Patents Examined by Bot Ledynh
  • Patent number: 9217783
    Abstract: A hall effect device includes an active Hall region in a semiconductor substrate, and at least four terminal structures, each terminal structure including a switchable supply contact element and a sense contact element, wherein each supply contact element includes a transistor element with a first transistor terminal, a second transistor terminal, and a control terminal, wherein the second transistor terminal contacts the active Hall region or extends in the active Hall region; and wherein the sense contact elements are arranged in the active Hall region and neighboring to the switchable supply contact elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Stefan Kolb, Markus Eckinger
  • Patent number: 9217448
    Abstract: An arithmetic processing portion is configured to perform a correction process for resetting an original position of the stroke position by using at least detection results of a voltage value of a first magnetic force sensor as well as a second magnetic force sensor according to the piston movement, and further not to perform the correction process to reset the original position of the stroke position by using the detection result of the first magnetic force sensor and the second magnetic force sensor right after an abutment when the piston is abutted to the stroke end based on a detection result of a stroke end abutment detecting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Kageyama, Yuuki Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 9200491
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for determining surface wetting of a metallic material with changing well fluids. In general, the methods according to the invention include measuring electrical impedance spectroscopy (“EIS”) for a system simulating downhole conditions for the wetting of a surface. Methods and apparatuses for making EIS measurements model double-layer capacitance at a downhole surface in a well, from which the nature and quantification of the wetting of the surface can be inferred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Sairam K S Pindiprolu, Dennis Willie Gray, Venkata Gopala Rao Palla
  • Patent number: 9194686
    Abstract: An apparatus that includes two non-coinciding arrangements disposed in an two axes Cartesian coordinate system such that each arrangement having a non-zero projection on a respective axis from among the two axes. Each one of the arrangements includes a pair of oppositely directed, spaced apart, co-axial radiating-capable elements, each of the elements being hollow with internal space, and being slotted throughout its entire extent. A first circuitry coupled to the arrangement and being configured to sense an electric field projection along the axis and to convey it to a first feeding terminal. A second circuitry coupled to a slot of the arrangement and being configured to sense a magnetic field's projection along said axis and to convey it to a first feeding terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: ELTA SYSTEMS LTD.
    Inventor: Benyamin Almog
  • Patent number: 9182374
    Abstract: Defects in a pipeline may be detected by an in-line inspection tool passing therethrough. However, as the tool travels through the pipeline, errors associated with certain onboard components may accumulate. These errors may reduce the accuracy with which the locations of detected defects can be determined. Accordingly, markers may be positioned at various locations along the pipeline. Each marker may include a radio receiver to receive signal transmitted by an in-line tool passing thereby and one or more magnetic flux detection systems that may detect a magnetic field emanating from the in-line tool. The radio receiver may include an antenna comprising two or more coils connected in series and positioned side-by-side. The flux detection system may include one or more flux concentrators to amplify the strength of the magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Pure Technologies Ltd.
    Inventor: Philip M. Hoyt
  • Patent number: 9182250
    Abstract: A circular vertical Hall (CVH) sensing element and an associated method provide a plurality of output signals from a respective plurality of vertical Hall elements in the CVH sensing element at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventor: Craig S. Petrie
  • Patent number: 9176097
    Abstract: A welded portion quality determining system includes a first plate and a second plate, a welded portion defined at a point where the first plate and the second plate are welded to each other. Magnetic field generators generate a magnetic field to be supplied to the welded portion, and magnetic pickup devices receive the magnetic field generated by the magnetized welded portion to sense the received magnetic field. Therefore, a magnetic field may be generated by the welded portion through the magnetic field generators, and the magnetic field generated by the magnetized welded portion is sensed by the magnetic pickup devices so that quality of the welded portion may be rapidly and correctly verified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Yong Joon Cho
  • Patent number: 9170308
    Abstract: Circuit and method for biasing a plate-shaped sensor element (2) made of doped semiconductor material and having a first resp. second excitation contact (C, A) connected to a first resp. second excitation node (Cn, An), and a first resp. second sense contact (B, D) connected to a first resp. second sense node (Bn, Dn). The plate-shaped sensor element is electrically isolated from a substrate or well (5) by means of a first PN-junction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES N.V.
    Inventors: Johan Raman, Pieter Rombouts
  • Patent number: 9170235
    Abstract: An eddy current testing apparatus includes: an eddy current testing probe having an eddy current testing coil arranged on a bottom portion of a casing; a pressing mechanism configured to press the eddy current testing probe so that the bottom portion of the eddy current testing probe is placed in contact with a part of an inner wall surface of a slot formed in an object to be inspected; a carriage configured to mount the pressing mechanism and the eddy current testing probe, the carriage traveling in a depth direction of the slot; and an eddy current testing control device configured to control defect detection for the inner wall surface of the slot by acquiring a detected eddy current signal from the eddy current testing coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Nishimizu, Atsushi Ishihara, Jun Matsumoto, Takayuki Kawanaka
  • Patent number: 9170283
    Abstract: A current detector includes a magnetic core that is molded by sintering powder made from a magnetic material, and a current detection busbar. The current detection busbar is a conductor including a penetrating portion that penetrates a hole portion of the magnetic core in a first direction in which a current flows, and terminal portions that are in connection with the penetrating portion on both sides in the first direction. The width of the terminal portions is larger than the maximum width of the hole portion, and the minimum width of the cross-sectional contour of the penetrating portion is larger than the thickness of the terminal portions. An insulating casing holds the magnetic core, the current detection busbar, and the Hall element, while keeping them from coming into contact with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Misaki, Kouji Nishi, Hirokatsu Nakajima, Susumu Fukuyama
  • Patent number: 9172225
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an induction-based reference point locator is provided. The locator includes transmitter locatable at a position on a first side of a structure, the transmitter configured to generate an alternating magnetic field at a desired frequency; and a receiver locatable on a second side of the structure opposite the first side, the receiver configured to detect the magnetic field and provide a directional indication to the position of the transmitter relative to the second side of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Labor Saving Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Mark Turner
  • Patent number: 9163957
    Abstract: A position sensor for a transmission mode selector lever includes a magnet and three magnetic flux detection elements that detect magnetic flux of the magnet. A determination circuit determines an operation position of the transmission mode selector lever based on output levels of detection signals generated by the magnetic flux detection elements. The magnet includes first and second magnetized regions. The first and second magnetized regions are formed so that when the magnet is moved relative to the magnetic flux detection elements along a straight line, output levels of the detection signals generated by the magnetic flux detection elements change in accordance with a proportional relationship having a first or second gradient relative to the distance of the movement. The three detection elements are spaced apart from each other on a straight line that is parallel to the first and second straight lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO
    Inventor: Masayoshi Iwata
  • Patent number: 9157969
    Abstract: A magnetic element control device controls a magnetic element during detection of an intensity of a stationary magnetic field by a time-resolved magnetic balance system where the magnetic field is applied to a flux-gate magnetic element that is constituted of an excitation coil and a detecting coil. The magnetic element control device includes: an excitation signal generator; an excitation signal adjuster; a detection signal comparator; a feedback signal converter; a feedback signal adjuster; and a data signal converter. The excitation signal adjuster superimposes a feedback signal on an alternating voltage signal and thereby generates an excitation signal, and applies the generated excitation signal to the excitation coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIKURA LTD.
    Inventor: Yasushi Oikawa
  • Patent number: 9157315
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are electromagnetic resistivity logging systems and methods that employ an antenna configuration having at most two transmitter or receiver antenna orientations that rotate relative to the borehole. The measurements made by this reduced-complexity antenna configuration enable the determination of at least seven components of a coupling matrix, which may be determined using a linear system of equations that express the azimuthal dependence of the measurements. For increased reliability, measurement averaging may be performed in azimuthally spaced bins. The coupling matrix components can then be used as the basis for determining logs of various formation parameters, including vertical resistivity and anisotropy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Michael S. Bittar, Guoyu (David) Hu
  • Patent number: 9157892
    Abstract: To provide a surface property inspection device and surface property inspection method with which the surface treatment condition of treated material such as steel subjected to such surface treatments as shot-peening treatment or heat treatment, nitriding, and the like can be non-destructively and precisely inspected, and which offers a high degree of general purpose application. A surface property inspection device 1 includes an AC power supply, an AC bridge circuit, and a judgment device, and the AC bridge circuit has a variable resistor with a variable split ratio ?, a benchmark detector, and an inspection detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: SINTOKOGIO, LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshiyasu Makino
  • Patent number: 9151771
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method provide an output signal indicative of a speed of rotation and a direction of rotation of a ferromagnetic object capable of rotating. A variety of signal formats of the output signal are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventors: Ravi Vig, P. Karl Scheller, Paul A. David
  • Patent number: 9134387
    Abstract: A manipulator system comprising a column unit and a carriage supported by the column unit and configured to move along a desired axis of translation. A marker is provided on the column unit along the axis of translation. A sensor is associated with the carriage and configured to sense a position along the marker. A position display unit is configured to receive a position signal from the sensor and display a current position of the carriage along the axis of translation. In another aspect, the column unit defines at least one slot. A lock assembly is attached to the carriage and includes a tang axially moveable between an unlocked position wherein the tang is disengaged from the at least one slot and a locked position wherein the tang is engaged in the at least one slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: inTEST Corporation
    Inventor: Hermann Weissacher
  • Patent number: 9133703
    Abstract: A steering tool is movable by a drill string to form an underground bore along an intended path. A sensing arrangement of the steering tool detects its pitch and yaw orientations at a series of spaced apart positions along the bore, each position is characterized by a measured extension of the drill string. The steering tool further includes a receiver. At least one marker is positioned proximate to the intended path, for transmitting a rotating dipole field to expose a portion of the intended path to the field for reception by the receiver. The detected pitch orientation, the detected yaw orientation and the measured extension of the drill string are used in conjunction with magnetic information from the receiver to locate the steering tool. The steering tool may automatically use the magnetic information when it is available. A customized overall position determination accuracy can be provided along the intended path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Merlin Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Guenter W. Brune, Albert W. Chau, Rudolf Zeller, John E. Mercer
  • Patent number: 9127965
    Abstract: A gobo wheel with automatic detection system that automatically detects a rotational position of the gobo. The rotational position can be detected by a magnetic marking system. Each of the gobos can be randomly placed within the holder. The position of the gobos can be automatically determined during a start up routine for example, and then those positions can be stored and used for later determination of a position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Production Resource Group, LLC
    Inventor: James Bornhorst
  • Patent number: 9124120
    Abstract: A wireless powering and charging system is described. Such a system comprises a radio frequency transmitter (typically a home-appliance sized unit on a desk or a shelf) and a receiver (typically a small mobile unit carried by the user). When the user is in range of the transmitter, charging or powering can take place in the mobile unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Nigel P. Cook, Paul Meier, Marc Secall