Pressure, Resistive, Or Capacitive Sensor Patents (Class 702/47)
  • Patent number: 11941331
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products can be used for visualizing the behavior of flow of two or more fluid phases, wherein a fluid phase behavior is represented in a visualization. One of the methods includes determining an occupation time, which is the amount of elapsed time from when a fluid phase first occupies a particular location until a second time. The method includes generating data for a visualization, with a location in the visualization corresponding to the particular location, and with the generated data for that location in the visualization indicating the occupation time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Dassault Systemes Americas Corp.
    Inventors: Bernd Crouse, Rui Xu
  • Patent number: 11763048
    Abstract: Computer implemented techniques for simulating a fluid flow about a surface of a solid, include receiving a coordinate system for representation of a curvilinear mesh that conforms to the surface of the solid, simulating, with a lattice velocity set transport of particles in a volume of fluid, with the transport causing collision among the particles, executing a distribution function for transport of the particles, with the distribution function including a particle collision determination and a change in particle distribution associated with the curvilinear mesh, performing by the computing system, advection operations in the coordinate system under constraints applied to particle momentum values and mapping by the computer system values resulting from simulating onto the curvilinear mesh by translation of the particle momentum values and spatial coordinates determined in the coordinate system into momentum and spatial values in the curvilinear space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Dassault Systemes Simulia Corp.
    Inventors: Hudong Chen, Raoyang Zhang, Pradeep Gopalakrishnan
  • Patent number: 11630019
    Abstract: An airflow sensor assembly for an air duct is provided. The airflow sensor assembly includes the air duct having an interior wall and an exterior wall, a high pressure pickup device, a low pressure pickup device, a pressure redirection device, and a pressure sensor. The pressure redirection device is fluidly coupled to the high pressure pickup device and the low pressure pickup device and includes a low inlet, a high inlet, and a common outlet. The pressure sensor is selectively fluidly coupled to the high pressure pickup device and the low pressure pickup device and includes a first inlet and a second inlet. The second inlet is fluidly coupled to the common outlet of the pressure redirection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: John Scholten, Jon Douglas, Jack A. Peterson
  • Patent number: 11567042
    Abstract: A method for determining a state of a fluidic system can include measuring back pressures in the fluidic system at different times and determining a state of the fluidic system. The determination is based on at least the measured back pressures and on additional status information indicative of at least one status of the fluidic system at at least one of the different times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Dionex Softron GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Rendl
  • Patent number: 11544423
    Abstract: Computer implemented techniques for simulating a fluid flow about a surface of a solid, include receiving a coordinate system for representation of a curvilinear mesh that conforms to the surface of the solid, simulating, with a lattice velocity set transport of particles in a volume of fluid, with the transport causing collision among the particles, executing a distribution function for transport of the particles, with the distribution function including a particle collision determination and a change in particle distribution associated with the curvilinear mesh, performing by the computing system, advection operations in the coordinate system under constraints applied to particle momentum values and mapping by the computer system values resulting from simulating onto the curvilinear mesh by translation of the particle momentum values and spatial coordinates determined in the coordinate system into momentum and spatial values in the curvilinear space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Dassault Systemes Simulia Corp.
    Inventors: Hudong Chen, Raoyang Zhang, Pradeep Gopalakrishnan
  • Patent number: 11506435
    Abstract: A water regulator includes a water regulation valve, a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, and a controller. The water regulation valve regulates a quantity of water flowing through water pipes. The first temperature sensor measures a temperature of one of the water pipes which is connected to an inlet of a heat exchanger. The second temperature sensor measures a temperature of one of the water pipes which is connected to an outlet of the heat exchanger. The controller controls an opening degree of the water regulation valve, based on a difference between the temperature measured by the first temperature sensor and the temperature measured by the second temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Ryuuta Ohura, Takuya Kotani
  • Patent number: 11474648
    Abstract: A mobile device has a proximity sensor. A compensation value of the proximity sensor is determined. The compensation value is compared to a reference compensation value to determine validity of the compensation value. A capacitance of the proximity sensor is measured. A value of the capacitance of the proximity sensor is adjusted based on the compensation value. A coefficient defining a relationship between a capacitance of the proximity sensor and a temperature of the mobile device is calculated. A temperature sensor is coupled to the proximity sensor. The temperature of the mobile device is measured. A value of the capacitance of the proximity sensor is adjusted based on the coefficient and the temperature of the mobile device. The adjusted capacitance value is compared to a threshold capacitance value to determine proximity of an object to the mobile device. A radio frequency signal is adjusted by detecting proximity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Semtech Corporation
    Inventors: Chaouki Rouaissia, Jerald G. Ott, III
  • Patent number: 11441930
    Abstract: Disclosed is a tube configured to conduct a fluid flowing through the tube in a specified flow direction and for this purpose comprises a tube wall, which encloses a lumen of the tube, and an interference body, which is arranged within the tube but is nevertheless connected to the tube wall at an inner face of the tube wall facing the lumen. In the tube according to the present disclosure, the tube wall has a maximum wall thickness of more than 1 mm and at least two mutually spaced sub-segments with a respective wall thickness that deviates from said maximum wall thickness, wherein the sub-segment is positioned upstream of the interference body in the flow direction, and the sub-segment is positioned downstream of the sub-segment in the flow direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: ENDRESS+HAUSER FLOWTEC AG
    Inventors: Marc Hollmach, Christian Lais, Fabio Schraner, Oliver Popp
  • Patent number: 11440360
    Abstract: A first tire pressure sensor module is configured to provide information related to a pressure of a tire of a vehicle and comprises a pressure sensor configured to determine the information related to the pressure of the tire. The pressure module further includes a controller configured to selectively operate the tire pressure sensor module in an active state and in an inactive state, wherein an energy consumption of the tire pressure sensor module is lower in the inactive state than in the active state. The controller is further configured to control an output of the information related to the pressure of the tire in the active state, and operate the tire pressure sensor module in the inactive state based on determining that information related to a velocity of the tire indicates a velocity above a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Andre Peine, Thomas Lange
  • Patent number: 11400189
    Abstract: Systems and methods for pumping milk from a breast responsive to a controller, wherein the milk is expressed from the breast under suction and milk is expulsed from the pumping mechanism to a collection container under positive pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Willow Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: John Y Chang, Joshua Makower, Brendan M Donohoe, Michele Torosis
  • Patent number: 11345377
    Abstract: A device for attachment to a train having a lead locomotive or control car and a rear car in a track network having a plurality of tracks is disclosed. The device may include at least one sensor. The sensor(s) may be disposed with the rear car. The sensor(s) may be configured to generate sensor data associated with at least one of a heading of the rear car of the train or a distance between the rear car of the train and an object in the track network. A communication interface may be configured to transmit the sensor data to at least one receiver. The receiver(s) may provide at least one indication based on the sensor data. A device for use onboard the train, a control system, a method for operating the device(s), and a method for coupling the train to a separate car are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Kernwein
  • Patent number: 11340636
    Abstract: To diagnose an abnormality of a fluid control device from an operation of an entire fluid supply line including a plurality of fluid control devices. Provided is an abnormality diagnosis method of a fluid supply line including a plurality of fluid control devices F, V1, and V2 communicating with each other fluid-tightly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Fujikin Incorporated
    Inventors: Ryutaro Tanno, Kenji Aikawa, Akihiro Harada, Yuya Suzuki, Takahiro Matsuda, Katsunori Komehana, Masahiko Ochiishi, Tsutomu Shinohara
  • Patent number: 11273473
    Abstract: A control system for controlling extraction of landfill gas from a landfill via a gas extraction system, the gas extraction system comprising well piping for coupling a plurality of wells to a gas output. The control system comprises a controller configured to: obtain a value indicating measured energy content of landfill gas collected at the gas output from the plurality of wells; determine whether the measured energy content is different from a target energy content; and in response to determining that the measured energy content is different from the target energy content: control a plurality of valves disposed in the well piping to change flow rates of landfill gas being extracted from at least some of the plurality of wells at least in part by changing degrees to which the plurality of valves are open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Loci Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Quigley, Ian Martin, Nicole Neff, Jack Rowbottom
  • Patent number: 11150121
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for the measurement of a pressure differential across a differential pressure flow meter ?P1 and the line pressure drop due to friction ?Pf along a length L of pipe. Subsequently, the quantity (formula) is calculated, enabling the inline calculation of multiple properties of the flow. Calculated flow properties include friction factor, Reynolds number, discharge coefficient, density, viscosity, and corrected flowrate. The present invention further relates to a method of calibration of a differential flow meter and a calibration apparatus for a differential flow meter utilising the same principles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: COVENTRY UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Craig Marshall
  • Patent number: 11079313
    Abstract: Methods and systems method for determining core permeability of a subsurface formation. The method includes connecting an upstream reservoir to one end of a sample holder comprising a core sample of a subsurface formation, connecting a downstream reservoir to another end of the sample holder, providing a constant confining pressure within the sample holder, saturating the sample holder and the core sample with nitrogen at a saturation pressure, applying a pressure pulse to one end of the sample holder, and determining core permeability using the porosity of the mobile continuum when the pressure in the upstream reservoir, the downstream reservoir, and the mobile continuum is in equilibrium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Jilin Jay Zhang, Hui-Hai Liu, Huangye Chen
  • Patent number: 10975682
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining the resistance of a power cable of an ESP. The nameplate resistance of the motor is determined prior to installation of the ESP in the well, and the temperature is determined for a point in the well at which the motor will be positioned. The downhole temperature and nameplate resistance are used to calculate an initial downhole resistance of the motor. After the ESP is installed, but before operation of the ESP is initiated, the electric drive for the system generates a measurement voltage and applies the measurement voltage to the power cable and motor. The corresponding current is then measured and is used to calculate the resistance of the string (the combined power cable and motor). The calculated initial downhole resistance of the motor is then subtracted from the resistance of the string to obtain the resistance of the power cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventor: Nathan A Etter
  • Patent number: 10969060
    Abstract: A system for controlling a flow may be provided. The system may comprise a first flow controller and a gas density meter. The gas density meter may be in fluid communication with the first flow controller. The gas density meter may be configured to calculate a gas density for a first gas flowing through the gas density meter. In addition, the gas density meter may be configured to output a first signal configured to cause the first flow controller to alter a first flow rate of the first gas flowing through the first flow controller. Furthermore, the gas density meter may be configured to output a density signal going to the second controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: SOUTHWIRE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventor: Bobby G. Watkins, II
  • Patent number: 10905946
    Abstract: A method including determining a range of values for a proximity sensor, receiving proximity data from the proximity sensor, decaying a limit associated with a maximum value, decaying a limit associated with a minimum value, determining a range of values detected by the proximity sensor, and determining an updated scale factor for the proximity sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Valve Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Douglas Nietfeld, Jeffrey George Leinbaugh
  • Patent number: 10905821
    Abstract: A system and method for calibrating an IV pump infusion system tube comprises a fluid source, an infusion system comprising, an IV pump, a drive unit, a chamber with known constant volume, a control unit, and IV tubing with a known inner diameter tolerance, and a set of conductive plates. The system administers medicinal fluid, calculates the flow rate of the medicinal fluid in the chamber by measuring the time the capacitance level of the medicinal fluid changes from a capacitance level corresponding to a first (initial) position to a capacitance level corresponding to a second (filled) position, compares the calculated flow rate with a set flow rate of the IV pump input in the control unit prior to infusion, and adjusts the IV pump and flow rate based on the compared deviations for more accurate delivery to a patient. This configuration may therefore provide a more precise delivery rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Flex, Ltd.
    Inventors: Eyal Barmaimon, Lior Shtram, Shai Finkman, Elie Yaacobi, Ronny Bellan, Nadav Cohen, Amit Schnell
  • Patent number: 10854065
    Abstract: An electronic device including a housing configured to house one or more electronic components, an air filter, a fan disposed within the housing, and an air pressure sensor disposed within the housing is disclosed. The air filter is disposed within an air inlet defined by the housing. The fan is configured to cause air to enter the housing via the air inlet such that the air flows through the air filter and within the housing. The air pressure sensor generates data used to determine air pressure values within the housing that are based at least in part on the air flowing through the air filter and within the housing. Based on the determined air pressure values from the air pressure sensor, a status of the air filter can be determined, and an indication that the air filter is in need of replacement can be generated and transmitted to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: QUANTA COMPUTER INC.
    Inventors: Kai-Yeh Pan, Chun-Ching Yu, Hsi-Han Lin, Shuen-Hung Wang
  • Patent number: 10789710
    Abstract: Methods and systems for characterizing fluids from a patient are disclosed. The method includes receiving a time series of images of a conduit receiving fluids from the patient, identifying a conduit image region in each of the images, classifying a flow type through the conduit based on an evaluation of the conduit image region in the time series of images, and estimating at least one of a volume of fluids and a quantity of a blood component that has passed through the conduit within a predetermined period of time, based at least in part on the classification of the flow type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Gauss Surgical, Inc.
    Inventors: Siddarth Satish, Kevin Miller
  • Patent number: 10760944
    Abstract: A gas flow metrology system for a substrate processing system includes N primary valves selectively flowing gas from N gas sources, respectively, where N is an integer. N mass flow controllers are connected to the N primary valves, respectively, to flow N gases from the N gas sources, respectively. N secondary valves selectively flow gas from the N mass flow controllers, respectively. A gas flow path connects the N secondary valves to a flow metrology system located remote from the N secondary valves, wherein the gas flow path includes a plurality of gas lines. A controller is configured to perform a hybrid flow metrology by selectively using a first flow metrology and a second flow metrology that is different from the first flow metrology to determine an actual flow rate for a selected gas at a desired flow rate from one of the N mass flow controllers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Evangelos T. Spyropoulos, Piyush Agarwal, James Leung, Seyed Hossein Hashemi Ghermezi, Iqbal Shareef
  • Patent number: 10753301
    Abstract: A filter monitoring system and method are described. The filter monitoring system includes a module or circuit installed on an internal combustion engine or within a vehicle powered by the internal combustion engine. The filter monitoring system monitors the operation of the various filtration systems present on the engine to determine an amount of service life remaining and a loading percentage for various filter cartridges installed in the filtration systems of the internal combustion engine. The filter monitoring system determines the loading percentage and predicts remaining service life of a given filter cartridge via a time-based manner (e.g., based on the installation date of the filter cartridge and filter cartridge life specifications) and a pressure differential based manner (e.g., based on a determination of pressure drop across the filter cartridge).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: CUMMINS FILTRATION IP, INC.
    Inventors: Bharadwaj R. Prabhala, Abhijeet Vaidya, Abhijit Shimpi, Amit Dhingra, Kyle J. Brewer
  • Patent number: 10712219
    Abstract: A pressure sensor for determining a pressure measurement variable includes a housing, a pressure sensor element arranged in the housing, a lighting means arranged in the housing and a control/evaluation unit, the pressure sensor element having a semiconductor material and a measuring membrane, which has at least one integrated resistance element. When the measuring membrane experiences a pressure dependent deflection, the control/evaluation unit ascertains using the integrated resistance element, an electrical signal for determining the pressure measurement variable, wherein the lighting means optically excites the integrated resistance element, and the control/evaluation unit ascertains, based on a change of the electrical signal caused by the optical excitation, whether a malfunction of the pressure sensor is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser SE+Co. KG
    Inventors: Max Jehle, Davide Parrotto, Thomas Uehlin
  • Patent number: 10670434
    Abstract: A method for detecting an abnormality of a fluid filter includes: detecting a flow rate of a fluid in the fluid filter; detecting a pressure difference in the fluid filter; constructing an operating model of the fluid filter in accordance with a geometry of the fluid filter, a physical characteristic of the fluid, a porosity of the fluid filter, an impurity density, the flow rate and the pressure difference; obtaining an initial impurity accumulative quantity through the operating model; estimating a time dependent impurity accumulative status through a Kalman filter in accordance with the initial impurity accumulative quantity and the pressure difference; obtaining an impurity accumulative quantity in an estimated time in accordance with the time dependent impurity accumulative status, and then comparing the impurity accumulative quantity with a pre-determined value to determine if the fluid filter operates normally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Automotive Research & Testing Center
    Inventors: Sheng-Chieh Cheng, Yong-Yuan Ku, Ke-Wei Lin, Chia-Jui Chiang
  • Patent number: 10670444
    Abstract: A measurement device includes a sensor configured to detect triggering of the device. The measurement device further includes a transmitter configured to transmit an interrogation signal in response to the triggering of the device, and a receiver configured to detect a received signal that captures one or more reflections of the interrogation signal. A processor of the measurement device is configured to select a selected reflection among a plurality of identified potential reflections captured in the received signal, and provide an identifier corresponding to the selected reflection that is associated with an amount of content included in a container engaged by the content measurement device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Nectar, Inc.
    Inventors: Prabhanjan C. Gurumohan, Aayush Phumbhra, Krishna Gadiyaram
  • Patent number: 10527515
    Abstract: The use of ultrasonic transducers installed in utility meters is provided for the detection of fluid leaks in a conduit. Such transducers are normally used to transmit acoustic waves in order to measure the velocity of fluid flow, but it is disclosed that such transducers are also capable of detecting leak noises in addition to such transmitted acoustic waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: NEPTUNE TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC.
    Inventors: William James Brennan, Jr., Michael Allen Wilson, Wyatt Edward Northrup
  • Patent number: 10466085
    Abstract: A device for determining a fluid mass flow includes a sensor element for acquiring the fluid, the sensor element being configured within a flow path of the fluid to provide a sensor signal, an integrated circuit having an operating unit for providing an operating signal for operating the sensor element and a conversion unit for converting the sensor signal into a converted signal, the integrated circuit including a first discrete circuit element having a first terminal for receiving the sensor signal, a second terminal for providing the operating signal, and a third terminal for providing the converted signal, and a signal processing unit to determine, using the converted signal, the mass flow of the fluid, the signal processing unit including a second discrete circuit element having a first terminal for receiving the converted signal and a second terminal for providing a mass flow signal representing the mass flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Rosch GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Rittmann, Uwe Konzelmann, Norbert Schneider
  • Patent number: 10455393
    Abstract: A gas meter is outfit with near field communication (NFC) devices for in-situ exchange of data. The NFC devices reside in separate compartments. A first compartment houses electronics necessary to generate values for volumetric flow of material in a pipe. The gas meter includes a second compartment with an access point that allows data, including telemetry data, to transmit from the gas meter to a remote device. In operation, the NFC devices exchange data between the first compartment and the second compartment, often through a wall or barrier that prevents flow of fluid between the compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Natural Gas Solutions North America, LLC
    Inventors: Jeff Thomas Martin, Andrew Logan Perkins
  • Patent number: 10430137
    Abstract: Perform printing by a printing portion onto the printing paper sheet after collating a content of a code optically or electromagnetically read by a reading device connected to a printer main body and a content of printing data supplied from a memory connected to this printer main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: SATO HOLDINGS KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koji Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 10425029
    Abstract: A motor controller for an electric motor includes a drive circuit that regulates power supplied to a stator of the electric motor to turn a rotor. The motor controller includes a communication interface that receives coefficients. The motor controller includes a processor coupled to the drive circuit. The processor receives an airflow rate demand, computes a speed, computes a torque set point as a function of at least a sum of first and second terms. The first term is defined as the first coefficient multiplied by the airflow rate demand raised to a power greater than one, and the second term is defined as the second coefficient multiplied by the speed raised to a power greater than one. The processor controls the drive circuit based on the torque set point to supply electrical power to the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: REGAL BELOIT AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Brian L. Beifus, Sanjeev Shirahatti, Paul S. Mullin, Bin Yang
  • Patent number: 10384161
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for liquid removal to increase the accuracy of gas flow meters, such as venturi meters. Systems and methods include a liquid knockout drum, an impingement plate, a drum separator, and a check valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Abdulmohsen S. Al-Kuait, Muhammad Arsalan
  • Patent number: 10371808
    Abstract: A positioning sensor includes a transmission antenna transmitting a transmission signal, a plurality of reception antennae, each receiving a reception signals, a receiver observing the each of the plurality of reception signals in a predetermined period, a processor, and a memory, in which the processor calculates a plurality of complex transfer functions based on the each of the plurality of reception signals, records each of the plurality of complex transfer functions in the memory as being associated with each time point, extracts, among the plurality of complex transfer functions, a plurality of pairs of two complex transfer functions respectively corresponding to two time points in a predetermined interval, calculates a plurality of pieces of differential information, and estimates to a location of a moving body based on each of the plurality of pieces of differential information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki Honma, Dai Sasakawa
  • Patent number: 10350551
    Abstract: A method for carrying out an integrity test on a filter element includes filling a fluid into at least one vessel (1), in which a filter element (F) to be tested is arranged. The method proceeds by setting the pressure of the fluid in the vessel (1) to a predetermined test pressure, and maintaining the test pressure in the vessel (1) with controlled replenishment of fluid into the vessel (1) and/or a controlled change in internal volume of the vessel (1). The method continues by determining an integrity characteristic variable for the filter element (F) in a manner dependent on the controlled replenishment of fluid into the vessel (1) and/or dependent on the controlled change in internal volume of the vessel (1) before attaining a substantially continuous volume flow of fluid for maintaining the specific test pressure in the vessel (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Satorius Stedim Biotech Gmbh
    Inventors: Dieter Armgart, Dirk Leiser, Vanessa Rakebrandt, Juergen Van Den Boogaard
  • Patent number: 10324104
    Abstract: A monitoring device includes a cavity assembly with a plurality of cavities. Openings of the plurality of cavities are distributed about a flow-facing surface of the cavity assembly. A gas pressure sensor is disposed within each of the cavities, and is configured to measure an absolute pressure of a gas flow which flows past the monitoring device. Gas pressure measurements from the pressure sensors may be used to determine a flow speed and a flow direction of the gas flow. More specifically, a mapping may be used to map the logarithm of the difference between the maximum and minimum pressures to a flow speed. Further, a lookup table may be used to map a pattern of pressure measurements to a flow direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Inventor: Bradley Charles Ashmore
  • Patent number: 10316835
    Abstract: In a method of an embodiment, a pressure sensor is selected from first and second pressure sensors according to a set flow rate. A measurable maximum pressure of the second pressure sensor is higher than a measurable maximum pressure of first pressure sensor. The target pressure of a chamber is determined according to the set flow rate. Until the pressure of the chamber reaches the target pressure after gas is started to be output from the flow rate controller to the chamber at an output flow rate according to the set flow rate and a pressure controller provided between the chamber and an exhaust apparatus is closed, the pressure of the chamber is measured by the selected pressure sensor. The output flow rate of the flow rate controller is determined from a rate of rise of the pressure of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Jun Yamashima, Shinichiro Hayasaka, Toshihiro Tsuruta, Hiroshi Fujii, Junichi Akiba, Naoya Jami, Naotsugu Hoshi
  • Patent number: 10240999
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating a wave velocity of negative pressure wave in a fluid transportation pipeline. The method including: receiving a plurality of pressure signals from a plurality of sensors; determining time differences produced by the negative pressure wave reaching the adjacent sensors based on the received pressure signals; determining a wave source sensor segment where a wave source of the negative pressure wave is located; and estimating the wave velocities of the negative pressure wave in a non-wave source sensor segment and the wave source sensor segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ning Duan, Jin Huang, Juhnyoung Lee, Chunhua Tian, Junchi Yan, Yu Wang
  • Patent number: 10221735
    Abstract: A method of real-time oil consumption is disclosed. A method of real-time oil consumption detection may include capturing a raw oil quantity, calculating a corrected oil quantity, calculating a predicted oil quantity, calculating a prediction error, and calculating an estimated oil consumption rate. Raw oil quantity may be captured from an oil quantity sensor in an engine. Corrected oil quantity may be calculated by taking raw oil quantity and applying environmental and engine operational conditions. Prediction error may be calculated by finding the difference between corrected oil quantity and predicted oil quantity. Oil consumption rate may be calculated by applying a regression algorithm to prediction error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven Butler, Sean McCutchan, Reade James, Denman James
  • Patent number: 10184380
    Abstract: Systems and methods to determine the pressure differential for selective catalytic reduction systems includes a first sensor coupled to an inlet of a selective catalytic reduction system, a second sensor coupled to an outlet of the selective catalytic reduction system, and a controller communicatively coupled to the selective catalytic reduction system. The controller is configured to interpret a first parameter indicative of a first pressure amount of the selective catalytic reduction system measured by the first sensor, interpret a secondary parameter indicative of a secondary pressure amount of the selective catalytic reduction system measured by the second sensor, determine a plurality of operating parameters based, at least in part, on the interpretation of the first parameter and the secondary parameter, and generate a selective catalytic reduction command based, at least in part, on the determination of the plurality of operating parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Cummins Emission Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Jaime A. Lugo-Castillo, Alex D. Harrington
  • Patent number: 10107661
    Abstract: A thin-film sensor for a thermal flowmeter with at least a first substrate layer made of electrically non-conductive material, a second layer made of electrically conductive material and a cover layer to protect the resistance layer against abrasion, wherein the second layer is designed as two sensor elements, wherein at least a first of the two sensor elements is designed to introduce a heat quantity into a medium, and at least a second of the two sensor elements is designed to determine the ambient temperature, and the thin-film sensor has a gap that isolates the two sensor elements from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: ENDRESS + HAUSER FLOWTEC AG
    Inventors: Harald Muller, Axel Pfau, Florian Krogmann, Thomas Schonstein
  • Patent number: 10054115
    Abstract: Illustrative embodiments of diaphragm pumps having an automatic priming function, as well as related systems and methods, are disclosed. In one illustrative embodiment, a method of priming a diaphragm pump includes sensing, with a pressure sensor disposed at a fluid outlet of the diaphragm pump, a pressure of a fluid being pumped by the diaphragm pump, transmitting a pressure signal associated with the sensed pressure from the pressure sensor to a controller of the diaphragm pump, and identifying, on the controller, whether the diaphragm pump is primed by determining whether a characteristic of the pressure signal has reached a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventor: Warren Andrew Seith
  • Patent number: 9958426
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and a method for determining mixing ratios of flowing media, in particular for determining the mixing ratios of two gases by using two flow resistances with different characteristic curves, each flow resistance containing a differential pressure sensor and being connected in series, where one flow resistance is formed by a sintered metal filter and another flow resistance is formed by an orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: W.O.M. WORLD OF MEDICINE GMBH
    Inventors: Matthias Koelm, Peter Juelg
  • Patent number: 9952078
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to mass flow verification systems for and methods of measuring and verifying the mass flow through a mass flow delivery/measurement device such as a mass flow controller. A mass flow verification system comprises a preset volume, a temperature sensor, and a pressure sensor. The measured verified flow determined by the mass flow verification system can be adjusted to compensate for errors resulting from a dead volume within the mass flow measurement device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Junhua Ding, Kaveh H. Zarkar
  • Patent number: 9880038
    Abstract: An in-line measuring device for capturing at least two measurands of a measuring medium—especially, a measuring fluid—flowing through a process receptacle, comprising: a first measuring sensor integrated into the process receptacle, with the former being designed to generate a first measuring signal that is dependent upon a flow measurand—especially, a volume and/or mass flow of the measuring medium; a second measuring sensor integrated into the process receptacle, with the former being designed to generate a second measuring signal dependent upon an analysis measurand—especially, one dependent upon the concentration of at least one analyte in the measuring medium and measuring electronics that are connected with the first measuring sensor and the second measuring sensor, with the measuring electronics being designed to receive and process the first measuring signal and the second measuring signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Conducta GmbH+Co. KG
    Inventors: Detlev Wittmer, Manfred Jagiella
  • Patent number: 9689732
    Abstract: An analysis tool for monitoring and displaying the real time and historical hydraulic conditions in a sewer system as measured by monitors distributed throughout the sewer system and associated weather data. Data about the hydraulic conditions of the sewer system are displayed in a graphical display that incorporates a visual representation of the sewer system infrastructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: EMNET, LLC
    Inventors: Luis A. Montestruque, Patrick M. Henthorn, Brent P. Hussung
  • Patent number: 9671267
    Abstract: A method for determining the flow rates of a multi-component mixture in a pipe including a gas phase and a liquid phase comprising an emulsion of oil and water, the emulsion being either of the water continuous type or the oil continuous type, the method comprising the following steps: a. the flow rates of the individual components of the multi-component mixture are measured, b. the Reynolds number of the multi-component mixture is measured, c. the emulsion type of the liquid phase of the multi-component mixture is determined, and d. based on the results from steps b and c, a more accurate flow-rate of the individual components of the multi-component mixture and a fluid property of at least one of the components of the multi-component mixture are calculated. An apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: FMC KONGSBERG SUBSEA AS
    Inventors: Arnstein Wee, Kenneth Gundersen
  • Patent number: 9410834
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include a method, apparatus, and computer program product for verifying a performance of a mass flow controller or mass flow meter on a tool. For example, the disclosed embodiments include a method and a mass flow controller configured to perform, in-situ, by the mass flow controller, a rate of decay measurement during on-line operation of the tool to identify valve leak issues and/or for performing a flow measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Bill Valentine, Chris Ellec, Berwin Banares, John Lull, Anthony Kehoe
  • Patent number: 9347899
    Abstract: A system may include a fluid source fluidically coupled to a plenum; a thermal camera; at least one flow meter; and a computing device communicatively connected to the at least one flow meter and the thermal camera. The computing device may be configured to receive flow rate values from the at least one flow meter relating to flow testing of a first component fluidically coupled to the plenum; receive thermographic image data captured by the thermal camera during flowing thermographic testing of a second component fluidically coupled to the plenum; and associate the flow rate values with the thermographic image data to produce quantitative flowing thermographic image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Peter Henderkott, Kong Ma
  • Patent number: 9347847
    Abstract: A pressure transmitter includes at least one impulse line for coupling a fluid pipe or tank to a pressure sensor that measures a process pressure of a process fluid, a temperature sensor measuring an ambient temperature, and a processor accessing baseline data for the process pressure and ambient temperature. The processor implements an automatic impulse line plugging diagnostic (ILPD) algorithm stored in memory. The processor runs the ILPD algorithm implementing utilizing process measurements including a process pressure from the pressure sensor and an ambient temperature from the temperature sensor, comparing a magnitude of the process pressure to a baseline pressure predicted from the baseline data corresponding to the ambient temperature, and uses results of the comparing to determine whether the impulse line is plugged. The comparing can involve comparing a process pressure change to a baseline pressure change predicted corresponding to an ambient temperature change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: George Hershey
  • Patent number: 9212664
    Abstract: A control circuit for controlling the rotational speed of a fan may include a memory element to store operating data corresponding to an operational profile of the fan defined by RPM (revolutions per minute) versus temperature, with the operating data comprising a respective temperature value and a respective RPM value for each respective operating point representing a change in slope of a function that corresponds to the operational profile of the fan. A processing unit may receive a present temperature value, retrieve the operating data from the storage unit, and identify a pair of consecutive operating points corresponding to the present temperature. The processing unit may calculate a desired RPM value corresponding to the present temperature value by performing linear interpolation between the pair of consecutive operating points, and provide the desired RPM value to a closed-loop fan controller to control the fan according to the desired RPM value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: STANDARD MICROSYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chao-Ming Tsai, Lynn R. Kern