Patents Examined by Carol S. Tsai
  • Patent number: 9362049
    Abstract: An inductive power receiver configured for receiving power transferred from an inductive power outlet having a primary coil includes a secondary coil configured to form an inductive couple with the primary coil thereby facilitating the power transfer. The inductive power receiver further includes a transmission circuit having a variable amplifier configured to vary the voltage of the power drawn by the secondary coil, and a modulator configured to control the variable amplifier. The inductive power receiver is configured to modulate a signal by the varying of the voltage. An inductive power outlet configured for transferring power to the inductive power receiver includes a primary coil and a receiving circuit configured to detect changes in voltage of the power transferred and to produce an output signal based on the changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: POWERMAT TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: Yossi Azancot, Oola Greenwald, Amir Ben-Shalom, Arik Rofe
  • Patent number: 9357979
    Abstract: A system, method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium. The method includes transmitting one or more reference ultrasound incident waves into an organic specimen and receiving thereby reference ultrasound data from resultant ultrasound reflected waves from specimen features in the organic specimen, identifying a reference propagation region in the organic specimen in which at least one of the one or more reference ultrasound incident waves was transmitted into the organic specimen and identifying a corresponding reference model image region in anatomic model data, and transmitting at least one additional ultrasound incident wave into the organic specimen and receiving thereby additional ultrasound data from resultant ultrasound reflected waves from one or more specimen features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: CADUS IP LLC
    Inventors: Cliff A. Gronseth, John E. Tobey
  • Patent number: 9354034
    Abstract: A positive location system is disclosed for a locomotive consist including at least two locomotives. The system may include a first locator element on a first locomotive and a second locator element on a second locomotive. Each locator element may include a receiving device and a transmitting device communicatively coupled with each other locator element. Each locator element may be configured to determine its own location, relay information on its location to at least one other locator element on another locomotive, receive location information on the at least one other locator element, and determine its own location relative to the location of the at least one other locator element. Each locator element may also provide location information for the at least one other locator element as though it were the at least one other locator element when the at least one other locator element is non-functional.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve D. Lundquist, Tom Otsubo
  • Patent number: 9357113
    Abstract: Devices and methods for remotely collecting data for the assessment of value and/or like, kind, and quality are provided, including a mobile device equipped with an application configured to enable collection of data; the data acquired using the device are received by a service provider; and following the assessment transmitting of the assessment analysis by the service provide to the display of the mobile device of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: ITEL LABORATORIES, INC.
    Inventors: Steve M. Alvarez, Sergio Passalacqua, Raymond Darrell Jester, Lonnie Dale Romine, Henrik Georg Stahre, Carl Jonas Peter Schonning, Percy F. Shadwell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9354291
    Abstract: A dynamically self-adjusting magnetometer is disclosed. In one embodiment, a first sample module periodically generates an electronic signal related to at least one magnetic field characteristic of a monitored environment. A second sample module periodically generates an electronic signal related to at least one magnetic field characteristic of a monitored environment. A summing module sums the absolute value of the electronic signal from the first sample module and the electronic signal from the second sample module. A delta comparator module receives the electronic signals from each of the first sample module, the second sample module and the summing module and compares each of the electronic signals with a previously received set of electronic signals to establish a change, wherein an output is generated if the change is greater than or equal to a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Broadband Discovery Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Cory J. Stephanson
  • Patent number: 9347848
    Abstract: A marine probe with no moving parts for use in one or more tanks on a floating vessel. The marine probe has pressure transducers, temperature sensors, an inclinometer, and a probe processor electrically connected to the pressure transducers, temperature sensors, inclinometer and a probe data storage. The marine probe controls the temperature sensors and pressure transducers to produce bidirectional signals and calculate at least one physical property, performs adaptive measurement for dynamic and static synchronized and non-synchronized measurement, identifies temperature sensors and pressure transducers not covered by the fluid, measures multiple parameters of the fluid in the tank, calibrates pressure transducers in a vapor space of the tank when the pressure transducers are no longer in the fluid, and creates bidirectional signals using values from the inclinometer transferring the bidirectional signals to a client device via a network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: INNOVATIVE MEASUREMENT METHODS, INC.
    Inventors: Allen Ray Westmoreland, John Charles Hoben, Alexander Bukhman, Yosef Brodsky
  • Patent number: 9343894
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a device which is equipped with a microprocessor, which method includes computation in the microprocessor on input data; performing a logic operation by logic gates in an external monitoring device on the same input data; comparing the results of the computation and the logic operation, and deriving from the compared results a diagnostic of the microprocessor, and optionally then switching the microprocessor to a backup safety mode. A device for carrying out such monitoring is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
    Inventor: Franck Gruffaz
  • Patent number: 9341645
    Abstract: A system for real-time determination of a parameter of a movement having a repetitive form includes first estimating means for estimating an approximation of the period of the repetitive movement, before the end of the current movement, on the basis of representative signals indicative of the movement. A determining means determines a size of a sliding window on the basis of the period estimated by the first estimating means. Finally, a second estimating means precisely estimates, using the sliding window, the movement parameter, on the basis of the representative signals indicative of the movement and of the size of the sliding window delivered by the first estimating means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignees: Commissariat A L'energie Atomique et Aux Energies Alternatives, Movea
    Inventors: Anthony Larue, Frédéric Suard
  • Patent number: 9336108
    Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computing system for, upon the occurrence of a computer-related event, comparing code utilized by one or more subsystems included within a scalable test platform to code available from a remote location. If the code available from the remote location is newer than the code utilized by one or more subsystems, the code available from the remote location is obtained, thus defining newer code. The code utilized by one or more subsystems is updated with the newer code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Xcerra Corporation
    Inventors: William A. Fritzsche, Jeffery D. Currin, Russell Elliott Poffenberger, Timothy Alton, Michael Gordon Davis
  • Patent number: 9336353
    Abstract: System and method for communicating glucose concentration information between devices of a continuous glucose monitoring system is provided. The continuous glucose monitoring system can include a sensor module generates a glucose concentration measurement data and transmits the data to one or more further devices of the continuous glucose monitoring system. The further devices can include a receiver unit and one or more secondary display devices. The receiver unit can be configured to be a stand-alone device of or physically connect to a secondary display device. A user interface can also be provided that provides enhanced functionality for using the continuous glucose monitoring system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: DexCom, Inc.
    Inventors: Jorge Valdes, Shawn Larvenz, Michael Robert Mensinger, Hari Hampapuram, Kostyantyn Snisarenko, Phil Mayou, Eli Reihman, Randy Tompot
  • Patent number: 9335147
    Abstract: A manual positioning device includes at least one receiver, a reference network, a first switch, and at least one second switch. The at least one second switch, together with the first switch, is configured to switch at least two different reference signal paths for determining reference signals on the reference network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Heiko Sgarz, Tobias Zibold
  • Patent number: 9330092
    Abstract: Exemplary systems, apparatus, methods and computer-accessible medium for generating information regarding at least one sample can be provided. For example, it is possible to receiving first data which is based on at least one first radiation provided to the sample(s) and at least one second radiation provided from the sample(s) that is/are associated with the first radiation(s) It is also possible to generate second data by reducing the influence of first optical effects induced on the first radiation(s) prior to reaching the sample(s), and second optical effects induced on the second radiation(s) after leaving the sample(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin J. Vakoc, Ziyi Zhang
  • Patent number: 9329240
    Abstract: A battery SoC estimation device includes a discharge-and charge current detection means 1, a terminal-voltage detection means 2, a current-integration SoC estimation means 3, an open-circuit-voltage SoC estimation means 4, an error estimation means 6, and an SoC calculating means 7. The estimation means 3 estimates a current-integration-method SoC (SoCi), calculating variance of current-integration-method SoC based on information on detection accuracy of the detection means 1. The estimation means 4 estimates an open-circuit-voltage-method SoC (SoCv) corresponding to an open circuit voltage value estimated based on a discharge-and-charge current value and a terminal voltage value, using a battery equivalent circuit model. The estimation means 6 estimates an estimate error ni of the current-integration-method SoC based on a difference between the SoCv and the SoCi, variance of the SoCi, and variance of the SoCv. The calculating means 7 calculates SoC of a battery based on the SoCi and the ni.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignees: CALSONIC KANSEI CORPORATION, KEIO UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Atsushi Baba, Shuichi Adachi
  • Patent number: 9329198
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for determining the direction of a moving object across a sensor having a plurality of inputs is disclosed. The invention determines the direction of a moving object, such as a vehicle on a roadway, based on inputs provided by sensors along the object's path. The methods involve monitoring state changes of the inputs as the object passes the sensor and comparing the magnitude of state changes in the order in which a forward-moving object would cause inputs to switch to a particular state. For each state change comparison, a direction variable is adjusted to indicate forward or reverse movement. After passage of the object, a direction of movement is assigned to the moving object on the basis of the final value of the direction variable. The invention provides a high degree of accuracy, is simple to reconfigure, and more economical than other methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Port Authority of New York & New Jersey
    Inventor: Julio Sesti
  • Patent number: 9324049
    Abstract: A maintenance system includes a plurality of wellsite equipment located at or nearby a wellsite, and a communication interface device for monitoring data that is representative of a health status of the equipment. The system further includes a database containing prior health status of the equipment, and a central data server in communication with the database which is capable of communicating with the communication interface device for generating analysis of the equipment. The analysis includes comparing the monitored data with the prior health status to prescribe if maintenance is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Hubertus V. Thomeer, Ed Faught, Kay Stefan Capps, Cole Tepe, Rock Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 9322884
    Abstract: An impedance analyzing device, adapted to a testee comprising an electrode or at least one battery cell, includes a signal capturing unit, a signal adjusting unit, a signal analyzing unit, a processing unit, and a power source supply unit providing a variable-frequency voltage signal to the testee. The signal adjusting unit receiving and adjusts a variable-frequency voltage signal and the current signal to generate an adjusted variable-frequency voltage signal and an adjusted current signal. The signal capturing unit captures a current signal generated by the testee in response to the variable-frequency voltage signal. The signal analyzing unit receives and analyzes the adjusted variable-frequency voltage signal and the adjusted current signal in frequency domain to obtain a frequency domain parameter and/or a time domain parameter. The processing unit receives the frequency domain parameter and/or the time domain parameter to obtain an impedance variation characteristic of the testee.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Yi-Feng Luo, Cihun-Siyong Gong
  • Patent number: 9310482
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus enable a robotic system to detect and determine the location, orientation, surface contours, and features of an object that are not otherwise accurately known in order to allow the robotic system to accurately place a pulse/echo layer thickness-gauge ultrasonic transducer gauge onto the surface of the object. The robotic system uses one or more distance measurement sensors to determine the position, orientation, local contour, and other features of the surface in relation to the robot. Another method calibrates an inaccurate distance sensor. Yet another method maintains overall system functionality in a system with multiple distance sensors in the event that one or more of the distance sensors fails. The robotic system may also determine when maintenance is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Ascent Ventures, LLC
    Inventors: Samuel Rosenberg, Todd Jackson
  • Patent number: 9304511
    Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for virtualizing physical sensors and providing sensor data to a requestor using the virtualized physical sensors. The mechanisms obtain sensor data from a plurality of physical sensors and storing the sensor data in a virtual sensor storage system of the data processing system in at least one standardized format. A request from a requestor for a first type of sensor data is received which does not specify a particular physical sensor. A portion of the sensor data stored in the virtual sensor storage system is retrieved in response to receiving the request, the portion of sensor data corresponding to the type of sensor data requested in the request from the requestor. The retrieved portion of the sensor data is returned to the requestor in a format corresponding to a physical sensor configured to provide the requested type of sensor data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Marion L. Blount, Metin Feridun, Suzanne K. McIntosh, Iqbal I. Mohomed, Michael E. Nidd, Axel Tanner, Bo Yang
  • Patent number: 9297684
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a flow-estimation processor receives one or more flow-depth measurements with each flow-depth measurement having been taken at a respective time. The processor calculates a respective estimated flow rate for each of the times based on the corresponding flow-depth measurement and one or more flow-estimation parameters each set to a respective initial value. The processor outputs the estimated flow rates for presentation via a user interface, and receives via the user interface one or more updated values corresponding respectively to a flow-estimation parameter. The processor calculates an updated estimated flow rate for each of the one or more times, such that each respective updated estimated flow rate is calculated based on the received updated values. The processor then outputs the updated estimated flow rates for presentation via the user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: HADRONEX, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory M. Quist, David A. Drake, Lawrence B. Merchell, Justin H. Hobbs
  • Patent number: 9297764
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the maximum open circuit voltage and the power that can be output by a photoconverter material subject to a measurement light intensity, the method including the following steps: measuring the photoluminescent intensity of the material, measuring the absorption rate of the photoconverter material at a second wavelength substantially equal to the photoluminescent wavelength of the photoconverter material, determining the maximum open circuit voltage of the photoconverter material with the measurement light intensity by means of the absorption rate and the photoluminescent intensity measured at substantially the same wavelength; said invention being characterized in that the light source and the photoconverter material are arranged such that the angular distributions of the rays incident on and emitted by the lit surface of the material and collected by the detector are substantially identical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignees: CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE—CNRS—, ELECTRICITE DE FRANCE, UNIVERSITE DE VERSAILLES SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES
    Inventors: Jean-François Guillemoles, Arnaud Etcheberry, Isabelle Gerard, Pierre Tran-Van