Patents Assigned to Sensors, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8050883
    Abstract: A method is provided for performing inverse interpolation that estimates the values of at least two identified parameters. Initially, a database of sensor responses is generated over a range of values for each of the identified parameters. The sensor responses associated with incremental changes in each parameter value form a grid cell. Each corner of a grid cell is a grid point which represents the sensor response for a specific value of each of the identified parameters. A target point of sensor values is obtained from a sensor. The database is searched to identify the grid cell which contains the target point. Using the grid cell corners as reference values, the final estimate of the parameter values is interpolated. In some cases there are three or more parameters to be estimated. The database may include sensor responses computed at multiple excitation frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: JENTEK Sensors, Inc.
    Inventors: Yanko Konstantinov Sheiretov, Neil J. Goldfine, Andrew P. Washabaugn, Darrell E. Schlicker
  • Patent number: 8049294
    Abstract: The present invention is a photodiode detector array for use in computerized tomography (CT) and non-CT applications. Specifically, the present invention is a high-density photodiode arrays, with low dark current, low capacitance, high signal to noise ratio, high speed, and low crosstalk that can be fabricated on relatively large substrate wafers. More specifically the photodiode array of the present invention is fabricated such that the PN-junctions are located on both the front side and back side surfaces of the array, and wherein the front side PN-junction is in electrical communication with the back side PN-junction. Still more specifically, the present invention is a photodiode array awing PN-junctions that are electrically connected from the front to back surfaces and which can be operated in a fully depleted mode at low reverse bias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: UDT Sensors, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Steven Bui, Narayan Dass Taneja
  • Patent number: 8035183
    Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a dual junction photodiode semiconductor device. The photodiode has a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type, a first impurity region of a second conductivity type shallowly diffused on the front side of the semiconductor substrate, a second impurity region of the second conductivity type shallowly diffused on the back side of the semiconductor substrate, a first PN junction formed between the first impurity region and the semiconductor substrate, and a second PN junction formed between the second impurity region and the semiconductor substrate. Since light beams of a shorter wavelength are absorbed near the surface of a semiconductor, while light beams of a longer wavelength reach deeper sections, the two PN junctions at front and back sides of the photodiode allow the device to be used as an adjustable low pass or high pass wavelength filter detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: UDT Sensors, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Steven Bui, Narayan Dass Taneja, Manoocher Mansouri Aliabadi
  • Publication number: 20110225804
    Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus operable to align an antenna and to retain the antenna in a reference position during alignment of the antenna. The apparatus may include a bracket having an arm attached thereto, and the arm conforms to the back wall of an antenna. An engagement means and/or securing means may be incorporated in the apparatus to retain the position of the antenna in a fixed or removeable connection with the apparatus. An alignment device being operable to align the antenna may be attached to the bracket. The apparatus of the present invention may be arranged or otherwise positioned in accordance with a reference position. Said reference position may be defined as a position that is selected in reference to a reference point, line, or plane of the antenna. The apparatus may retain the antenna in a reference position during alignment of the antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: Multiwave Sensors Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Kenneth Clifford, Mark Frischman
  • Publication number: 20110219871
    Abstract: A fluid detector for determining a presence of a fluid within a container, the detector including a sensor assembly with a lens and a sensor element that outputs a first ultrasonic signal in response to an input electrical signal. A generally cylindrical wall extends outwardly from an outer surface of the container and defines a housing with a cylindrical central bore having a base surface. The sensor assembly is coupled to the lens so that the lens focuses the first ultrasonic signal toward the wall. The sensor assembly is positioned such that it receives a second ultrasonic signal from the wall that results from the first ultrasonic signal. The sensor assembly then generates an output electrical signal corresponding to the second ultrasonic signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: GEMS SENSORS, INC.
    Inventors: James B. Dockendorff, Kevin B. Downs, Bryan M. LaBarge, George K. Lewis
  • Publication number: 20110210724
    Abstract: A substantially planar eddy-current sensor having durability enhancing pillars in an active region is provided. The pillars are distributed and sized so as to have limited effect on the sensor's performance. When the sensor is mounted on a component such that the sensor experiences forces on a top and bottom surface, the pillars bear the load reducing the load bore by the active elements (e.g., drive winding, sense elements). A sensor with redundant drive windings and/or redundant sense elements is disclosed. The redundant elements may be connected to separate electronics. Another aspect relates to providing a reference transformer for calibration of a sensor. The secondary windings of the reference transformer are connected in series with the sense elements of the sensor to be calibrated. Transimpedance measurements are made when the drive winding of the reference transformer is excited. The measurements are used to correct transimpedance measurements made when the drive winding of the sensor is excited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: JENTEK Sensors, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil J. Goldfine, David C. Grundy, Darrell E. Schlicker, Andrew P. Washabaugh
  • Patent number: 8007367
    Abstract: A golf club head swing timing device that uses radar to measure the duration of a golf swing. Club head speed measurement is also provided. The details of the disclosed embodiments include the ability of detecting the start and end of a golf swing, and to do so from information from the radar signal. Preferably, RF Doppler radar is used. Various modes of use and display are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Sports Sensors, Inc
    Inventors: Albert E. Dilz, Jr., Louis Born
  • Patent number: 8005276
    Abstract: A fingerprint sensing circuit for reducing noise and parasitic capacitive coupling is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including a plurality of transmitting elements to sequentially emit a probing signal. A digital ground is provided to ground digital components in the fingerprint sensing circuit. A quiet ground, separate from and quieter than the digital ground, is provided to ground transmitting elements that are not transmitting the probing signal. Similarly, control logic is provided to connect, to the quiet ground, transmitting elements that are not transmitting the probing signal, while disconnecting, from the quiet ground, transmitting elements that are emitting the probing signal. The quiet ground helps to reduce the adverse effects of parasitic capacitive coupling and noise on the inactive transmitting elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Validity Sensors, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Lewis Dean, Richard Alexander Erhart, Jaswinder Jandu, Erik Jonathon Thompson
  • Patent number: 7994781
    Abstract: Reference standards or articles having prescribed levels of damage are fabricated by monitoring an electrical property of the article material, mechanically loading the article, and removing the load when a change in electrical properties indicates a prescribed level of damage. The electrical property is measured with an electromagnetic sensor, such as a flexible eddy current sensor, attached to a material surface, which may be between layers of the article material. The damage may be in the form of a fatigue crack or a change in the mechanical stress underneath the sensor. The shape of the article material may be adjusted to concentrate the stress so that the damage initiates under the sensor. Examples adjustments to the article shape include the use of dogbone geometries with thin center sections, reinforcement ribs on the edges of the article, and radius cut-outs in the vicinity of the thin section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: JENTEK Sensors, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil J. Goldfine, Darrell E. Schlicker, Karen E. Walrath, Andrew P. Washabaugh
  • Publication number: 20110180425
    Abstract: The invention is directed to devices that allow for simultaneous multiple biochip analysis. In particular, the devices are configured to hold multiple cartridges comprising biochips comprising arrays such as nucleic acid arrays, and allow for high throughput analysis of samples.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: Clinical Micro Sensors, Inc.
    Inventor: Jon Faiz Kayyem
  • Publication number: 20110163742
    Abstract: Described are methods for monitoring of stresses and other material properties. These methods use measurements of effective electrical properties, such as magnetic permeability and electrical conductivity, to infer the state of the test material, such as the stress, temperature, or overload condition. The sensors, which can be single element sensors or sensor arrays, can be used to periodically inspect selected locations, mounted to the test material, or scanned over the test material to generate two-dimensional images of the material properties. Magnetic field or eddy current based inductive and giant magnetoresistive sensors may be used on magnetizable and/or conducting materials, while capacitive sensors can be used for dielectric materials. Methods are also described for the use of state-sensitive layers to determine the state of materials of interest. These methods allow the weight of articles, such as aircraft, to be determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: JENTEK Sensors, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil J. Goldfine, Ian C. Shay, Darrell E. Schlicker, Andrew P. Washabaugh, David C. Grundy, Robert J. Lyons, Vladimir A. Zilberstein
  • Publication number: 20110138450
    Abstract: A user transaction request is received at a client device. A web browser plug-in communicates the user transaction request to a server that determines whether the user transaction request is a secure transaction. Transaction data is received from the server via the web browser plug-in. If the received transaction data indicates a secure transaction, the user is prompted to provide biometric data from a user using a biometric device and related security protocols. The web browser plug-in then communicates a transaction confirmation to the server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: Validity Sensors, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramesh Kesanupalli, Davit Baghdasaryan, Frank Schwab, Philip Yiu Kwong Chan, Larry Hattery
  • Patent number: 7953258
    Abstract: A fingerprint sensor with programmable sensing patterns is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including a fingerprint sensing circuit having multiple I/O interconnects. The I/O interconnects are configured to sequentially drive a plurality of fingerprint sensing elements. A memory device may be operably coupled to the fingerprint sensing circuit. A programmable data structure, such as a table, file, character string, numeric value, array, or the like may be stored in the memory device to designate a pattern for driving the fingerprint sensing elements. The fingerprint sensing circuit is configured to drive the fingerprint sensing elements according to the designated pattern. In selected embodiments, the fingerprint sensing elements may include transmitting elements, receiving elements, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Validity Sensors, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Lewis Dean, Richard Alexander Erhart, Jaswinder Jandu, Erik Jonathon Thompson
  • Patent number: 7948049
    Abstract: The present invention is a photodiode and/or photodiode array, having a p+ diffused area that is smaller than the area of a mounted scintillator crystal, designed and manufactured with improved device characteristics, and more particularly, has relatively low dark current, low capacitance and improved signal-to-noise ratio characteristics. More specifically, the present invention is a photodiode and/or photodiode array that includes a metal shield for reflecting light back into a scintillator crystal, thus allowing for a relatively small p+ diffused area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: UDT Sensors, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Steven Bui, Narayan Dass Taneja
  • Patent number: 7946169
    Abstract: A fluid detector includes a piezoelectric element that outputs a first ultrasonic signal in response to an input electrical signal and a lens with an upper portion and a lower portion. A housing is integral with an outer surface of the wall of a container and defines a cylindrical central bore for receiving the lens. The piezoelectric element is coupled to the upper portion of the lens so that the lens focuses the first ultrasonic signal toward the wall so that it enters the wall. An ultrasonic detector is disposed adjacent the outer surface of the wall, for receiving a second ultrasonic signal from the wall that results from the first ultrasonic signal and that is affected by the presence or absence of fluid. The ultrasonic detector generates an output electrical signal corresponding to the second ultrasonic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Gems Sensors, Inc.
    Inventors: James B. Dockendorff, Kevin B. Downs, Bryan M. LaBarge, George K. Lewis
  • Publication number: 20110102569
    Abstract: A fingerprint swipe sensor includes multiple fingerprint sensor lines disposed on a surface of an LCD covered on an opposite surface with motion sensing lines. The fingerprint swipe sensor also includes a controller coupled to the fingerprint sensor lines to capture a fingerprint image when a user's finger is swiped about the fingerprint sensor lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: Validity Sensors, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Alex Erhart
  • Publication number: 20110102567
    Abstract: A fingerprint swipe sensor includes fingerprint sensor lines disposed on a surface of an LCD protective glass covered on an opposite surface with motion sensing lines. The fingerprint swipe sensor also includes a controller coupled to the fingerprint sensor lines to capture a fingerprint image when a user's finger is swiped about the fingerprint sensor lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: Validity Sensors, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Alex Erhart
  • Publication number: 20110083018
    Abstract: Biometric information is authenticated by a web-enabled application that identifies a biometric sensor installed in a client device. The authentication procedure reads biometric information associated with a user and compares the biometric information with a biometric template associated with that user. If the biometric information matches the biometric template, the authentication procedure retrieves credentials associated with the user and communicates those credentials to a requesting process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: Validity Sensors, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramesh Kesanupalli, Davit Baghdasaryan, Frank Schwab, Philip Yiu Kwong Chan, Larry Hattery
  • Publication number: 20110082801
    Abstract: A transaction request containing transaction details from a requesting device is generated by a web-enabled application executing on the requesting device. A secure signature associated with the transaction details is calculated using a secret key. The transaction details and the secure signature associated with the transaction details are communicated to the requesting device. Confirmation information is received from the requesting device and validated. If the confirmation information is valid, the requested transaction is implemented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: Validity Sensors, Inc.
    Inventors: Davit Baghdasaryan, Ramesh Kesanupalli, Frank Schwab, Philip Yiu Kwong Chan, Larry Hattery
  • Publication number: 20110082802
    Abstract: A user request to implement a secure financial transaction is received and communicated to a web server capable of implementing the transaction. Transaction details signed with a secret key are received from the web server and displayed to the user. The user is requested to confirm the secure financial transaction by providing biometric data. If the user's biometric data is validated, an authentication token is received from a biometric device and the authentication token is communicated to the web server. The web server processes the secure financial transaction if the authentication token is confirmed as a valid authentication token.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: Validity Sensors, Inc.
    Inventors: Davit Baghdasaryan, Ramesh Kesanupalli, Frank Schwab, Philip Yiu Kwong Chan, Larry Hattery