Gas Patents (Class 73/1.06)
  • Patent number: 11906495
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sensor includes a sensor part including a first film, and a structure body including a second film. The first film has a first density, and a first concentration of a first element. The second film has at least one of a second density, or a second concentration of the first element. The second concentration is greater than the first concentration. The second density is greater than the first density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yumi Hayashi, Hiroaki Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 11867674
    Abstract: Provided are methods, systems, and apparatus related to a gas detector (100, 402, 802) and a gas detector calibration cap (200, 300, 404, 703, 804). The gas detector calibration cap includes a cap body (202, 302), a first cap wing (204, 304), a second cap wing (206, 306), and an extended strip (216, 316) for opening the gas detector by inserting the extended strip in a groove (106, 707, 808) of the gas detector. The extended strip allows a worker to easily open the gas detector housing, thus improving the speed and reliability of servicing the gas detector while eliminating the potential additional cost on a separated tool for opening the gas detector housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Xingguo Wu, Yuhui Xu, Zengping Chen
  • Patent number: 11846620
    Abstract: In a noise removing apparatus, a data acquisition unit acquires sets of odor data measured using a sensor with respect to a plurality of objects, each set of odor data representing features of an odor of an object by respective rates of a plurality of odor molecules. A noise component extraction unit extract a noise component using a set of odor data. A noise removing unit removes the noise component from each set of odor data to be processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: So Yamada, Junko Watanabe, Riki Eto, Hiromi Shimizu, Noriyuki Tonouchi
  • Patent number: 11807113
    Abstract: A fuel cell vehicle includes a cabin arranged at a vehicle front portion and provided with a seat therein where an occupant is seated, a fuel cell mounted below the cabin, and an accommodation space formed below the cabin and accommodating the fuel cell. An upper side of the accommodation space is covered with a ceiling surface formed by a bottom portion of the cabin, and a rear side of the accommodation space is opened. The ceiling surface is provided with a detector configured to detect a hydrogen concentration in the accommodation space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Yanagiura, Yuki Oshitani
  • Patent number: 11768186
    Abstract: An illustrative example hydrogen concentration sensor includes a first end plate. A hydrogen evolving electrode assembly that generates hydrogen is situated adjacent the first end plate and at least partially exposed through an opening through the end plate. A separator plate is between the hydrogen evolving electrode assembly and a detection electrode assembly. The separator plate includes a passage to allow a flow of hydrogen generated by the hydrogen evolving electrode assembly to the detection electrode assembly. A second end plate is situated adjacent the detection electrode assembly and includes a second opening where a portion of the detection electrode assembly is exposed to a fluid of interest to provide an indication of a concentration of hydrogen in the fluid of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: HYAXIOM, INC.
    Inventors: Joshua Preston, Marc Soldini
  • Patent number: 11756400
    Abstract: Devices, methods, and systems for a self-testing hazard sensing device are described herein. One device includes a sensor, a wire dipped in a material, a controller configured to provide a current to the wire to heat the material and generate aerosol and/or carbon monoxide, and an airflow generator configured to provide the aerosol and/or carbon monoxide to the sensor. The controller configured to determine whether the self-testing hazard sensing device is functioning properly using the aerosol and/or carbon monoxide provided to the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce R. Griffith, Dale Johnson, Christopher Dearden, Michael Barson, Benjamin Wolf
  • Patent number: 11753981
    Abstract: A particulate matter detecting apparatus (S) comprises a sensor body (S1) which has a sensor device (1) which is retained in a housing (H) secured to an exhaust pipe (101) of an internal combustion engine (ENG) and detects particulate matter contained in exhaust gas, a sensor temperature determining unit (2) which works to determine a temperature of the sensor device, and a mounted condition diagnosis unit (3) which diagnoses a mounted condition where the sensor body is mounted in the exhaust pipe. The mounted condition diagnosis unit includes a diagnosis threshold setting unit (31) and a mount error determining unit (32). The diagnosis threshold setting unit determines a diagnosis threshold (Tth), as used in a diagnosis of the mounted condition, as a function of an operating condition of the internal combustion engine to have a temperature value lower than a temperature of the sensor device when the sensor body is normally mounted in the exhaust pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Araki, Masato Katsuno
  • Patent number: 11674917
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining a presence, a concentration or a change in concentration of a target material in an environment is disclosed. The apparatus comprises first and second sensors configured to respond to the target material. The apparatus further comprises a fluid inlet in fluid communication with the environment, and a valve assembly having a first and second configuration. In the first configuration, the fluid inlet is in fluid communication with only the first sensor. In the second configuration, the fluid inlet is in fluid communication with the first sensor and the second sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daniel Tobjork, Pascal Cachelin
  • Patent number: 11609214
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present specification provide methods and systems for maintaining accuracy and precision of calibration for a detector. The methods and systems include reducing the humidity of an internal calibration assembly by directing flow path of dry air periodically through the internal calibration assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Rapiscan Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley Douglas Shaw, William Rogers, Vladimir Romanov, Adam Justin Maines
  • Patent number: 11592428
    Abstract: An atmospheric pollution emission control effect evaluation method, device and storage medium, including: carrying out meteorological condition frequency statistics of data collected from meteorological station, obtaining meteorological condition frequency distribution information; obtaining pollutant concentration information, performing pollutant concentration distribution statistics to obtain pollution concentration distribution information and pollution concentration variation information; decomposing effects of meteorological factors and non-meteorological factors according to meteorological condition frequency distribution information, pollution concentration distribution information and pollution concentration variation information, to obtain meteorological and non-meteorological contribution information; constructing source emission control effect evaluation data set according to meteorological condition frequency distribution information, pollution concentration distribution information, meteorologic
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Ying Li, Yushan Song
  • Patent number: 11512622
    Abstract: An exhaust gas sensor that detects a specific component included in an exhaust gas includes a sensor element including a detector, an element cover that accommodates the sensor element and has a gas ventilation hole, a heater that heats the sensor element, a heater control section, and an installation state diagnosis section that diagnoses a state of an element cover based on a sensor temperature detected by a sensor temperature detection section. The installation state diagnosis section includes a temperature variation amount calculation section that calculates a sensor temperature variation amount, a temperature variation amount integration section that sums the sensor temperature variation amounts, and an abnormality determination section that determines presence or absence of an abnormal installation based on a comparison result between variation amount integration information of the sensor temperature and a diagnosis threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masato Minato, Masato Katsuno, Takashi Araki
  • Patent number: 11486577
    Abstract: An apparatus, cooking appliance and method functionally verify a gas burner that is controlled by two or more electronically-controlled gas valves coupled in series with one another. Functional verification is performed during ignition and/or shut off of the gas burner at least in part by sequencing the activation and/or deactivation of the gas valves and testing the ignition state of the gas burner while one of the valves is activated and the other is deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Vern A. Neal
  • Patent number: 11421903
    Abstract: A bridge device operable in an air-quality control system is provided. The bridge device is connected to a plurality of sensor devices and includes a radio circuit configured to wirelessly communicate with the plurality of sensor devices over a wireless medium using an air-quality communication protocol; a transceiver configured to communicate with a remote server; a processing circuitry; a memory, the memory containing instructions that, when executed by the processing circuitry, configure the bridge device to: periodically discover the plurality of sensor devices connected to the bridge device; query each of the discovered senor devices to read at least one senor reading provided by each sensor device, the at least one senor reading is of at least an air-quality level in a vicinity of the sensor device; encapsulate the sensor readings from the plurality of sensor devices into a data frame; and send the data frame to the remote server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Integrated Energy Services Corporation
    Inventors: Brock L. Nigg, Steve Schlanger, Frank Ableson
  • Patent number: 11320335
    Abstract: A system and a method for accurately testing gas leak detectors by considering multiple operational parameters as per the standard requirements are disclosed. The system comprises one or more gas cylinders, a test execution chamber, mass flow controllers (MFCs), and a control system. The test execution chamber is connected to the gas cylinders via test gas pipelines and a plurality of valves, and the mass flow controllers. The test execution chamber further comprises a first chamber and a second chamber, which are connected to form a closed cycle, thereby saving consumption of the testing gases. The control system in communication with the mechanized system, thereby controlling the operation of the system for accurately testing the gas leak detector test samples. The performance of the one or more gas leak detector test samples is controlled by adjusting the density of the testing gas to a predetermined value and as per the standard requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Inventors: Mahmood Ghasemvand, Mohamad Samadi
  • Patent number: 11232934
    Abstract: A method of processing an input data stream including at least one data peak (2), comprising: detecting at least one peak (2) in the input data stream having an apex with an amplitude above a predetermined threshold (4); and extrapolating (30) the segment of the peak which has an amplitude above the predetermined threshold (7, 8), based on a shape characteristic of the peak (2), to estimate the amplitude of the segments of the peak which have an amplitude less than said threshold (15, 16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: MICROMASS UK LIMITED
    Inventor: Richard Moulds
  • Patent number: 11209385
    Abstract: A method for testing a gas sensor and a gas-measuring device with a testing device for testing the gas sensor provides an improved analysis and evaluation of states of gas sensors. Due to a testing of a gas admission element, by monitoring measuring signals (35, (38) in a time course (400) in conjunction with dispensing (91, 91?, 91?) a quantity of test substance, it is made possible to check whether a gas supply to the gas sensor is possible (to check if the gas diffusion path is open) and given.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Dräger Safety AG & Co. KGaA
    Inventor: Wilfried Diekmann
  • Patent number: 11098664
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine is provided, which has a combustion unit, including a combustion chamber; a fresh gas tract; an exhaust tract, including an exhaust gas sensor integrated therein; and a fuel tank system. During an operation of the internal combustion engine, while purge gas is conducted via a purge gas line a hydrocarbon content of the purge gas is ascertained with the aid of the HC sensor, and the mass flow of the purge gas is also ascertained, and a fuel mass flow introduced into the fresh gas tract is ascertained from these values in combination and a quantity of fuel introduced into the combustion chamber and/or into the fresh gas tract with the aid of at least one fuel injector is adapted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Lindlau, Michael Brand
  • Patent number: 11067551
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device for measuring the amount of oxygen present in a gas to be analyze. The device includes at least one member for measuring the amount of oxygen, a first inlet in communication with the measuring member for the supply of gas to be analyzed, and an outlet for the discharge of said analyzed gas. The device also includes a second inlet intended to communicate with the measuring member, allowing said device to be supplied selectively with a calibration gas having a known amount of oxygen, such that the measurement of the amount of oxygen present in the calibration gas makes it possible to determine a potential drift of the measurement of said measuring member relative to the actual known amount of oxygen present in the calibration gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignees: ZODIAC AEROTECHNICS, L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Olivier Vandroux, Nelly Giroud, Norbert Ponsinet, Jorge Gaspar, Gilles Delaitre, Jean-Michel Cazenave, Philippe Boggetto
  • Patent number: 11047843
    Abstract: An atmospheric environment monitoring apparatus includes: a communication interface unit which sequentially receives first atmospheric environment measurement data to N-th atmospheric environment measurement data from any one atmospheric environment sensor when a measurement period of an atmospheric environment sensor comes; a data storage unit which stores the first atmospheric environment measurement data to the N-th (N is an integer of 1 or more) atmospheric environment measurement data; and a control unit which checks the total number of the first atmospheric environment measurement data to the N-th atmospheric environment measurement data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: SmartCityGrid Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Se Kyu Kim
  • Patent number: 10989126
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an internal combustion engine that includes an oxygen sensor are described. In one example, a voltage that is applied to a heating element of an oxygen sensor is integrated to determine a resistance of the heating element. The resistance of the heating element is the basis for adjusting voltage applied to the heating element during subsequent engine starts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Hao Zhang, Christopher Paul Glugla, Jacobus Hendrik Visser, Richard E. Soltis
  • Patent number: 10973185
    Abstract: A computer implemented system for a vertical farming system comprising at least a first crop growth module and operating in an environmentally-controlled growing chamber, the control system comprising sensors for measuring environmental growing conditions in the environmentally-controlled growing chamber over time to generate environmental condition data, a device configured for measuring a crop characteristic of a crop grown in the crop growth module of the environmentally-controlled growing chamber to generate crop growth data and a processing device comprising software modules for receiving the environmental condition data and the crop growth data; applying an algorithm to the environmental condition data and the crop growth data to generate an improved environmental growing condition and generating instructions for adjustment of the environmental growing conditions in or around the growth module in the environmentally-controlled growing chamber to the improved environmental growing condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Inventors: Jaremy Creechley, Jack Oslan, Nate Mazonson, Nathaniel R. Storey, Daniel Cook, Philip E. Beatty, John L. Whitcher, Christopher K. Conway, Ernest Learn, Michael Duffy, Russell Varone, Russell Field, William R. George, Rob Jensen, Benjamin J. Clark, Matthew Barnard, Matteo Melani
  • Patent number: 10908136
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing having a hole formed therein, an audio device inside the housing and communicating with an outside of the electronic device through the hole, a gas sensor inside the housing and communicating with the outside through the hole, a proximity sensor inside the housing, a wireless communication module inside the housing, and a processor inside the housing. The processor is configured to acquire data associated with air outside the electronic device by using the gas sensor, to recognize a user gesture of starting a proximity call by using the proximity sensor, and to calculate air quality of the outside air based on at least one of data acquired by the gas sensor before the proximity call starting gesture is recognized and data acquired by the gas sensor after a gesture of ending the proximity call is recognized. Other various embodiments are possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bokyung Sim, Seunggoo Kang, Jeonggyu Jo, Dongil Son
  • Patent number: 10866207
    Abstract: An exhaust gas sensor for detecting a measurement gas component, having a ceramic sensor element fixed in a housing, and a double-walled protective pipe having outer and inner protective sleeves, the inner sleeve enclosing a gas chamber into which the sensor element extends with a segment at the measurement gas side, in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the sensor, and an annular chamber being formed between the outer and inner protective sleeves. The outer sleeve has a cladding surface having at least one opening configured as a swirling element, through which measurement gas can move into the annular chamber with rotation about a longitudinal axis of the sensor, and the inner sleeve has at least one opening that is adjusted and/or functionally optimized, as to a sensitive region of the sensor element, through which opening the measurement gas can move from the annular chamber into the gas chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Weber, Benjamin Sillmann, Christoph Gmelin, Christopher Holzknecht, Karel Vacha, Katerina Lieblova, Milan Kotynek, Rafael Gitzmann, Sebastian Schulte Am Huelse, Simon Rentschler, Stefan Buehler
  • Patent number: 10734281
    Abstract: A self-assembled heteroepitaxial oxide nanocomposite film including alternating layers of a first metal oxide having a first melting point and a second metal oxide having a second melting point that differs from the first melting point is formed in an opening formed in a semiconductor substrate. After forming a metal or metal alloy via structure in the semiconductor substrate, first and second thermal treatments are performed to remove each layer of first or second metal oxide providing a nanoporous membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: ELPIS TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Zhenxing Bi, Kangguo Cheng, Shogo Mochizuki, Hao Tang
  • Patent number: 10605763
    Abstract: A gas sensor includes a sensor element made of an oxygen-ion conductive solid electrolyte, at least one electrode provided to the sensor element so as to contact a measurement gas, and a controller configured to control the gas sensor. The sensor element is heated, by a heater provided to the sensor element, at a temperature higher than an operating temperature set in advance for a predetermined time period at start of the gas sensor, and then the temperature of the sensor element is decreased to the operating temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Taku Okamoto, Noriko Hirata, Yuki Nakayama
  • Patent number: 10598112
    Abstract: A method for adapting a characteristic curve of a nitrogen oxide sensor of a combustion engine with exhaust gas recirculation having the first nitrogen oxide sensor upstream of an SCR catalytic converter and a second nitrogen oxide sensor downstream of the SCR catalytic converter includes determining that a particle filter is in a regeneration phase, increasing the exhaust gas recirculation rate, interrupting the supply of urea by a urea injection device, acquiring first nitrogen oxide values from signals generated by the first nitrogen oxide sensor, determining that the first nitrogen oxide values are within a first nitrogen oxide interval, acquiring values from second nitrogen oxide signals generated by the second nitrogen oxide sensor, and determining that the second nitrogen oxide values are within a second nitrogen oxide interval, and adapting the characteristic curve of the first nitrogen oxide sensor by the second nitrogen oxide values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Hong Zhang
  • Patent number: 10583265
    Abstract: Methods and system for concentrating oxygen include providing a portable apparatus having a plurality of sieve beds, each sieve bed in the plurality of sieve beds including a first end and a second end, a reservoir storing oxygen-enriched gas exiting from the second ends of the plurality of sieve beds, a compressor, an oxygen delivery valve communicating with the reservoir via a delivery line, a flow sensor associated with the delivery line, and control electronics adapted to control operation of the oxygen delivery valve; measuring, via the flow sensor, a flow of the oxygen-enriched gas through the sensor and outputting a signal indicative thereof; and controlling, using the control electronics, the opening and closing the oxygen delivery valve to deliver the oxygen-enriched gas from the reservoir to a user based on the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Douglas Adam Whitcher, Bradley Stewart Koeppel, Bernhard Lewis Haberland, Jeremy Webster Blair
  • Patent number: 10583710
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving operation of a vehicle heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. In one example, a method may include calibrating a vehicle humidity sensor position inside a cabin of the vehicle by obtaining one or more humidity measurements with one or more personal computing devices positioned inside the cabin, and may further include adjusting operation of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system responsive to the calibration. In this way, an interior humidity sensor of a vehicle may be regularly calibrated, which may improve operation of the vehicle heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, and may further increase fuel economy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael McQuillen, Daniel A. Makled, Gopichandra Surnilla, Richard E. Soltis, Radhakrishnan Swaminathan
  • Patent number: 10546695
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for adjusting tuning settings of tunable components, such as tunable capacitors, can be configured for calibrating a tunable component. Specifically, the systems, devices and methods can measure a device response for one or more inputs to a tunable component, store a calibration code in a non-volatile memory that characterizes the device response of the tunable component, and adjust a tuning setting of the tunable component based on the calibration code to achieve a desired response of the tunable component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: WISPRY, INC.
    Inventors: Arthur S. Morris, III, Marten A. E. Seth, Peter Good, Steven Spencer Watkins
  • Patent number: 10451597
    Abstract: A determination device determining malfunction of a humidity sensor includes a malfunction determination portion. The humidity sensor includes a humidity detector, a temperature detector and a heater. The humidity detector has a humidity-sensitive film in an intake passage and detects a relative humidity of intake air taken into an internal combustion engine for a vehicle. The temperature detector detects a temperature of the humidity-sensitive film. The heater heats the humidity-sensitive film and the temperature of the humidity-sensitive film is increased by the heater. The malfunction determination portion estimates an estimated relative humidity at a subsequent temperature from an original relative humidity and the subsequent temperature, and compares the estimated relative humidity at the subsequent temperature and an actual subsequent relative humidity to determine malfunction of the humidity detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasushi Kono
  • Patent number: 10281446
    Abstract: An engine control device of a vehicle engine includes a processor that detects an operation state of the engine and controls an output of a heater which heats an intake air oxygen concentration sensor detecting oxygen concentration of intake air of the engine. The intake air includes a portion of exhaust gas recirculated to an intake passage of the engine as EGR gas. The processor controls the output of the heater, according to a detected operation state of the engine, so that the intake air oxygen concentration sensor enters one of (i) an active state where a temperature of the intake air oxygen concentration sensor becomes greater than or equal to an activation temperature, (ii) a semi-active state where the sensor temperature is lower than the activation temperature and higher than an inactivation temperature, and (iii) an inactive state where the sensor temperature is lower than the inactivation temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: FUJITSU TEN Limited
    Inventor: Masatoshi Hagiwara
  • Patent number: 10229824
    Abstract: A mass spectrometer for analyzing a sample may include an analysis chamber for analyzing the sample and a first vacuum pump operably connected to the analysis chamber, wherein the first vacuum pump operates to create a first vacuum state. The mass spectrometer may also include a sample-preparation chamber operably connected to the analysis chamber and a second vacuum pump that operates to create a second vacuum state, wherein the first vacuum state is a lower pressure than the second vacuum state. The second vacuum pump may be operably connected to the first vacuum pump in a first configuration, and the second vacuum pump may be operably connected to the sample-preparation chamber in a second configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: 1st Detect Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Spencer, Warren Mino, David Rafferty
  • Patent number: 10139363
    Abstract: In order to make it possible to accurately measure the HF concentration in a BHF solution in a low concentration region using a simple structure, there are provided a relationship storage unit that stores relationships between a pH of a BHF solution and an HF concentration, a pH meter that measures the pH of the BHF solution, and a concentration calculation unit that refers to relationships stored in the relationship storage unit, and calculates the HF concentration from the pH values measured by the pH meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: HORIBA, LTD.
    Inventor: So Takagi
  • Patent number: 10132262
    Abstract: Methods for optimizing exhaust gas system regeneration and cleaning are provided. The exhaust gas system can include an exhaust gas stream supplied by an exhaust gas source to a particulate filter device through an exhaust gas conduit, and a gas sensor having a sampling end disposed within the exhaust gas conduit upstream from the particulate filter device. The methods can include detecting a gas sensor malfunction, detecting particulate filter device soot loading, and performing an optimized maintenance utilizing at least one common technique. A common technique is one which is capable of cleaning a gas sensor and regenerating a PF device. The exhaust gas source can comprise an internal combustion engine and the at least one common technique comprises a post-injection strategy. Systems for performing the disclosed methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Inventors: Alberto Lorenzo Vassallo, Claudio Cortassa, Denise Risso, Luca Giuseppe Pairolero
  • Patent number: 10100637
    Abstract: A device (118) for automatically calibrating an analyzer (112) used for mud gas or fluid logging, comprising: a cabinet (140) having a plurality of dedicated reception slots (144), each slot (144) being configured for the insertion of a canister (148) containing a known calibration mixture, the cabinet (140) containing: a main line (174) to be connected to the analyzer (112), a connection assembly able to selectively connect each reception slot (144) to the main line (174), a control unit (151) for controlling the connection assembly to successively connect at least two successive slots (144) to the main line (174).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: GEOSERVICES EQUIPEMENTS
    Inventors: Jerome Breviere, Patrick Banik
  • Patent number: 10054070
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing sensors in an engine intake by utilizing in an evaporative leak check module pump (ELCM pump). In one example, during engine off conditions, the ELCM pump in an evaporative emission system of the vehicle may be operated in a pressure mode to flow ambient air from the evaporative emissions system to the intake manifold. During humidity sensor diagnostics, the air flow may be used to generate water vapors within the intake manifold, and humidity sensor may be rationalized by monitoring an output of the humidity sensor; and during MAF sensor diagnostics, MAF sensor may be rationalized by monitoring if the MAF sensor output corresponds to a flow rate generated by the ELCM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aed M. Dudar, Douglas Raymond Martin
  • Patent number: 10031097
    Abstract: A device produces an electrical signal in response to a stimulus. The device is formed of a flexible substrate including a layer of fibers, for example, paper, and a solution of dispersed carbon nanotubes coated onto and within the fibers, the solution evaporated to leave carbon nanotubes intertwined within the layer of fibers. The carbon nanotubes are functionalized to be optimized for producing an electrical signal for a particular stimulus, where the stimulus includes exposure of the device to a particular gas or vapor. A number of such devices, some or all of which can be different, are housed together, for producing a complex electronic signal, or for sensing any of a wide variety of stimulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of NASA
    Inventors: Jin-Woo Han, Meyya Meyyappan
  • Patent number: 9970894
    Abstract: A method and device for measuring a substance's concentration in a fluid. The method includes first passing a sample to be measured through a chemical sensor at least twice and recording the response value each time; forming a simultaneous equation set using the equation relation between the response value obtained during each measurement and the concentration of the substance, and the mass equation relation satisfied by the concentration change caused by a physical, chemical reaction during each measurement and by the change of the mass, electric quantity, and heat; solving for the concentration of the substance measured and the sensor calibration parameter. The method, used as an absolute measurement method, can be applied to calibrate the sample concentration of a fluid, overcomes the effects on the measurements caused by temperature, humidity, pressure, and some interfering gas, requires no sensor calibration, and substantially enhances the measurements' stability and reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Sunvou Medical Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ray Xie, Jie Han, Lijun Shen, Yiping Han
  • Patent number: 9964530
    Abstract: A confined space entry station is disclosed. The station has a back plate, an accessory holder, and a probe holding arm. The back plate is configured to attach to a manway of a confined space. The accessory holder is connected to the back plate. The probe holding arm has a connecting segment and a probe holding segment. The probe holding arm has a deployed position and a stored position. The connecting segment is connected to the probe holding segment. The probe holding segment is transverse to the connecting segment. The connecting segment is pivotally connected to the back plate and extends beyond the back plate when the probe holding arm is in the deployed position. The probe holding segment has a surface for supporting a probe. The probe holding segment extends transverse to the back plate when the probe holding arm is in the deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Inventor: Tracy William Baldaccini
  • Patent number: 9804137
    Abstract: A method for calibrating an exhaust gas sensor arranged in a measurement chamber, includes providing a measurement chamber in or adjacent to an exhaust channel of an internal combustion engine. At the start of a calibration phase, exhaust gas present in the measurement chamber is displaced by a filling of the measurement chamber with calibration gas, and at the end of the calibration phase, exhaust gas diffuses into and/or is introduced into the measurement chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: MAN TRUCK & BUS AG
    Inventor: Andreas Doering
  • Patent number: 9719891
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a simultaneous multipoint testing system for analyzing the composition of a fluid in a duct. The system can comprise a plurality of probes each having a plurality of sample legs at different locations within the duct. Each probe can also comprise a mixing chamber for mixing fluid samples collected by each of the sample legs. The system can further comprise a global mixing chamber configured to receive the mixtures of fluid samples from each probe mixing chamber and mix those fluid samples to create a global fluid sample. The system can further comprise an analyzer configured to receive at least a portion of the global fluid sample and measure levels predetermined compounds present in the at least a portion of the global fluid sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: The Southern Company
    Inventors: Gary Blackmon, Mitchell Gober
  • Patent number: 9714623
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a regulating device for regulating an air-fuel ratio of an internal combustion engine (10), wherein an exhaust-gas composition of an exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine (10) is determined by virtue of an actual probe signal, which is dependent on the exhaust-gas composition, being detected by means of an exhaust-gas probe (22) and the exhaust-gas composition being determined as a function of the actual probe signal by means of a characteristic curve or a calculation rule, and wherein the determined exhaust-gas composition is compared with a setpoint value or a threshold value, the attainment or exceedance of which triggers a manipulation of the air-fuel ratio supplied to the internal combustion engine (10), wherein, in order to take into consideration at least one disturbance variable which affects the actual probe signal, a safety margin (?S) is defined which is applied to the characteristic curve or calculation rule, to the actual probe signal or to the set
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: VOLKSAWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Hermann Hahn
  • Patent number: 9518966
    Abstract: A method and test devices are used for field calibration of gas detectors. Brand new gas detectors are used as measurement standards in field calibration. The brand new gas detectors are in this case either employed directly as working standards, in which case the regular calibration by a reference standard is dispensed with, since the brand new gas detectors are always deemed to be sufficiently accurate. Alternatively, the brand new gas detectors are employed directly, namely as sufficiently accurately calibrated reference standards for the reference gas sensors acting as working standards and incorporated into the test device. In both cases the measured values of the gas sensors in the gas detectors to be calibrated are fed back to a sufficiently calibrated system, namely either directly to at least one brand new gas detector as a working standard or else to a reference sensor of a calibrated test device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Aleksandar Duric, Harald Ebner, Martin Forster
  • Patent number: 9494508
    Abstract: A particulate matter sensor unit may include a sensor portion of an electrostatic induction type that may be reacted when a particulate matter having electric charge may be passing the vicinity thereof, a protection pad that the sensor portion may be bonded on one side thereof through a conductive paste, an heater electrode that may be formed on the protection pad and burns the particulate matters that may be disposed on the sensor portion to eliminate them, and a sensor electrode that may be formed on the protection pad to transfer a signal that may be generated by the sensor portion to an outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, SNU R&DB FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Jin Ha Lee, Sera Lim, Kuk-jin Chun, Junyong Lee, Kyoung doug Min, Seounghyeon Lee, Young Jae Kim
  • Patent number: 9285341
    Abstract: There is provided a monitoring apparatus that monitors abnormalities in a system including a plurality of components or products. The plurality of components or products respectively include a plurality of types of microcapsules that release, due to specific causes, a plurality of marker chemical substances respectively, the marker chemical substances having respectively different ion mobilities. The monitoring apparatus includes an ion mobility sensor that detects the plurality of marker chemical substances. By detecting the marker chemical substances, the monitoring apparatus is capable of identifying the occurrence of an abnormal state, the type of abnormal state, the occurrence location, the extent of the abnormal state, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: ATONARP INC.
    Inventor: Tomoyoshi Sato
  • Patent number: 9255916
    Abstract: A calibration system is provided that supports a plurality of multi-gas detectors and that includes additional options for delivering additional test gases to the detectors. The system can include a calibration module for calibrating a multi-gas detector with a first gas and a replacement module capable of being coupled to the calibration module. When coupled to the calibration module, the replacement module can support delivering a plurality of test gases, not including the first test gas, to the calibration module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Tan Rambo, Clive Warden Kennard
  • Patent number: 9229047
    Abstract: To provide a method for manufacturing a sensor element, by which stabilization of an electrode, which is performed prior to inspecting element characteristics, can be performed for a shorter time period and in a more reliable manner than in the conventional. The sensor element includes: an oxygen-ion conductive solid electrolyte layer; a first electrode that is formed on a surface of the oxygen-ion conductive solid electrolyte layer; and a second electrode that is formed in a space provided inside the oxygen-ion conductive solid electrolyte layer, and that is configured to reduce said predetermined gas component. As the pre-treatment, by an external power source, a voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode, to thereby decompose and remove a gas component attached to the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Ohtsubo, Tetsuya Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 9128067
    Abstract: A test station for a plurality of test gases, includes a main unit (10) with a control (12) and test modules (20), each for a gas measurement device, that exchange data to register a type of gas measurement device and test gas(es) required for the device type. The control sets a schedule for a test using a test gas, or for a plurality of successive tests each with different test gases and carries out the specific test planned according to the schedule, in parallel with tests for all of the test modules for a test gas and determines, as an additional gas measurement device is inserted, based on the particular device type of the additional gas measurement device, whether the currently-running test with the current test gas is suitable for the inserted test module; and if the test gas is suitable, to start the test for this test module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Dräger Safety AG & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Ulf Ostermann, Ingo Kaneblei, Stefan Barten, Christof Möller, Sven Schimmel
  • Patent number: 9068937
    Abstract: A first voltage (V1) is detected between an auxiliary pump electrode and a reference electrode of an exhaust gas sensor, and a target diagnosis value (SDIAG) is determined as a function of the detected first voltage (V1). A measured current (Im) is detected between a measurement electrode and a second main pump electrode of the exhaust gas sensor, said measured current being set up as the pump current by regulating a second voltage between the measurement electrode and the reference electrode to a pre-defined voltage. An actual diagnosis value (IDIAG) is determined as a function of the detected measured current (Im). An error (ERR) of the exhaust gas sensor is recognized depending on the target diagnosis value (SDIAG) and the actual diagnosis value (IDIAG).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Muammer Kilinc, Tim Walde
  • Patent number: 9062623
    Abstract: A method is described for diagnosing a heatable exhaust gas sensor of an internal combustion engine, in which a predefined chronologically varying or constant voltage or a predefined chronologically varying or constant current is generated with the aid of a voltage source, the voltage or the current is applied to terminals of the exhaust gas sensor, a current or applied voltage, which flows through the voltage source when the voltage or the current is applied, is detected, and the current or the voltage is analyzed to diagnose the exhaust gas sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Cyril Verdier, Stefan Klein, Gerhard Lemke, Karsten Glashoff, Peter Brida, Frank Meier, Thomas Seiler