fluid. The rheometer uses a cylindrical bob in a double wall cup to apply shear rotational and axial forces to the fluid. Openings in the top section of the cylindrical bob reduce surface tension effects on the force measurement. Fluid pumping effects at the bottom of the rheometer's double wall cup are minimized by openings in the inner wall of the double wall cup that allow fluid to be displaced when the bob moves downwards.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2014Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignee: WATERS TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Aloyse J. P. Franck, John P. Berting
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Patent number: 10598534Abstract: The density measuring device serves for measuring density, ?, of a flowable medium and comprises a measuring device electronics (ME) as well as a measuring transducer (MT) electrically connected therewith. The measuring transducer includes a measuring tube (10), an oscillation exciter (41) for exciting and maintaining oscillations and an oscillation sensor (51) for registering oscillations of the at least one measuring tube. The measuring device electronics is adapted by means of an oscillation measurement signal (s1) as well as an exciter signal (e1) to adjust a drive force effecting wanted oscillations (namely oscillations with a predetermined wanted frequency, fN) of the measuring tube.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2014Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AGInventors: Christof Huber, Vivek Kumar, Philipp Montsko, Tobias Schwer
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Patent number: 10591459Abstract: Provided are a measuring apparatus and method for obtaining a measurement value from a response to a signal applied to a sample, wherein the measuring apparatus includes a first measuring unit that measures a first electric response to a first signal that is input to a first pair of electrodes that can come into contact with a sample, a second measuring unit that measures a second electric response to a second signal that is input to a second pair of electrodes that can come into contact with the sample, the second signal changing its value from a first level to a second level and thereafter maintaining the second level for a certain period of time, as a peak value of a response signal with respect to the change in the second signal, and a control unit that corrects a value indicating the amount of a measuring target component of the sample, the value being obtained from the first electric response, based on the peak value of the response signal.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2014Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: ARKRAY, Inc.Inventors: Kazuo Fukuda, Hirokazu Matsuda, Akiko Okami
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Patent number: 10584582Abstract: An apparatus for testing lost circulation materials (“LCMs”) for use in a formation is disclosed. The apparatus may comprise a LCM cell that contains at least one formation simulation component. A pressurized tank may be in fluid communication with the LCM cell, and may force a sample LCM slurry into the LCM cell. An LCM receiver may also be in fluid communication with the LCM cell, and may receive the LCM slurry that flows through the LCM cell.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2018Date of Patent: March 10, 2020Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Murphy, Dale E. Jamison, Matthew L. Miller
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Patent number: 10585058Abstract: An illustrative humidity sensor may include a substrate having a source and a drain, wherein the drain is laterally spaced from the source. A gate stack is provided in the space between the source and the drain to form a transistor. The gate stack may include a gate insulator situated on the substrate to form a gate insulator/substrate interface. The gate stack may further include a barrier layer above the gate insulator. The barrier layer may be configured to act as a barrier to mobile charge, humidity and/or other contaminates, and may help prevent such contaminates from reaching the gate insulator/substrate interface. The gate stack may further include a humidity sensing layer above the barrier layer. The humidity sensing layer, when exposed to humidity, may modulate the conduction channel in the substrate under the gate insulator and between the source and the drain. In some cases, the humidity level may be determined by monitoring the current flowing between the source and drain.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2017Date of Patent: March 10, 2020Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Cornel Cobianu, Alisa Stratulat, Bogdan Serban, Octavian Buiu, Cazimir Gabriel Bostan, Mihai Brezeanu, Stefan Dan Costea, Richard Davis
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Patent number: 10571458Abstract: A method and a device for determining the emission of greenhouse gas, in particular methane, by ruminants, in particular dairy animals includes counting eructations (“belches”) of the animal. This is done by measuring a signal linked to the eructations, for example sound with a microphone. Given that the methane content of an eructation of this type is more or less constant, the total methane emission can be derived therefrom by counting.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2015Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: LELY PATENT N.V.Inventor: Patrick Philip Jacob Van Der Tol
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Patent number: 10570731Abstract: Systems and methods for extracting and analyzing formation fluids from solids circulated out of a subterranean formation are provided. In one embodiment, the methods comprise: providing a sample of formation solids that have been separated from a fluid circulated in at least a portion of a well bore penetrating a portion of a subterranean formation at a well site; performing a solvent extraction on the sample of formation solids using one or more solvents at an elevated pressure at the well site, wherein at least a portion of one or more formation fluids residing in the formation solids is extracted into the one or more solvents to produce an extracted fluid; and analyzing the extracted fluid at the well site to determine the composition of the extracted fluid.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2013Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Christopher Michael Jones, Ian D. C. Mitchell
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Patent number: 10557841Abstract: A sensor control apparatus controls a gas sensor which measures the concentration of oxygen contained in exhaust gas. A current DA converter of the sensor control apparatus supplies a current having a current value designated by a control section (hereinafter referred to as the designated current value) to a label resistor having a resistance previously set so as to represent the characteristic of the gas sensor (hereinafter referred to as the characteristic resistance). Further, the control section of the sensor control apparatus sets the designated current value to a plurality of values in accordance with the characteristic resistance of the label resistor.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2016Date of Patent: February 11, 2020Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., LTD.Inventor: Yuzo Higuchi
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Patent number: 10557710Abstract: A rotation rate sensor including a substrate having a main plane of extension, a first rotation rate sensor structure for detecting a first rotation rate about an axis that is in parallel to a first axis extending in parallel to the main plane of extension, and a second rotation rate sensor structure for detecting a second rotation rate about an axis that is parallel to a second axis extending perpendicularly with respect to the main plane of extension. Also included is drive device for deflecting a first structure of the first rotation rate sensor structure, and a second structure of the first rotation rate sensor structure, and also for deflecting a third structure of the second rotation rate sensor structure, and a fourth structure of the second rotation rate sensor structure, in such a way that the first, second, third, and fourth structures are excitable into a mechanically coupled oscillation.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2016Date of Patent: February 11, 2020Assignee: Robert Bosch GMBHInventors: Andreas Lassl, Benjamin Schmidt, Burkhard Kuhlmann, Mirko Hattass, Thorsten Balslink, Christian Hoeppner
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Patent number: 10551406Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for acoustic structural reflection interference mitigation are provided in accordance with various embodiments. For example, some embodiments may provide for structural reflection interference mitigation for compact three-dimensional ultrasonic anemometers. Some embodiments include a method that may include transmitting a first acoustic signal from a first acoustic transmitter. At least a first portion of the first acoustic signal from the first acoustic transmitter may be hindered from being received at a first acoustic receiver. At least a second portion of the first acoustic signal from the first acoustic transmitter may be received at the first acoustic receiver along an acoustic propagation path. In some embodiments, the first acoustic transmitter may include a wide-beam transmitter. Some embodiments may utilize four wide-beam transducers positioned at apices of a tetrahedron.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2018Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: Anemoment LLCInventors: Stephen Osborn, Mark Henault, Elizabeth Osborn, Stefan Elsener
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Patent number: 10550688Abstract: Apparatus and method for a physical simulation experiment of fracturing an unconventional oil and gas reservoir layer by layer by spiral perforation via a horizontal well bore. The apparatus includes an outer wellbore provided with at least three layers of spiral perforations, and an inner wellbore provided with at least three layers of through-holes. The method includes injecting fracturing fluid into the inner wellbore, and opening a first layer cracks of a stratum by the fracturing fluid passing the first through-hole layer and the first spiral perforation layer, opening a second layer cracks of the stratum by the fracturing fluid passing second through-hole layer and second spiral perforation layer and opening a third layer cracks of the stratum by the fracturing fluid passing third through-hole layer and third spiral perforation layer.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2017Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: China University of Petroleum—BeijingInventors: Bing Hou, Zhi Chang, Yan Jin, Mian Chen, Yunhu Lu, Botao Lin, Zhou Zhou, Peng Tan
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Patent number: 10551238Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor for detecting the presence or absence of an aerated fluid includes a probe having a first solid portion and a second hollow portion. The probe has a closed end at the hollow portion. The solid portion and the hollow portion define an interface therebetween. A transducer element is mounted to the probe at about the solid portion. The transducer element is configured to transmit an ultrasonic signal through the solid portion into the hollow portion and to receive reflections of the ultrasonic signal to determine the presence or absence of a fluid and/or an aerated fluid.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2011Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Terence J. Knowles, Brian J. Truesdale, Kenneth A. Albrecht, Charles F. Bremigan, III