Patents Examined by Andrew Schechter
  • Patent number: 8583398
    Abstract: A temperature sensing device includes a bandgap voltage generator, N mirror current sources, a temperature voltage generator, and a temperature calculating unit. The mirror current sources mirror N mirror currents according to a positive temperature coefficient current. The temperature voltage generator sets the conducting number M of the mirror current sources based on a control signal, so as to generate a temperature voltage. The temperature calculating unit gradually counts the control signal and compares a potential of the temperature voltage with a potential of a reference voltage generated by the bandgap voltage generator after counting the control signal, so as to calculate and obtain temperature information. Thus, the temperature sensing device controls the conducting number M of the mirror current sources to generate the temperature voltage instead of applying serially-connected resistors, so as to reduce a circuit area of the temperature sensing device and reduce noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Sunplus Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chuan-Fu Cheng, Hao-Chang Chang, Hui-Yi Cheng
  • Patent number: 8566055
    Abstract: A method is provided for removing gimbal periodic reorientation (indexing) readout errors in a navigation system having multiple IMUs mounted to a platform. Each IMU has multiple gyroscopes providing attitude outputs. Attitude readout errors bias due to periodic gimbal motions is determined in each IMU along each gyroscope attitude axis. Attitude outputs of the gyroscopes are time-aligned, as necessary. Onset times of indexing of each gyroscope is determined. A difference is formed between gyroscope attitude outputs. Steps in this difference of attitude outputs are assigned to the respective gyroscope causing the step in attitude. Cumulative sums of the steps associated with the respective gyroscopes are formed. The mean and linear trend in the respective cumulative sums are removed from the respective cumulative sums to form the final error correction, corresponding to the time interval associated with the steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony Vidmar, Michael J. Wolfrom, Daniel P. Bergen, II
  • Patent number: 8527227
    Abstract: A waveform acquiring unit acquires a time waveform of an electromagnetic wave. The time waveform is decomposed into wavelet expansion coefficients by wavelet transform. Influence levels of the respective wavelet expansion coefficients to a spectrum are calculated. The wavelet expansion coefficients are weighted based on at least the influence levels of the wavelet expansion coefficients to the spectrum. The weighted wavelet expansion coefficients are converted into time waveforms by inverse wavelet transform. Thus, the time waveforms that holds spectrum information needed for spectroscopic analysis and has a reduced noise is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Michinori Shioda
  • Patent number: 8510081
    Abstract: Method, system, and apparatus for evaluating drilling accuracy performance in drilling a wellbore that can include: (1) monitoring an actual toolface orientation of a tool, e.g., a downhole steerable motor, by monitoring a drilling operation parameter indicative of a difference between the actual toolface orientation and a toolface advisory; (2) recording the difference between the actual toolface orientation and the toolface advisory; and (3) scoring the difference between the actual toolface orientation and the toolface advisory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Canrig Drilling Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Scott G. Boone, Colin Gillan
  • Patent number: 8510062
    Abstract: In a method for assessing a condition of at least one value document with regard to limpness, there is determined from transmission values representing the ultrasound transmission at different places on the value document a condition value which depends on a variation of the transmission values and characterizes the condition of the value document with regard to limpness. A condition of the value document is determined for the condition value using a preset criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Giesecke & Devrient GmbH
    Inventors: Jan Domke, Klaus Thierauf, Stefan Kokrhoun, Franz Müller
  • Patent number: 8504323
    Abstract: A computer based system is disclosed for providing emergency medical personnel with a means for rapidly ascertaining an accurate estimated weight for a non-responsive and potentially critically ill patient. The system acquires the gross weight of the patient, the support upon which the patient is lying and all life support equipment that may be on that support. From data stored in a data base, and from information input into the system by the personnel on hand, the weights of everything except the patient are deducted by the system to arrive at the patient's weight. That weight is then resident in the system and serves to allow the system to accurately calculate the correct dosages of medications to be administered to the patient while warning the personnel if dangerous interactions are possible. The system includes protocols for treating a wide variety of emergency medical conditions in both hospital and military environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Inventor: Scott Anthony Coradi
  • Patent number: 8494796
    Abstract: The counting device includes: a signal counter that counts the number of half cycles of input signals during given counting periods; a signal half cycle measurement unit that measures the half cycles; a frequency distribution generator that generates a frequency distribution of the half cycles; a representative value calculator configured to calculate a representative value of a distribution of the half cycles; a correction value calculator configured to calculate a total number Ns and a total number Nwn so as to correct the number of the half cycles, wherein Ns represents the total of the number of the half cycles that are less than 0.5 times the represent value, and Nwn represents the total of the number of the half cycles that are equal to or greater than 2n and less than (2n+2) times the representative value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Azbil Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuya Ueno
  • Patent number: 8457906
    Abstract: Different types of localized corrosion, erosion corrosion and other types of corrosion may be detected and identified by examining or viewing a solid surface where corrosion is occurring or has occurred to obtain an image therefrom. The image is then represented as a three-dimensional mathematical surface, which is then fit to a parametric surface composed of one or more curved and/or polygonal surfaces. Representative parameters are determined from the parametric surface. The corrosion type is identified by the best fit of the parameters known to be correlated (or caused by) a particular type of corrosive activity or agent for a given substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Sunder Ramachandran
  • Patent number: 8447555
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for increasing the availability of displacement/position measuring systems on the basis of potentiometers with a slider tap in a closed control loop, the controller of which is formed by a microcontroller which is supplied with the position of the slider via an analog/digital converter. At least part of the sensor range of the potentiometer is scanned on request by presetting a sequence of manipulated variables and an available control loop variable which represents the position value at a high sampling rate outside process tasks is recorded, to determine the exact position of a defective slider position of the potentiometer by evaluating the variable. The reference variable of the control loop is overloaded in a defined manner within the process task such that the defective slider position is passed over during the displacement/position measurement and an intact slider position is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Stefan Tabelander, Thomas Kleegrewe, Andreas Wahlmann
  • Patent number: 8423301
    Abstract: An initial concentration of the residual concentration of a causative substance contained in an insulating oil is compared with a reference value. The causative substance reacts with a conductor forming a winding of an oil-filled electrical device to generate an electrically conductive compound. The reference value is defined as a value for determining whether a main determinant that determines the lifetime of the oil-filled electrical device is generation of the electrically conductive compound or degradation of insulating paper. Based on the initial concentration of the causative substance and the reference value, the lifetime of the oil-filled electrical device is assessed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Fukutaro Kato, Eiichi Nagao, Tsuyoshi Amimoto, Satoru Toyama, Kota Mizuno
  • Patent number: 8417458
    Abstract: A method for processing geophysical data. The method includes generating a model from geophysical data acquired at a receiver location and one or more boundary receiver locations. After generating the model, the method applies a forward modeling algorithm using information from the model to generate a modeled estimate of a direct ground roll between the receiver location and each boundary receiver location. The method then estimates a ground roll between a source location and each boundary receiver location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventors: David Fraser Halliday, Andrew Curtis
  • Patent number: 8417479
    Abstract: A system calculates axial deformation of a turbine rotor. The system includes an input part that sets measurement points of rotor disks that constitute the turbine rotor; a deflection amount detection part that derives radial displacement amounts of the turbine rotor for at least four or more measurement points along an outer surface in a circumferential direction of the turbine rotor based on measured values measured by a displacement gage; a storage part that stores the radial displacement amounts and measured angles at the measurement points; and a calculation part that calculates misalignment data of a most probable circle of the turbine rotor based on data stored. The calculated circle is calculated from the displacement amount and the measured angles. The most probable circle is determined from the calculated circle, and the misalignment data of the most probable circle is calculated from the most probable circle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keisuke Ihara, Toshiyuki Sakae
  • Patent number: 8392140
    Abstract: A method, system and inertial navigation unit are provided in order to facilitate location determination by calibrating a location determined by an inertial navigation unit. The method may receive a magnetic pulse, such as a magnetic pulse generated by a lightening strike, with a plurality of first magnetometers and with a second magnetometer co-located with the inertial navigation unit. The method may also compare a representation of the magnetic pulse received by the plurality of first magnetometers to a respective representation of the magnetic pulse received by the second magnetometer. Further, the method may correct the location determined by the inertial navigation unit as a result of the comparing of the representation of the magnetic pulse received by the plurality of first magnetometers to the respective representation of the magnetic pulse received by the second magnetometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: William G. Bartholet
  • Patent number: 8392131
    Abstract: Provided are a portable electronic device which accurately judges service life of a battery even when the battery is replaced, and a method for controlling such portable electronic device. A control block (48) is provided with a voltage measuring section (100), which is connected to a rechargeable battery (32) and measures a voltage value of the rechargeable battery (32); and a control section (101), which measures the voltage of the rechargeable battery (32) by means of the voltage measuring section (100) each time recharging of the rechargeable battery (32) is started and ended, and controls to store recharge count information specified based on the measured voltage value in a storage section (42).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventors: Masayoshi Nakajima, Akira Koyama, Takanobu Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 8380451
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring the state of health of a power electronic system. Data representing an initial expected temperature of the circuit element and an initial value of an electrical parameter of the circuit element is obtained. An electrical pulse is applied to the circuit element to heat the circuit element. After the electrical pulse decays to a predetermined value, the electrical parameter of the circuit element is sensed and a subsequent value of the electrical parameter is obtained. A subsequent temperature of the circuit element is estimated based on the initial expected temperature of the circuit element, the initial and subsequent values of the electrical parameter, and the predetermined value of the electrical pulse. Based on the subsequent temperature, the signal that indicates whether the circuit element is operating as expected is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chingchi Chen, Zhenxian Liang, Michael W. Degner
  • Patent number: 8374793
    Abstract: A method reduces error contributions to gyroscopic measurements from a first gyroscopic sensor and a second gyroscopic sensor. The method includes receiving a first set of measurement signals and a second set of measurement signals indicative of at least one substantially perpendicular component and indicative of a substantially parallel component of the Earth's rotation. The method further includes receiving one or more measurement signals generated by a plurality of accelerometers and calculating a first and second mass unbalance offset error for the first gyroscopic sensor and the second gyroscopic sensor, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Gyrodata, Incorporated
    Inventors: Roger Ekseth, John Lionel Weston, Gary William Uttecht
  • Patent number: 8359171
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic pressure gauge for measuring the pressure inside a container, particularly a pressurized gas cylinder, said pressure gauge including: at least one pressure sensor; an electronic unit designed to acquire, store and process data; and at least one information device capable of transmitting at least one item of information. The pressure gauge also includes a first radio with a reception port, said first radio being connected to the electronic unit so as to receive external data in order to modify the operation or the configuration of the pressure gauge. The reception port of the first radio is designed to read data modulated in terms of the frequency and/or intensity of an external magnetic field at a first low frequency, for example a frequency between 50 and 300 khz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Christian Bleys, Fabrice Pin, Philippe Deck
  • Patent number: 8355890
    Abstract: A system and method for evaluating equipment in a data center, the equipment including a plurality of equipment racks, and at least one cooling provider. In one aspect, a method includes receiving data regarding each of the plurality of equipment racks and the at least one cooling provider, the data including a layout of the equipment racks and the at least one cooling provider, a power draw value for each of the equipment racks, and a maximum cooler capacity value for the at least one cooling provider; storing the received data; determining cooling performance of at least one of the plurality of equipment racks based on the layout; determining a cooling load for the at least one cooler and a difference between the cooling load and the maximum cooler capacity value; for each equipment rack, determining a maximum rack capacity based on the layout and the difference between the cooling load and the maximum cooler capacity value; and displaying an indication of the maximum rack capacity for each equipment rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventors: James W. VanGilder, Saurabh K. Shrivastava
  • Patent number: 8321164
    Abstract: Methods and systems for determining a state of charge of a battery exhibiting a transient response are provided. At least one property of the battery is measured. The state of charge of the battery is determined based on the at least one measured property and a transient response of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Wei Liu, Michael J. Gielniak, Jian Lin, Brian J. Koch, Damon R. Frisch, Joseph M. Lograsso
  • Patent number: 8306758
    Abstract: Reference features are updated based on a previous scan during each mass spectrometry scan of a sample. Reference features with reference feature confidence values are generated from a plurality of initial scans. For each subsequent scan of a sample, sample features and sample feature confidence values are calculated. The reference features and sample features are aligned to determine common features. Constants are determined for an equation of mass of the mass spectrometer using confidence weighted regression of the common features. The constants and the equation of mass are used to calculate new mass values for the sample features. The reference features are updated using the sample features and the reference feature confidence values are recalculated in order to maintain the accuracy of reference features for calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: DH Technologies Development Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Nic G. Bloomfield, Gordana Ivosev