Mechanical Work Or Power Measurement Patents (Class 702/44)
  • Patent number: 11929693
    Abstract: A control method of an electric machine is described, including a first step of detecting the angular position of a rotor of the electric machine; a second step of detecting the values of the alternate current next to at least two phases of the input current to the electric machine; a third step of detecting the values of voltage and direct current supplied as input to the inverter by the electric supply means; a fourth step of estimating the torque supplied by the electric machine performed by processing data detected in the first and second step; a fifth step of computing the torque supplied by the electric machine performed by processing data detected in the third and first step; a sixth step of comparing the value of the computed torque and the value of the estimated torque; a control system and a motor comprising such system are further described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: MAVEL EDT S.P.A.
    Inventor: Denny Chiono
  • Patent number: 11622721
    Abstract: An athletic performance streaming system comprises a sensor system configured to removably attach to an article of clothing worn by an athlete and one or more external devices. The sensor system comprises one or more sensors configured to measure one or more athletic performance parameters for the athlete and a computing unit configured to monitor and transmit the one or more athletic performance parameters. The one or more external devices is remote from the article of clothing. The sensor system is configured to stream the one or more athletic performance parameters in real time to the one or more external devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Mayfonk Athletic, LLC
    Inventors: Martin T Matak, Jef Spaleta
  • Patent number: 11193772
    Abstract: Autonomous merit-based heading alignment and initialization methods for inertial navigation systems that update heading alignment in parallel with a heading estimation process. In some embodiments, such methods calculate figures of merit (FOMs) for multiple heading observations and estimate heading based on the calculate FOMs. In some embodiments, sensor data are genericized and published to a generic network, and multiple heading channels listen to the generic network for the published sensor data to make the heading estimation process sensor-agnostic. Such methods can be performed by software and/or incorporated into hardware and/or software based autonomous merit-based inertial navigation systems, which in turn can be deployed in vehicles to effect autonomous navigation solutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Greensea Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin W. Kinnaman
  • Patent number: 11172331
    Abstract: A method allowing the synchronizing collection of motion and ground reaction forces data at the start of a sporting event which are received from motion and force sensors embedded in insoles worn in the user's footwear. Furthermore, this method allows synchronization of said data with video or television transmission, and if used during, for example, during ski racing, provides information of skis' pitch, roll and heading in a 3-D space, as well as linear and angular velocity, g-forces, and the location and distribution of pressure points and ground reaction forces transferred to the user's feet in a numerical or a graphical form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: IPCOMM LLC.
    Inventors: Stanislaw Czaja, Lora O'Leary
  • Patent number: 11029226
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for monitoring head acceleration and/or forces acting thereon are disclosed. A device for monitoring an acceleration or a force acting on the head of a user includes a flexible article adapted to be worn on the head of the user; and a monitoring assembly coupled to the flexible article. The monitoring assembly includes a sensor for measuring a force on the head and transmitting data relating to the force, the sensor disposed proximate to the head, a processor adapted to receive the force data from the sensor, and a flexible strip operatively connecting the sensor and the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignees: Reebok International Limited, Medidata Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul M. Davis, William Marvin, Steven Fastert, Kevin Dowling, Paul E. Litchfield, Benjamin Schlatka, Gilman Callsen, Robert Rich, Dustin G. Simone, Keith A. Stern, Dennis Gaboriault
  • Patent number: 11013464
    Abstract: A computer implemented method comprises receiving, during a sporting event, raw data at a processor connected to a fantasy sports league network or gambling network. The raw data includes one or more athletic performance parameters that correspond to a physical movement of an athlete. The method further comprises computing in real time at the processor, during the sporting event, performance assessments for the athlete based on the athletic performance parameters. The performance assessments correspond specifically to an activity of the sporting event, and indicate a peak athletic performance parameter for the athlete. The method further comprises transmitting, during the sporting event, a signal from the processor to one or more subscriber devices connected to a fantasy sports league network or gambling network. The signal enables a display of the one or more performance assessments or athletic performance parameters on the subscriber devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Mayfonk Athletic, LLC
    Inventors: Martin T. Matak, Jef Spaleta
  • Patent number: 10900986
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining bicycle pedaling may include a sensor that detects the angular velocity and/or position of a drivetrain or rear sprocket assembly of the bicycle The apparatus may determine values indicative of pedaling. The apparatus may be configured to be housed within a component of the bicycle, such as within a hollow opening of the spindle or crank axle. The apparatus also may include a wireless transmitter to communicate with another component, such as a suspension controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Geoff Nichols, Brian Jordan, Sarah Fanto
  • Patent number: 10888275
    Abstract: A system and method for tracking athletic movements, the system has one or more sensors, a computing unit, and external computing devices. The sensors generate electrical signals descriptive of detected physical movement of an athlete during a sporting event. The computing unit obtains the electrical signals generated by the sensors in real time. The computing unit determines athletic performance parameters in real time based on the electrical signals. The computing unit also computes performance assessments for the athlete based on the performance parameters. The performance assessments correspond specifically to a sport of the sporting event and indicate a peak athletic performance metric for the athlete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Mayfonk Athletic, LLC
    Inventors: Martin T. Matak, Jef Spaleta
  • Patent number: 10830165
    Abstract: Method for the identification of a torque delivery imbalance of an internal combustion engine equipped with two or more cylinders under constant speed operating conditions of the internal combustion engine comprising an analysis procedure in the frequency domain of a rotation speed signal of said engine so that when an amplitude of a half-order frequency exceeds a predetermined threshold, the cylinder of said two or more cylinders that causes said imbalance is identified by calculating a relative phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: FERRARI S.P.A.
    Inventors: Lorenzo Tombari, Giovanni Sartoni, Daniele Genova
  • Patent number: 10828532
    Abstract: Provided is a riding posture outputting device that is able to determine a riding posture with accuracy. The riding posture outputting device includes a communication unit which acquires a crank rotation angle ? of a bicycle, and a propulsion force and a loss force which are added to a crank in the crank rotation angle ?, and a determination unit which determines whether a user is dancing on the basis of the crank rotation angle ? when the load calculated from the propulsion force Ft and the loss force Fr is maximized. Then, the communication unit outputs a determination result obtained by the determination of the determination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Yuji Izuru
  • Patent number: 10458868
    Abstract: A bicycle crank arm assembly basically includes a bicycle crank arm and first to third detecting circuits. The first detecting circuit is configured to detect a force acting in a first direction. The second detecting circuit is configured to detect a force acting in a second direction. The third detecting circuit is configured to detect a moment. The first detecting circuit includes a first strain sensor that is mounted to an attachment surface. The second detecting circuit includes a second strain sensor that is mounted to the attachment surface. The third detecting circuit includes a third strain sensor that is mounted to the attachment surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignees: Shimano Inc., MinebeaMitsumi Inc.
    Inventors: Toshio Tetsuka, Fumiaki Yoshida, Shintaro Mori, Toru Arai, Kui Li, Tomoaki Watanuki
  • Patent number: 10444119
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for use in dynamometer testing of a vehicle powertrain component or a vehicle (100), a dynamometer power source (201) of a vehicle dynamometer system being connected to an output shaft of a vehicle powertrain component or a vehicle wheel shaft, said dynamometer system being arranged to measure a reaction load and said method including, when testing: determining a first measure of a first reaction load of said first dynamometer power source, determining an influence of moment of inertia on said first measure of said first reaction load, and compensating said first measure of said first reaction load by said determined influence of moment of inertia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Rototest International AB
    Inventors: Christian Engström, Nils G. Engström, Jonny Färnlund
  • Patent number: 10313445
    Abstract: A bicycle sensor device of the type not having Internet accessibility and comprising at least one sensor element adapted for registering data regarding the bicycle, a data storage unit adapted for storing registered data regarding the bicycle, a processor element adapted for generating an output of the sensor device, and a transmitter element adapted for transmitting by short range communication an output of the sensor device to an external device being adapted for displaying the output of the sensor device to a user. The processor element is configured to cause the transmitter element to transmit the output of the sensor device to an external device in one of a first mode, a second mode and a third mode. The first mode is a normal operation mode, the second mode is a service request mode, and the third mode is a data transfer mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: ROLF ØSTERGAARD APS
    Inventors: Rolf V. Østergaard, Morten Kristiansen
  • Patent number: 10209149
    Abstract: An installation method and an apparatus of a strain gauge sensor are capable of driving an object to be measured to generate a deformation signal by a pushing/pulling force. At least two strain gauge sensors are installed on surfaces with different amounts of deformation and at an installation location of an electrical vehicle according to the installation method. The installation method includes Method 1: When a manual pushing/pulling force is applied, the installation location is deformed and the deforming action force is directly proportional to the pushing/pulling force. Method 2: When the pushing/pulling force is applied, the vehicle deforming direction at the installation location is independent to the pushing/pulling force moving direction. Method 3: The strain detecting direction of the strain gauge sensor is the same as the vehicle deforming direction at the installation location. Therefore, pulling or driving force data can be measured accurately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignees: Taiwan Hodaka Industrial Co., Ltd., Su Tai Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Jenn
  • Patent number: 10133900
    Abstract: A method for controlling the output of contextual information to assist a user to perform a sequence of activities using a computing device, the computing device comprising or coupled to at least one wearable sensor and at least one output device for providing contextual information, the method comprising: identifying, using sensor information from the at least one sensor, an activity being performed by the user; selecting and controlling the output of contextual information based on the activity being performed by the user, the contextual information being output from the at least one output device to a user to assist the user in performing the identified activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Luca Tiberi, Paul Anthony Shrubsole, Maurice Herman Johan Draaijer, Ralf Gertruda Hubertus Voncken
  • Patent number: 10076681
    Abstract: A power measurement device, which may be mounted to an inside area of a crank arm, includes processing circuitry within a housing. The processing circuitry is coupled with strain gauges mounted on the crank arm, and produces a power value that is wireless transmitted to a separate display that may receive and display power measurements. The housing may include a mounted portion and a cantilever portion where the mounted portion houses the processing circuitry and the cantilever portion houses batteries supply energy for the processing circuitry and other features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Foundation Fitness, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew P. Lull, Eric Golesh
  • Patent number: 10024743
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for monitoring head acceleration and/or forces acting thereon are disclosed. A device for monitoring an acceleration or a force acting on the head of a user includes a flexible article adapted to be worn on the head of the user; and a monitoring assembly coupled to the flexible article. The monitoring assembly includes a sensor for measuring a force on the head and transmitting data relating to the force, the sensor disposed proximate to the head, a processor adapted to receive the force data from the sensor, and a flexible strip operatively connecting the sensor and the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignees: Reebok International Limited, MC10 Inc.
    Inventors: Paul M. Davis, William Marvin, Steven Fastert, Kevin Dowling, Paul E. Litchfield, Benjamin Schlatka, Gilman Callsen, Robert Rich, Dustin G. Simone, Keith A. Stern, Dennis Gaboriault
  • Patent number: 9802080
    Abstract: The present invention provides a group monitoring device for monitoring a plurality of individuals engaged in an athletic activity, the device including a display configured to display, during an athletic activity: a metric relating to each of a plurality of individuals engaged in the athletic activity, and a status of a system component used to monitor the athletic activity. The group monitoring device may also include an input configured to allow manipulation of the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Meg Susan Burich, Qaizar Hassonjee, Roger Armitage, Markus Strecker
  • Patent number: 9671251
    Abstract: A chain sensor comprising at least one coil and a device for measuring the chain elongation comprising two chain sensors and a control unit, are provided. In addition, a method of measuring the chain elongation of a chain with two chain sensors arranged along the chain in spaced relationship with one another is provided. The chain sensor comprises at least one first reluctance sensor. The first reluctance sensor has a magnetically conductive yoke body comprising a central leg and two yoke legs extending laterally thereto. The yoke legs are each provided with at least two teeth, the teeth of the yoke legs being adapted to be arranged in closely spaced relationship with a chain. The first reluctance sensor includes at least one permanent magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: IWIS ANTRIEBSSYSTEME GMBH & CO., KG
    Inventors: Josef Siraky, Peter Kreisfeld, Florian Madlener
  • Patent number: 9617931
    Abstract: A method to control a supercharged internal combustion engine by means of a turbocharger provided with a turbine and a compressor which compresses the air taken in; the control method includes the steps of determining the instantaneous rotation speed of the turbocharger; and calculating the average power delivered by the turbine as a function of the absolute value of the j-th harmonic component of the instantaneous rotation speed of the turbocharger and of the instantaneous rotation speed of the turbocharger; and controlling the supercharged internal combustion engine as a function of the average power delivered by the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Magneti Marelli S.p.A.
    Inventors: Matteo de Cesare, Federico Covassin, Fabrizio Ponti, Vittorio Ravaglioli
  • Patent number: 9459167
    Abstract: A power measuring system for an at least partially human powered vehicle or training device with a crank drive, in particular a bicycle, with at least one crank arm of the bicycle being manufactured of fiber-reinforced plastics and the crank arm having a sensor, in particular a strain gage, and with the largest part of the sensor being directly enclosed on all sides by the fiber-reinforced plastics. The force exerted on the respective pedal and from this the torque exerted on the bottom bracket shaft is determined by an electronics unit, which is preferably arranged in a cavity in the bottom bracket shaft, from the signal of sensor. From this, together with the rotational frequency of bottom bracket shaft, which is possibly measured by further sensors or is determined in a calculative way, the power currently generated by the user of the bicycle is determined. The power values can, in particular wirelessly, be sent to a display unit and be displayed thereby in the form of power-related information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Storck Bicycle GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Heinkel, Peter Wolf, Daniel Kriesten, Stephan Odenwald, Jens Buder
  • Patent number: 9404819
    Abstract: A universal mount bicycle power meter module has a base member with first and second ends and a narrow central portion which is relatively compressible in response to applied forces. Firmly secured to the first end is an internally threaded mounting nut in registration with an aperture in the first end. The nut secures the first end of the base member to an externally threaded end portion of a bicycle axle. The second end of the base member is configured to be firmly secured to a rear frame portion of a bicycle using a mounting clamp. A strain gauge sensor assembly is mounted on the central portion of the base member to generate resistance values representative of the amount of compression in the central portion. The sensor assembly is coupled to a signal processing unit having circuitry for converting the resistance values and bicycle velocity signals from an associated bicycle speedometer to cyclist power signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: SILICON VALLEY MICRO E CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shengbo Zhu, Su Shiong Huang
  • Patent number: 9188496
    Abstract: A system and method of calculating under changing conditions in real-time aerodynamic drag acting on a rider on a vehicle. A computer receives a signal indicative of a force of the vehicle on the rider from at least one force sensor located at or near at least one point of contact between the rider and the vehicle. The computer determines aerodynamic drag acting on the rider on the vehicle from the received signal. These steps are repeated under changing conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Inventor: Eric DeGolier
  • Patent number: 9031791
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide systems and methods for using ballast sensors to detect rock fall events in a vicinity of railway tracks or similar roadways or tracks. The ballast sensors are spaced apart from the tracks. Particular embodiments permit the use of signals from the ballast sensors to discriminate rock fall events from other types of events and to detect the hypocenter of a rock fall event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Weir-Jones Engineering Consultants Ltd.
    Inventors: Bohdan Nedilko, Iain Weir-Jones
  • Patent number: 9020782
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling of ski vibration consisting an accelerator/actuator sub-system attached to the ski and a adaptive vibration control application residing in the user smart-phone and communicating with the accelerometer/actuator sub-system over Bluetooth radio interface is disclosed. The adaptive vibration control application extracts vibration frequencies and amplitudes from signal received from an accelerometer, separates such frequencies according to their types—bending or torsional, and after thresholding and scaling by the ski calibration parameters and by the user desired ski response, apply such signal to the control loop and consequently to the actuators to provide vibration dampening force. In one embodiment, such actuators are attached to the ski, while in another embodiment such actuators are embedded into the ski.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: IPComm
    Inventors: Stanislaw Czaja, Grzegorz Staszczuk, Muhammad Afsar
  • Publication number: 20150112613
    Abstract: A system for measuring and analyzing movement or force in conjunction with sports, physical fitness or therapy. Real-time displays of range of movement (or force) information are calibrated for optimal visibility and/or resolution based on the actual range of a given exercise. Also disclosed is a balance indicator showing in real-time whether one side of the body is being favored over the other. Also disclosed are timing windows that indicate the desired timing of an exercise in real-time. Also disclosed are ‘breadcrumbs’ visually depicting (during and after completion of an exercise) a user's history of speed and range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventor: Malcolm J. Smith
  • Patent number: 8990048
    Abstract: System for adaptive control and release of ski bindings comprising a smart-phone based application performing calculation of forces applied to the ski-binding system by analyzing acceleration vectors received from accelerometers embedded in the bindings, then instantaneously releasing both bindings if one or more of the predefined safety thresholds was exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: IPComm
    Inventors: Stanislaw Czaja, Andrzej Bachleda-Curus, Ilona Stawski, Muhammad Afsar
  • Publication number: 20150046100
    Abstract: The inventive pedaling motion measuring device includes: a measurement body unit having a first sensor unit for sensing the number of rotation of a wheel by sensing the motion of the wheel of a bicycle, and second sensor units arranged at right and left crank arms for sensing magnitude and direction of a force applied to each of the right and left crank arms. The first work calculation unit calculates work performed by the bicycle based on the number of rotation of the wheel sensed by the first sensor unit. The second work calculation unit calculates work provided to the crank member by the user within a prescribed time, based on the magnitude and direction of the force applied to each of the right and left crank arms and sensed by the second sensor units. The efficiency calculation unit calculates the efficiency of the bicycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: CLUB KONG CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hitoshi Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20150027118
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a waste heat recovery system with a system and method for calculation of the net output torque from the waste heat recovery system. The calculation uses inputs from existing pressure and speed sensors to create a virtual pump torque sensor and a virtual expander torque sensor, and uses these sensors to provide an accurate net torque output from the WHR system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Christophe Tricaud, Timothy C. Ernst, James A. Zigan
  • Patent number: 8942939
    Abstract: The invention discloses a real-time detection system for detecting the real-time machining by a rotating machine or rotating quality thereof. The real-time detection system comprises a signal capture module, a preprocessor, a processor and a comparison module. The signal capture module is used to capture a time-sequence signal of the rotating machine. The preprocessor is coupled to the signal capture module for receiving the time-sequence signal and generating a stationary time-sequence signal. The processor is coupled to the preprocessor for receiving the stationary time-sequence signal and calculating a plurality of entropies of the stationary time-sequence signal. The comparison module with an entropy table or a feature judgment mechanism of the entropy variation is coupled to the processor for receiving the plurality of entropy and comparing the plurality of entropy according to the entropy table or the feature judgment of the entropy variation and generating a quality signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: National Taiwan University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Jia Wang, Fuh-Yu Chang
  • Publication number: 20150025816
    Abstract: A sensor system and method for monitoring power exerted by a person riding a bicycle has a pair of sensor insoles and a portable electronic device. The sensor insoles each have a plurality of force sensors, an accelerometer, and a transmitter for transmitting data from the plurality of force sensors and the accelerometer. A power measurement program operably installed in the computer memory of the portable electronic device receives the data and calculates power and other outputs based upon the data received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventor: Johnny Ross
  • Publication number: 20140379126
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a kinematically redundant robot includes detecting joint forces acting in the joints of the robot, determining an external work force between a robot-permanent reference point and an environment based on the detected joint forces, determining a further monitoring variable that is at least substantially independent of an external force acting on the robot-permanent reference point based on the detected joint forces, and monitoring the determined external work force and the determined further monitoring variable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventor: Marc-Walter Ueberle
  • Patent number: 8880360
    Abstract: A combination mirror and media display device assembly is provided. The combination mirror and media display device includes a mirror platform having a media display device viewing area and a media display device coupled to the mirror platform. The media display device is positioned to display images through the media display device viewing area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Electric Mirror, LLC
    Inventors: James V. Mischel, Jr., James V. Mischel, Sr.
  • Patent number: 8860584
    Abstract: A performance measuring system integrated with an article of clothing, the system has a computing unit for coordinating, processing and transmission of sensor data connected to a bus and an antenna. A sensor for measuring performance characteristics is connected to the bus; the bus facilitates transmission and reception of control and data values between the computing unit and the sensor. Also, an antenna is connected to the computing unit for communicating with other computing devices and transmission of sensor data. The other computing devices display the sensor data to a user or forward the sensor data onto another communication media such as the internet or interactive television. A social networking system sharing athletic statistics using a webservice, a personal processing unit connectable to the webservice, and a computing unit having an activity program for at least one sensor. This system has an activity update service integrally associated with the webservice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Mayfonk Athletic, LLC
    Inventor: Martin Matak
  • Patent number: 8793080
    Abstract: A load measuring system comprising a collar mounted between the two cables of the bridle on a sucker rod pump and a measuring device to determine the clamping force of the collar. When the cables are clamped together a pre-determined distance at an angle from the vertical, the load on the cables can be determined from the clamping force. The clamping force is measured by a strain gauge or other type of load cell. The load is measured and recorded at frequent intervals during the pump stroke, and by further analysis, critical operational parameters of the pump can be determined, and the information can be used to control the operation of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: InSpatial LLC
    Inventors: Kjell Erlandsson, Tmothy Beck, James A. Beck
  • Patent number: 8762077
    Abstract: The invention provides a measurement device and method for measuring a cyclist's power output, in response to an external force provided by said cyclist applied to a bicycle, including a force sensor (13), characterised in that said force sensor is embedded in a bicycle cleat (11) bolted to the shoe (10). The invention further provides an accelerometer (14) for measuring a cyclist's power output. The inventive device and method provides a number of advantages over prior art solutions. The device of the invention means that the installation does not need any part of the bicycle to be replaced. The present invention does not restrict the type of components that may be used on the bicycle. Because the sensors are embedded in the cleat it is very simple to move the system to another bicycle. The invention also allows for detailed analysis of pedalling style, leading to improvements in efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Brim Brothers Limited
    Inventors: Barry Redmond, Ian Phillip Mellor
  • Patent number: 8744783
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for calculating power generated by a body during legged locomotion. The system includes at least one accelerometer to measure acceleration of the body during legged locomotion, at least one force sensor to measure a plurality of propulsive force impulses created by the body during legged locomotion, and a processor configured to calculate the power generated by the body during legged locomotion using output signals from both the at least one accelerometer and the at least one force sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Robert E. Templeman
  • Patent number: 8678943
    Abstract: This invention is an apparatus and method for measuring or analyzing a golf swing. Measurement or analysis is made relative to energy generation and transfer through a player's body and club. The measurement or analysis data is principally obtained from the player's ground-reaction forces. Processed signals are analyzed with an artificial intelligence system. Ground-reaction forces relate to reaction forces which occur between a standing surface and the player's feet. The apparatus and method measures or analyses a golf swing in an automatic manner or in an automatic and interactive manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Inventor: Brian Francis Mooney
  • Patent number: 8676387
    Abstract: Embodiments of methods and systems for monitoring of pumps are provided. According to one embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed a method for determining operating states of pumps. The method may include receiving, by a controller from a first sensor communicating with a first pump, a first vibration measurement. Further, the method may include receiving, by the controller from a second sensor communicating with a second pump, a second vibration measurement. Operating states of the first pump and the second pump may be thus determined based at least in part on comparing the first vibration measurement to a first operating condition and comparing the second vibration measurement to a second operating condition. A control action may be transmitted responsive to determining the respective operating states of the first pump and the second pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Olga Malakhova, John Wesley Grant
  • Publication number: 20140039811
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a method of producing a data base which includes a plurality of correlation laws, in particular correlation factors, for determining lost energy, which during a stoppage or throttling of a first wind power installation cannot be converted thereby into electrical energy, from the recorded power of at least one reference wind power installation operated in throttled or unthrottled mode, comprising the steps of simultaneously detecting instantaneous power of the first wind power installation and at least one reference wind power installation in the throttled or unthrottled mode, determining a respective correlation law, in particular correlation factor, describing a relationship between the power of the first wind power installation and the power of the at least one reference wind power installation, and storing the at least one correlation law or correlation factor in dependence on at least one boundary condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: WOBBEN PROPERTIES GMBH
    Inventors: Werner Hinrich Bohlen, Nuno Braga, Andreas Schmitz
  • Patent number: 8639455
    Abstract: A foot pad device and a method of obtaining weight data from a force sensor in a foot pad worn by a user engaging in a footstep, including placing the force sensor under the ball of the foot of the user and/or the heel of the foot of the user; receiving an entered patient weight value for the user; collecting force data from the force sensor; calculating a weight value based on the collected force data and a scaling and/or offset parameter; comparing the calculated weight value to the entered patient weight value; comparing the calculated weight value to zero; adjusting the scaling and/or offset parameter; and repeating the steps periodically. The method may include comparing the collected force data to a functionality indication range, flagging the force sensor if the collected force data is outside the functionality indication range, and disregarding force data from the flagged force sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: AlterG, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Horst, Robert L. Jardine, Jonathan Smith, Edith Arnold
  • Patent number: 8620600
    Abstract: A system assesses and displays activity of a sportsman. At least one sensor detects movement of the sportsman, and a processor processes data from the sensor to assess activity of the sportsman. A heads-up display mounted with a pair of goggles or glasses displays data indicative of the activity to the sportsman.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: PhatRat Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Curtis A. Vock, Dennis Darcy, Peter Flentov
  • Patent number: 8612166
    Abstract: A test bed for an electrical energy storage system for vehicles includes a test system for conducting electrical tests of the energy storage system, optionally at least one conditioning unit for the climate control of the energy storage system, at least one data collection and analysis system, and optionally at least one safety system. In order to be able to test energy storage systems in a manner approximating their use as closely as possible in that all real influences on the energy storage system, for example, a traction battery for electric or hybrid vehicles, can be simulated with the simultaneous interaction of thermal, electrical, and mechanical influencing factors without the need to conduct tests in a real-world environment, at least one actuator is additionally provided for the mechanical stimulation of the energy storage system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: AVL List GmbH
    Inventors: Mario Schweiger, Stephan Kunzfeld, Kurt Gschweitl, Felix Pfister, Franck Le Rhun, Christian Schyr
  • Patent number: 8612181
    Abstract: This invention allows for remote monitoring of the skier/skiing performance. The system consists of a various MEMS sensors embedded in skier clothing and equipment. These sensors measure instantaneous changes in acceleration in x/y/z axis and changes in earth magnetic field—relative to the skier position, to provide six degree of freedom in calculation of skier position as well as moments applied to the ski edge and forces experiences by the skier body. These sensors communicate with the monitoring application residing in the user wireless terminal (call phone) over the PAN wireless network. The instantaneous measurements are analyzed either locally or remotely and when the system is configured in an active mode, a corrective response to the MEMS actuators embedded in the ski or ski bindings may be send does changing the parameters of the run or provide enhanced safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: IPComm
    Inventors: Stanislaw Czaja, Andrzej Bachleda-Curus, Tadeusz Nanowski, Ilona Stawski, Marty Czaja
  • Patent number: 8597572
    Abstract: Provided are an automatic analyzing method and apparatus for a microfludic system. The apparatus includes means for recognizing a disc or chip in the microfludic system, performs an operation and detection by automatically loading a DB according to a recognized type, and perform quantization of a test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Su-hyeon Kim, Yoon-kyoung Cho, Jeong-gun Lee
  • Patent number: 8594952
    Abstract: A method for determining mechanical power dissipation in a vibratory system, assuming the system is linear time-invariant and steady-state. The method includes the steps of identifying connection points between the vibratory system and components outside the vibratory system. The acceleration is measured at each connection point in a windowed time domain and the force at each connection point is also determined for the windowed time domain. The time domain values are converted into the frequency domain values by the fast Fourier transform, and the frequency domain acceleration values are converted to velocity values. The power dissipation of the vibratory system then equals the summation of one half of the power flow into the vibratory system. Here, each power flow is one half of the real part of the product of complex-conjugated velocity times force at the connection point in the frequency domain for each time window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Akira Inoue
  • Patent number: 8554495
    Abstract: Systems and methods for head impact injury prediction. A computer implemented method is provided for event based injury predictions. The computer implemented method receives an indication of sensor data related to an impact of a user. The received sensor data is compared to previously stored sensor data in a data store. Each instance of the previously stored sensor data is associated with a medical diagnosis. If the received sensor data matches any of the previously stored sensor data based on the comparison, then an injury risk indicator is generated based on at least one of the medical diagnosis associated with the matching previously stored sensor data or an impact history of the user. The generated indicator is presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: X2 Biosystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Christoph Mack, Marina Kuznetsova, Scott Votaw, Robert Snook
  • Publication number: 20130245966
    Abstract: Example embodiments relate to systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer readable media relating to a user interface, that may for example, receive and/or process physical activity data and allow interaction with the received information in novel implementations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Brandon S. Burroughs, Michael Benjamin Hailey
  • Publication number: 20130204545
    Abstract: An example system includes one or more sleeves, each configured for attachment to a leg and comprising a pressure sensor, an accelerometer and a magnetometer. A processor processes sensor signals from the pressure sensor, the accelerometer and the magnetometer to estimate action (A) and work (W) using event detections of peak stance and valley swing events associated with leg movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Inventor: James C. Solinsky
  • Publication number: 20130199246
    Abstract: A washing machine and method for detecting unbalance in a washing machine. A power filter may be calculated based on a detected load size, speed of a component of the washing machine, and/or a resonant frequency of the washing machine. An unbalanced indicator may be activated when a speed does not pass the power filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Richard D. Suel, II