Abstract: A quick connector assembly for high power electrical applications is disclosed. The quick connector assembly has a first connector and a second connector constructed to form an electrical connection that can be quickly coupled and decoupled. The first connector has a collar portion connectable to a welding cable and a stem portion having a shank section and a threaded section. The second connector has a recess constructed to receive the stem portion of the first connector and electrically engage both the shank portion and the threaded portion of the first connector. The stem portion of the first connector has a channel formed therein, and the second connector includes a pin extending into the recess of the second connector and constructed to engage the channel formed in the stem portion of the first connector.
Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for reading operating parameters from programmable elements on memory devices to configure a memory system. More specifically, programmable elements, such as antifuses, located on a memory device are programmed during fabrication with measured operating parameters corresponding to the memory device. Operating parameters may include, for example, operating current values, or voltage and timing parameters. The memory device may be incorporated into a memory module that is incorporated into a system. Once the memory module is incorporated into a system, the programmable elements may be accessed such that the memory system can be configured to optimally operate in accordance with the operating parameters measured for each memory device in the system.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 5, 2009
Date of Patent:
March 23, 2010
Assignee:
Micron Technology, Inc
Inventors:
Jeffery W. Janzen, Scott Schaefer, Todd D. Farrell
Abstract: An integrated weight sensing system and method is disclosed for a medical imaging system. In one embodiment, the integrated weight sensing system may include a table assembly, a load cell, and a processor that are implemented in a medical imaging system. The table assembly includes a lifting mechanism used to position a patient within the medical imaging system. The load cell is mechanically coupled to the table assembly and in communication with the processor. The load cell is configured to measure and indicate the weight of the patient and the processor may be configured to adjust imaging parameters based on the weight of the patient. The table assembly may include a device in communication with the load cell and/or processor to display the weight of the patient. Additionally, the table assembly and/or the processor may include an interface for zeroing or recalibrating the load cell.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 2, 2008
Date of Patent:
March 23, 2010
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
Matthew Richard Schwartz, Richard Coe, Roy Frisque
Abstract: A technique is provided for sharing clinical protocols for diagnostic imaging systems. The clinical protocols generally represent operational parameters, such as configuration data and procedures, which are clinically developed for a particular imaging diagnosis. An interface or access point, such as a network accessible database or website, is provided to facilitate the exchange of these clinical protocols between clinicians. The present technique also may facilitate the formation of new clinical protocols and/or the integration of new clinical protocols into various diagnostic imaging systems. Accordingly, clinicians can electronically exchange and configure a variety of imaging protocols for potentially greater quality in the particular imaging diagnosis.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 24, 2003
Date of Patent:
March 23, 2010
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
Suresh K. Choubey, Tsur Bernstein, Sandeep N. Gupta, Mohsin S. Dawoodbhai, April Dorcas, Ashish M. Shah, Mani Sundararajan, John W. Zingsheim
Abstract: A sensor assembly is provided that includes a frame having two or more structural supports. A coating is provided over the frame. The coating has at least one deformable region disposed between the two or more structural supports. As least one optical component is disposed within the at least one deformable region such that the at least one optical component can move relative to the two or more structural supports. A biasing component is attached to an end of the frame such that at least two different portions of the coated frame are biased closed in the absence of a sufficient opening force. The sensor may be placed on a patient's finger, toe, ear, and so forth to obtain pulse oximetry or other physiological measurements. A skeletal frame and a method for manufacturing a skeletal framework are also provided.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 28, 2006
Date of Patent:
March 23, 2010
Assignee:
Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC
Inventors:
Joseph Coakley, George L. Matlock, William Raridan, Darius Eghbal
Abstract: A method and system are provided for determining whether a spectrophotometric sensor is misapplied. In one embodiment, a spectrophotometric sensor is provided with a strain sensor configures to provide a signal related to the curvature of the spectrophotometric sensor. In such an embodiment, the signal may be compared, such as by an associated monitor, with an expected signal value. Based upon this comparison, a determination may be made whether or not the spectrophotometric sensor is misapplied.
Abstract: Heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) systems and heat exchangers are provided which include dissimilar tube spacing configurations. The heat exchangers include multiple sets of multichannel tubes in fluid communication with each other. One set of multichannel tubes contains a plurality of tubes spaced apart at one spacing while the another set of multichannel tubes contains a plurality of tubes spaced apart at a different spacing. The different spacing between the multichannel tubes allows each set of tubes to be configured to the properties of the refrigerant flowing within the tubes.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 29, 2008
Date of Patent:
March 16, 2010
Assignee:
Johnson Controls Technology Company
Inventors:
Mustafa K. Yanik, Jeffrey N. Nichols, William L. Kopko, Jose Ruel Yalung de la Cruz
Abstract: A system and method for controlling power ramp rate of a wind farm is provided. The wind farm includes a plurality of wind turbine generators and a wind farm control system. The wind farm control system is operable to monitor rate of change of collective power output of the wind turbine generators, and to limit the rate of change of collective power output by generating a power output rate limiting signal based on the monitored rate of change of collective power output of the wind turbine generators and a desired collective power ramp of the wind turbine generators and applying the power output rate limiting signal to the plurality of wind turbine generators.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 17, 2004
Date of Patent:
March 16, 2010
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
Robert William Delmerico, Mark Edward Cardinal, Kirk Gee Pierce
Abstract: An electronic system is featured to enable a radiological image archiving system supplier to provide a customer with economic data regarding a supplier's radiological image archiving system. The system is operable to direct a query page to the customer via an electronic communication system. The query page provides the customer with at least one question. The at least one question is designed so that the answer(s) to the at least one question enables the system to establish expected cost reductions resulting from the use of the supplier's radiological image archiving system over the use of the customer's existing archival system. The answer(s) also may be used to enable the system to establish a recommended radiological image archiving system for the customer.
Abstract: A medical sensor may be adapted to account for factors that cause irregularities in pulse oximetry measurements or other spectrophotemetric measurements. Sensors are provided with surface features that reduce the amount of outside light or shunted light that impinge the detecting elements of the sensor. The sensor is adapted to reduce the effect of outside light or shunted light on pulse oximetry measurements.
Abstract: A technique for making an integrated circuit package. Specifically, a stacked memory device is provided with minimal interconnects. Memory die are stacked on top of each other and electrically coupled to a substrate. Thru vias are provided in the substrate and/or memory die to facilitate the electrical connects without necessitating a complex interconnect technology between each of the interfaces. Wire bonds are used to complete the circuit package.
Abstract: There is provided a memory array and methods for manufacturing the same. In one embodiment, there is provided a string comprising a plurality of transistors. Each of the plurality of transistors includes: a charge storage node, a control gate, and at least one resistive element coupled to the string. The control gate of at least one of the plurality of transistors can be selectively coupled to a reference potential via a corresponding one of the at least one resistive element.
Abstract: There is provided an imager package including an image sensor die attached to a transparent substrate such that sensitive image sensing components on the sensor die face the transparent substrate. In accordance with an embodiment of the present technique, the imager package may be coupled to an external package via bond wires and other interconnect elements. The sensor die and bond wires may be protected by an encapsulant on which the interconnect elements may be disposed. The bond wires may enable placement of the interconnect elements partially or directly above the sensor die, as opposed to around an outer periphery of the sensor die. There is further provided a method of manufacturing an imager package wherein interconnect elements may be located partially or directly above the sensor die, enabling the manufacture of smaller imager packages than previously envisioned.
Abstract: A system and method of repairing a pipe including securing a reinforcing material, such as a dry fiber structure (e.g., a carbon fibers) to the surface of the pipe. A polymeric material is placed on top of the reinforcing material, self-penetrating the dry fiber structure. The polymeric material substantially saturates the reinforcing material and cures to form a reinforced polymeric composite which may increase or restore the pressure rating or operating pressure capacity of the pipe. Optionally, an outer containment component, such as a sleeve, shell, box, wall, outer pipe, and so on, may be installed around the reinforcing material prior to introduction of the polymeric material. In this case, the polymeric material may be placed (i.e., poured) into the interior of the containment component on top of the reinforcing material.
Abstract: A technique for making a bulk isolated PN diode is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method may include providing a substrate having a doped region and disposing a dielectric material over the doped region. The method may also include forming first and second holes in the dielectric material exposing the doped region, and forming respective first and second polysilicon plugs within the first and second holes over the doped region. In one embodiment, the first and second polysilicon plugs are doped opposite one another such that a PN junction is formed between the first or second polysilicon plug and the doped region of the substrate, and has a cross-sectional area generally defined by the first or second hole adjacent the PN junction. Various devices, systems, and other methods are also disclosed.
Abstract: A technique is disclosed for determining capacitive, inductive, and resistive components of power line impedance via a portable line impedance measurement system. The measurement system includes a circuit that switches a burden resistor between power line conductors to cause a droop in a voltage waveform. The voltage waveform is sampled prior to inclusion of the resistor in the circuit, as well as after to identify the droop. The short circuit between the power lines is then removed by opening the circuit and a first effective capacitance in the test circuitry causes a resonant ring due to the inductive component of the power line impedance. The process is repeated a second time with a second effective load capacitance enabled in the test circuitry to cause a second resonant ring. Based upon the frequency of the rings and the voltage measurements, the individual impedance components of power line impedance can be computed.
Abstract: An electronic device that includes an internal data storage location coupled to an electrical conductor and a quantizing circuit coupled to the internal data storage location via the electrical conductor. In some embodiments, the quantizing circuit includes an analog-to-digital converter having an input and an output, where the input is coupled to the electrical conductor and a digital filter coupled to the output of the analog-to-digital converter.