Gas Patents (Class 356/437)
  • Patent number: 11962912
    Abstract: An image processing system may comprise a global shutter camera, an illumination emitter, and a processing system comprising at least one processor and memory. The processing system may be configured to control the image processing system to: control the illumination emitter to illuminate a scene; control the global shutter camera to capture a sequence of images of the scene, wherein the captured sequence of images includes images that are captured without illumination of the scene by the illumination emitter and images that are captured while the scene is illuminated by the illumination emitter; and determine presence of an object in the scene based on comparison of the images captured without illumination of the scene and images captured with illumination of the scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG
    Inventors: Morgan D. Murphy, Ronald M. Taylor
  • Patent number: 11926527
    Abstract: A method is described for controlling a furnace containing a plurality of catalyst-containing tubes heated by a combustion gas generated by a plurality of burners, said method comprising the steps of: (i) measuring path-averaged combustion gas temperatures on multiple paths through the furnace using tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy, (ii) periodically measuring temperatures of surfaces within the furnace to obtain periodic surface temperature information, (iii) entering the path-averaged combustion gas temperatures and periodic surface temperature information into a computer model of the furnace, said model comprising parameters for controlling the furnace; and (iv) using the computer model and the temperature information to obtain optimised parameters for controlling the furnace. A system for performing the method is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Johnson Matthey Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Matthew John Cousins, Michael Davies, John David Pach
  • Patent number: 11921031
    Abstract: A gas sensor comprises an enclosure configured to receive a gas. The enclosure comprises a sidewall extending, around a transverse axis, between a first wall and a second wall. The sensor also comprises a light source configured to emit a light wave that propagates in the enclosure and forms, from the light source, a first light cone. A measuring photodetector is configured to detect the light wave emitted by the light source and propagated through the enclosure. The first wall and the second wall each comprise at least one reflective surface, forming a portion of an ellipsoid of revolution. Each reflective surface is associated with a rank n, n being an integer greater than or equal to 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: ELICHENS
    Inventor: Hélène Duprez
  • Patent number: 11840923
    Abstract: Layered coating applications for sensing telemetry are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Christopher Michael Jones
  • Patent number: 11796468
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, a gas measurement apparatus includes a measurement controller (6), a spectrum generator (72), a processing unit (73), and a result obtaining unit (74). The measurement controller (6) controls the apparatus so that a laser-light source (1) causes laser light to be incident to an optical resonator (4) and a wavelength of the laser light is scanned within a predetermined wavelength range, the range including an absorption peak of a target component, thereby performing a CRDS measurement. The spectrum generator (72) generates an absorption spectrum based on data obtained at each wavelength within a predetermined wavelength range. The processing unit (73) approximates a waveform shape of the absorption peak of the target component in the absorption spectrum with a polynomial and acquires a coefficient of a term of a predetermined degree in the polynomial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventor: Kazune Mano
  • Patent number: 11759124
    Abstract: Disclosed is a real-time dynamic and quantitative detection device for carbon dioxide in human exhaled air, which comprises: a face mask which comprises an air inlet and an air outlet; an inhalation channel connected with the air inlet of the face mask, a first one-way valve is provided in the inhalation channel; an exhalation channel connected with the air outlet of the face mask, a second one-way valve is provided in the exhalation channel; an air path switching element connected with the exhalation channel to realize the switching between an exhalation air path to be detected and an inflation air path; a detection air chamber connected with the exhalation channel, at least one carbon dioxide sensor connected with an external upper computer is provided in the detection air chamber; before detection, the air path switching element switches to the inflation air path to clean and initialize the detection air chamber; during detection, the air path switching element switches to the exhalation air path to be det
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: SHANGHAI UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE & HEALTH SCIENCES
    Inventors: Gang Huang, Lijun Hao, Jun Zhu
  • Patent number: 11714046
    Abstract: A system and method indicate capability for detecting methane leaks inside buildings. This approach provides the ability to detect methane behind high efficiency coated windows and can extract methane concentration (rather than concentration-path length product CL). Lock-in imaging technologies can facilitate lower laser transmitter power. A field deployable, hand held prototype sensor for use in remote sensing a appropriate standoff distances can support operational testing. Distance infrared imaging of methane is feasible. Fully characterized real time image of a methane cloud offers operational advantages in accuracy and safety as compared to current sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignees: Ohio State Innovation Foundation, SK Infrared, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Ball, Theodore Ronningen, Douglas Fink, Brett Ringel, Sanjay Krishna, Earl Fuller, Douglas Mooney
  • Patent number: 11692900
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are drawn to apparatuses and methods for anomalous gas concentration detection. A spectroscopic system, such as a wavelength modulated spectroscopy (WMS) system may measure gas concentrations in a target area. However, noise, such as speckle noise, may interfere with measuring relatively low concentrations of gas, and may lead to false positives. A noise model, which includes a contribution from a speckle noise model, may be used to process data from the spectroscopic system. An adaptive threshold may be applied based on an expected amount of noise. A speckle filter may remove measurements which are outliers based on a measurement of their noise. Plume detection may be used to determine a presence of gas plumes. Each of these processing steps may be associated with a confidence, which may be used to determine an overall confidence in the processed measurements/gas plumes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Bridger Photonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Thomas Kreitinger, Michael James Thorpe
  • Patent number: 11685000
    Abstract: A tool arrangement is provided for accommodating portions of an optical tool in a park position, having an optical tool and having a housing with an opening suitable for accommodating portions of the optical tool in a housing interior, with a housing discharge connected to the housing in a fluid-conducting manner, and with a sealing sleeve arranged at the opening of the housing, wherein the sealing sleeve has a fluid-carrying line for adapting a variable fill volume of the sealing sleeve. In addition, a method is provided for accommodating portions of an optical tool in a park position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Richter, Sebastian Marx, Mike Hirschfeldt
  • Patent number: 11674904
    Abstract: This disclosure describes various system and methods for monitoring photons emitted by a heat source of an additive manufacturing device. Sensor data recorded while monitoring the photons can be used to predict metallurgical, mechanical and geometrical properties of a part produced during an additive manufacturing operation. In some embodiments, a test pattern can be used to calibrate an additive manufacturing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Sigma Additive Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Vivek R. Dave, Mark J. Cola, R. Bruce Madigan, Alberto Castro, Glenn Wikle, Lars Jacquemetton, Peter Campbell
  • Patent number: 11674888
    Abstract: The present invention provides a self-aligned high finesse optical sensor cell for analyzing a gaseous sample using highly reflective optical mirrors with a light source and a detector coupled on either end of the cell, having flexibility and/or serviceability in self-aligning the highly reflective mirrors to the optical cell without any mechanical manipulations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: GLOBAL ANALYZER SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventors: Kelly Pickrell, Charles Anim Odame-Ankrah, Brian Wayne Rosentreter
  • Patent number: 11592388
    Abstract: Improved optical absorption spectroscopy of species having broad spectral features is provided by choosing frequencies to cover the spectral feature(s) of interest, where the frequencies are slightly adjusted as needed to avoid narrow spectral features from interfering chemical species (i.e., clutter). The resulting clutter avoidance provides improved optical spectroscopy of species having broad spectral features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Picarro, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Hoffnagle, Chris W. Rella
  • Patent number: 11585753
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method of detecting a trace gas is disclosed. The method includes containing the trace gas in an optical cavity. The method further includes injecting a first laser light from a first laser into the optical cavity causing the trace gas to transition from an energy state lower that a first excited energy state to the first excited energy state, and injecting a second laser light from a second laser into the optical cavity causing the trace gas to transition from the first excited energy state to a second excited energy state. The method includes measuring, by a detector, a first cavity ringdown intensity as a function of time after turning off the second laser with the first laser on, and a second cavity ringdown intensity as a function of time after turning off the second laser with the first laser off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel McCartt, Jun Jiang
  • Patent number: 11566962
    Abstract: A method of testing the structural integrity of a rigid container comprises performing a sampling process on the rigid container comprising sampling a volume of sample gas from a sampling region associated with the rigid container, wherein the method further comprises performing a detection process comprising producing one or more laser beams for excitation of one or more materials that may be in the volume of sample gas, wherein the one or more materials are representative of a gas and/or vapour and/or a liquid leak from the rigid container and detecting light that has passed through the volume of sample gas, and determining the presence and/or absence and/or amount of said one or more materials in the volume of sample gas based on detected light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Pure Storage, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Black, Tom Hunter
  • Patent number: 11555780
    Abstract: A photoacoustic sensor (100) is capable of detecting a predefined target gas in an area (Um). A process is capable of detecting the target gas with the use of such a sensor (100). A sample chamber (3) holds a gas sample (Gp) to be tested. Electromagnetic waves (eW) from a radiation source (1) pass through the sample chamber (3) and the detection chamber (4). The waves elicit in the detection chamber (4) an acoustic effect, which is measured by an acoustic sensor (7). The acoustic effect is correlated with the concentration of the target gas in the sample chamber (3). The detection chamber (4) is fluid-tightly sealed, is free from target gas and is filled with a replacement gas (Eg). The transmission of the replacement gas (Eg) has a spectral response similar to that of the transmission of the target gas in a predefined target gas wavelength range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Drägerwerk AG & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Ralf Buchtal, Gerd Peter, Bernd-Michael Dicks, Björn Spilker, Robert Jahns, Martin Kroh
  • Patent number: 11547785
    Abstract: An extracorporeal blood gas exchange device has a bloodstream area for guiding a bloodstream, a gas-carrying area for guiding a gas flow, and a membrane, which forms a gas-liquid barrier between the bloodstream and the gas flow, and which further makes possible the transfer of carbon dioxide of the bloodstream into the gas flow. The device further has at least one measuring cuvette, which is separated from the bloodstream area at least partially by the membrane, so that carbon dioxide of the bloodstream can pass over into the measuring cuvette. The device has an optical measuring unit, which is configured to measure a carbon dioxide partial pressure present in the measuring cuvette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Drägerwerk AG & Co. KGaA
    Inventor: Tilman Von Blumenthal
  • Patent number: 11530983
    Abstract: A sensor module for measuring a concentration of a gas by utilizing changes in an amount of absorbed light includes a light emitting device and a light receiving device configured to receive light emitted by the light emitting device, wherein the light emitting device and the light receiving device are disposed to face each other across a gap, wherein the light emitting device and the light receiving device are positioned such as to be exposed to the gas, and the gap forms part of a flow pathway of the gas, and wherein the gap is greater than or equal to 0.2 mm and less than or equal to 1.0 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: SHINKO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuaki Denda, Yuji Furuta
  • Patent number: 11513196
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods involving Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR or lidar) systems. Namely, an example method includes causing a light source of a LIDAR system to emit light along an emission vector. The method also includes adjusting the emission vector of the emitted light and determining an elevation angle component of the emission vector. The method further includes dynamically adjusting a per pulse energy of the emitted light based on the determined elevation angle component. An example system includes a vehicle and a light source coupled to the vehicle. The light source is configured to emit light along an emission vector toward an environment of the vehicle. The system also includes a controller operable to determine an elevation angle component of the emission vector and dynamically adjust a per pulse energy of the emitted light based on the determined elevation angle component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventor: Mark Alexander Shand
  • Patent number: 11506601
    Abstract: There is provided a resonant cavity system. A first mirror is actuated at a first end of a resonant cavity to move in a direction between a first position relative to a second mirror at a second end of the resonant cavity, at which a cavity length between the first mirror and the second mirror is less than a resonance length for a laser beam, and a second position relative to the second mirror, at which the cavity length is greater than the resonance length. An event is triggered when the cavity length is proximal to the resonance length. The first mirror is continuously actuated to move in the direction between the first position and the second position during the event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: PICOMOLE INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Quentin Purves, Perry F. Kain, Denis Dufour
  • Patent number: 11478150
    Abstract: A system to detect a position of a cannula may include a cannula, which may include a distal tip and an inner lumen. Also, the system may include an optical fiber, which may be disposed within the inner lumen of the cannula and may include a first end, a second end, and a U-shaped portion disposed between the first end and the second end. The U-shaped portion may be at least proximate the distal tip. Further, the system may include a light emitter, which may be coupled with the first end of the optical fiber, and a light receiver, which may be coupled with the second end of the optical fiber. Moreover, the system may include an electronic processor. The electronic processor may be coupled with the light receiver and configured to detect a decrease in an intensity of light received at the light receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Yiping Ma, Azadeh Khanicheh
  • Patent number: 11460396
    Abstract: A concentration measurement method is performed using a concentration measurement device comprising: a measurement cell for flowing a fluid to be measured; a light source for generating light incident on the measurement cell; a photodetector for detecting light emitted from the measurement cell; an arithmetic unit for calculating the absorbance and concentration of the fluid to be measured based on an output of the photodetector; and a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the fluid to be measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIKIN INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Masaaki Nagase, Hidekazu Ishii, Kouji Nishino, Nobukazu Ikeda
  • Patent number: 11397177
    Abstract: The technology relates to devices and methods thereof for the detection of one or more biomarkers from a user's exhaled breath. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a device comprising a metered dose inhaler, and a sensor that detects one or more biomarkers comprising HFA, CO2, and NO. In another embodiment, the device detects HFA, CO2 and NO simultaneously by photoacoustic spectroscopy. In another embodiment, the device may be used as part of an overall treatment regimen for asthma or COPD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Dan M. Cooper, Eric O. Potma, Kim Lu
  • Patent number: 11378514
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system for measuring concentrations of trace gases in gas mixtures using the absorption spectroscopy method. The system comprising an optical cell containing a gas mixture, a continuous-wave tunable laser, a detector system for measuring an absorption of laser light by the gas in the optical cell, and a processor to conduct an absorption spectroscopy analysis of the gas mixture based on light intensity measured by the detector system at one or more laser frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Inventor: Serguei Koulikov
  • Patent number: 11352535
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a composition comprising a refrigerant characterized by having a low GWP, low flammability, a COP equivalent to that of R410A, and a refrigerating capacity almost equivalent to that of R410A. Specifically, the present disclosure provides a composition comprising a refrigerant, the refrigerant comprising CO2 (R744), hexafluoropropene (FO-1216), and at least one compound A selected from the group consisting of trifluoroethylene (HFO-1123), trans-1,2-difluoroethylene [(E)-HFO-1132], cis-1,2-difluoroethylene [(Z)-HFO-1132], fluoroethylene (HFO-1141), and 3,3,3-trifluoropropyne (TFP).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsushi Itano, Kazuhiro Takahashi, Yuuki Yotsumoto, Akihito Mizuno
  • Patent number: 11307086
    Abstract: A radiation field measuring device for the characterization of a radiation comprises a detector device and a reconstruction device. The detector device may have at least one detector camera, which contains at least one detector array arranged for the image recording of scattered radiation in a multiplicity of lateral directions that deviate from the longitudinal direction. The reconstruction device may be configured for the tomographic reconstruction of a field density of the scattered radiation in the radiation field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: LaVision BioTec GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Killich, Uwe Engeland
  • Patent number: 11280731
    Abstract: A fire extinguishing agent concentration measuring system having a first window, a second window positioned relative to the first window thereby defining a sensing volume between the first window and the second window, and a structure positioned relative to the first window and the second window configured to cause fluid flowing into the sensing volume from an environment within which the fire extinguishing agent concentration measuring system is placed to swirl within the sensing volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: KIDDE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Mark P. Fazzio
  • Patent number: 11280775
    Abstract: A cavity ring down measurement system comprising a light source in optical communication with a detector through an optical cavity wherein the detector is in electronic communication through a gating circuit with a first integrating circuit and a second integrating circuit, controlled to obtain a ring up signal simultaneous with a ring down signal of a plurality of ON-OFF cycles over a single period of time. A process to utilize the system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: ALTI, LLC
    Inventors: James McChesney Hargrove, John Hargrove
  • Patent number: 11275012
    Abstract: A tomography duct for wind tunnels includes a plurality of light sources and sensors displaced around a support structure. The light sources are cycled and sensor measurements are made from sensors opposite the light sources. Tomographic algorithms are used to determine an extinction map from the sensor measurements. The extinction map provides details about particles in a cross-section of the air flow through the tomography duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: PLEXAR ASSOCIATES, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Bencic, David P. Rohler, Amy F. Fagan, Steven H. Izen, Arjun K. Maniyedath
  • Patent number: 11262296
    Abstract: Disclosed is a connecting device for connecting a gas sensor to a gas leak detector. The gas sensor includes an elongate sensor housing. The gas leak detector includes at least one gas connector adapted to be connected to the gas sensor. A guide rail connects to the gas leak detector, engaging with the sensor housing such that the gas connectors engage with at least one complementary second gas connector. A fastening claw includes two elastic spring legs arranged at one of the sensor housing and the gas leak detector. Each of the two spring legs includes a latching boss engaging the frontal end of the gas sensor opposite the second gas connector and a spreading element having two retaining arms. Each retaining arm includes a pulling edge, an inclined insertion portion along which the latching boss grips and pivots the spring leg, and an inclined disengagement portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: INFICON GmbH
    Inventor: Sebastian Weiss
  • Patent number: 11255746
    Abstract: A photonic resonator analyzer characterizes a photonic resonator and incudes a light source that provides a probe light; a photonic resonator that receives the probe light and produces product light; an optical detector that receives the product light and produces a product signal; a mode analyzer that receives the product signal and produces a resonator spectrum; and a spectral analyzer that receives the resonator spectrum, performs regression by fitting a non-parametric model to the resonator spectrum, and produces a thermal response function of the photonic resonator from fitting the non-parametric model to the resonator spectrum to characterize the photonic resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE
    Inventor: Zeeshan Ahmed
  • Patent number: 11255794
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for the robust passive detection of airborne toxins using a colorimetric sensor coating onto a optically transparent substrate. In certain embodiments, the substrate is affixed to an adhesive material (tape). In certain embodiments, the sensor and substrate are transparent. In various embodiments, multiple sensors are coated onto selected substrate for the simultaneous detection of multiple toxins. In various embodiments, the sensed or detected toxins include a number of chemical warfare agents and toxic industrial chemicals. In various implementations, the tape is affixed to a remote surface, which may be visually monitored by a camera directly by focusing the camera on the tape or may be affixed to a camera lens by an adhesive backing, such that colorimetric sensor changes may be observed through the lens itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignees: Intelligent Optical Systems, Inc., United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Manal Beshay, Janet L. Jensen, James M. Cress
  • Patent number: 11209353
    Abstract: An infrared device comprises a substrate. A configuration for emitting infrared radiation is supported by the substrate. The configuration comprises an electrically conducting layer arrangement of less than 50 nm thickness between dielectric layers. In addition, a heater arranged for heating the configuration to emit the infrared radiation is supported by the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: SENSIRION AG
    Inventors: Nicolas Zäch, Martin Winger, Nicolas Daix, Sebastian Raab, Thomas Uehlinger
  • Patent number: 11209354
    Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for measuring the isotope ratios of one or more trace gases based on optical absorption spectroscopy methods. The system includes an optical cavity containing a gas. The system also includes a laser optically coupled with the optical cavity, and a detector system for measuring absorption of laser light by the gas in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Inventor: Serguei Koulikov
  • Patent number: 11199526
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining a content of a hydrocarbon or other compound, such as a C3 to C7 hydrocarbon, in a condensed steam sample. Cooled steam condensate can be flowed through a sample chamber including an inner overflow tube. When the flow stops, water can be drained from the sample chamber, and then the sample chamber can be opened to allow fluid communication with a vapor chamber above the sample chamber. This can allow hydrocarbons in the condensed steam (and/or other gas) to be transferred from the sample chamber into the vapor chamber. The vapor chamber can then be isolated from the sample chamber. At least a portion of the content of the vapor chamber can then be passed to a detection volume, such as the characterization cell for a gas chromatography system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Randall S. Lachine, Raymond J. Henry
  • Patent number: 11193928
    Abstract: An unmanned vehicle operated autonomously or by remotely piloting incorporates an onboard camera which is affixed with clear tape coated with a chemical colorimetric sensor dye sensitive to chemical warfare agents. Chemical warfare agents are detected by visual review or autonomous measurement of sensor color changes while the unmanned vehicle travels through a region suspected of having chemical warfare agents present. In various implementations, the sensor output color changes may be visually monitored by a vehicle operator viewing the camera image from a remote location. In various embodiments, the detection of chemical warfare agents may be confirmed by processing the coated tape with a calibrated opto-electronic reader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Intelligent Optical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Manal Beshay, Janet L Jensen, James M Cress
  • Patent number: 11192836
    Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a fluorine-containing organic compound. The method can immediately detect the occurrence of a side reaction in direct fluorination reaction using fluorine gas and can give a highly pure fluorine-containing organic compound at a high yield. A raw material liquid (1) containing a raw material organic compound having a hydrogen atom and two or more carbon atoms is reacted with fluorine gas in a reaction container (11) to replace the hydrogen atom of the raw material organic compound with a fluorine atom to give a fluorine-containing organic compound. In the reaction, tetrafluoromethane contained in a gas phase (2) in the reaction container (11) is continuously measured, and the amount of the fluorine gas supplied to the reaction container (11) is controlled depending on the measured value of the tetrafluoromethane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
    Inventors: Yohsuke Fukuchi, Shinichi Yorozuya, Nozomi Kusumoto, Hiroshi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11188762
    Abstract: There is provided a moving body risk assessment device including a moving body detection unit that detects presence or movement of a moving body within an imaging range on the basis of image information imaged in a wavelength region different from a visible region, and a risk assessment unit that assesses a risk to the detected moving body from the image information and a result of the moving body detection obtained by the moving body detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignees: Konica Minolta, Inc., CHIYODA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Morimoto, Motohiro Asano, Seiichi Tsuzuki, Hiroaki Suzuki, Teruo Hioki, Hideaki Hotta, Akifumi Toki
  • Patent number: 11137348
    Abstract: A method and system for detecting sulfur fires that comprises a remote infrared or microwave sensor to detect sulfur dioxide gas and provide an unsupervised remote daytime and nighttime sulfur fire-watch, hot spot detection, early sulfur fire prevention, sulfur fire detection, or sulfur fire control of unattended combustible sulfur blocks, sulfur stockpiles, sulfur plants, or equipment using remote sensing devices that includes detection, measurement and analysis of electromagnetic radiation to determine the presence of sulfur dioxide gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Enersul Inc.
    Inventors: Carlito Rolland deSouza, Trevor Michael Greer, David Alexander Shaw
  • Patent number: 11137288
    Abstract: A device may determine a calibration value for a spectrometer using light from a first light source; deactivate the first light source after determining the calibration value; perform measurement with regard to a sample based on the calibration value, wherein the measurement of the sample is performed using light from a second light source; determine that the calibration value is to be updated; and update the calibration value using the light from the first light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: VIAVI Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Curtis R. Hruska
  • Patent number: 11112308
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are drawn to apparatuses and methods for anomalous gas concentration detection. A spectroscopic system, such as a wavelength modulated spectroscopy (WMS) system may measure gas concentrations in a target area. However, noise, such as speckle noise, may interfere with measuring relatively low concentrations of gas, and may lead to false positives. A noise model, which includes a contribution from a speckle noise model, may be used to process data from the spectroscopic system. An adaptive threshold may be applied based on an expected amount of noise. A speckle filter may remove measurements which are outliers based on a measurement of their noise. Plume detection may be used to determine a presence of gas plumes. Each of these processing steps may be associated with a confidence, which may be used to determine an overall confidence in the processed measurements/gas plumes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Bridger Photonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Thomas Kreitinger, Michael James Thorpe
  • Patent number: 11092493
    Abstract: Improved cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy is provided using a piecewise tunable laser by using a lookup table for laser tuning that is configured specifically for this application. In preferred embodiments this is done in combination with a laser control strategy that provides precise wavelength determination using cavity modes of the instrument as a reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Picarro, Inc.
    Inventors: Alejandro Dario Farinas, John A. Hoffnagle, Chris W. Rella, Sze Meng Tan
  • Patent number: 11063402
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing dispersion-managed dissipative Kerr solitons on-chip are provided. Microresonators are also provided for producing such solitons. The solitons may be enabled by real-time dynamical measurements on frequency combs. Methods are further provided to determine the temporal structure of the intracavity field in both the fast time axis, with ultrafast time-lens magnifiers at 600 fs timing resolutions, and the slow time axis via optical sampling with a synchronized fiber frequency comb reference. An order-of-magnitude enlarged stability zone of the dispersion-managed dissipative Kerr solitons is achieved versus the static regimes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Chee Wei Wong, Shu-Wei Huang, Yongnan Li
  • Patent number: 11047736
    Abstract: An integrated cavity output spectroscopic (ICOS) device includes a cavity and a mirror positioned at an output end of the cavity. The ICOS device also includes a first collection lens positioned between a detector and the mirror at the output end of the cavity, and a second collection lens positioned between the first collection lens and the detector. The ICOS device further includes an optical component configured to reduce skew of an optical signal output from the cavity, where the optical component is positioned between the mirror and the first collection lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: The University of Chicago
    Inventors: Benjamin W. Clouser, Laszlo Sarkozy, Elisabeth Moyer
  • Patent number: 11035782
    Abstract: A light source, a standing wave forming unit, a detector, and an absorbance calculating unit. The light source irradiates a sample with light. The standing wave forming unit forms, in the sample, an acoustic standing wave perpendicular to a surface of the sample. A node of the acoustic standing wave is positioned at a predetermined distance from the surface of the sample, the light from the light source entering the surface of the sample. The detector detects light emitted from the surface of the sample, and is disposed on the surface of the sample on a side where the light source is disposed. The absorbance calculating unit obtains absorbance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION KAGAWA UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Ichiro Ishimaru
  • Patent number: 11009399
    Abstract: A method and a system for classifying at least one individual gas compound from a plurality of leaked gases in a specified field of view are provided herein. The method may include the following steps: generating, by a cryogenically cooled detector and using a first of at least n filters, multiple spectral band images of the specified view in spectral bands coinciding with said leaking gases spectral bands in which said leaking gases emit and absorb electromagnetic radiation; calculating from the images, the relative absorption response of said gases in each of said filters, respectively; calculating a set of predetermined coefficients; normalizing said relative absorption responses to the sum of relative responses of said filters; and calculating the weighted average molecular mass of said gas compound of said leaking gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: OPGAL Optronic Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Ram Hashmonay, Omer Yanai
  • Patent number: 10997734
    Abstract: A gas detection-use image processing device includes a processing part that performs first processing of acquiring a first image including a region image illustrating a region where a gas candidate has appeared, extracted from an infrared image, on each of a plurality of infrared images captured at a plurality of different times to acquire a plurality of first images. The gas detection-use image processing device also includes a decision part that decides similarity between two first images, in consideration of a movement of the region image in the two first images. The gas detection-use image processing device further includes a determination part that determines whether the gas candidate is a gas, based on the similarity decided by the decision part and whether the region image is moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Motohiro Asano
  • Patent number: 10965298
    Abstract: In some embodiments, two light beams having different frequencies can be counter-propagated through an atomic absorber having an atomic transition frequency approximately equal to the sum of the frequencies of the two beams. When the beams are appropriately tuned, the atomic absorber absorbs significant amount of light of at least the lower power beam. The amount of light remaining after the absorber is an indication of how well the frequencies are tuned to the absorber. At least one of the beam frequencies has an FM modulation applied prior to the absorber. This means the phase of the remaining light compared to the FM modulation, along with the intensity of the remaining light, can be used to provide a first feedback signal to adjust the frequencies of the beams to match the absorber frequency. Finally, both beams have amplitude modulation applied before the absorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate
    Inventor: Vladislav Gerginov
  • Patent number: 10942114
    Abstract: A storage unit stores first and second calibration curves. The first calibration curve represents a relationship between an absorbance of a first standard sample for light at a wavelength ?1 and a concentration of a target composition in the first standard sample. The second calibration curve represents a relationship between an absorbance of a second standard sample for light at a wavelength ?2 and a concentration of the target composition in the second standard sample. The second standard sample has a higher concentration than that of the first standard sample. When the absorbance of the unknown sample for the light at the wavelength ?1 is less than a threshold, a concentration measurement processing unit measures a concentration of the target composition in the unknown sample, based on the absorbance of the unknown sample for the light at the wavelength ?1 and the first calibration curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Sugihara
  • Patent number: 10939854
    Abstract: Herein is disclosed a sensor for noninvasive measurement of the partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) in the skin of a human. The sensor comprises a housing, a gas measuring chamber for measuring gases, at least one chimney for communication of gases diffusing through the skin to the gas measuring chamber, a broad band light source transmitting light into the gas measuring chamber and a detector system comprising a first and a second photodetector. The first photodetector detects light at a wavelength wherein CO2 absorbs light and the second photodetector acts as a zero reference detector by measuring light in a freeband where no gases absorb light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Radiometer Basel AG
    Inventors: Julien Finci, Daniel Salzmann
  • Patent number: 10927782
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a dual function imaging device. In one example, a method may comprise imaging exhaust gas outside of a reverse engine condition via the imaging device. The imaging device may image a surrounding area during the reverse engine condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aed Dudar, Robert Roy Jentz, Luke DiBussolo