Patents Examined by Benjamin Schmitt
  • Patent number: 10101320
    Abstract: A measurement device for measuring a concentration of a component of a gas mixture includes a chamber that contains the gas mixture, a light source that emits light into the chamber, the emitted light having a wavelength between 230 nm and 320 nm, and a light sensor that detects a portion of the light from the light source that has propagated through the gas mixture. A processor is configured to determine the concentration of the component of the gas mixture based on the portion of the light emitted from the light source that is detected by the light sensor. The light source may include one or more LEDs, each having a central wavelength of light emission between 270 nm and 320 nm and a linewidth of less than 50 nm. The device may be employed to determine acetone concentration in exhaled breath, which may be indicative of diabetes or other health conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Samir Rihani, Tim Michael Smeeton
  • Patent number: 10101697
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image bearing member, a second image bearing member, an intermediate transfer belt, a first primary transfer member, a second primary transfer member, a secondary transfer outer member, a pre-secondary transfer stretch roller, a driving roller, and an execution portion. The execution portion is configured to execute a first monochromatic mode in which a bias smaller than the primary transfer bias applied to the first primary transfer member in a case where a toner image is formed on the first image bearing member is applied to the first primary transfer member, and the primary transfer bias applied to the second primary transfer member in a case where a toner image is formed on the second image bearing member is applied to the second primary transfer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Taisuke Matsuura
  • Patent number: 10094724
    Abstract: A pressure sensor which detects variation in pressures, the pressure sensor including a cantilever which is bent according to a pressure difference between the inside and the outside of a cavity in a sensor main body, and an intra-lever gap which is formed on a proximal end portion of the cantilever. The proximal end portion is partitioned into a first support portion and a second support portion by an intra-lever gap in a second direction orthogonal to a first direction in which the proximal end portion and a distal end portion are connected to each other in plan view. A doped layer which is provided on a portion of the first and second support portions forms a first displacement detection portion and a second displacement detection portion. Lengths of the first and second displacement detection portions are shorter than those of the first and second supports along the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignees: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC., THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO
    Inventors: Isao Shimoyama, Kiyoshi Matsumoto, Hidetoshi Takahashi, Minh-Dung Nguyen, Takeshi Uchiyama, Manabu Oumi, Yoko Shinohara, Masayuki Suda
  • Patent number: 10094813
    Abstract: A method for investigating the shelf life of food in packaging. The method includes the following to be carried out: a) creating at least one reference measurement with: a direct and indirect sample measurement at the time, repetition of the direct and indirect sample measurement at predefined intervals of time, storage of the reference measurement results of the sample measurements; creating a comparison measurement with: at least one indirect sample measurement at the time, comparison of the indirect measurement result with the corresponding reference measurement result from the comparison time, performance of at least one direct sample measurement at the time if a deviation of the comparison result from step is exceeded, repetition of the indirect sample measurement at predefined intervals of time, storage of the measurement results of the sample measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Steinfurth Mess-Systeme GmbH
    Inventor: Johann Angres
  • Patent number: 10094697
    Abstract: An input circuit includes a rectifier circuit that rectifies an excitation current obtained from a converter, and a constant voltage circuit that receives output of the rectifier circuit and performs control so that a power supply voltage is maintained constant. A power supply voltage source switching unit switches the source of a power supply voltage used in a calibrator to the constant voltage circuit when the converter is a converter of a four-wire electromagnetic flowmeter, and switches the source of the power supply voltage to a battery when the converter is a converter of a two-wire electromagnetic flowmeter. A remaining capacity indicator provides a remaining battery capacity indication in accordance with the voltage of the battery. When the converter is a converter of a four-wire electromagnetic flowmeter and it is determined that the battery is not in a battery holder, the remaining capacity indicator stops providing a remaining battery capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: AZBIL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Osamu Momose
  • Patent number: 10088800
    Abstract: An intermediate transfer unit is attached to a position in the main body portion from a front side of the main body portion along the depth direction in a detachable manner. A cover portion extends in the depth direction and along a region of the outer circumferential surface of a rotating image carrying member that is more on a downstream side in a rotation direction of the image carrying member than the top region of the rotating image carrying member that is in contact with the intermediate transfer belt. A shield portion is provided on a portion of an upper surface of the cover portion that is closer to a front surface of the main body portion than the intermediate transfer belt. The shield portion has a taper surface that is inclined diagonally downward from a top surface of the shield portion toward the intermediate transfer belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Hirofumi Tsuji
  • Patent number: 10088315
    Abstract: A gyroscope is driven at a drive frequency and senses a Coriolis force caused by rotation of the gyroscope. The response of the gyroscope to a given Coriolis force may change due to changes in the gyroscope over time. A plurality of test frequencies are applied to the gyroscope, and the response of the gyroscope to those test frequencies is analyzed in order to track changes in the response of the gyroscope. Operational parameters of the gyroscope may be altered in order to compensate for those changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: InvenSense, Inc.
    Inventors: Luca Coronato, Giacomo Gafforelli, Jaakko Ruohio
  • Patent number: 10082766
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body, endless belt, photosensitive drums, setting unit, contacting/separating mechanism, transmitting mechanism, and coupling members. The photosensitive drums are disposed in confrontation with the endless belt and are arranged in a first direction. Each photosensitive drum has an axis extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The setting unit sets the image forming apparatus to a monochrome mode or color mode. The contacting/separating mechanism controls at least one photosensitive drum to contact or separate from the endless in accordance with the set mode. The transmitting mechanism selectively transmits drive power to photosensitive drums. Each coupling member is selectively coupled to the corresponding photosensitive drum and has a coupling axis extending in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasushi Okabe, Junichi Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 10082441
    Abstract: A device for checking at least one pressurized testing tool for a fluid circuit of an aircraft includes at least one tank that includes at least one connection to connect a pressurized gas supply and at least one connection system arranged to connect at least one pressurized testing tool. This device makes it possible to perform preventive checks on pressurized testing tools without having to immobilize an aeroplane on an assembly line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventor: Stéphane Mateo
  • Patent number: 10078297
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming a toner image on a recording material. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion to form the toner image on the recording material, and a fixing portion to fix, at a nip, the toner image on the recording material by feeding and heating the recording material on which the toner image is formed. The fixing portion includes a roller having an outer surface that has electroconductivity, a rotatable member that forms the nip and is in contact with the roller, and a casing having electroconductivity. An electrical insulating member is positioned (i) nearest to the outer surface of the roller, and (ii) between the inner surface of the casing and the outer surface of the roller. The electrical insulating member does not directly or indirectly contact the outer surface of the roller, and is provided with a water-absorbing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toru Imaizumi, Takashi Narahara, Yasuhito Minamishima, Kenichi Ogawa, Masaru Ohno
  • Patent number: 10073070
    Abstract: Chromatographic separation devices are described that include a chromatographic separation module and a memory component. The memory component is attached to the chromatographic separation module, contains information related to use history of the chromatographic separation module with respect to the entire lifetime of the module, and includes a write-once-read-many (WORM) area where the information is written and where the information, once written, cannot be deleted or modified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: WATERS TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: William G. Foley, Greg P. Murphy
  • Patent number: 10073381
    Abstract: In the image forming device, the main body has a loading port. The image bearing unit is configured to be detachably attached to the main body thorough the loading port. The toner unit is configured to be detachably attached to the main body thorough the loading port. The developer unit is configured to be detachably attached to the main body thorough the loading port. The toner unit, the developer unit, and the image bearing unit are located in this order from the loading port to an inside of the main body, when the toner unit, the developer unit, and the image bearing unit are attached in the main body. The toner unit is configured to be independently detached from the main body, when the image bearing unit and the developer unit are attached to the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Tsutomu Suzuki, Masahiro Ishii
  • Patent number: 10060876
    Abstract: A gas sensor for measuring the concentrations of gases includes a solid body electrolyte, at least three electrodes, and a closed chamber. The doped platinum includes at least 50% by weight platinum and the remainder includes at least one further element selected from the group of solid body electrolytes. In particular, the doped platinum includes between 0.5% by weight to 15% by weight ZrO2 and the remainder is platinum, or the pure platinum is 100% by weight platinum and the gold alloy comprises at least 50% by weight gold and maximally 50% by weight platinum. In particular, the gold alloy includes approximately 85% by weight gold and approximately 15% by weight platinum or the gold alloy comprises at least gold and platinum at a ratio of 85% gold to 15% platinum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Heraeus Sensor Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Karlheinz Wienand, Karl-Heinz Ullrich, Matsvei Zinkevich
  • Patent number: 10053980
    Abstract: A Wellbore stress meter system and method for determining wellbore formation instability, comprising a first load cell, a first pressure sensor with a pressure output signal, a wireless communication system, a cable, and a surface device, said first load cell comprises; a second pressure sensor with a stress output signal, a cell element comprising a fluid, a first interface element in a first end of said first load cell with fluidly separated first and second surfaces wherein said first surface is in fluid communication with said fluid, and said first interface element moves relative said cell element as a function of a force applied on said first surface, and compresses said fluid acting on said second pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON AS
    Inventor: Øivind Godager
  • Patent number: 10041851
    Abstract: Pressure sensors and their methods of manufacturing, where the pressure sensors have a small, thin form factor and may include features designed to improve manufacturability and where the method of manufacturing may improve yield and reduce overall costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: SILICON MICROSTRUCTURES, INC.
    Inventors: Holger Doering, Stephen C. Terry, Justin Gaynor, Omar Abed, Fernando Alfaro
  • Patent number: 10041920
    Abstract: A vapor sensor comprises a housing with an inlet opening in fluid communication with a sensor element within the housing. Standoff member(s) are positioned to maintain a gap between the inlet opening and a skin site. An operating circuit is in electrical communication with the sensor element and communicatively coupled to an output member. In use, the output member generates a sensory output indicative to an operator regarding concentration of alcoholic vapor in the ambient atmosphere proximate the skin site upon receiving communication from the operating circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Myungchan Kang, Michael C. Palazzotto, Stefan H. Gryska, Robert A. Asmus, Melvin Y. Wong
  • Patent number: 10036998
    Abstract: A process unit includes a drum frame supporting a photoconductor drum and a development frame supporting a development roller. The development cartridge is swingably supported by the drum frame at a coupling joint provided at a first side of the development frame and a support portion provided at a second side of the development frame. A center of rotation of the development roller is located in a position shifted from a line segment connecting a center of rotation of the coupling joint and a center of rotation of the photoconductor drum to an upstream side with respect to a direction of rotation of the coupling joint as viewed in an axial direction of the development roller, such that the development roller is pressed against the photoconductor drum by the action of the rotatory force received by the coupling joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masatoshi Shiraki, Hiroki Mori
  • Patent number: 10036999
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner cartridge which is detachably mounted from a first direction to store a toner; and a processing unit which is detachably mounted from a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and is provided with a photoconductor, a developing section for supplying a toner fed from the toner cartridge to the surface of the photoconductor to convert an electrostatic latent image to a toner image and a cleaning section for collecting the toner adhered on the surface of the photoconductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takafumi Amano
  • Patent number: 10031114
    Abstract: Described herein are liquid-free traps for trace levels of an acidic or basic airborne molecular contaminant in a gas. In one version of the invention described herein, the liquid-free trap comprises a housing, comprising an inlet and an outlet; a flow path between the inlet and the outlet; and a rigid sintered hydrophilic material situated in the flow path between the inlet and the outlet and sealed in the housing. The rigid sintered hydrophilic material is functionalized with from about 0.05 molar milliequivalents to about 10 molar milliequivalents of a basic species for trapping an acidic airborne molecular contaminant in the gas or from about 0.05 molar milliequivalents to about 10 molar milliequivalents of an acidic species for trapping a basic airborne molecular contaminant in the gas. Methods of using the liquid-free traps to detect or measure trace levels of an acidic or basic airborne molecular contaminant are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Entegris, Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler Moulton, Jürgen M. Lobert, John C. Gaudreau, Thomas Leblanc
  • Patent number: 10024705
    Abstract: A measurement device arrangement includes a measurement device measuring a distance to an object, for example in the form of a depth measurement. A control unit is provided, which calculates the point in time for the next distance measurement, taking account of current or predicted weather conditions at the location of the measurement device. The frequency of the measurement can thus be adjusted to the weather conditions in order to reduce the power consumption of the measurement device without having to go without punctual reports of depth changes in the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: VEGA GRIESHABER KG
    Inventor: Guenter Kech