Patents Examined by Truong D Phan
  • Patent number: 11828642
    Abstract: The invention is an impedance threshold level sensor, comprising: a measuring probe which can be influenced by a medium surrounding the measuring probe in a measuring capacitance, the measuring probe comprising a measurement electrode and a reference electrode insulated from the measurement electrode, between which the measuring capacitance is formed, a measuring resonant circuit, in which the measuring probe is arranged as a capacitance-determining element, an electronic unit having a signal generator for exciting the measuring resonant circuit and a signal detector for determining a response signal of the measuring resonant circuit, a signal processing unit for generating a measurement signal, which is connected to the electronic unit, wherein the measurement electrode and the reference electrode are designed and arranged such that an increasing filling level of the medium reaches the reference electrode earlier than or together with the measurement electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Vega Grieshaber KG
    Inventors: Christian Weinzierle, Juergen Haas
  • Patent number: 11828907
    Abstract: There is provided with a precipitation meter which includes: an upper receiver in which an upper heating unit is embedded to provide heat to an upper surface of the upper receiver to prevent snow from being accumulated thereon, wherein the upper receiver is comprised of a first inner side surface forming inner space for collecting water and a first outer side surface which is an opposite surface of the first inner side surface; a lower receiver with a funnel-shaped part, positioned underneath the upper receiver; a siphon, positioned under the center area of the funnel-shaped part; a tipping bucket unit for receiving the waterdrops from the siphon; a precipitation calculation unit for receiving information on the seesawing movement of the tipping bucket unit and calculating an amount of precipitation by referring to the seesawing movement; and a drainage unit for allowing the waterdrops to be drained out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: National Institute of Meteorological Sciences
    Inventors: Byeong Taek Kim, Young Tae Lee, Sung Eun Hwang, Kyu Young Reno Choi, Ki Hoon Kim
  • Patent number: 11828905
    Abstract: A dual line photodiode array device encapsulates, on a photoelectric sensing element, two columns of photodiode array units having the same specification and performance; the dual line photodiode array device includes a first photodiode array unit and a second photodiode array unit that are arranged parallel to each other and is used for achieving the measurement of particle velocity. The particle velocity may be more accurately measured by means of integrating the two columns of photodiode array units on a single photosensitive element. The dual line photodiode array device may also be applied to the measurement of raindrops and sea spray droplets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: INSTITUTE OF ATMOSPHERIC PHYSICS, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
    Inventors: Hengchi Lei, Jiatian Chen, Minsong Huang, Xiaoqing Zhang, Shouyin Zheng
  • Patent number: 11808916
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a weather precipitation monitoring system (300, 400, 500) that comprises a weather monitoring unit (330), a classification unit (320, 420, 520) and at least one point to point radio link (310A, 310B, 310C). The classification unit (320, 420, 520) is arranged to obtain link data (X1, X2, XN) from the at least one point to point radio link, where the link data comprises received signal strength data associated with an operation of the at least one point to point radio link (310A, 310B, 310C). The classification unit (320, 420, 520) is arranged to determine disturbance event data (Y1, Y2, YN) based on the link data indicating if the received signal strength data is affected by at least one point to point radio link than a precipitation event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
    Inventors: Martin Sjödin, Jonas Hansryd
  • Patent number: 11808665
    Abstract: A leak detection device operable to measure fluid leaks in an element to be tested that is positioned in a first enclosure. In one example, a measuring module is positioned in a second enclosure and connected to the first enclosure and the element to be tested by an aeraulic connection. At least one of the first enclosure and the measuring module are thermally insulated using an insulating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: ATEQ
    Inventors: Jean Luc Regef, Davy Le Boucher
  • Patent number: 11796374
    Abstract: A capacitive point source sensor for detecting presence of a liquid includes a main body having a sensor end and an outer end, the main body being configured to be coupled to and at least partially inserted through a container of the liquid. The sensor further includes two conductive contacts located on the sensor end of the main body. The sensor further includes an insulator enclosing the two conductive contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jon Shearer
  • Patent number: 11796521
    Abstract: A gas analyzer includes: a column that separates a component in a sample gas; a valve that switches, between a test sample gas and a standard sample gas, the sample gas to be supplied to the column; a valve that adjusts an introduction amount of the sample gas to be supplied to the column; a detector that detects, by gas chromatography, the component in the sample gas separated by the column; and a control device. The control device controls the valve to allow the introduction amount to be a predetermined amount, calculates a peak area value of a chromatogram obtained by the detector when the introduction amount is the predetermined amount, and calculates a correspondence between the introduction amount and the peak area value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeaki Shibamoto
  • Patent number: 11788990
    Abstract: A system for measuring gas concentration includes a package having a cavity and a port, a photoacoustic gas sensor device within the package, and a Micro Electro Mechanical System (“MEMS”) valve separate from the photoacoustic gas sensor device placed over the port of the package and to allow ambient gas diffusion into the cavity in a first mode of operation, and to prevent ambient gas diffusion into the cavity and to acoustically isolate the cavity in a second mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Johannes Manz, Wolfgang Klein, David Tumpold
  • Patent number: 11785877
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method of tracking soil sampling in a field is disclosed. The method comprises receiving, by a processor, digitally stored field map data and digitally stored sampling data. The method further comprises displaying, by the processor, a field map depicting the first set of sampling points in a computer-generated graphical user interface. In addition, the method comprises receiving a selection of a first sampling point and displaying first sampling data associated with the first sampling point. The method also comprises receiving an update indicating that a soil sample has been collected at the first sampling point. Finally, the method comprises determining a second sampling point at which a next soil sample is to be collected and displaying the second sampling point in the field map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: CLIMATE LLC
    Inventors: Michael David Lewis, Shalom Friss, Jyoti Dharna, Christopher P. Aulbach, Jason R. Sontheimer, Atif Khan
  • Patent number: 11788980
    Abstract: A sensor is driven at a first heating power value. The sensor generates a sensing signal that is indicative of a sensed entity. A possible onset of a sensor contamination condition is detected as a function of the sensing signal generated by the sensor. If such detecting fails to indicate onset of a sensor contamination condition, the sensor continues to be driven at the first heating power value. However, if such detecting indicates onset of a sensor contamination condition, a protection mode is activated. In the protection mode, the sensor is driven at a second heating power value for a protection interval, where the second heating power value is lower than the first heating power value. Furthermore, the operation may refrain from supplying power to the sensor for a further protection interval, wherein the further protection interval is longer than the protection interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Fabio Passaniti, Enrico Rosario Alessi
  • Patent number: 11774314
    Abstract: Setting and maintaining proper pre-charge air pressure in a diaphragm or bladder-type expansion tank of any fluid system is essential for safe and efficient operation of that system. In usual practice, pre-charge air pressure checks are done by emptying the system of fluid and connecting an analog air gauge to the air input of the expansion tank. In this invention a pressure sensor that is permanently coupled to the fluid volume of the expansion tank is used to also evaluate the pre-charge air pressure in the tank. By employing a single sensor for both fluid and pre-charge air pressure evaluation, the problem of inconsistent calibration between fluid sensing and air pre-charge measuring devices is eliminated. Using the same permanently installed sensor for every test or adjustment in a given system eliminates the problem of variations in calibration between different sensors or gauges used at different testing times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Inventor: Lee Hiram Stevens
  • Patent number: 11774438
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a measurement set-up for a return cement suspension, a construction site arrangement with a measurement set-up, and a method which can be carried out inexpensively, reliably, and easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: KELLER HOLDING GMBH
    Inventors: Uwe Hinzmann, Christian Thienert, Christoph Klaproth, Frank Ludwig, Reiner Otterbein
  • Patent number: 11754476
    Abstract: Microscale and/or mesoscale condenser arrays that can facilitate microfluidic separation and/or purification of mesoscale and/or nanoscale particles and methods of operation are described herein. An apparatus comprises a condenser array comprising pillars arranged in a plurality of columns, wherein a pillar gap greater than or equal to about 0.5 micrometers is located between a first pillar of the pillars in a first column of the columns and a second pillar of the plurality of pillars in the first column, and wherein the first pillar is adjacent to the second pillar. The first ratio can be characterized by Dx/Dy is less than or equal to a first defined value, wherein Dx represents a first distance across the lattice in a first direction, wherein Dy represents a second distance across the lattice in a second direction, and wherein the first direction is orthogonal to the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Benjamin H. Wunsch, Joshua T. Smith, Sung-Cheol Kim, Stacey M. Gifford
  • Patent number: 11754751
    Abstract: The present application relates to a freezing precipitation detection device (10) comprising at least one first wetness detection means (1) in thermo-conducting contact with the upper (3A) surface of a sloped thermo-conducting sheet (3), at least one second wetness detection means (2) in thermo-conducting contact with the lower (3B) surface of said sloped thermo-conducting sheet (3), at least one surface temperature detection means (4) in thermo-conducting contact with said sloped thermo-conducting sheet (3), at least one processor (5) configured to receive at least one first signal (11;11A,11B,11C) from the first wetness detection means (1) and from the second wetness detection means (2) and from the surface temperature detection means (4), analyzing said first signal (11;11A,11B,11C) and determining the presence or the absence of a freezing precipitation on the surface of the sloped thermo-conducting sheet (3), at least one first apparatus (7) for external power relay receiving at least a second signal (12)
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: LUXEMBOURG INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (LIST)
    Inventor: Oliver O'Nagy
  • Patent number: 11740117
    Abstract: Methods for operating a flowmeter diagnostic tool are provided that comprise interfacing the diagnostic tool with a flowmeter (5) sensor assembly (10). A base prover volume (BPV), a desired number of passes per run, and/or a maximum number of allowed runs may be input into the diagnostic tool. Flowmeter data is received. An estimated total prove time (TPT) necessary to pass a predetermined repeatability requirement, an estimated minimum number of runs needed to achieve the calculated TPT, and/or an estimated minimum BPV may be calculated. A standard deviation of the flowmeter sensor assembly flow rate (?) is calculated, and the number of samples used to calculate a is determined. A meter-specific factor (MSF) is calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Allan Buttler, Andrew Timothy Patten, James S. Deacy
  • Patent number: 11733428
    Abstract: There is disclosed a self-powered apparatus for measuring precipitation, comprising: a housing; a display unit including one or more display lights capable of displaying an amount of precipitation, wherein the display lights are formed on at least one of outer surfaces of the housing; a water collecting vessel, having a funnel-shaped space to which the precipitation is introduced and gathered at a vertex part of the funnel-shaped space; a cup module, having an accommodating space for accommodating the precipitation dropped from the vertex part of the funnel-shaped space of the water collecting vessel; an electric signaling unit; a guiding module; a self-powered generator; and a final drainage opening, formed at a lower part of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: National Institute of Meteorological Sciences
    Inventors: Geon Tae Kim, Seon Jeong Kim, Jin Hwa Lee, Ji Seon Bak, Baek Jo Kim
  • Patent number: 11733018
    Abstract: A measuring device is adapted for measuring a change of linear dimension of a shaft body of a bearing device along an axis due to thermal expansion. The measuring device includes a stationary seat and a strain unit. The strain unit includes an actuator and a strain member. The actuator is adapted to be mounted to the shaft body, and is movable relative to the stationary seat along the axis as a result of the change of linear dimension of the shaft body. The strain member is deformable, is secured to the stationary seat and is connected to the actuator such that movement of the actuator along the axis results in a force applied to the strain member which deforms the strain member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Inventor: Kuo-Hsuan Huang
  • Patent number: 11719565
    Abstract: A sensor is provided for generating an output signal for detecting a limit level of a medium, a filling level of the medium, and/or for differentiating between different media, the sensor including: a processor to process a measurement signal generated using the sensor; and a reference unit to generate a reference signal, the processor is further configured to perform temperature compensation using the reference signal, the processor and the reference unit each having a signal conversion unit to provide temperature-dependent signal conversion, the signal conversion units being thermally coupled to one another, and the temperature compensation includes compensating for temperature dependency of the signal conversion unit of the processor using a thermal coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: VEGA Grieshaber KG
    Inventors: Marius Isenmann, Christian Weinzierle
  • Patent number: 11713990
    Abstract: A monitoring and control system for a flow duct and a method for determining a component status of an operational component disposed within a flow passage of the flow duct utilizing the system are provided. In one exemplary aspect, the system includes at least two sensors that are disposed within the flow passage and configured to sense a characteristic of a fluid flowing therethrough. The sensors may be averaging sensors. Each sensor extends circumferentially about an axial centerline defined by the flow duct. The sensors are arranged in an overlapped arrangement. Particularly, the sensors extend circumferentially about the axial centerline such that the sensors physically overlap one another circumferentially. Additionally, the sensors may be disposed within the same or substantially the same plane axially. Signals generated by the sensors may be utilized to monitor and control the fluid and various operational components disposed within the flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Ryan Reepmeyer, Gagan Adibhatla
  • Patent number: 11709115
    Abstract: Example aspects of a pit assembly, a fluid testing system, and a method for using a fluid testing system are disclosed. The pit assembly can comprise a pit housing; a curb stop assembly comprising a curb stop valve, the curb stop valve mounted within the pit housing; and a pressure transducer mounted within the pit housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Mueller International, LC
    Inventors: Harold Thomas Mosley, Clay Evan Bowman, Timothy Bain Ervin