Liquid Level Or Volume Determination Patents (Class 702/55)
  • Patent number: 11909938
    Abstract: A printing method includes: a color space conversion step; a gradation determination step of determining whether a pixel group forms a gradation; and a gradation region ink amount calculation step of calculating an ink amount of the pixel group determined to form the gradation. The gradation region ink amount calculation step includes an array information acquisition step of acquiring whether pixel values are arranged linearly, in a planar manner, or in a polyhedron manner in a uniform color space, a grating color value calculation step of determining a grating color value which is a color value of a grating point in the array, a grating ink amount calculation step of calculating, using the determined grating color value, a grating ink amount which is an ink amount of the grating point in the array, and an interpolation calculation step of calculating an ink amount of the pixel group determined to form the gradation by interpolation using the calculated grating ink amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yuko Yamamoto, Takahiro Kamada, Mitsuhiro Yamashita, Takuya Ono
  • Patent number: 11726505
    Abstract: The present application generally relates to aircraft water management. The disclosed system provides an initial step of verifying the amount of available water on board and dynamically regulating water usage during flight based on projections and comparisons between projections and actual usage. The system implements a series of water conservation strategies modeled on historical data, using a control system to manage water usage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: MAG Aerospace Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Deborah Osborne, Nguyen Tram, Arnaud Namer, Jean Gayoso
  • Patent number: 11506095
    Abstract: A method for determining a consumption amount of an engine oil of a vehicle includes starting, by a controller, an engine of the vehicle; and extracting and determining, by the controller, a consumption amount of the engine oil of the vehicle per unit time from a memory storing the consumption amount of the engine oil per unit time, in response to a speed of the started engine and an intake air pressure of the started engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Hyunkyu Lim
  • Patent number: 11435215
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electric pot comprising a first light source, a second light source, an image sensor and a processor. The first light source and the second light source respectively generates first light having a first wavelength and second light having a second wavelength. The first light generates a first light pattern on the surface of liquid, and the second light generates a second light pattern on the surface of solid in the liquid. The processor determines a liquid level of the liquid based on the first light pattern and determines a solid height of the solid based on the second light pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Sen-Huang Huang, Yi-Hsien Ko
  • Patent number: 11428565
    Abstract: Device and related methods for capacitive measurement of a filling level of a filling medium in a filling volume that can be filled with a filling medium utilizing tailored voltage application and control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Inventors: Holger Schultheis, Georg Kodl
  • Patent number: 11391491
    Abstract: A LWCO remote monitoring and diagnosing system or device features a signal processor configured to: receive signaling containing information for running a remote low water cut off (LWCO) mobile application, and also containing information about historical data related to a LWCO circuit that monitors and controls a burner of a boiler that opens and closes to provide water to the boiler depending on the water level in the boiler; and determine corresponding signaling containing information about the historical data requested based upon the signaling received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: FLUID HANDLING LLC
    Inventors: Pratik Shah, Ronan Stephens, James J. Gu, Glen E. Huse, Jaroslaw Berezowski
  • Patent number: 11371411
    Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle having an exhaust gas aftertreatment device involves an on-board electronic computing device receiving consumption information characterizing consumption of a reducing agent by the exhaust gas aftertreatment device and tank information characterizing a filling level of a reducing agent tank. Tank information is evaluated together with the consumption information with regard to a divergence, and upon determination of the divergence between the tank information and the consumption information, error information is stored in a blockchain characterizing the motor vehicle, and an action of the motor vehicle is triggered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: MERCEDES-BENZ GROUP AG
    Inventor: Hanno Weber
  • Patent number: 11357224
    Abstract: An agricultural product application implement includes a system and method for indicating an amount of fluid stored. A pressure transducer installed at the sump of a fluid tank electronically measures and displays a fluid depth. Instrumentation, such as an instrument cluster unit for the implement, is programmed via software to convert the voltage output of the pressure transducer to a volume measurement displayed in the operator's line of sight. Software within the instrument cluster unit for self-calibrating accounts for varying densities of different chemical solutions. The pressure transducer is used in conjunction with a transfer medium to prevent corrosive chemical solutions from contacting the pressure transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Aaron Tollefsrud, Bruce Bastin
  • Patent number: 11333541
    Abstract: The invention provides an oil tank measurement method and system based on laser point cloud analysis, comprising: acquiring point cloud data inside an oil tank, which is collected by a laser measurement device; separating point cloud data of a main body of the oil tank from point cloud data of a plug, to acquire the point cloud data of the main body of the oil tank; calculating, based on Gauss mapping, an axis for the point cloud data of the main body of the oil tank; determining any one first plane perpendicular to the axis, and projecting a point cloud of the main body onto the first plane to obtain a point cloud of a projected cross-section of the tank body on the first plane; multi-segment fitting the point cloud of the projected cross-section of the tank body; and calculating a volume according to a result of multi-segment fitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Zhoushan Institute of Calibration and Testing for Quality and Technology Supervision
    Inventors: Cunjun Li, Huadong Hao, Xianlei Chen, Feiming Ren, Haolei Shi, Zenan Wu
  • Patent number: 11285399
    Abstract: A water vending apparatus is disclosed. The water vending system includes a water vapor distillation apparatus and a dispensing device. The dispensing device is in fluid communication with the fluid vapor distillation apparatus and the product water from the fluid vapor distillation apparatus is dispensed by the dispensing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Dean Kamen, Christopher C. Langenfeld, Ryan K. LaRocque, Andrew A. Schnellinger, Prashant Bhat, Stanley B. Smith, III, Otis L. Clapp, Jeremy M. Swerdlow
  • Patent number: 11275153
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for FMCW-based measurement of a distance of an object located in a waveguide, as well as a corresponding distance measurement device that, in particular, may be used for fill-level measurement in surge pipes or bypass pipes of containers. The method is based upon the fact that the transmission signal that is typical in FMCW is not ramp-like, and thus is emitted with constant frequency modulation. Rather, according to the present disclosure, a curvature of the frequency ramp is set to be at least approximately proportional to the frequency dependency of the propagation velocity of the transmission signal in the waveguide. The distortion effect is thus compensated for in that the propagation velocity of the transmission signal in waveguides is not constant, but, rather, decreases with falling transmission frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser SE+Co. KG
    Inventors: Alexey Malinovskiy, Harald Faber
  • Patent number: 11248826
    Abstract: In a refrigeration apparatus including a refrigerant circuit in which a refrigerant in a gas-liquid two-phase state flows through a liquid-side connection pipe, a refrigerant-amount determining method and a refrigerant-amount determining device capable of grasping an appropriate refrigerant charging amount corresponding to the length of the connection pipe is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takuro Yamada, Yuusuke Nakagawa, Masahiro Honda, Yuusuke Oka, Hiroki Sasayama
  • Patent number: 11147259
    Abstract: An agricultural product application implement includes a system and method for indicating an amount of fluid stored. A pressure transducer installed at the sump of a fluid tank electronically measures and displays a fluid depth. Instrumentation, such as an instrument cluster unit for the implement, is programmed via software to convert the voltage output of the pressure transducer to a volume measurement displayed in the operator's line of sight. Software within the instrument cluster unit for self-calibrating accounts for varying densities of different chemical solutions. The pressure transducer is used in conjunction with a transfer medium to prevent corrosive chemical solutions from contacting the pressure transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Aaron Tollefsrud, Bruce Bastin
  • Patent number: 11085805
    Abstract: The measured volume of fuel in a storage tank of a vehicle is determined by positioning a sensor within a storage tank holding the fuel. A processor is also located on the vehicle for receiving data relative to the volume of the fuel in the storage tank, the mileage of the vehicle, and vehicle location, date, and time, for transmitting such data to a remote or centralized server (“RS”). The RS also receives fuel dispensed data from a fuel dispensing station (“FDS”), including location, date/time, and volume of fuel dispensed to the storage tank of the vehicle. The RS then compares the data received from the vehicle processor with the fuel dispensed data to determine whether there are any discrepancies between the dispensed volume of fuel purchased, as indicated in the FDS data, and the measured increase of volume of fuel in the vehicle at the time of dispensing from the FDS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: S1 Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Stevenson, Sarah Bones
  • Patent number: 11029188
    Abstract: A radar fill level measurement device for fill level measurement or for recording a topology of a filling material surface in a container is provided, including: a circuit board including a first radar chip on a first circuit board surface and a second radar chip on a second circuit board surface, the first chip and the second chip each including one or more transmission channels configured to generate a transmission signal, and one or more reception channels configured to receive the transmission signal reflected at the filling material surface, at least one of the transmission channels of the first chip being connected, via a first line, to an antenna assembly for radiating the transmission signal, and at least one of the reception channels of the second adar chip being connected, via a second line, to the antenna assembly for receiving the reflected transmission signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: VEGA Grieshaber KG
    Inventors: Steffen Waelde, Roland Welle
  • Patent number: 11022480
    Abstract: A method for checking the functional ability of an FMCW-based fill-level measuring device, which serves for measuring the fill level of a fill substance located in a container, as well as to a fill-level measuring device suitable for performing this method. For checking the functional ability, a microwave signal is produced, whose frequency change differs from the frequency change of the measurement signal used during regular measurement operation. By comparing the frequency of the difference signal resulting from the microwave signal with a predetermined reference frequency, it is ascertained, whether the fill-level measuring device is functionally able. Thus, the fill-level measuring device detects, independently, whether it is functionally able, or whether an error is present, caused principally by device-internal disturbance signals. This offers, especially, a clear advantage as regards meeting safety standards for the field device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: ENDRESS+HAUSER SE+CO.KG
    Inventors: Ghislain Daufeld, Jens Merle, Markus Vogel, Alexey Malinovskiy, Stefan Gorenflo
  • Patent number: 11009259
    Abstract: A switch assembly features an automatic switch and an electronic circuit board. The automatic switch has a common contact and a normally open switch contact to short when a boiler has sufficient water, and has the common contact and a normally closed switch contact to short when the boiler has a low water level. The electronic circuit board has a signal processor, a reset switch, and a low water status LED for providing a status indication of a low water condition that remains ON even if the water level has risen unless the reset switch is reset. The signal processor couples to the common contact, the normally closed switch contact and the normally open switch contact, senses signaling containing the status of the common contact, the normally closed switch contact and the normally open switch contact, provides corresponding signaling to turn ON the low water status LED when the water level is low, and responds to a reset switch signal and turn OFF the low water status LED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: FLUID HANDLING LLC
    Inventors: Pratik Naresh Shah, Ronan Stephens, James J. Gu
  • Patent number: 11001137
    Abstract: The fuel tank (1) comprises: an electronical board, a first sensor connected to the electronical board, the first sensor being a pressure sensor, a pressure port (7) forming a hole through a wall (12) of the tank, at least one second sensor (4) extending fully inside the tank, and a connector (10) connecting the second sensor to the electronical board through the pressure port, a first part (14) of the connector being connected to the second sensor by at least one first wire (13) and a second part (9) of the connector being connected to the electronical board by at least one second wire (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Plastic Omnium Advanced Innovation and Research
    Inventors: Antoine Chaussinand, David Hill
  • Patent number: 10744421
    Abstract: A water vending apparatus is disclosed. The water vending system includes a water vapor distillation apparatus and a dispensing device. The dispensing device is in fluid communication with the fluid vapor distillation apparatus and the product water from the fluid vapor distillation apparatus is dispensed by the dispensing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Dean Kamen, Christopher C. Langenfeld, Ryan K. LaRocque, Andrew A. Schnellinger, Prashant Bhat, Stanley B. Smith, Otis L. Clapp, Jeremy M. Swerdlow
  • Patent number: 10648846
    Abstract: An example fuel quantity indicating system includes a fuel tank, optical sensors mounted inside the fuel tank that each include a sensor chip and a diaphragm that deflects when ambient pressure differs from a reference pressure of the sensor chip, an optical fiber bundle that has an optical fiber connected to each of the optical sensors for guiding light to each of the optical sensors, and a processor connected to the optical fiber bundle for receiving outputs of the optical sensors indicative of respective pressures, and for determining a fuel level measurement of the fuel tank based on the outputs of the optical sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Michael A. Carralero, Kawthar Kasim, Paul Scott Truzzi
  • Patent number: 10634542
    Abstract: A method includes generating first and second timing signals for a level sensor, where the timing signals have a timing difference. The method also includes determining whether the level sensor is able to generate the timing signals so that the timing difference obtains a target value while a control value in a control loop of the level sensor is within defined margins. The method further includes, in response to determining that the level sensor is not able to generate the timing signals so that the timing difference obtains the target value while the control value is within the defined margins, modifying the target value. In addition, the method includes determining whether the level sensor is able to generate the timing signals so that the timing difference obtains the modified target value while the control value is within the defined margins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Masood Karimian-Sichany, Cristian Andronic, Sudhir Thalore, Michael Conroy
  • Patent number: 10591343
    Abstract: A fluid gauging system includes a set of fuel level probes and two computation modules adapted for inferring fluid level information based on measurement signals which originate from the probes. In a refuelling operation mode, the probes are distributed into two dynamically configurable subsets, which are separate and assigned respectively to the computation modules for deriving two results for the fluid level independently from each other. Such system has special interests for fuel tank equipment designed for aircraft. A major advantage is a reduction in the total number of fuel level probes which are necessary to obtain reliable results whatever the fuel level and the aircraft attitude and acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Zodiac Aerotechnics
    Inventors: Stéphane Souques, Daniel Lamourette
  • Patent number: 10573170
    Abstract: Technical solutions are described for controlling media playback based on consumption of contents in a cup. For example, an apparatus that controls the playback receives an amount of contents in the cup. The apparatus includes one or more sensors that keep track of amount of the contents and/or a rate of consumption of the contents. In an example, the apparatus transmits a signal to a media device in response to a predetermined threshold being greater than the rate of consumption of contents. In response, the media device may pause, stop, or play media. Additionally or alternatively, in response, the media device may display a user interface that describes a status of consumption of contents, such as the rate of flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Inventors: Mandar Anant Joshi, Tanmay Avinash Dharmadhikari
  • Patent number: 10557742
    Abstract: A system for monitoring the volume of fluid in a hydration pack comprises a monitoring unit which is attached to an output of the hydration pack and to a feed tube. The monitoring unit comprises a pressure sensor and a tilt sensor. The pressure sensor obtains a measure of pressure of fluid within the hydration pack that may be used to estimate remaining fluid in the hydration pack. The tilt sensor is able to provide adjustment parameters tor adjusting for changes in pressure due to tilt of the hydration pack. An application on a mobile telephone provides a user with an indication of remaining liquid in the hydration pack. The application provides a visual indication of remaining fluid and may also provide an indication of rate of consumption. The application may also calibrate the system, enabling the system to be fitted to existing hydration pack assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Inventor: Andrew Saville
  • Patent number: 10444770
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a controller in a fluid delivery system controls magnitudes of pressure in a first volume and a second volume. The first volume is of a known magnitude. The second volume is of an unknown magnitude and varies. The controller estimates a temperature of gas in the first volume and a temperature of gas in the second volume based on measurements of pressure in the first volume and measurements of pressure in the second volume. The controller then calculates a magnitude of the second volume based on measured pressures of the gases and estimated temperatures of gases in the first volume and the second volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Ivenix, Inc.
    Inventors: Jesse E. Ambrosina, Benjamin G. Powers, Ali Shajii
  • Patent number: 10431017
    Abstract: The indication of a fuel level in a vehicle is disclosed herein. The vehicle can monitor the ignition switch to determine whether the vehicle is on or off. Also, the vehicle can determine a fuel level when state of the vehicle changes (e.g., switches from on to off, and vice versa). When the fuel level at the on state (e.g., ignition-on fuel level) is different from the fuel level at the off state, the vehicle can determine whether the vehicle is located at a fueling station. If the vehicle is located at the fueling station, the vehicle can generate an indication of the ignition-on fuel level within a user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Lee Rovik
  • Patent number: 10315161
    Abstract: Method for gauging the autonomy of a system for storing and delivering gaseous ammonia to a consumer unit (3), the system comprising: a gaseous-ammonia storage cell (8) comprising a dedicated heating means (9), and at least one sensor (61, 64) of at least one parameter of the system, the method comprising steps consisting in: controlling the system on the basis of an intrusive reference datum independent of an ammonia demand from the consumer unit (3), during the control step, taking an intrusive measurement of at least one parameter of the system using the sensor (61, 64), and comparing the intrusive measurement against a threshold value of at least one parameter under the control conditions in order to estimate the autonomy of the system with respect to a filling threshold of the cell (8) that corresponds to the threshold value of the parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: AAQIUS & AAQIUS SA
    Inventor: Jean-Baptiste Dementhon
  • Patent number: 10319212
    Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a novel electronic device which detects the load level of gas in liquid state contained in tanks, through the magnetic field generated by the magnets used in floater mechanical systems which are incorporated into the containers, sending information by a remote interface, which communicates via the internet, or through a local network, to any computer or smart device. The versatility of the disclosed device, allows it to be adapted into any type of tank which uses the floating mechanical system with a magnet, being the ideal solution for monitoring gas consumption in places where access to the gas container is difficult or risky.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Inventors: Pedro Gabay Villafaña, Jose Luis Rojas Calderon, Agustin Gabriel Rojas Calderon
  • Patent number: 10254148
    Abstract: A liquid level sensor is arranged to sense a quantity of a liquid within a reservoir. The sensor includes a plurality of discrete sensing units disposed within the reservoir. Each of the plurality of sensing units has an output, and the output has a first value when the sensing unit is immersed in a liquid and a second value, different from the first value, when the sensing unit is not immersed in a liquid. A signal generator is operably electrically coupled to each of the plurality of sensing units. The signal generator is operable to provide an excitation signal to each of the plurality of sensing units. Each of the plurality of sensing units is operable to provide the output responsive to the excitation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Dorel M. Sala, Richard J. Skurkis, Nancy L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 10211466
    Abstract: A resilient sealing member (27) has a first face (40) and a second face (41) and an aperture (42) extending between the first face and the second face. At least two, preferably three or more, circumferential ridges (43, 44, 45) surround the aperture on the first face. Channels (46, 47) may be disposed between each adjacent pair of circumferential ridges and a flat seal may be provided on the first face, peripheral to the circumferential ridges. The flat seal may occupy a different plane than the plane occupied by apexes of the circumferential ridges. The resilient sealing member may be incorporated into interface seal assembly comprising a rigid frame (26) onto which it is molded. The rigid frame may comprise a printed circuit board (25). The interface seal assembly allows for an easily interchangeable seal on a refillable fuel cartridge (1) for a fuel cell apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: INTELLIGENT ENERGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Monjur Choudhury, Simon Payne
  • Patent number: 10058694
    Abstract: Improvements in fluid volume measurement systems are disclosed for a pneumatically actuated diaphragm pump in general, and a peritoneal dialysis cycler using a pump cassette in particular. Pump fluid volume measurements are based on pressure measurements in a pump control chamber and a reference chamber in a two-chamber model, with different sections of the apparatus being modeled using a combination of adiabatic, isothermal and polytropic processes. Real time or instantaneous fluid flow measurements in a pump chamber of a diaphragm pump are also disclosed, in this case using a one-chamber ideal gas model and using a high speed processor to obtain and process pump control chamber pressures during fluid flow into or out of the pump chamber. Improved heater control circuitry is also disclosed, to provide added or redundant safety measures, or to reduce current leakage from a heater element during pulse width modulation control of the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Michael G. Norris, Jacob W. Scarpaci, Robert J. Bryant, Jr., Geoffrey P. Spencer, David J. Hibbard, James D. Dale, John M. Kerwin, Andrew S. Coll, David A. Beavers, David W. McGill, Simon C. Helmore, David B. Doherty, Edgar J. Bolton, Jinsun Yoo, Paul G. Girouard, Daniel S. Karol, Daniel B. Singer, Joseph P. Rushlow
  • Patent number: 10041785
    Abstract: A method of characterizing a wet paint layer stack of a painted body by individual parameters of the wet paint layers, based on fitting to a physical model, is provided. The method includes: emitting a THz radiation signal towards the painted body such that the THz radiation interacts with the wet paint layer stack; detecting a response signal being the detected THz radiation signal having interacted with the wet paint layer stack; determining model parameters of the physical model by optimizing the model parameters such that a predicted response signal of the physical model is fitted to the detected response signal, at least some of the model parameters being indicative of optical properties of the wet paint layers and of a wet paint layer thickness; and determining, from the determined model parameters, the individual paint layer parameters of at least one of the wet paint layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventor: Jacobus Lodevicus Martinus Van Mechelen
  • Patent number: 9955918
    Abstract: Mouth guards having electrodes, sensors, and/or accelerometers for determining one or more physiological conditions of a subject. Processing circuitry receives the outputs of the electrodes, sensors, and/or accelerometers. Optionally, at least a portion of the processing circuitry can be positioned within a helmet that is worn by a subject. The mouth guard can optionally be tethered to the helmet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: University of Alaska Anchorage
    Inventors: Anthony J. Paris, Jennifer M. Brock, John A. Lund
  • Patent number: 9937435
    Abstract: A water vending apparatus is disclosed. The water vending system includes a water vapor distillation apparatus and a dispensing device. The dispensing device is in fluid communication with the fluid vapor distillation apparatus and the product water from the fluid vapor distillation apparatus is dispensed by the dispensing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Dean Kamen, Christopher C. Langenfeld, Ryan K. LaRocque, Andrew A. Schnellinger, Prashant Bhat, Stanley B. Smith, III, Otis L. Clapp, Jeremy M. Swerdlow
  • Patent number: 9674091
    Abstract: A method and system for detecting congestion in a network of nodes, abating the network congestion, and identifying the cause of the network congestion is provided. A congestion detection system may comprise a detection system, an abatement system, and a causation system. The detection system monitors the performance of network components such as the network interface controllers and tiles of routers to determine whether the network is congested such that a delay in delivering packets becomes unacceptable. Upon detecting that the network is congested, an abatement system abates the congestion by limiting the rate at which packets are injected into the network from the nodes. Upon detecting that the network is congested, a causation system may identify the job that is executing on a node that is the cause of the network congestion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Cray Inc.
    Inventors: Laurence S. Kaplan, Edwin Lloyd Froese, Christopher Brian Johns, Matthew Paul Kelly, Aaron Forest Godfrey, Brent Thomas Shields
  • Patent number: 9628670
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus inputs a color signal representing an image and an image quality signal representing a texture of the image. The image quality signal is converted into a physical quantity signal representing a physical quantity. The color material amount for outputting the image is determined based on the color signal and the physical quantity signal. The image quality signal includes a signal representing glossiness value and a signal representing gloss clarity, and the physical quantity representing respective signals are the refractive index and the surface roughness of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Fukamachi, Hiromitsu Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 9593440
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of operating a horizontal axis laundry treating appliance to correct for an error in sensing an amount of supplied liquid caused by a determined change in the attitude of an associated wash tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Donald E. Erickson
  • Patent number: 9528872
    Abstract: An inventory of a consumable is managed by positioning a sensor within a storage tank holding the consumable and determining the volume of the consumable in the storage tank. A processor is also located on the vehicle for receiving data relative to the volume of the consumable in the storage tank, the mileage of the vehicle, and vehicle location, date, and time, and for transmitting such data to a remote inventory management server (“RIMS”). The RIMS also receives point-of-sale (“POS”) data, including location, date/time, purchase amount, and purchase price related to a consumable intake event at the storage tank of the vehicle. The RIMS then reconciles the data received from the vehicle processor with the POS data to determine whether there are any discrepancies between the fuel purchased and the volume of fuel measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: S1 Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Stevenson, Sarah Bones
  • Patent number: 9523325
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method and a system for diagnosing failure of a gasoline direct injection (GDI) engine that can diagnose a device (or part) causing failure through forcible driving control of a related device (or part) when failure occurs in the GDI engine. The method for diagnosing failure of a GDI engine may include verifying whether a failure code is output from an engine control unit that controls the engine, and diagnosing whether a fuel system device is in a failure state by forcibly driving the fuel system device of the engine with a set control value when the failure code is output from the engine control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Bon-Chang Koo
  • Patent number: 9460604
    Abstract: A sensor module that includes an outer casing configured to be removably inserted into a receptacle in an article of wear or sports equipment, a processor positioned within the outer casing, an accelerometer connected to the processor, a communications module connected to the processor, a proximity sensor connected to the processor, an identifier sensor connected to the processor, wherein the identifier sensor is configured to read an identifier connected to or embedded in an article of wear or sports equipment, and an alert module connected to the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Inventors: Isaac S. Daniel, Jon Oswaks, Vinh T. Nguyen, Gary D. Amundson, Alberto Interian, III
  • Patent number: 9452108
    Abstract: A method of using a device for encouraging adherence to a medication schedule and proper administration technique includes placing the device on a surface. The device includes a body, a timer associated with the body for measuring and displaying an elapsed time since an immediately prior medication dose was administered; and a button on the body that, when depressed relative to the body, resets the timer. The button is sized and shaped for accommodating a medication container used to store or activate the medication. The button and the body are configured for cooperating with the medication container for facilitating mixing of the medication. The method further includes engaging the medication container with the button and resetting the timer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignees: BAXALTA INCORPORATED, BAXALTA GMBH
    Inventors: Scott Ariagno, Daniel E. Roush
  • Patent number: 9227749
    Abstract: The present invention provides cold climatic protection to the hydro tanks and associated fluid conduits present on a frac pad. A modular endoskeleton is provided and covered by a plurality of rip resistant tarps. A heat entrapment canopy results which maintains an inner temperature above freezing even in extreme cold outside temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: TFL DISTRIBUTION, LLC
    Inventor: Andrew B. Leavitt
  • Patent number: 9195876
    Abstract: A system for oil storage tank monitoring, comprising an extraction module and an analysis module, wherein an extraction module is utilized to determine information from an oil storage tank image and an analysis module is utilized to perform operations on extracted information, such as for determining measurements or values of oil storage tanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: DIGITALGLOBE INC.
    Inventor: Mark Tabb
  • Patent number: 9134453
    Abstract: A method for forecasting hydrocarbon production of a well. The method includes receiving one or more parameters that describe hydrocarbon properties of the well and receiving an amount of proppants that corresponds to the well. After receiving the parameters and the amount of proppants, the method includes determining a forecast of hydrocarbon production of the well based on the parameters and the amount of proppants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Simpson Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Erik M. Simpson
  • Patent number: 9040821
    Abstract: A harness is provided comprising a body having a series of electrical conductors embedded therein and substantially running along the length thereof. The body may be part of a structural component such as stringer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventors: Jack Blanchard, Anthony Bryant
  • Patent number: 9037423
    Abstract: The present discloses alternate constructions of water detector floats for fuel storage tanks. Embodiments show various techniques of altering the density of a sub-assembly floatation device while maintaining the system's efficient ability to detect water presence in conjunction with a Magnetostrictive probe. In the float's upward motion due to water presence or high density fuel in the tank, at some predetermined locations, its density is altered by way of strategically located free weights along its travel path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Inventor: Ambroise Prinstil
  • Patent number: 9035800
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring an interior of a fuel tank. Information about a fuel level and moisture in the interior of the fuel tank of a platform is generated using a fuel sensor unit in the interior of the fuel tank. The fuel sensor unit comprises a sensor configured to be located in the interior of the fuel tank and generate information about the fuel level in the fuel tank and the moisture in the fuel tank and a wireless unit electrically connected to the sensor. The wireless unit is configured to receive the information from the sensor and transmit the information using wireless signals. A number of actions is identified based on the information about the interior of the fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jason Philip Bommer, Andrew M. Robb
  • Publication number: 20150134278
    Abstract: A measurement device for detecting a material level and a temperature has a cable, a level sensing module, a thermal sensing module, a processing module, and a power module. The measurement device detects difference of currents between an electrode of the cable and the earth, and calculates a material level of a material stored in a silo according to the RF admittance. The cable comprises a plurality of thermal sensing units for detecting a temperature of the material. The measurement device further calibrates a material capacitance of the material with the temperature for avoiding an error caused by an inaccurate parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: FINETEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Liang-Chi Chang, Teng-Chin Yu, Kai-Di Yang, Ting-Kuo Wu, Chao-Kai Cheng
  • Patent number: 9020767
    Abstract: A monitoring system includes a transducer coupled to an outer surface of a tank wall. The transducer is oriented to transmit a first signal through the tank wall. An intermediate reflective surface is positioned within the fuel storage tank. The intermediate reflective surface is oriented to produce a first reflected signal associated with the first signal. A controller is programmed to calculate a fuel level based on at least the first signal and the first reflected signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Gary E. Georgeson, Daniel James Kovach, William Joseph Tapia, Andrew M. Robb
  • Publication number: 20150100253
    Abstract: A fluid level measurement system includes a first pressure sensor disposed inside a fluid tank at a first elevation relative to a height axis of the fluid tank, and a second pressure sensor disposed inside the fluid tank at a second elevation relative to the height axis of the fluid tank, the second elevation different from the first elevation. The first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor are configured to provide a signal indicative of a sensed pressure, and fluid height is calculated from the difference in sensed pressure between the first and second pressure sensors relative to the sensed pressure of either the first or the second pressure sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Howard P. Austerlitz, Ronald W. Bueter, Stanley Wood, Lewis J. Boyd