Patents Assigned to Nexense Ltd.
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Patent number: 7886620Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the force applied by a first member coupled to a second member by a connecting body, by: transmitting a cyclically-repeating energy wave through the connecting body from a first location thereon to a second location thereon; measuring the transit time of the cyclically-repeating energy wave from the first location to the second location; and utilizing the measured transit time to produce a measurement of the force. In the preferred described embodiment, the connecting body is a fastening plate which fastens a drive shaft to a driven shaft and measures the torque output of the drive shaft.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2009Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: Nexense Ltd.Inventors: Michael Bernstein, Arie Ariav, Vladimir Ravitch
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Patent number: 7866212Abstract: A mechanical vibration sensor adapted to be brought into contact with an object for sensing mechanical vibrations in the object, includes a body of a soft elastomeric material having high transmissivity and low attenuation properties with respect to a preselected type of energy waves; and a pair of transducers mounted, by mounting members having high attenuation properties with respect to the energy waves, in spaced relationship to each other to define a transmission channel between the transducers. Such sensor is particularly useful in a method and apparatus for controlling snoring by a person, by utilizing a stimulus device effective, when sensing snoring, to immediately produce a response in the person tending to interrupt the person's snoring.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2005Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: Nexense Ltd.Inventors: Arie Ariav, Vladimir Ravitch, David Nitsan, Guy Meger
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Publication number: 20100234750Abstract: Apparatus for detecting breathing disorders in a person, comprising a sensor constructed to be located on, in, or under a mattress to sense mechanical vibrations of a body part of the person while lying on the mattress, and a control system designed to receive the output of the sensor, and to perform the following operations: filter out the breath components of the sensor output; sample the breath components during predetermined short time durations (NS); determine the average energy ES in the samples; sample breath components during long time durations (NL); determine the average energy (EL) in the latter samples; calculate a breath quality factor (BQF) by dividing ES by EL (ES/EL); and actuating a display, alarm, and/or control when the BQF is a predetermined value less than 1.0.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2010Publication date: September 16, 2010Applicant: Nexense Ltd.Inventors: Arie ARIAV, Benjamin Veikhman, Vladimir Ravitch
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Publication number: 20100206091Abstract: Apparatus for measuring components of a point force includes a first rigid member having an outer surface to receive the point force to be measured, and three spherical force transmitting elements, each of spherical or partial-spherical configuration, projecting from its inner surface, and a second rigid member having an inner surface facing the inner surface of the first member and formed with three sockets for receiving the three spherical force transmitting elements, each of the sockets includes two planar walls diverging in the direction towards the inner surface of the second member so as to be engaged by the respective spherical force transmitting element of the first member at two contact points, and to space apart the inner surfaces of the first and second members.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2010Publication date: August 19, 2010Applicant: Nexense Ltd.Inventors: Arie Ariav, Vladimir Ravitch
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Patent number: 7716988Abstract: Apparatus for use in controlling snoring, including: a sensor system for sensing snoring by a person while sleeping, and a stimulus device effective, when actuated by the sensor system, to apply a stimulus to the person for producing a response tending to interrupt the person's snoring. The stimulus device includes a vibrator and a band for enclosing a body part of the person and for applying a vibration to the body part. Also described is a force or displacement sensor, which includes a housing filled with a liquid having high transmissivity and low attenuation properties with respect to acoustical waves, and an acoustical transmitter and an acoustical receiver carried by opposed walls of the housing spaced from each other to define between them an acoustical transmission channel of the liquid. The housing is deformable by a force such as to change the length of the acoustical transmission channel in accordance with the applied force.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2007Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: Nexense Ltd.Inventors: Arie Ariav, Vladimir Ravitch
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Patent number: 7710124Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a predetermined condition of a panel by transmitting a cyclically-repeating energy wave through the material (41) of the panel from first location (43a) to a second location (43b); measuring the transit time of the cyclically-repeating energy wave from the first location to the second location; and utilizing the measured transit time to detect the predetermined condition including the force on, the temperature of, a deformation in, the fatigue condition of, or a fracture in, structural panel, the presence of a force applied to, water on, or breakage in of the panel.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2005Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Nexense Ltd.Inventors: Arie Ariav, Vladimir Ravitch, David Nitsan
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Publication number: 20090241691Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the force applied by a first member coupled to a second member by a connecting body, by: transmitting a cyclically-repeating energy wave through the connecting body from a first location thereon to a second location thereon; measuring the transit time of the cyclically-repeating energy wave from the first location to the second location; and utilizing the measured transit time to produce a measurement of the force. In the preferred described embodiment, the connecting body is a fastening plate which fastens a drive shaft to a driven shaft and measures the torque output of the drive shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2009Publication date: October 1, 2009Applicant: Nexense Ltd.Inventors: Michael Bernstein, Arie Ariav, Vladimir Ravitch
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Patent number: 7533571Abstract: A sensor for sensing a predetermined parameter having a known relationship with respect to the transit time of an energy wave through a medium, includes a body of soft elastomeric material having high transmissivity and low attenuation properties with respect to the energy waves; and a transmitter and receiver carried by the body in spaced relation to each other such that the energy waves received by the receiver are those transmitted by the transmitter after having traversed at least a portion of the body of soft elastomeric material. The transit time of the energy wave through the elastomeric body is measured to produce a measurement of the predetermined parameter. In the described preferred embodiments, the energy wave is a sonic wave, such that the body of soft elastomeric material serves as an acoustical channel between the transmitter and receiver.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2004Date of Patent: May 19, 2009Assignee: Nexense Ltd.Inventors: Arie Ariav, Vladimir Ravitch
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Patent number: 7520179Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the force applied by a first member coupled to a second member by a connecting body, by: transmitting a cyclically-repeating energy wave through the connecting body from a first location thereon to a second location thereon; measuring the transit time of the cyclically-repeating energy wave from the first location to the second location; and utilizing the measured transit time to produce a measurement of the force. In the preferred described embodiment, the connecting body is a fastening plate which fastens a drive shaft to a driven shaft and measures the torque output of the drive shaft.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2004Date of Patent: April 21, 2009Assignee: Nexense Ltd.Inventors: Michael Bernstein, Arie Ariav, Vladimir Ravitch
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Publication number: 20080307885Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring a predetermined condition of a medium by; transmitting acoustical waves through the medium, continuously measuring changes in the transit time of the acoustical waves resulting from changes in the monitored condition; and utilizing the changes in transit time to provide a continuous measurement of the changes in the monitored condition. The acoustical waves are bending waves wherein cross-sections of the medium have a rotational movement orthogonally to the axis of propagation of the waves through the acoustical channel. Several examples of such method and apparatus are described, including a highly sensitive pressure sensor for sensing changes in pressure applied to a displaceable membrane, and a highly-sensitive vibration sensor for sensing earth or other vibrations.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2006Publication date: December 18, 2008Applicant: Nexense Ltd.Inventors: Vladimir Ravitch, Michael Bernstein, Arie Ariav
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Publication number: 20080110262Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a predetermined condition of a panel by transmitting a cyclically-repeating energy wave through the material (41) of the panel from first location (43a) to a second location (43b); measuring the transit time of the cyclically-repeating energy wave from the first location to the second location; and utilizing the measured transit time to detect the predetermined condition including the force on, the temperature of, a deformation in, the fatigue condition of, or a fracture in, structural panel, the presence of a force applied to, water on, or breakage in of the panel.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2005Publication date: May 15, 2008Applicant: NEXENSE LTD.Inventors: Arie Ariav, Vladimir Ravitch, David Nitsan
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Patent number: 7325460Abstract: A method of making a force sensor, the force sensor being particularly sensitive the axial component of a force applied along a predetermined axis, of the type including a force-receiving membrane deformable by an applied force to be sensed, the method comprising: providing the force sensor with a body of a liquid, and with a second membrane separated from said force-receiving membrane by the body of liquid; applying the force to be sensed to the center of the force-receiving membrane to thereby pressurize the liquid according to the magnitude and axis of the force applied to the force-receiving membrane; and measuring the deformation of the second membrane; wherein the force-receiving membrane is of a non-undulating configuration in its normal condition and is deformable, by a force applied to its center at an oblique angle to its surface, into an undulating configuration, to include an inwardly-bowed section on one side of its center, and an outwardly-bulged section on the opposite side of its center, suchType: GrantFiled: October 11, 2005Date of Patent: February 5, 2008Assignee: Nexense Ltd.Inventors: Arie Ariav, Vladimir Ravitch
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Patent number: 7313491Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the frequency of a cyclically-repeating electrical signal by: passing the electrical signal through a network of sequentially-activated gates, in which the first gate detects the leading edge of each cycle of the electrical signal, and each of the remaining gates, when activated, applies a predetermine propagation delay to the detected leading edges; determining the gates which were activated at the beginning, and at the end, of a predetermined time window; determining the difference in the total propagation delays at the outputs of the activated gates; and utilizing the differences in the total propagation delays in determining the frequency of the electrical signal.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2006Date of Patent: December 25, 2007Assignee: Nexense Ltd.Inventors: Arie Ariav, Vladimir Ravitch
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Publication number: 20070277835Abstract: Apparatus for use in controlling snoring, including: a sensor system for sensing snoring by a person while sleeping, and a stimulus device effective, when actuated by the sensor system, to apply a stimulus to the person for producing a response tending to interrupt the person's snoring. The stimulus device includes a vibrator and a band for enclosing a body part of the person and for applying a vibration to the body part. Also described is a force or displacement sensor, which includes a housing filled with a liquid having high transmissivity and low attenuation properties with respect to acoustical waves, and an acoustical transmitter and an acoustical receiver carried by opposed walls of the housing spaced from each other to define between them an acoustical transmission channel of the liquid. The housing is deformable by a force such as to change the length of the acoustical transmission channel in accordance with the applied force.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2007Publication date: December 6, 2007Applicant: Nexense Ltd.Inventors: Arie Ariav, Vladimir Ravitch
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Patent number: 7266989Abstract: A sensor system immersible in an ambient-fluid for sensing at least two conditions of the ambient fluid, includes a sealed chamber filled with a reference fluid of a known composition and/or pressure, and two acoustic transmission channels, one including the reference fluid, and the other including the ambient fluid. Measuring circuitry measures (a) the transit time of an energy wave through one transmission channel to determine the temperature of the fluid within the sealed chamber and thereby the temperature of the ambient fluid; and (b) the transit time of an energy wave through the other transmission channel to determine the composition and/or the pressure of the ambient fluid.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2005Date of Patent: September 11, 2007Assignee: Nexense Ltd.Inventor: Arie Ariav
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Publication number: 20070113669Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the force applied by a first member coupled to a second member by a connecting body, by: transmitting a cyclically-repeating energy wave through the connecting body from a first location thereon to a second location thereon; measuring the transit time of the cyclically-repeating energy wave from the first location to the second location; and utilizing the measured transit time to produce a measurement of the force. In the preferred described embodiment, the connecting body is a fastening plate which fastens a drive shaft to a driven shaft and measures the torque output of the drive shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2004Publication date: May 24, 2007Applicant: Nexense Ltd.Inventors: Michael Bernstein, Arie Ariav, Vladimir Ravitch
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Publication number: 20060264739Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling an imaging system while imaging a patient's body or part thereof, by sensing a cyclically-occurring physiological condition of the patient over a plurality of cycles, and producing a sensor output signal corresponding thereto; analyzing the sensor output signal over the plurality of cycles to identify at least one time point of each cycle in which the sensor output signal exhibits a minimum deviation in the plurality of cycles; and utilizing the at least one time point of minimum deviation for gating the imaging system.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2006Publication date: November 23, 2006Applicant: Nexense Ltd.Inventors: Arie Ariav, Vladimir Ravitch, David Nitsan
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Patent number: 7080554Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring a condition having a known relation to, or influence on, the transit time of a cyclically-repeating energy wave moving through a transmission channel, by: (a) transmitting a cyclically-repeating energy wave through the transmission channel from a transmitter at one end to a receiver at the opposite end; (b) continuously changing the frequency of the transmitter according to changes in the monitored condition while maintaining the number of waves in the transmission channel as a whole integer; and (c) utilizing the changes in frequency of the transmitter to provide a continuous indication of the monitored condition. Operation (b) is preferably performed by detecting a predetermined fiducial point in each cyclically-repeating energy wave received by the receiver, but may also be performed by the use of a phase-locked loop circuit, to maintain the number of energy waves in the loop of the transmission channel as a whole integer.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2004Date of Patent: July 25, 2006Assignee: Nexense Ltd.Inventors: Arie Ariav, Vladimir Ravitch
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Publication number: 20060155512Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the frequency of a cyclically-repeating electrical signal by: passing the electrical signal through a network of sequentially-activated gates, in which the first gate detects the leading edge of each cycle of the electrical signal, and each of the remaining gates, when activated, applies a predetermine propagation delay to the detected leading edges; determining the gates which were activated at the beginning, and at the end, of a predetermined time window; determining the difference in the total propagation delays at the outputs of the activated gates; and utilizing the differences in the total propagation delays in determining the frequency of the electrical signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2006Publication date: July 13, 2006Applicant: Nexense Ltd.Inventors: Arie Ariav, Vladimir Ravitch
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Publication number: 20060027028Abstract: A method of making a force sensor, the force sensor being particularly sensitive to forces applied along a predetermined axis, of the type including a force-receiving membrane deformable by an applied force to be sensed, the method comprising: providing the force sensor with a body of a liquid, and with a second membrane separated from said force-receiving membrane by the body of liquid; applying the force to be sensed to the center of the force-receiving membrane to thereby pressurize the liquid according to the magnitude and axis of the force applied to the force-receiving membrane; and measuring the deformation of the second membrane.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2005Publication date: February 9, 2006Applicant: Nexense Ltd.Inventors: Arie Ariav, Vladimir Ravitch