Moisture Content Or Vapor Pressure Patents (Class 73/29.01)
  • Patent number: 11884247
    Abstract: A rain and temperature sensing module including a housing having a cover plate formed of a transparent material, a printed circuit board disposed within the housing and having a light emitter, a light receiver, and a temperature sensing element disposed thereon, a transparent compound disposed within the housing and covering the light emitter, the light receiver, and the temperature sensing element, the transparent compound filling a space between the printed circuit board and the cover plate, wherein the transparent compound has a refractive index that is substantially equal to a refractive index of the cover plate, and wherein the transparent compound provides a thermally conductive medium between the cover plate and the temperature sensing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: Mindaugas Ketlerius, Mangirdas Rasiulis, Paulius Alisauskas
  • Patent number: 11872609
    Abstract: A portable monitor used to measure landfill gas and landfill well parameters. The portable monitor includes a control unit and a measuring unit that can communicate wirelessly with one another. The control unit and/or measuring unit can include a heating arrangement to increase the temperature of one or more components in the control unit and/or measuring unit in cold environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: ELKINS EARTHWORKS, LLC
    Inventor: Charles Elkins
  • Patent number: 11810061
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and processes for producing a pre-trip inspection (PTI) prediction for a cargo container. The PTI prediction makes use of real time data from a container, and historical data from the same container. In some embodiments a system includes at least one container having a sensor, a processor and a database, where the processor may use software to correlate sensor data with stored information from the database to produce a forecast of whether the container will require maintenance at its next entry to a geofence area. In some embodiments the system may have a communication device for transmitting data or instructions to a remote computer for processing. Methods of correlating sensor information and data base information are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: OOCL (Infotech) Holdings Limited
    Inventors: Po Ching Lam, Wai Kwan Chow, Jiao Peng
  • Patent number: 11747359
    Abstract: An apparatus such as a domestic oven incorporates an induction motor which drives a fan. The temperature of the circulating gas and the slip of the rotor, coupled to the fan, are used to determine the humidity of gas within the oven. The temperature of the stator coil is also taken into account. The fan is driven with relatively high torque to maximize the signal to noise ratio. The fan may be provided as the main fan or as a secondary fan dedicated to humidity measurement. In either case the fan has a long operational lifetime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Inventor: Mark Edward Williamson
  • Patent number: 11714058
    Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to systems and devices for measuring analyte presence on graphene varactors, which can be used for analyte sensing in physiological gas samples. In an embodiment, a system for measuring analyte presence on a graphene varactor is included having a capacitance to digital converter (CDC) and a graphene varactor. The CDC can be in electrical communication with the graphene varactor and can be configured to measure the capacitance of the graphene varactor in response to an excitation signal over a plurality of DC bias voltages. Other embodiments are also included herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
    Inventors: David W. Kelly, Gregory J. Sherwood, Justin Theodore Nelson
  • Patent number: 11504754
    Abstract: A portable monitor used to measure landfill gas and landfill well parameters. The portable monitor includes a control unit and a measuring unit that can communicate wirelessly with one another. The control unit and/or measuring unit can include a heating arrangement to increase the temperature of one or more components in the control unit and/or measuring unit in cold environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: ELKINS EARTHWORKS, LLC
    Inventor: Charles Elkins
  • Patent number: 11490847
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a housing including at least one electronic component, and a pad structure coupled with the housing, and attached to a user body. The pad structure includes a first adhesive material having an adhesive strength at which the electronic device holds attachment in response to lack of existing water or humidity, and a second adhesive material abutting the first adhesive material and having an adhesive strength at which the electronic device holds the attachment in response to existing water or humidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Inventor: Injo Jeong
  • Patent number: 11378495
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices that takes advantage of the unique fluid dynamics involved when oscillating flow across a sensor or sensor array. A time-variant source of information about an agent(s) of interest being sensored is established. This source of information is used in machine learning algorithms to speed up the time and accuracy of agent classification and identification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Spencer, David Hu, Alexander B. Lee
  • Patent number: 11332989
    Abstract: A system can include a disconnect tool connected as part of a tubular string, the disconnect tool including an outer housing, and an inner mandrel in the outer housing, in which an abrasive slurry is directed to flow through the tubular string and from the inner mandrel to an annulus between the inner mandrel and the outer housing, and the abrasive slurry erodes through the outer housing. A method can include installing a tubular string in a well, then deploying a disconnect assembly into the tubular string, and flowing an abrasive slurry through the disconnect assembly, thereby parting the tubular string. A disconnect tool can include a rotational flow structure configured to induce rotational flow, and an inner diameter decrease downstream of the rotational flow structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Thru Tubing Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger L. Schultz, Brock W. Watson, Andrew M. Ferguson, Gregory A. Kliewer, Mark S. Britton
  • Patent number: 11045111
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure can include systems, methods, and devices for detecting and identifying certain substances, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the exhaled breath of a subject or person in real-time using a breath analyzer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Canary Health Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Raj Reddy
  • Patent number: 10975643
    Abstract: A system can include a disconnect tool connected as part of a tubular string, the disconnect tool including an outer housing, and an inner mandrel in the outer housing, in which an abrasive slurry is directed to flow through the tubular string and from the inner mandrel to an annulus between the inner mandrel and the outer housing, and the abrasive slurry erodes through the outer housing. A method can include installing a tubular string in a well, then deploying a disconnect assembly into the tubular string, and flowing an abrasive slurry through the disconnect assembly, thereby parting the tubular string. A disconnect tool can include a rotational flow structure configured to induce rotational flow, and an inner diameter decrease downstream of the rotational flow structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Thru Tubing Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger L. Schultz, Brock W. Watson, Andrew M. Ferguson, Gregory A. Kliewer, Mark S. Britton
  • Patent number: 10969356
    Abstract: A method for accurately measuring the real-time valid dew-point value of a material and determining the total moisture content of the material by using an algorithm during the material drying process. The algorithm estimates the valid dew-point value of the material and the total moisture content of the material by analyzing sensor data received on a server. The algorithm determines a valid dew-point value by estimating an inflection point of the moisture content versus time friction/curve for the material, and the total moisture content of the material is determined within the valid dew-point value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: MachineSense, LLC
    Inventor: Biplab Pal
  • Patent number: 10948442
    Abstract: An impedance measuring semiconductor circuit that measures impedance of a specimen. The impedance measuring semiconductor circuit includes an operational amplifier, a resistance coupled between a negative input terminal and an output terminal of the operational amplifier, a D/A converter coupled to a positive input terminal, a switch; an A/D converter that is coupled with the output terminal of the operational amplifier and a one-side terminal of a specimen and measures an output voltage from the operational amplifier and a one-side terminal voltage, and a controller that controls an output voltage from the D/A converter based on a one-side terminal voltage measured by the A/D converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kunihiko Watanabe, Gaku Masumoto, Kazuo Okado
  • Patent number: 10852264
    Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to systems and devices for measuring analyte presence on graphene varactors, which can be used for analyte sensing in physiological gas samples. In an embodiment, a system for measuring analyte presence on a graphene varactor is included having a capacitance to digital converter (CDC) and a graphene varactor. The CDC can be in electrical communication with the graphene varactor and can be configured to measure the capacitance of the graphene varactor in response to an excitation signal over a plurality of DC bias voltages. Other embodiments are also included herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Kelly, Gregory J. Sherwood, Justin Theodore Nelson
  • Patent number: 10613046
    Abstract: A system and method for accurately measuring the real-time valid dew-point value of a material and determining the total moisture content of the material within the valid dew-point value by using an algorithm during the material drying process. The algorithm estimates the valid dew-point value of the material and the total moisture content of the material by analyzing the sensor data received on a server. The algorithm determines a valid dew-point value by estimating an inflection point for the material, and the total moisture content of the material is determined within the valid dew-point value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: MachineSense, LLC
    Inventor: Biplab Pal
  • Patent number: 10581090
    Abstract: Various systems and methods disclosed herein may include a fuel cell system that may dynamically respond to changes in steam concentration in the fuel cell system. The fuel cell system may include a fuel cell stack that produces an anode exhaust stream, an anode recycle blower that receives the anode exhaust stream and outputs an anode recycle stream, and a humidity sensor configured to measure the steam concentration of the anode recycle stream. The fuel cell system may also include a master controller configured to receive steam concentration measurement from the humidity sensor and control the operation of the anode recycle blower and/or other components based on the steam concentration measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arne Ballantine, Jayakumar Krishnadass, David Weingaertner, Andrew James Hall, Venkat V. Ramani
  • Patent number: 10150146
    Abstract: A portable monitor used to measure landfill gas and landfill well parameters. The portable monitor includes a control unit and a measuring unit that can communicate wirelessly with one another. The control unit and/or measuring unit can include a heating arrangement to increase the temperature of one or more components in the control unit and/or measuring unit in cold environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Elkins Earthworks, LLC
    Inventor: Charles Elkins
  • Patent number: 10107266
    Abstract: A device removes moisture from a hydraulic medium (2) with at least one gaseous drying medium (3). The drying medium (3) is air and/or some other working gas with a moisture absorption capability. The drying medium is conducted by a delivery device (4) from an area surrounding the hydraulic medium (2) to the hydraulic medium (2) when the moisture content of the gaseous drying medium (3) is lower than the degree of water saturation of the hydraulic medium (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: HYDAC FILTER SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventors: Jörg Kleber, Andreas Wilhelm
  • Patent number: 9640448
    Abstract: A film forming apparatus, which forms a thin film formed of a metal oxide on a substrate by alternately supplying a raw material gas formed of an organic material containing a metal and an oxidation gas for oxidizing the organic material to the substrate a plurality of times, within a reaction vessel under a vacuum atmosphere, is provided. A control part outputs a control signal for comparing a moisture concentration detected by a moisture detection part with a set value after initiation of a step of supplying the oxidation gas and before starting a step of supplying the raw material gas, and when the moisture concentration exceeds a set value, for increasing a substitution operation of an atmosphere substitution step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiroaki Ikegawa, Hiromi Shima, Yusuke Tachino
  • Patent number: 9606045
    Abstract: A progressive, or graded, passive moisture detector is configured to provide an indication of the amount of moisture to which a moisture-sensitive substrate has been exposed, a duration of time that a moisture-sensitive substrate has been exposed to moisture or the effectiveness of one or more protective coatings at preventing moisture-sensitive components from being exposed to moisture. A progressive passive moisture detector includes a plurality of different passive moisture detectors with different properties. The passive moisture detectors may be arranged in a manner (e.g., a sequence, etc.) that correlates to information the progressive passive moisture detector is intended to provide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: HZO, Inc.
    Inventor: Blake Stevens
  • Patent number: 9592543
    Abstract: A portable monitor used to measure landfill gas and landfill well parameters. The portable monitor includes a control unit and a measuring unit that can communicate wirelessly with one another. The control unit and/or measuring unit can include a heating arrangement to increase the temperature of one or more components in the control unit and/or measuring unit in cold environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Elkins Earthworks, LLC
    Inventor: Charles Elkins
  • Patent number: 9404630
    Abstract: A method for operating a headlamp for a motor vehicle, which can be operated in at least two illumination states, comprises: detecting at least one influencing variable, which can influence a future change of mode of the headlamp from one of the illumination states to another of the illumination states; detecting a time profile of the influencing variable; detecting a control signal that is intended to cause a change of mode of the headlamp from a current illumination state to another of the illumination states; and controlling the mode of the headlamp depending on the control signal, wherein the change of mode of the headlamp is delayed depending on the time profile of the influencing variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Johannes Foltin
  • Patent number: 9347924
    Abstract: A moisture provision and analyzer arrangement includes a conduit for obtaining a sample flow of natural gas, a moisture analyzer, and a bypass flow conduit. A main orifice is in fluid communication within the moisture provision and analyzer arrangement with flow proceeding to the moisture analyzer. A bypass orifice is located along the bypass flow conduit. The main orifice is sized and the flow provided to the moisture analyzer via the main orifice is at a pressure such that the flow provided to the moisture analyzer is at a critical flow condition and the bypass orifice is sized and the bypass flow is provided at a pressure such that the bypass flow is at a critical flow condition. Components in the moisture provision and analyzer arrangement are selected such that the critical flow rate through the main orifice and the critical flow rate through the bypass orifice are equal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Yufeng Huang, Gary Stephen Parece, John McKinley Poole
  • Patent number: 9329160
    Abstract: A diagnostic method for a capacitive humidity sensor comprising a heater, and a capacitance-sensing element that individually identifies heater, temperature-sensing element, or capacitance-sensing element degradation. By this method, individual elements of the sensor may be replaced or compensated for to allow for further operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Imad Hassan Makki, Timothy Joseph Clark, Michael James Uhrich, Pankaj Kumar, Yong-Wha Kim
  • Patent number: 9298176
    Abstract: A technique for controlling a process using non-periodically received process variable measurements enables more robust controller responses to setpoint changes. The control technique implements iterations of a control routine to generate a control signal using a reset or rate contribution component that produces an expected process response to the control signal. When a new measurement of the process variable is unavailable to the controller, the reset or rate contribution component that was generated in response to the receipt of the previous process variable is maintained when generating the control signal. However, the reset contribution component is iteratively recalculated during each controller execution cycle so that the output of the reset contribution component incorporates expected process changes that occur as a result of a setpoint change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Terrence L. Blevins, Mark J. Nixon
  • Patent number: 9224052
    Abstract: A method for in-image periodic noise pixel inpainting is provided. It is determined whether a current frame includes periodic noise pixels, and locations of periodic noise pixels are identified. Non-periodic-noise pixels in a reference frame are utilized to inpaint the periodic noise pixels in the current frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Che-Tsung Lin, Yu-Chen Lin
  • Patent number: 9074564
    Abstract: An adapter structure for mounting a boost pressure sensor according to the present invention, includes: an intake manifold mounting unit which is provided at an intake manifold and is formed with a penetrating hole at one side portion thereof to communicate with an inside of the intake manifold; a pressure sensor adapter which has a lower portion separably coupled to the intake manifold mounting unit, is made of a heat resistant or heat isolating material, and has a channel which is formed at one side portion thereof, transmits intake air pressure from the penetrating hole of the intake manifold mounting unit to the outside, and has an inner space of which a portion far from the penetrating hole of the intake manifold mounting unit is greater than a portion close to the penetrating hole of the intake manifold mounting unit; a boost pressure sensor which is mounted at an upper portion of the pressure sensor adapter so that a pressure detection portion is tightly coupled to an upper end portion of the channel o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Doosan Infracore Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyung-Taek Lim
  • Patent number: 8978445
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and a method for measuring humidity in a ventilated space (3) comprising humidity sensing means (10), a heating device (201), and a control system (301) having access to pre-stored values on saturation vapor content of air at different temperatures. The relative humidity, Hrel(T1), at a first temperature, T1, is measured, with the heating device inactivate. For TI a pre-stored saturation vapor content value, Vsat(T1), is found. A first absolute humidity value, Vc(T1), is calculated by multiplying the first saturation vapor content value by the first relative humidity value. A second relative humidity, Hrel(T2), at T2 is measured, with the heating device on, a second vapor content value, Hsat(T2), at T2 is found and a nominal relative humidity value, RHnom, is calculated by dividing the first absolute humidity value, Vc(T1), by the second saturation vapor content value, Vsat(T2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Inventor: Rikard Bergsten
  • Publication number: 20150061705
    Abstract: A slip-ring unit for transmitting an electric current includes a first component group and a second component group arranged in a manner allowing rotation relative to each other. The slip-ring unit has a first track and a second track, a brush and a slip ring contacting each other over different rotational positions along one of the tracks. The first component group has a first connection terminal and an electric circuit for monitoring conditions, while the second component group has a second connection terminal The electric current is transmittable from the first connection terminal to the second connection terminal over the first track, and an electric voltage is transmittable over the second track to the circuit. The slip-ring unit is configured such that the first track and the second track are connected electrically.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Ludwig Angerpointner, Gerhard Schmid
  • Patent number: 8962200
    Abstract: A humidity measuring device is disclosed. The humidity measuring device includes a housing having a housing interior, a temperature controller thermally engaging the housing, a humidity sensor provided in the housing interior and an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit disposed in fluid communication with the housing interior. A fuel cell system and a method of measuring humidity in a gas stream are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Shazad Butt, Brian Rutkowski, Jay Morley, Mujeeb Ijaz
  • Patent number: 8925371
    Abstract: A sensor (2) for sensing a first substance and a second substance, the sensor comprising first (3) and second (5) sensor components each comprising a first material (20), the first material being sensitive to both the first substance and the second substance, the sensor further comprising a barrier (18) for preventing the second substance from passing into the second sensor component (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: NXP, B.V.
    Inventors: Aurelie Humbert, Youri Victorovitch Ponomarev, Roel Daamen, Matthias Merz
  • Patent number: 8915121
    Abstract: An encapsulated device comprising an integrated gas permeation sensor is provided, comprising a base substrate with an electronic component arranged thereon being enclosed within an encapsulation for protecting the electronic component from moisture and/or oxygen; at least one sensor is arranged within the encapsulation to measure the permeation of gas into the encapsulation; each sensor comprises an electrically conductive sensing element comprising a moisture and/or oxygen sensitive material, wherein the reaction of said material with moisture and/or oxygen results in a change in the electrical resistance/conductivity of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Agency for Science, Technology and Research
    Inventors: Ramadas Senthil Kumar, Adrian Paul Burden, Soo Jin Chua
  • Patent number: 8904850
    Abstract: We have demonstrated that a surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor coated with a nanoporous framework material (NFM) film can perform ultrasensitive water vapor detection at concentrations in air from 0.05 to 12,000 ppmv at 1 atmosphere pressure. The method is extendable to other MEMS-based sensors, such as microcantilevers, or to quartz crystal microbalance sensors. We identify a specific NFM that provides high sensitivity and selectivity to water vapor. However, our approach is generalizable to detection of other species using NFM to provide sensitivity and selectivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Mark D. Allendorf, Alex L. Robinson
  • Publication number: 20140305193
    Abstract: A moisture provision and analyzer arrangement includes a conduit for obtaining a sample flow of natural gas, a moisture analyzer, and a bypass flow conduit. A main orifice is in fluid communication within the moisture provision and analyzer arrangement with flow proceeding to the moisture analyzer. A bypass orifice is located along the bypass flow conduit. The main orifice is sized and the flow provided to the moisture analyzer via the main orifice is at a pressure such that the flow provided to the moisture analyzer is at a critical flow condition and the bypass orifice is sized and the bypass flow is provided at a pressure such that the bypass flow is at a critical flow condition. Components in the moisture provision and analyzer arrangement are selected such that the critical flow rate through the main orifice and the critical flow rate through the bypass orifice are equal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Yufeng Huang, Gary Stephen Parece, John McKinley Poole
  • Patent number: 8851745
    Abstract: A hygrometer and dew-point instrument is provided that is structurally simple while reducing the workload during maintenance. The hygrometer measures relative humidity of a measurement space, and has a main body that encapsulates a working fluid therein and causes a heat-pipe phenomenon. The main body is disposed across the measurement space and an external space spaced from the measurement space by a heat-insulating part and has a temperature lower than the measurement space. A first temperature deriving part derives the temperature of the main body in a section where the working fluid evaporates. A space temperature detecting unit detects the temperature of the measurement space. A computation unit calculate relative humidity of the measurement space based on the temperature of the main body derived by the first temperature deriving part and the temperature of the measurement space detected by the space temperature detecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Espec Corp.
    Inventor: Shinichirou Sakami
  • Publication number: 20140290336
    Abstract: The present invention is one that can, with suppressing moisture from condensing, easily set a dilution ratio to that enabling measurement accuracy to be improved, and provided with a constant volume sampling part that samples mixed gas that is controlled to have a constant flow rate, wherein the constant volume sampling part is provided with: a main flow path that is connected with an exhaust gas flow path and a diluent gas flow path, and intended to flow the mixed gas that is a mixture of exhaust gas and diluent gas; a constant flow rate mechanism that is configured to control a flow rate of the mixed gas to the constant flow rate; and a moisture detecting part that is provided on an upstream side of the constant flow rate mechanism to detect moisture in the mixed gas or the diluent gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: HORIBA, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaru MIYAI
  • Patent number: 8816865
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring the quality of steam used in a process is disclosed. A pressure and temperature sensor is exposed to the steam on either side of an inline pressure drop device such as an orifice or pressure reducing valve. The measurements are transmitted to a controller that calculates the steam quality percentage or superheat value. An alarm is issued if the steam quality is beyond a predetermined tolerance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Inventor: Walter T. Deacon
  • Patent number: 8813541
    Abstract: Methods and systems for measuring atmospheric water content, are provided. The method includes measuring a first air temperature and a first air pressure at a first location in a compressor, measuring a second air temperature and a second air pressure at a second location in the compressor, computing a ratio of specific heats from the first and second air temperatures and the first and second air pressures, and determining an atmospheric water content from the ratio of specific heats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Charles B. Spinelli, Brian J. Tillotson, Tamaira E. Ross
  • Patent number: 8783101
    Abstract: A rapid response relative humidity sensor based on nano-structured aluminum oxide thin film is disclosed. The main body of the sensor is an anodic aluminum oxide thin film of about 2-20 ?m thick formed from an Al substrate which serves as one electrode. A porous metal layer of about 20-200 nm thick is formed over the anodic aluminum oxide thin film and functions as a second electrode. The alumina thin film contains nano-sized channels of about 10-100 nm in diameter, serving as a capacitive relative humidity sensor having high sensitivity and short response time. Thermal annealing at elevated temperature improves the linearity of the capacitance versus humidity curve, giving a full range humidity sensing range. Hysteresis and degradation are negligible for the humidity sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Nano and Advanced Materials Institute Limited
    Inventors: Chun Zhang, Jianying Miao, Ning Wang
  • Patent number: 8739622
    Abstract: A humidity sensor of capacitive type, a device for detecting or measuring humidity including the sensor, and a method to fabricate the sensor. The humidity sensor includes at least one nanoporous dielectric material positioned between at least one first electrode of a capacitor and at least one second electrode of the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventors: Hubert Grange, Jean-Sébastien Danel, Brigitte Desloges, Vincent Jousseaume
  • Publication number: 20140130573
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for detecting moisture are disclosed. Embodiments detect the existence and/or level of moisture in electronic devices, such as by using one or more moisture sensors that removably connect to a pre-existing port in the electronic device (such as a headphone jack or similar port). Some embodiments detect a component of the ambient air (such as moisture level) to improve the accuracy of the moisture detector. Some embodiments decrease pressure at the port using a pneumatic pump and move gas from the electronic device into the moisture detector. Some embodiments detect the movement of air in the vicinity of at least one moisture sensor (such as by measuring pressure) and use this information to improve the accuracy of the moisture detector. Some embodiments display information related to the moisture in the electronic device and/or the ambient air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: Revive Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Reuben Quincey Zielinski, Joel Christopher Trusty, Micah Neil Trusty
  • Patent number: 8673649
    Abstract: A wireless chemical sensor includes an electrical conductor and a material separated therefrom by an electric insulator. The electrical conductor is an unconnected open-circuit shaped for storage of an electric field and a magnetic field. In the presence of a time-varying magnetic field, the first electrical conductor resonates to generate harmonic electric and magnetic field responses. The material is positioned at a location lying within at least one of the electric and magnetic field responses so-generated. The material changes in electrical conductivity in the presence of a chemical-of-interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Stanley E. Woodard, Donald M. Oglesby, Bryant Douglas Taylor
  • Patent number: 8671741
    Abstract: A moisture content sensing system is described comprising a collar mechanically coupled with a clean grain transport system. An extendable support extends through the collar and has an extendable capacitive sensor element disposed at one end. The extendable support is configured to be located at a first position in which the extendable capacitive sensor element is disposed adjacent to clean grain conveyed by the clean grain transport system and moved to a second position wherein the extendable capacitive sensor element is disposed at least partially within the clean grain of the clean grain transport system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Michael Cash, D'Anne Beukelaur Hanks, Arthur F. Lange, Brian Jackman, Brian A. Jackson
  • Patent number: 8656755
    Abstract: A measuring device for detecting the amount of moisture in and the temperature of a flowing medium is disclosed. Flow-directing elements which mix the flowing medium and direct it in a desired direction are arranged in the measuring device. The average temperature of the medium can thus be detected using a suitably arranged temperature sensor. In addition, the moisture sensor may be arranged in such a manner that a selective amount of moisture in the medium is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: EPCOS AG
    Inventors: Benjamin Bohl, Peter Balzer
  • Patent number: 8646311
    Abstract: A sensor for detecting hydrogen or ammonia gas uses a gas sensitive material based on Cr2O3 with a small percentage of the chromium replaced by transition metal ions having a valency greater than four, but still having a corundum crystal structure. Electrodes in contact with the gas sensitive material are connected by conductors to electrical measuring means for measuring the resistance, conductance, capacitance, or impedance of the gas sensitive material. A temperature sensing means and heating means allow the temperature of the gas sensitive material to be regulated. The gas sensitive material is formed on an insulator substrate over one or both electrodes. One electrode can be on the non-substrate side of the gas sensitive material. The gas sensitive material can be formed by deposition from a suspension or colloidal dispersion and firing. The gas sensitive material is contacted with gas and changes in electrical properties of the material are observed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Atmospheric Sensors Ltd.
    Inventor: Patrick T. Moseley
  • Patent number: 8603310
    Abstract: A sensor control apparatus (3) includes a full-range gas sensor composed of an oxygen concentration detection cell having a pair of electrodes (21, 22) and an oxygen pump cell having a pair of electrodes (19, 20). In an electric circuit section (30), an Ip current flowing between the electrodes (19, 20) is controlled such that an electromotive force Vs produced between the electrodes (21, 22) becomes equal to a reference voltage. The reference voltage is usually set to a first reference voltage. However, when the subject gas is air, the reference voltage is set to a second reference voltage. Humidity of the subject gas is detected on the basis of an error ?Ip between an Ip current detected when the reference voltage is set to the first reference voltage, and an Ip current detected when the reference voltage is set to the second reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Ishida, Kentaro Mori, Tomohiro Tajima
  • Patent number: 8579503
    Abstract: A moisture flow meter is provided in the air at negative pressures in the drying of transformers by means of a vacuum process for water extraction, causing a differential of pressure through a device of orifice plate and the continuous measurement of the dewpoint. The meter includes a pipeline, a continuous dewpoint meter able to support negative pressure, as well as the use of a orifice plate and two vacuum meters (vacuum meters) capable of measuring the pressure of condensable steam as well as a orifice which, allow a pressure drop. The signals on both sides of the orifice plate and the one from the dewpoint temperature are sent to a data acquisition card, which allows to measure, with the help of an algorithm, the amount of water in weight that flows per time unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Prolec Ge Internacional, S. de R.L. de C.V.
    Inventors: David Diguero Hernández, Manuel Antonio Cano Urrego
  • Patent number: 8518131
    Abstract: The invention relates to systems and methods for modifying the volatility of petroleum prior to ethanol addition. The methods can include (a) providing (i) a supply of gasoline, (ii) an ethanol standard, and (iii) a supply of butane; (b) analyzing the volatility of a sample formed by mixing the gasoline and ethanol standard; (c) calculating from the volatility a ratio of butane that can be blended into the sample without causing the sample to pass the one or more fixed volatility limits; and (d) blending butane from the butane supply with gasoline from the gasoline supply at or below the ratio calculated in step (c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Sunoco Partners Butane Blending LLC
    Inventors: Larry D. Mattingly, Steven M. Vanderbur
  • Patent number: 8479560
    Abstract: A differential resonant sensor apparatus and method for detecting relative humidity in an ambient air. The apparatus generally includes a sensing loop, a reference loop and a mixer. A hydrophilic sensing layer can be deposited on a sensing resonant beam and a corresponding hydrophobic reference layer can be deposited on a reference resonant beam for detecting water vapor concentration in the ambient air. The hydrophobic reference layer possesses similar visco-elastic properties as the hydrophilic sensing layer with no water absorption properties. A differential reading electronic circuit may be interconnected with each resonant beam for signal processing. The absorbed humidity with respect to the sensing resonant beam changes the mechanical resonance frequency, which can be detected as a change in the electric resonance frequency of the associated electronic circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Cornel Cobianu, Bogdan Serban, Mihai N. Mihaila
  • Publication number: 20130160522
    Abstract: A single common load is provided for both space heating of the interior of an enclosure and for testing of a back-up battery therewith. The common load is coupled to either the battery for momentary load testing thereof, or to a power supply when heat is to be generated by the load for space heating of an interior of an enclosure. Providing only a single load for both space heating and battery testing results in reduced component costs, space savings and simplification of connections and wiring harnesses required. Power resistors, active components such as transistors or MOSFETs, and/or resistive heat tracing may be used as the common load, and deposed within the interior of the enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: COOPER TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY
    Inventor: Timothy Mark Kromrey