Patents Examined by Brent J Andrews
  • Patent number: 11614504
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a method, including: detecting, using a sensor of an information handling device, a change in a magnetic field associated with the information handling device; determining, using a processor, whether the change in the magnetic field corresponds to a known command; and performing, responsive to determining that the change in the magnetic field corresponds to the known command, a function dictated by the known command. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Scott Wentao Li, Robert James Kapinos, Russell Speight VanBlon, Robert James Norton, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11583985
    Abstract: An apparatus for tensioning a fastener while measuring displacement of the fastener relative to a female threaded member may include a driver extension having an interior channel aligned along the extension's central cylindrical axis, open to a socket driver at an output end of the driver. The apparatus may further include a measurement probe in the interior channel, coupled to a measurement indicator on an exterior of the extension by a coupling that moves the measurement indicator in proportion to movement of the measurement probe and a measurement gauge coupled to an exterior of the driver extension that gauges displacement of the measurement indicator. A method for using the apparatus includes driving a female threaded member along a threaded rod by the driver extension while holding the measurement probe against an end of a bolt, screw, or other threaded fastener of which the threaded rod forms a part and while reading the measurement gauge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Inventors: Tomer Hendel, Todd Haroutunian
  • Patent number: 11585868
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for magnetic field sensors with self-test include a detection circuit to detect speed and direction of a target. One or more circuits to test accuracy of the detected speed and direction may be included. One or more circuits to test accuracy of an oscillator may also be included. One or more circuits to test the accuracy of an analog-to-digital converter may also be included. Additionally, one or more IDDQ and/or built-in-self test (BIST) circuits may be included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: P. Karl Scheller, James E. Burgess, Steven E. Snyder, Kristann L. Moody, Devon Fernandez, Andrea Foletto
  • Patent number: 11579214
    Abstract: A cable condition monitoring sensor device includes a TMR magnetic field sensor module, a high-pass filtering module, and a signal-amplifying module which are sequentially connected. The TMR magnetic field sensor module measures a magnetic field change signal of a cable, converts the same into a voltage signal, and outputs the voltage signal to the high-pass filtering module. The high-pass filtering module filters out DC bias of the voltage signal, and transmits the filtered voltage signal to the signal-amplifying module. The signal-amplifying module amplifies the filtered voltage signal to obtain an output voltage signal and outputs the output voltage signal. In the present invention, a common mode current to be measured in the cable is extracted by placing the magnetic shielding ring made of ferromagnetic material outside the cable to filter out a differential mode load current in the cable, and the magnitude of the common mode current is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Tsinghua University
    Inventors: Pinjia Zhang, Yang Wu
  • Patent number: 11555685
    Abstract: A device for detecting a layer thickness of a coated component, particularly a brake disc for a disc brake of a motor vehicle, includes at least one holding device and a guiding device. The holding device has a bearing surface for the component. The guiding device is configured to hold and guide a sensor in order to measure the layer thickness. The sensor is configured to be moved by the guiding device along a vertical axis and pivot about a first axis of rotation that is oriented horizontally. The sensor is further configured to be moved by the guiding device along a horizontal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Maurer, Wolfgang Huschenhoefer, Marian Willeke
  • Patent number: 11557708
    Abstract: A Josephson voltage standard includes: electrical conductors that receive bias currents and radiofrequency biases; a first Josephson junction array that: includes a first Josephson junction and produces a first voltage reference from the first bias current and the third bias current; a second Josephson junction array in electrical communication with the first Josephson junction array and that: includes a second Josephson junction; receives the second bias current; receives the third bias current; receives the second radiofrequency bias; and produces a second voltage reference from the second bias current and the third bias current; a first voltage reference output tap in electrical communication with the first Josephson junction array and that receives the first voltage reference from the first Josephson junction array such that the first voltage reference is electrically available at the first voltage reference output tap; and a second voltage reference output tap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE
    Inventors: Alain Rufenacht, Nathan Edward Flowers-Jacobs, Anna Rose Elizabeth Fox, Samuel Paul Benz, Paul David Dresselhaus
  • Patent number: 11549965
    Abstract: It is herein described a contact probe of a testing head of an apparatus for testing electronic devices comprising a probe body being essentially extended in a longitudinal direction between respective end portions adapted to realize a contact with respective contact pads, at least one end portion having transverse dimensions greater than the probe body and comprising an enlarged portion, projecting only in correspondence of a first side wall of the contact probe. Suitably, the at least one end portion further comprises at least one protrusion projecting from a second side wall, opposite to the first side wall and substantially extending toward the second and opposite wall along a longitudinal axis of the contact probe starting from the enlarged portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: TECHNOPROBE S.P.A.
    Inventor: Daniele Perego
  • Patent number: 11543454
    Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a test probe. The test probe may have a first plurality of beams and a second plurality of beams. An intermediate substrate may be positioned between the first plurality of beams and the second plurality of beams. In embodiments, both the first and second plurality of beams may be angled. Other embodiments may be described or claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Paul J. Diglio, Pooya Tadayon, Karumbu Meyyappan
  • Patent number: 11519993
    Abstract: A system and method for phase and gain calibration of a current sensor system. The system comprises a microcontroller configured to execute software in an energy measurement component and a calibration computer having a calibration application. The energy measurement component receives first and second digital signals representing current and voltage signals, respectively, received from a test source, and calculates active power and a power factor, and provides those values to the calibration computer. The power factor is converted to a converted phase angle. Based on the information received from the energy measurement component, the calibration application calculates parameters used to update components within the microcontroller to maximize the accuracy of the current sensor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Erick Macias, James Daniel Evans, Kripasagar Kay Venkat
  • Patent number: 11493370
    Abstract: A method for calibrating a device is described. The device accesses magnetometer data of a magnetometer sensor in the device, and accelerometer data of an accelerometer sensor in the device. The device determines a first position and a second position of the device based on the magnetometer data and the accelerometer data. The device determines a first magnetic vector based on the magnetometer data at the first position of the device, and a second magnetic vector based on the magnetometer data at the second position of the device. The device then assigns the first magnetic vector to the first position of the device, and the second magnetic vector to the second position of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Nortek Security & Control LLC
    Inventors: Sivakumar Kathan, Dustin Mitchell, Stephen McClure
  • Patent number: 11460518
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for analyzing a blind zone of a magnetic detection method that can provide a complete distribution map of the detection blind zone within the entire zone of the magnetic target. The method comprises the first step of establishing a complete magnetic detection model to obtain calculated position and magnetic moment of a magnetic target that is detected by a magnetic gradiometer. The second step involves establishing a direction-attitude-sphere model to represent the entire zone of the magnetic target. The third step involves expanding the direction-attitude-sphere to a planar map layered by latitude and calculating success detection rates within the planar expansion map. Finally, the distribution map of the magnetic detection blind zone in the entire zone is visually presented in the planar expansion map and a complete distribution rule of the entire detection blind zone is thus obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Harbin Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Donghua Pan, Shengxin Lin, Yinxi Jin, Liyi Li
  • Patent number: 11435395
    Abstract: A circuit and method for detecting a failure of a switching power device is disclosed. The circuit and method utilize a Kelvin connection of a four-terminal configuration of the switching power device to sense a resistance of at least one wire-bond. The resistance corresponds to a defect or defects in the at least one wire-bond and so it can be used to detect a failure before damage occurs. A threshold used for detecting the failure can be adjusted to accommodate variations in the switching power device and/or the application in which it is being used. Additionally, the failure detection is carried out at a period after the switching power device is turned ON to prevent switching transients from affecting the detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Junho Lee, Kinam Song, Sangmin Park, Seungjae Lee, Hyunsoo Bae
  • Patent number: 11428715
    Abstract: A current measurement device comprising: a shunt resistor; a pair of first and second voltage signal lines connected to the shunt resistor; and a current measurement circuit for measuring a current using a signal by the pair of first and second voltage signal lines. The pair of first and second voltage signal lines are connected to an amplifier circuit with which the current measurement circuit is provided to amplify a voltage signal. A third signal line which is a signal line different from the pair of first and second voltage signal lines and drawn from the shunt resistor is connected to a common line of the current measurement circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: KOA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tamotsu Endo
  • Patent number: 11397274
    Abstract: Tracked distance measuring device, systems, and methods for determining and mapping point of interest for use in utility locating operations and other mapping applications are disclosed. A tracked distance measuring device embodiment includes simultaneously triggered rangefinder and positioning elements to measure a distance and determine location and pose, optionally in conjunction with a utility locator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, Michael J. Martin
  • Patent number: 11366193
    Abstract: A setting of a measurement instrument comprises the providing a reference measurement instrument that uses at least one instrument parameter. A training phase is performed for a particular signal type to be processed by said reference measurement instrument in order to retrieve an optimal setting for said at least one instrument parameter. A lookup table is created for said particular signal type, said lookup table comprising at least said optimal setting for said at least one instrument parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: ROHDE & SCHWARZ GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Florian Ramian, Darren Tipton, Martin Lim
  • Patent number: 11360469
    Abstract: A health monitoring system includes at least one sensor. A health monitoring unit (HMU) is operatively connected to the at least one sensor to receive data therefrom and to generate at least one status indicator (SI) based on the data from the at least one sensor. A computing device is operatively connected to the HMU to receive data therefrom and is configured to generate a health notification when a quantity of the SI that are greater than or equal to a pre-determined SI threshold exceed a pre-determined peak count threshold. A method for monitoring and determining the health of a component includes collecting data during a sample cycle from at least one sensor to generate a numerical SI for a given component with a computing device. The method includes identifying if the numerical SI qualifies as a peak SI, which is greater or equal to a pre-determined SI threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan M. Duke
  • Patent number: 11352811
    Abstract: A sensor electrode has an upper side portion arranged on an automobile, a lower side portion arranged with a predetermined spacing from the upper side portion, and a connecting portion that connects the upper side portion and the lower side portion. A control unit inputs a signal for detecting a user to the upper side portion, the lower side portion, and the connecting portion, which are electrically connected. The lower side portion is arranged farther from an area through which the user passes than the upper side portion. The installation height of the upper side portion is greater than or equal to the installation height of the lower side portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Inventor: Mamoru Kubo
  • Patent number: 11320946
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide capacitive sensor devices and methods for operating capacitive sensor devices. A first number of electrodes on the capacitive sensor array is activated. A signal is received from each of the first number of electrodes with a second number of receiver circuits on a controller associated with the capacitive sensor array. The first number is greater than the second number. It is determined if an object is proximate the capacitive sensor array based on the signals received from the first number of electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Viktor Kremin, Roman Ogirko
  • Patent number: 11300589
    Abstract: An inspection jig includes a flexible substrate, a block, a pressing member, and a first pin fixed to the pressing member. The block has a first positioning hole opened in a substantially center portion of an opposite surface of a main surface thereof. The first pin is inserted into the first positioning hole. A large diameter portion and a small diameter portion are provided in an inner peripheral side of the first positioning hole. A diameter of the large diameter portion is smaller than a diameter of the large diameter portion. The large diameter portion is formed so as not to contact the first pin when the block is not inclined. The block is configured to be inclined with the first pin as a fulcrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Yokowo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Ueda
  • Patent number: 11280810
    Abstract: A meter apparatus is provided for determining parameters of an AC electric signal in first and second wires, the AC signal including an AC electric current and an AC electric voltage, the apparatus including a measurement section to provide first and second measure signals each one indicative of the AC voltage based on a first capacitive coupling with the first wire and on a second capacitive coupling with the second wire, the first and second measure signals depending on capacitance values of the first and second capacitive couplings, and a control unit to determine said capacitance values of the first and second capacitive couplings according to the first and second measure signals, and determining the amplitude of the AC voltage according to the first or second measure signal, and to the capacitance values of the first and second capacitive couplings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: TELECOM ITALIA S.p.A.
    Inventors: Domenico Balsamo, Valter Bella, Fabio Luigi Bellifemine, Luca Benini, Davide Brunelli, Clemente Villani