Patents Examined by Blake A Tankersley
  • Patent number: 10640313
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a feeding member, a conveying member, and a detecting unit. The feeding member feeds a recording material stacked on a stacking unit. The conveying member convey the fed recording material. The detecting unit detect the conveyed recording material. Where the recording material is a first type, the feeding member feeds the stacked recording material at a first speed, and the conveying member changes the first speed to a second speed that is faster than the first speed before the detecting unit detects the recording material. Where the recording material is a second type that is different from the first type, the feeding member feeds the stacked recording material a third speed that is different from the first speed, and the conveying member changes the third speed to a fourth speed that is different from the third speed after the detecting unit detects the recording material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keita Sato
  • Patent number: 10620098
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods for testing components under force is described herein. The apparatus comprises cap bolts that may be tightened to exert a measurable, constant force upon a lever arm that rotates about a fulcrum. The lever arm pushes down upon a push rod, to exert a force upon a test piece in an insertion well, which may be filled with fluid. The fulcrum may be positioned, such that the force from the cap bolt gives a magnifying, or a diluting force, upon the push rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Covestro LLC
    Inventor: Mark A. Yeager
  • Patent number: 10591398
    Abstract: A soot sensing system includes a soot sensor having a first element, and circuitry to an amount of soot accumulated on the element and to control heating of the element in response to the soot accumulation. An electrostatic repelling voltage (ERV) may be applied to a sensor/heater element(s) during a contamination prevention mode (CPM) to repel ash and reduce contamination of the sensor. A pulsed heating voltage (PHV) may be applied to the elements during the CPM and a pulsed ERV may be applied to the elements during the “off” period of the PHV. All voltage to the elements may be turned off during the CPM and the elements may be floating/ground. A PHV may be applied to the elements during the CPM and no voltage may be applied to the elements during the “off” period of the PHV. A heating voltage may be applied to the elements during a CPM corresponding to a cold start.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Stoneridge, Inc.
    Inventors: Kayvan Hedayat, John Hart, Eric Matson, Mark Wilson, Norman Poirier
  • Patent number: 10591452
    Abstract: A gas chromatograph is provided which is capable of effectively reducing the amount consumed of a carrier gas, reducing the time and effort required for an operator to manually set parameters, and preventing damages to a column and a detector due to a setting mistake. In a case where a stop operation for the power supply of the gas chromatograph is performed (Yes in step S101), the flow rate of a carrier gas to be supplied to a sample vaporization chamber is decreased and the temperatures of the column and the detector are sufficiently lowered (steps S102 to S104), and then the power supply of the gas chromatograph is switched over from an ON state to an OFF state (step S106).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Maki Saito
  • Patent number: 10591375
    Abstract: A pressure sensor is provided, the sensor comprising an inlet for connecting to a body of gas; a diaphragm assembly comprising a first diaphragm and a second diaphragm, the first and second diaphragms defining a chamber therebetween, the chamber being connected to the inlet; a first transducer responsive to movement of the first diaphragm and operable to produce a first electrical signal in response to the same; and a second transducer responsive to movement of the second diaphragm and operable to produce a second electrical signal in response to the same; and an amplifier disposed in the chamber of the diaphragm assembly and connected to the first and second transducers to receive the first and second electrical signals therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Frequency Precision Ltd.
    Inventor: Thomas Dwyer
  • Patent number: 10564082
    Abstract: According to improvement of the receptor layer of various sensors of the type for detecting physical parameters (for example, a surface stress sensor, QCM, and SPR), all of high sensitivity, selectivity, and durability are achieved simultaneously. A porous material or a particulate material, e.g., nanoparticles, is used in place of a uniform membrane which has been conventionally used as a receptor layer. Accordingly, the sensitivity can be controlled by changing the membrane thickness of the receptor layer, the selectivity can be controlled by changing a surface modifying group to be fixed on the porous material or particulate material, and the durability can be controlled by changing the composition and surface properties of the porous material or particulate material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR MATERIALS SCIENCE
    Inventors: Kota Shiba, Genki Yoshikawa, Yusuke Yamauchi, Norihiro Suzuki, Gaku Imamura, Kosuke Minami, Hamish Hei-Man Yeung
  • Patent number: 10563426
    Abstract: Blocking devices to stop movement of mechanical or magnetic coded rotors, pins or discs immediately when the plug is turned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Inventor: Andre John Vornbrock
  • Patent number: 10557679
    Abstract: A firearm and tool oiling chamber comprised of an oil less air compressor, sealed chamber, oil atomizer and air filter. Said system introduces air through the oil atomizer breaking oil down to a fine vapor allowing the vapor to cover all surfaces of firearm or tool. As the vapor enters the chamber, being heavier than air it forces air out through the exhaust line and filter. Any escaping oil is caught in filter. The oil is able to cover all surfaces of firearm or tool and to penetrate into areas that hand oiling does not reach using much less oil than conventional methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Inventor: Timothy Lee Jones
  • Patent number: 10548298
    Abstract: A dog collar light with An LED housing, an electronics housing, left and right-side knobs, a front lens, LED lights, a battery and an elastic attachment band. The LED housing can pivot within arms extending from each side of the electronics housing. The electronic housing also includes a fur guard to help keep fur from blocking the LED lights. The side knobs are used for rotating the LED housing up or down and are made of transparent material so that light can shine out from either from the front lens of the LED housing or from the left and right knobs. The LED lights are powered by a battery located within the electronics housing. The elastic band attaches to the electronics housing and holds it to a dog collar so that the LED lights can shine light onto the ground in front of the dog.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Inventors: Denis Solan, Ronald Kaupp, Kenneth A Tarlow
  • Patent number: 10550751
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a particulate matter (PM) sensor assembly positioned downstream of a diesel particulate filter in an exhaust system. In one example, a method may include rotating the PM sensor assembly inside an exhaust passage to generate an output, the rotation based on exhaust flow conditions within the exhaust passage. By rotating the PM sensor assembly via a bearing, a rate of soot particulate accumulation on a sensor element of the assembly may be maintained at a desired level, and independent of a direction of exhaust flow inside the exhaust passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Xiaogang Zhang
  • Patent number: 10545108
    Abstract: A thin film gas sensor device includes a substrate, a first pillar, a second pillar, a nanostructured thin film layer, and a first and a second electrical contact. The first and second pillars are supported by the substrate. The nanostructured thin film layer is formed with a semi-conductor material including holes. The semiconductor material is configured to undergo a reduction in a density of the holes in the presence of a target gas, thereby increasing an electrical resistance of the nanostructured thin film layer. The first and the second electrical contacts are operably connected to the nanostructured thin film layer, such that the increase in electrical resistance can be detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ashwin K. Samarao, Gary O'Brien, Ando Feyh
  • Patent number: 10534094
    Abstract: A gas sensor instrument comprises a housing formed of two parts (102, 10) and a diffusion chamber inside the housing. The diffusion chamber is formed from two parts (106, 108) and at least one of the diffusion chamber parts is formed integrally with one of the housing parts. This allows a reduction in size of the instrument without compromising the size of the diffusion chamber. Additionally, a tubular projection is formed integrally with one of the housing parts to form part of a Faraday cage for shielding an amplifier circuit of the instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Airthings AS
    Inventors: Bjorn Magne Sundal, Erlend Bolle, Koki Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 10514349
    Abstract: A gas sensor 10 includes a tubular protective cover 30 having an element chamber 37 therein and configured to allow a measured gas to flow from the outside into the element chamber 37; and a long sensor element 20 including a detecting portion 23 located in the element chamber 37 and configured to detect a specified gas concentration in the measured gas. An inclination angle ?t of an axial direction of the sensor element 20 (i.e., a direction parallel to an element axis A1) in the element chamber 37 with respect to an axial direction of the protective cover 30 (i.e., a direction parallel to a cover axis A2) is 1° or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Yusuke Watanabe, Takao Murase, Masashi Yasui
  • Patent number: 10512245
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and apparatus to support transport of a pet in a self-contained expandable carrier. In some examples, the carrier may be worn by a user to support the pet in a proximate location. A pet carrier which may be worn may provide comfort to pet owners while they travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Inventor: Kimberly Hazouri-Yeary
  • Patent number: 10466151
    Abstract: A method is provided for measuring density of a fluid by means of at least one at least sectionally curved measuring tube. The measuring tube is adapted to be flowed through by the fluid and concurrently to be caused to vibrate over a wanted oscillatory length, namely a tube length measured from a first tube end to a second tube end, a length which is greater than a minimum separation of the second tube end from the first tube end. According to the invention, among other things, also a tilt measured value representing an inclination of the at least one measuring tube in the static resting position relative to a local acceleration of gravity is ascertained, in such a manner that such represents an angle of intersection between a direction vector of an imaginary first reference axis (y-axis) and a direction vector of an imaginary second reference axis (g-axis).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: ENDRESS + HAUSER FLOWTEC AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Eckert, Alfred Rieder, Hao Zhu
  • Patent number: 10458992
    Abstract: A gas analysis device includes a canister with a cavity that is configured to receive a gas sample. A sensor is in fluid communication with the cavity and analyzes a portion of the gas sample that is received from the canister. The device also includes a blower assembly in fluid communication with the sensor. The blower assembly is configured to selectively draw a portion of the gas sample from the canister past the sensor so that the sensor is exposed to the portion of the gas sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: GM Nameplate, Inc.
    Inventors: Danius Silkaitis, Steven A. Rodriguez, David A. Herrin, Stephen M. Bailey
  • Patent number: 10451607
    Abstract: A method for analyzing a gas sample includes the steps of providing a gas sample to a sample canister and heating a sensor to a predetermined resistance. The method further includes the steps of operating a fan at a predetermined speed, and moving a valve to a measurement flow position. When the valve is in the measurement flow position, the fan draws a portion of the gas sample through the valve to expose the sensor to the gas sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: GM Nameplate
    Inventors: Danius Silkaitis, Steven A. Rodriguez, David A. Herrin, Stephen M. Bailey
  • Patent number: 10444172
    Abstract: A chilled mirror hygrometer may comprise a thermoelectric module, a polished mirror surface, two light emitting diodes, and a single photo-transistor or optical detector. A software controller may be employed to rapidly alternate between illuminating the two light emitting diodes. The software controller may allow the single photo-transistor or optical detector to rapidly alternate between observing the light from the first light emitting diode or the second light emitting diode. The chilled mirror hygrometer may further comprise a wand portion and an electrical housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: ROSCID TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Donald Doucet
  • Patent number: 10416042
    Abstract: An exhaust emissions monitoring device includes a pipe adapted to mount to the tailpipe of a vehicle and includes a cable for connecting to the vehicle engine control unit (ECU) and power system. The pipe defines an internal flow passage to allow exhaust to flow through. A plurality of sensors is mounted on the pipe and each sensor extends through an access port formed on the pipe wall to be exposed to the internal flow passage. Exhaust properties and constituents are sensed by multiple sensors for each constituent, there are two or more sensors for each of NOx, temperature, ammonia, particulate matter. The sensors communicate data signals to a processor/data logger also mounted on the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Karl Tasik, Jeffrey Marley, Heath Morris
  • Patent number: 10416057
    Abstract: The use of recycled materials can have significant economic value. With the increasing quantity of recycled material used in viscoelastic materials, especially asphalt mixture, understanding how they interact with original materials to produce a mixture that performs successfully, becomes critical. Currently, the technology to determine the effect of additives on the performance of asphalt mixture is lacking. The present invention relates to a new unified methodology for mechanical testing of asphalt mixture and other viscoelastic materials that improves the current practice in speed, convenience, and accuracy. A new improved specimen mounting method on Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR), a new recovery method for fine portion of asphalt mixture, and three new tests for the performance of recovered material using DSR is disclosed. The new methods provide performance grading of asphalt mixtures that is new to the industry and provide necessary tools for determining the effect of recycled materials on performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Inventor: Alaeddin Mohseni