Which Includes Current And Voltage Electrodes Patents (Class 324/444)
  • Patent number: 11965897
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a cartridge device for a measuring system for measuring viscoelastic characteristics of a sample liquid, in particular a blood sample, comprising a cartridge body having at least one measurement cavity formed therein and having at least one probe element arranged in said at least one measurement cavity for performing a test on said sample liquid; and a cover being attachable on said cartridge body; wherein said cover covers at least partially said at least one measurement cavity and forms a retaining element for retaining said probe element in a predetermined position within said at least one measurement cavity. The invention is directed to a measurement system and a method for measuring viscoelastic characteristics of a sample liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: C A Casyso GmbH
    Inventors: Axel Schubert, Jose J. Romero-Galeano, Max Kessler
  • Patent number: 11879861
    Abstract: A method for measuring an electrical conductivity of a medium with a conductive conductivity sensor with four electrodes includes measuring a first impedance dependent on a first total impedance of the first voltage electrode and a medium layer adjacent to the first voltage electrode, measuring a second impedance dependent on a second total impedance of the second voltage electrode and a medium layer adjacent to the second voltage electrode, and making a conductivity measurement using an alternating electrical signal introduced into the medium via the first current electrode and measuring a potential difference between the first voltage electrode and the second voltage electrode. Based on the measured potential difference, the first impedance, and the second impedance a corrected potential difference is determined. Based on the corrected potential difference, a measured conductivity is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Conducta GmbH+Co. KG
    Inventors: Stefan Paul, Andre Thieme
  • Patent number: 11400194
    Abstract: A medicament preparation system includes a disposable cartridge with a flow path. Various sensors may be placed on the cartridge to measure qualities of the fluid flowing through the flow path. The sensors are placed in precise locations using various approaches that make manufacturing of the cartridge efficient and repeatable. A drain line that is susceptible to fouling may be preattached and various approaches are used to remove or reduce the fouling. An elastomeric contact can also be present in the medical preparation system and used in a conductivity measurement subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: NxStage Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Brugger, Jeffrey H. Burbank, Goetz Friederichs, Scott W. Newell, William J. Schnell, Orlando Soto
  • Patent number: 11360106
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a cartridge device for a measuring system for measuring viscoelastic characteristics of a sample liquid, in particular a blood sample, comprising a cartridge body having at least one measurement cavity formed therein and having at least one probe element arranged in said at least one measurement cavity for performing a test on said sample liquid; and a cover being attachable on said cartridge body; wherein said cover covers at least partially said at least one measurement cavity and forms a retaining element for retaining said probe element in a predetermined position within said at least one measurement cavity. The invention is directed to a measurement system and a method for measuring viscoelastic characteristics of a sample liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Inventors: Axel Schubert, Jose J. Romero-Galeano, Max Kessler
  • Patent number: 11351540
    Abstract: A microfluidic device includes a surface, which defines a flow path for a liquid, and a liquid inlet, which is in fluid communication with said surface, so as for a liquid introduced via the inlet to advance along a propagation direction on the flow path. Also included are a set of two or more electrical contacts, and a set of electrodes which include sensing portions that extend across the flow path, transversally to the propagation direction. The electrodes are connected to the two or more electrical contacts. Also included are material spots on at least some of the sensing portions of the electrodes. Still, material spots of a same material are only on a subset of the sensing portions of the electrodes, so that the spots can alter an electrical signal detected from the electrical contacts, upon a liquid advancing along the flow path, in operation of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yuksel Temiz, Onur Gökçe, Elisa Hemmig, Emmanuel Delamarche
  • Patent number: 11320366
    Abstract: Assay cartridges are described that have a detection chamber, preferably having integrated electrodes, and other fluidic components which may include sample chambers, waste chambers, conduits, vents, bubble traps, reagent chambers, dry reagent pill zones and the like. In certain embodiments, these cartridges are adapted to receive and analyze a sample collected on an applicator stick. Also described are kits including such cartridges and a cartridge reader configured to analyze an assay conducted using an assay cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: MESO SCALE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC.
    Inventors: Nicholas Anderson, Jeffery Debad, Eli N. Glezer, Sudeep Kumar, Noel Lawrence, Kenneth Page, George Sigal, Sharon West
  • Patent number: 11105729
    Abstract: The present invention is a sensor for measuring a risk of hydrogen embrittlement of industrial equipment including a metallic wall in a reactor or in a pipeline comprising a body having a closed cavity including an end containing a pressure sensor which measures pressure within the closed cavity, the metallic wall having a wall thickness measured between inner and outer surfaces thereof, and wherein a ratio of thickness of the metallic wall to thickness of the industrial equipment ranges from 1/3 to 1/10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: IFP ENERGIES NOUVELLES
    Inventors: Jean Kittel, Gilbert Parrain, Christian Boudou
  • Patent number: 11061038
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a cartridge device for a measuring system for measuring viscoelastic characteristics of a sample liquid, in particular a blood sample, comprising a cartridge body having at least one measurement cavity formed therein and having at least one probe element arranged in said at least one measurement cavity for performing a test on said sample liquid; and a cover being attachable on said cartridge body; wherein said cover covers at least partially said at least one measurement cavity and forms a retaining element for retaining said probe element in a predetermined position within said at least one measurement cavity. The invention is directed to a measurement system and a method for measuring viscoelastic characteristics of a sample liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: C A CASYSO GMBH
    Inventors: Axel Schubert, Jose J. Romero-Galeano, Max Kessler
  • Patent number: 11041844
    Abstract: A 3D nanopore device for characterizing biopolymer molecules includes a first selecting layer having a first axis of selection. The device also includes a second selecting layer disposed adjacent the first selecting layer and having a second axis of selection orthogonal to the first axis of selection. The device further includes an third electrode layer disposed adjacent the second selecting layer, such that the first selecting layer, the second selecting layer, and the third electrode layer form a stack of layers along a Z axis and define a plurality of nanopore pillars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: PALOGEN, INC.
    Inventors: Kyung Joon Han, Jungkee Yoon
  • Patent number: 11024755
    Abstract: A solar cell with a heterojunction is produced. A first amorphous nano- and/or microcrystalline semiconductor layer is formed on the front face of a crystalline semiconductor substrate to form front face emitter or a front face surface field layer. A second such layer is formed on the rear face of the substrate to form a rear face surface field layer or a rear face emitter. Electrically conductive, transparent front face and rear face electrode layers and a frontal metallic contact layer grid structure are formed. Surface selective frontal PECVD deposition forms an electrically non-conductive, transparent dielectric front face cover layer and with such a thickness to form a closed layer directly on deposition, without additional heat and/or chemical treatment, only on the areas surrounding the frontal contact layer grid structure but not on the frontal contact layer grid structure. Finally, a rear face metallization is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Meyer Burger (Germany) GmbH
    Inventors: Giuseppe Citarella, Hans-Peter Sperlich, Gunnar Koehler, Frank Wuensch, Detlef Sontag, Heiko Mehlich, Marcel Koenig, Pierre Papet
  • Patent number: 10877104
    Abstract: A ground fault detection apparatus includes a control unit, a detection capacitor, a positive-electrode-side first resistor connected to positive-electrode side of a high-voltage battery, a negative-electrode-side first resistor connected to negative-electrode side of the high-voltage battery, a positive-electrode-side second resistor where one end is grounded and voltage of another end is measured by the control unit, a negative-electrode-side second resistor having one end grounded, a positive-electrode-side C contact switch that switches connection destination of one end of the detection capacitor between a path including the positive-electrode-side first resistor and a path including the positive-electrode-side second resistor based on instruction from the control unit, a negative-electrode-side C contact switch that switches connection destination of another end of the detection capacitor between a path including the negative-electrode-side first resistor and a path including the negative-electrode-side
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Kawamura
  • Patent number: 10826091
    Abstract: A fuel cell that can have a voltage-detection cell connector reliably held thereon without the thickness of the fuel cell increased to a thickness of greater than that originally required to generate power. The fuel cell includes a recess portion in which a cell connector is adapted to be inserted. In the recess portion, a guide portion, which can guide a cell connector being inserted into the recess portion, is formed of a part of a separator (or a second extending portion thereof). In a portion of the recess portion opposite the second extending portion, a protrusion that forms a part of an insulating resin sheet, which is arranged between a pair of separators, protrudes toward the second extending portion. A to-be-crimped portion of the cell connector inserted in the recess portion is pressed against the second extending portion by the protrusion so that its stable posture is held.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Imanishi, Nobuaki Nonoyama
  • Patent number: 10656151
    Abstract: A lateral flow diagnostic assay device is defined by a substrate having a top surface that further includes a sample addition zone for receiving a sample, a transport and reaction zone, and a wicking zone. Each of the sample addition zone, reaction and transport zone and wicking zone are disposed on the top surface of the substrate and fluidically interconnected by means that permit lateral capillary flow along at least one fluid flow path from the sample addition zone to the wicking zone. The assay device further includes a capillary vent disposed in relation to the wicking zone, the capillary vent having an overall length and cross sectional area that creates a backpressure so as to control the flow rate of a sample applied to the assay device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: ORTHO-CLINICAL DIAGNOSTICS, INC.
    Inventor: David A. Heavner
  • Patent number: 10261067
    Abstract: A nanopore FET sensor device and method of making. The nanopore FET sensor device includes a FET device stack of material layers including a source, channel and drain layers, and a nanoscale hole through the FET device stack to permit flow of strands of molecular material, e.g., DNA, therethrough. The perimeter of the nanoscale hole forms a FET device gate surface. The source and drain layers are provided with respective contacts for connection with measuring instruments that measure a flow of current therebetween. The molecular strands having charged portions pass from one side of a wafer substrate to the other side through the (nanopore) gate and modulate the current flow sensed at the source or drain terminals. The sensor collects real-time measurements of the current flow modulations for use in identifying the type of molecule. Multiple measurements by the same nanopore FET sensor are collected and compared for enhanced detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John U. Knickerbocker, Effendi Leobandung
  • Patent number: 10066335
    Abstract: A device for sensing the electrical conductivity of a liquid, particularly that of the washing bath in a washing machine, including an electrically insulating supporting casing through which first and second electrodes intended to contact the washing bath extend to the outside, electrical power supply and signal acquisition and processing circuit devices housed at least in part in the supporting casing and coupled to the electrodes, and signal coupling and galvanic isolation devices, interposed between these circuit devices and the electrodes and also housed in the casing, and including at least a first and a second capacitor, each of which is interconnected in series between one of the electrodes and a corresponding terminal of the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: BITRON S.P.A.
    Inventor: Fabio Arpino
  • Patent number: 9945836
    Abstract: A nanopore FET sensor device and method of making. The nanopore FET sensor device includes a FET device stack of material layers including a source, channel and drain layers, and a nanoscale hole through the FET device stack to penult flow of strands of molecular material, e.g., DNA, therethrough. The perimeter of the nanoscale hole forms a FET device gate surface. The source and drain layers are provided with respective contacts for connection with measuring instruments that measure a flow of current therebetween. The molecular strands having charged portions pass from one side of a wafer substrate to the other side through the (nanopore) gate and modulate the current flow sensed at the source or drain terminals. The sensor collects real-time measurements of the current flow modulations for use in identifying the type of molecule. Multiple measurements by the same nanopore FET sensor are collected and compared for enhanced detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John U. Knickerbocker, Effendi Leobandung
  • Patent number: 9776183
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling fluid flow through a cartridge for use in an assay of a fluid sample for detection of a target analyte. In one aspect, the cartridge includes a microfluidic device having a network of microfluidic channels, one or more reservoirs and one or more actuatable valves for controlling fluid flow from the reservoirs through the microfluidic channels. In some embodiments, the valve includes a deformable membrane movable between a closed configuration in which the membrane seals against the microfluidic device inhibiting fluid flow and an open configuration moved away from the microfluidic device to allow fluid flow through the microfluidic channels. Other valve embodiments utilize frangible membranes or user-removable membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Sepehr Kiani, Tony Hung, Peter Stokes, Julia Sharpe
  • Patent number: 9685499
    Abstract: A capacitive device includes a first electrode comprising a nanosheet stack and a second electrode comprising a nanosheet stack, the second electrode arranged substantially parallel to the first electrode. A first conductive contact is arranged on a basal end of the first electrode, and a second conductive contact is arranged on a basal end of the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhenxing Bi, Kangguo Cheng, Dongbing Shao, Zheng Xu
  • Patent number: 9490873
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a near-field signal system to generate signals underwater for navigation and/or communication. In one embodiment, a system includes a signal processing module coupled to a first antenna to transmit near-field signals underwater and a second antenna to receive near-field signals underwater transmitted by the first antenna. In one embodiment, a wetsuit includes an integrated near-field signal system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Frederick B. Koehler, Thomas P. Mccreery, Robert Rinker, Darrell R. Rogers, Ross D. Rosenwald, Terry M. Sanderson, David R. Sar, Ernest D. Fasse
  • Patent number: 9458488
    Abstract: Provided are point of care sensor systems that include portable readers and disposable cartridges for receiving and analyzing samples. A cartridge may be equipped with one or more sensor channels, each containing one or more sensors. After providing a sample to a cartridge, the cartridge can be inserted into a reader, which can interact with the cartridge to perform on-cartridge sensing and receive signals indicating the presence and/or quantity of one or more targets in the sample. Examples of cartridges can include cardiac panels, sepsis panels and the like. In some embodiments, the same sensor hardware may be configured for multiple measurements of different targets conducted at different time frames. Also provided herein are novel on-cartridge solid and liquid reagent storage and delivery mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Nanomix, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley N. Johnson, Jui-Ming Yang, Kanchan A. Joshi, Ray R. Radtkey, Garrett Gruener, Sergei Skarupo
  • Patent number: 9299280
    Abstract: A substrate of an electronic device may include a first test region and a second test region to measure resistance at a connection portion. The first test region and the second test region each includes a plurality of measuring pad portions, a protective layer disposed on the plurality of measuring pad portions, and a contact assistance member disposed on the protective layer. The protective layer in the first test region includes a first contact hole exposing the plurality of measuring pad portions. The contact assistance member in the first test region contacts the measuring pad portion exposed through the first contact hole. The protective layer in the second test region includes two second contact holes exposing one measuring pad portion, and the contact assistance member in the second test region contacts the one measuring pad portion through the two second contact holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Won-Gu Cho
  • Patent number: 8991156
    Abstract: A method is provided for determining the amount of ammonia which is stored in a storage container by a chemical bond to a solid storage medium, in particular a salt of an earth alkaline metal or the like, and which can be released by supplying heat in order to be supplied to a catalytic exhaust gas purification device of an internal-combustion engine. The storage medium functions as a dielectric of an electric capacitor and the stored amount of ammonia is inferred from the capacity of this capacitor. One wall of the housing of the storage container functions as a first electrode of the capacitor, and, within the storage container, at least one additional electrode is arranged such that at least a partial amount of the storage medium forms the dielectric. The storage container may have an essentially cylindrical shape. Several cylindrical electrodes can be arranged in a coaxial manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ralf Widmann, Thomas Baumeister, Andreas Bruhn, Udo Strathoff
  • Patent number: 8988083
    Abstract: A conductivity sensor, comprising an electrode structure of four concentric electrodes, which are arranged on an end face of a support body. The electrodes are electrically insulated from one another. The electrodes have an equal, constant area in order to claim a space requirement as small as possible for the electrode structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Conducta Gesellschaft fur Mess- und Regeltechnik mbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Marco Volker, Andreas Eberheim, Stefan Muller
  • Patent number: 8975901
    Abstract: Measurement devices, systems, and methods to measure a high field conductivity of a fluid are provided herein. The measurement device includes a fluid cell, a pair of electrodes, a voltage switch, and a measurement unit. The fluid cell is on an inclined plane to receive the fluid. The pair of electrodes are connected to the fluid cell. The pair of electrodes are spaced apart from one another to receive the fluid therebetween and positioned parallel to one another to pass an electrical current therethrough. The power unit provides a high voltage power supply to one electrode of the pair of electrodes. The measurement unit measures the electrical current that passes between the pair of electrodes through the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Henryk Birecki, Omer Gila, Michael H Lee, William D Holland
  • Patent number: 8928328
    Abstract: A testing device for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is disclosed. The testing device which combines the original cell housing with a four-point probe equipment is set for measuring SOFC MEA. The current collectors on anode and cathode in the original cell housing are respectively replaced by four independent probe units. They are not only to collect current but also to become measuring probes. Therefore, the lateral impedance of anode and cathode can be measured. Furthermore, the local characteristics are examined by open circuit voltage (OCV), I-V curve, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements. The results show that the lateral impedance is substantially varied with temperatures. The distributions of OCV, current density, EIS and cell voltage in long-term test at the center of the cell are different from the edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Institute of Nuclear Energy Research Atomic Energy Council, Executive Yuan
    Inventors: Shih-Wei Cheng, Yaw-Hwa Shiu, Yung-Neng Cheng, Ruey-Yi Lee
  • Publication number: 20140327446
    Abstract: A method of using a sensor comprising a field effect transistor (FET) embedded in a nanopore includes placing the sensor in an electrolyte comprising at least one of biomolecules and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA); placing an electrode in the electrolyte; applying a gate voltage in the sub-threshold regime to the electrode; applying a drain voltage to a drain of the FET; applying a source voltage to a source of the FET; detecting a change in a drain current in the sensor in response to the at least one of biomolecules and DNA passing through the nanopore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Stephen W. Bedell, Christopher D' Emic, Hongbo Peng, Sufi Zafar
  • Patent number: 8648605
    Abstract: This invention provides a sensor having such a structure that the area in which a sensor electrode comes into contact with a liquid, a mist or a gas containing an analyte has been previously specified. The sensor comprises at least an electroconductive first electrode, an electroconductive second electrode, electroconductive first and second wirings connected to the first and second electrodes, and an insulating part for insulating the first and second wirings from each other and from a liquid, a mist or a gas containing the analyte. The insulating part is formed of an organic material. In the first and second electrodes, at least the surface, which comes into contact with a liquid, a mist or a gas containing the analyte, is formed of a material which is insoluble in a liquid or a mist containing the analyte, or is not attacked by a gas containing the analyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignees: Hitachi Chemical Company, Ltd., National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Hidehiro Nakamura, Tooru Nakamura, Yutaka Hayashi, Yuji Kawanishi
  • Patent number: 8566051
    Abstract: A system for detecting and locating a leak through a membrane that includes a detector array and computer. The detector array includes a boundary wire loop, sensors, and leads. The boundary wire loop surrounds the area to be tested and generates electrical tension on the surface of the membrane. The sensors are laid out in a sensor array and are placed on top of a membrane and within the boundary wire loop. The sensors are encased in a plastic covered cable or individual wires which have open ends for their terminations forming a cable so that the sensors made by the open terminations form a chain. Each sensor communicates individually with the computer and the signals from the sensors are used by the computer to perform vector mapping that detects and locates leaks through the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Inventor: Clark Robert Gunness
  • Patent number: 8521442
    Abstract: An exemplary method for measuring the electrical resistance and/or electrical conductivity of solutions, includes: exciting the electrodes with a rectangular shaped, alternating current of a certain frequency fH through a connecting cable; synchronously rectifying a voltage of the electrodes of the measuring cell in response to the alternating current, calculating a first average voltage, dividing the first average voltage by the current amplitude to obtain a first impedance RH; then exciting the electrodes with a rectangular shaped, alternating current of another frequency fL through the connecting cable; synchronously rectifying the voltage of the electrodes in response to the alternating current, calculating a second average voltage, and dividing the second average voltage by the current amplitude to obtain a second impedance RL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventor: Changlin Wang
  • Patent number: 8519716
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a voltage detection part configured to detect the voltage of a battery unit including multiple chargeable and dischargeable secondary cells; a current detection part configured to detect a current flowing through the battery unit; a dischargeable capacity calculation part configured to calculate the dischargeable capacity of the battery unit based on the current detected by the current detection part; and a capacity correction part configured to correct the remaining capacity of the battery unit, the remaining capacity including the dischargeable capacity calculated by the dischargeable capacity calculation part, wherein the capacity correction part is configured to correct the remaining capacity based on an estimated dischargeable capacity calculated from the relationship between a preset predetermined voltage and the drop rate of the voltage of the battery unit, in response to the voltage of the battery unit becoming less than or equal to a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koichi Kurata
  • Patent number: 8482291
    Abstract: A substrate includes a first plate member; a plurality of first electrodes provided on the major surface of the first plate member, the first electrodes including at least one electrode for circuit connection and at least one monitor electrode separate from the electrode for circuit connection; a second plate member; a plurality of second electrodes provided on the major surface of the second plate member; a plurality of solder members provided between the first electrodes and the second electrodes for electrical connection therebetween, repeatedly; and a detector for detecting an electrical disconnection between at least one of the monitor electrode and the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Nobutaka Itoh, Makoto Sakairi, Mami Nakadate
  • Patent number: 8436622
    Abstract: Disclosed are a measurement method and a measurement apparatus both of which can measure the content of water or an organic acid in a polar organic solvent with high accuracy even when water or the organic acid is contained in the polar organic solvent at a low content. The content of water or an organic acid in a polar organic solvent can be measured by using, as a work electrode, an ISFET electrode in which a thin film comprising an oxide or nitride of a metal or metalloid element belonging to Groups 3 to 15 is formed on a gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Horiba, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Nishio, Yasukazu Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 8427181
    Abstract: A follower amplifier with power supply biased by a controlled voltage source such that the power supply potentials are, for the frequencies of interest, as close as possible to the potential of the follower output. There is proposed a front-end electronic circuit for biopotential and impedance measurements with outstanding performances (very high input impedance and gain very close to unity). Preferably, the explicit guard electrode and the explicit electronic unit at the belt are no longer necessary; all electronics is embedded in units placed directly at the measurement sites. Moreover, the proposed front-end electronic circuit allows a drastic simplification of the cabling and connectors since all units are connected to only one wire (the theoretical minimum) for potential reference and current return. Preferably, this wire does not even require an electrical isolation and can be easily embedded in the textile of a shirt, in a garment, mesh, belt, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: CSEM Centre Suisse d' Electronique et de Microtechnique SA—Recherche et Developpement
    Inventors: Olivier Chetelat, Josep Sola I Caros
  • Patent number: 8368411
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the determination of diffusion coefficients and/or exchange coefficient of a material having electronic and ionic conductivity. The material is permeable to at least one gas. It is the object of the invention to provide a cost-effective, accurate method for the determination of the diffusion coefficient and of the surface exchange coefficient which can be carried out in a short time and can thus be used for a screening of materials, in particular for application in the field of permeation membranes. The procedure is followed in accordance with the invention such that a sample of the material is arranged in a measurement chamber and has an electric current passed through it for a determination of the electric resistance. In this respect, a gas mixture in which the respective gas is contained is conducted through the measurement chamber as a gas flow and the partial pressure of the respective gas in the gas mixture is changed periodically at regular intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V
    Inventors: Mihails Kusnezoff, Steffen Ziesche, Anne Paepke
  • Patent number: 8324903
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for sensing the electrical conductivity of fluid wherein when electrodes of the apparatus are exposed to fluid. When the electrodes are exposed to a fluid with a predetermined salinity, a voltage is developed on a capacitor which in turn fires a load, such as a resistive bridge wire. Also disclosed is a testing circuit, whereby the integrity of the circuit can be ascertained without the necessity of actually firing the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Conax Florida Corporation
    Inventor: Andre Cournand
  • Patent number: 8258796
    Abstract: A system for testing an electronic device comprises a first output, a second output, and a third output connected to a positive input, an identification input, and a negative input of the electronic device, respectively. The system further comprises a switch comprising at least two dynamic contacts, each of which is connected to a resistor for the use of identification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Chi Mei Communication Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Chun-Chin Lai, Jiann-Chyi Rau
  • Patent number: 8093903
    Abstract: A system and method of processing a test current for an analyte measurement in a fluid using a test strip and a test meter are disclosed. The method comprises sampling the test current at a pre-determined sampling rate to acquire a plurality of A/D conversions. The method also comprises filtering out at least a highest magnitude A/D conversion and a lowest magnitude A/D conversion leaving a plurality of accepted A/D conversions. Further, the method comprises calculating an average or a summation of the plurality of accepted A/D conversions and converting the average or the summation into a glucose concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: LifeScan, Inc.
    Inventors: Ulrich Kraft, James Christol, Manfred Ebner
  • Publication number: 20110279125
    Abstract: A method of using a sensor comprising a field effect transistor (FET) embedded in a nanopore includes placing the sensor in an electrolyte comprising at least one of biomolecules and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA); placing an electrode in the electrolyte; applying a gate voltage in the sub-threshold regime to the electrode; applying a drain voltage to a drain of the FET; applying a source voltage to a source of the FET; detecting a change in a drain current in the sensor in response to the at least one of biomolecules and DNA passing through the nanopore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen W. Bedell, Christopher D' Emic, Hongbo Peng, Sufi Zafar
  • Patent number: 8030942
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell has two terminals. One of the terminals is connected to a pulse-width-modulated (PWM) power supply and to a voltmeter. The other terminal is connected to circuitry capable of switching between amperometric and potentiometric measurement modes. A sequence of successive approximations permits selection of a PWM duty cycle giving rise to a desired voltage at the terminal connected with the power supply. In this way a stable excitation voltage is supplied to the cell even in the face of supply voltage instability or drift or instability in electronics coupled with the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Agamatrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Diamond, Martin Forest, Baoguo Wei
  • Patent number: 8026731
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for obtaining an image of the impedance properties of an object by inferring a measure of straight-line path impedance along a plurality of paths from a plurality of current amplitude and phase measurements made between combinations of electrodes placed at selected points, and/or from measurements of the intensity of the electromagnetic signal emitted when an alternating current is made to resonate along the straight line path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Inventor: Jack Scott Emery
  • Patent number: 8018233
    Abstract: The evaluation method of a separator for a nonaqueous electrolyte battery according to the present invention includes: placing opposite an upper jig 21 serving also as a conductive electrode and a lower jig 23 serving also as a conductive electrode in both sides of the separator sample 22; and measuring the relationship between an applied voltage and a passed current between the upper jig 21 and the lower jig 23 while applying a pressure to between the upper jig 21 and the lower jig 23 to evaluate the separator. At this time, by fitting a foreign material 28 in any shape between the separator sample 22 and one of the upper jig 21 and the lower jig 23, an evaluation of the separator simulating the presence of a foreign material affecting adversely the separator can be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Iwanaga, Noriko Yamashita
  • Patent number: 7884614
    Abstract: This invention relates to a device of electrodes for measuring water content in foundry sand, an apparatus for measuring water content in foundry sand, and a method and an apparatus for supplying water to a sand mixer. When the prior art device for measuring water content in the foundry sand is disposed in it, the size or shape of the device of the electrodes is limited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Sintokogio, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisashi Harada, Tadashi Nishida, Kozo Sugita
  • Publication number: 20110018543
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an electrochemical cell for electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, the use thereof, an electrochemical impedance spectroscopy method, and the use of a flexible magnet. The electrochemical cell of the invention comprises—a housing defining a space comprising an electrolyte, a counter electrode and optionally a reference electrode, wherein said counter electrode and said reference electrode are arranged to be in electrical contact with said electrolyte during use; —an opening in said housing allowing the electrolyte to be in electrical contact with a substrate; and—a flexible magnet for attaching said electrochemical cell to said substrate. The EIS method of the invention comprises—attaching an electrochemical cell according to invention to said substrate substrate; —filling said electrochemical cell with electrolyte, such that said counter electrode and said reference electrode are immersed in said electrolyte; and—measuring the impedance of said substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: Nederlandse Organisatie voor toegepast-natuurweten schappelijk onderzoek TNO
    Inventors: Tom Bos, Sibo Buter
  • Publication number: 20100259271
    Abstract: Disclosed are a measurement method and a measurement apparatus both of which can measure the content of water or an organic acid in a polar organic solvent with high accuracy even when water or the organic acid is contained in the polar organic solvent at a low content. The content of water or an organic acid in a polar organic solvent can be measured by using, as a work electrode, an ISFET electrode in which a thin film comprising an oxide or nitride of a metal or metalloid element belonging to Groups 3 to 15 is formed on a gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2008
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventors: Yuji Nishio, Yasukazu Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 7788047
    Abstract: Disposable, pre-sterilized, and pre-calibrated, pre-validated conductivity sensors are provided. These sensors are designed to store sensor-specific information, such as calibration and production information, in a non-volatile memory chip on the sensor on in a barcode printed on the sensor. The sensors are calibrated using 0.100 molar potassium chloride (KCl) solutions at 25 degrees Celsius. These sensors may be utilize with in-line systems, closed fluid circuits, bioprocessing systems, or systems which require an aseptic environment while avoiding or reducing cleaning procedures and quality assurance variances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: SenCal LLC
    Inventors: Karl G. Schick, David Uhen
  • Patent number: 7772854
    Abstract: An improved contacting-type conductivity measurement system and method are provided. A first conductivity measurement is obtained by driving a contacting-type conductivity sensor with an excitation voltage at a first frequency, a second conductivity is obtained by driving the contacting-type conductivity sensor with the excitation voltage at a second frequency. The first and second conductivity measurements are used to provide a more accurate conductivity output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Rosemount Analytical Inc.
    Inventor: Behzad Rezvani
  • Publication number: 20100156426
    Abstract: An apparatus for sensing a leakage current of a battery comprises a floating capacitor charged with a voltage detected from a cathode or anode terminal of a battery; a terminal selection switching unit for selecting a voltage detection path for the cathode or anode terminal; a charge switching unit for charging the floating capacitor with a detection voltage of the cathode or anode terminal, detected through the selected voltage detection path; a polarity reverse switching unit for reversing a polarity of the detection voltage of the anode terminal charged to the floating capacitor; and a leakage current determining unit for sensing the detection voltage of the cathode terminal charged to the floating capacitor and the polarity-reversed detection voltage of the anode terminal charged to the floating capacitor to calculate a leakage resistance, and comparing the calculated leakage resistance with a criterion insulation resistance to determine whether a leakage current occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Ju-Hyun KANG, Dal-Hoon Lee, Jee-Ho Kim, Sang-Hoon Lee, Dong-Keun Kwon
  • Patent number: 7675298
    Abstract: Characteristics of a fluid are determined, in one embodiment, by flowing the fluid (which may contain charged particles) between a plurality of electrode pairs, applying respective DC voltages across at least two of the electrode pairs, and measuring resulting currents through the fluid at the respective electrode pairs. In one example, respective plates of the electrode pairs are configured so that they do not fully encircle one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Peter Forgacs
  • Patent number: 7652479
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the through-thickness resistance or conductance of a thin electrolyte is provided. The method and apparatus includes positioning a first source electrode on a first side of an electrolyte to be tested, positioning a second source electrode on a second side of the electrolyte, positioning a first sense electrode on the second side of the electrolyte, and positioning a second sense electrode on the first side of the electrolyte. current is then passed between the first and second source electrodes and the voltage between the first and second sense electrodes is measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Scribner Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Cooper, Louie L. Scribner
  • Publication number: 20090322341
    Abstract: A system and method of processing a test current for an analyte measurement in a fluid using a test strip and a test meter are disclosed. The method comprises sampling the test current at a pre-determined sampling rate to acquire a plurality of A/D conversions. The method also comprises filtering out at least a highest magnitude A/D conversion and a lowest magnitude A/D conversion leaving a plurality of accepted A/D conversions. Further, the method comprises calculating an average or a summation of the plurality of accepted A/D conversions and converting the average or the summation into a glucose concentration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Ulrich Kraft, James Christol, Manfred Ebner