Patents Examined by Christopher P McAndrew
  • Patent number: 12151754
    Abstract: A vehicle inspection method in a production line of a vehicle includes: performing a part inspection in steps of manufacturing parts of the vehicle, the part inspection in which each of the parts after being manufactured is inspected with an inspection device and which includes one or more inspection items; storing a result of the part inspection in a storage device such that the result is associated with the part; and displaying the result of the part inspection, on a display device used in a completed vehicle inspection for inspecting a completed vehicle serving as the vehicle that is completed, information indicating at least the part of the parts corresponding to a failed item serving as the inspection item which is determined not to be passed in the result of the part inspection stored in the storage device and information indicating the failed item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuhiro Takahashi, Hiromitsu Kamata, Satoru Koshi, Kazuki Inoue, Tetsuya Tamoto, Tooru Nishimura, Kiyoshi Suzuki, Shinya Imai, Seiya Shibata
  • Patent number: 12132378
    Abstract: A superconducting machine includes at least one superconducting coil and a coil support structure arranged with the at least one superconducting coil. The coil support structure includes at least one composite component affixed to the at least one superconducting coil and an interface component in frictional contact with the at least one composite component so as to reduce a likelihood of quench of the at least one superconducting coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Renovables Espana, S.L.
    Inventors: Ye Bai, Alexander Kagan, Anbo Wu, Minfeng Xu, Dalong Li
  • Patent number: 12128936
    Abstract: A fault detection device for a superconducting electrodynamic maglev track includes a frame system and a detection system. The frame system is provided between two sidewall discrete figure-8-shaped coil tracks, and is provided with a signal processing device. The detection system is provided on each side of the frame system, and includes a lifting device and a clamping device. The lifting device is configured to adjust a vertical height of the clamping device. The clamping device is provided at an outer side of the lifting device, and is provided with a first connection portion and a second connection portion, which are respectively connected to a permanent magnet array and a receiving coil. The second connection portion is provided at periphery of the first connection portion. The receiving coil is electrically connected to the signal processing device. A fault detection method is further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2024
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST JIAOTONG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Jun Zheng, Mingming Li, Sanchun Nie, Hao Lu
  • Patent number: 12130252
    Abstract: A soil moisture and fertility sensor system is presented that includes an elongated probe having a plurality of sensor modules positioned along the length of the probe. Each sensor module includes a co-located sensors configured to take a moisture, temperature, and fertility measurements at varying depths of the soil. The probe is configured for wireless communication. The probe is configured to take moisture measurements, temperature measurements and/or nutrient measurements at different times so as to prevent interference between measurements. The probe includes a plurality of receptacles that receive the fertility sensor assembly cartridge that may be inserted into and removed from a receptacle so as to facilitate end-of-life replacement. In one arrangement, the fertility sensor assembly includes a reference sensor and a plurality of nutrient sensors that are each configured to sense the presence of a specific nutrient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: NutriProbe, LLC
    Inventors: Don Van Houweling, Bradley G. Rathje, Arthur Henry Pickworth
  • Patent number: 12123898
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for sending current. A flow of current can be passed through a portion of the sensor, such that the sensor forms part of the current flow circuit. The sensor can be especially useful in high vacuum environments and/or in areas where a small sensor is desired. In one embodiment, the current sensor can form part of a ground circuit and a leg of the sensor can comprise a leg of the drive circuit. A current sensing loop of the sensor can at least partially encircle a portion of the sensor itself such that the current sensing loop senses current flowing through the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: XL SCIENTIFIC, LLC
    Inventors: Jacob L Lowe, Matthew Domonkos, John J Osowski
  • Patent number: 12116967
    Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, an internal combustion engine ignition system includes a voltage divider configured to be coupled to a primary transformer ignition coil connector, the voltage divider configured to reduce a voltage received from the primary transformer ignition coil to a controller voltage, a comparator circuit with an input coupled to an output of the voltage divider, and a controller configured to detect the voltage output of the voltage divider, detect the voltage output of a vehicle electric power supply, detect the voltage output of a comparator, and determine an estimated breakdown voltage of a spark plug based on the detected output voltage of the voltage divider and the detected voltage of the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Weaver, David C. Petruska
  • Patent number: 12117477
    Abstract: A tow electrical tester includes a housing having a socket defining positions for at least four electrical connections between a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle, with the preferred embodiment shown having seven such socket positions. A plurality of indicator LEDs are exposed on a distal end of the housing. An electrical circuit within the housing connects each LED in a circuit branch between a common/ground socket position and one of the other socket positions. The electrical circuit includes a primary series resistor within the housing arranged in series for each LED, which protects the LED and adjusts the forward voltage across the LED. For at least some of the circuit branches, a secondary parallel resistor is added within the housing arranged in parallel with the associated primary series resistor and indicator LED, thereby increasing current draw within that branch to meet the requirements of “trailer present” detection circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: CURT Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventor: Troy Bautch
  • Patent number: 12116066
    Abstract: A vehicle inspection method in a production line of a vehicle includes: performing a part inspection in steps of manufacturing parts of the vehicle, the part inspection in which each of the parts after being manufactured is inspected with an inspection device and which includes one or more inspection items; storing a result of the part inspection in a storage device such that the result is associated with the part; and displaying the result of the part inspection, on a display device used in a completed vehicle inspection for inspecting a completed vehicle serving as the vehicle that is completed, information indicating at least the part of the parts corresponding to a failed item serving as the inspection item which is determined not to be passed in the result of the part inspection stored in the storage device and information indicating the failed item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuhiro Takahashi, Hiromitsu Kamata, Satoru Koshi, Kazuki Inoue, Tetsuya Tamoto, Tooru Nishimura, Kiyoshi Suzuki, Shinya Imai, Seiya Shibata
  • Patent number: 12117475
    Abstract: An electric field sensor includes a light source; an electro-optical crystal, a first separator, a first wavelength plate, first and second light receivers, a differential amplifier, and a controller. The electro-optical crystal has light from the light source incident thereon and receives an electric field generated by an object. The first separator separates light emitted from the electro-optical crystal into a P wave and an S wave. The first wavelength plate changes a phase of light at a pre-stage of the first separator. The first and second light receivers receive the P wave and S-wave light respectively, and convert the received light into first and second electrical signals, respectively. The differential amplifier generates a differential signal between the first and second electrical signals. The controller adjusts a wavelength of the light source such that an output value of a direct-current component of the differential amplifier is within a value range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignees: YOKOGAWA ELECTRIC CORPORATION, Hosei University
    Inventors: Yoshinori Matsumoto, Mitsuru Shinagawa, Jun Katsuyama
  • Patent number: 12111341
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure include an electric field measurement system that includes a first light source, a first light sensor configured to receive electromagnetic energy transmitted from the first light source, an electro-optic sensor, and a controller. The electro-optic sensor may include a package comprising a first electro-optic crystal disposed within a body; and at least one optical fiber. The optical fiber is configured to transmit electromagnetic energy transmitted from the first light source to a surface of the first electro-optic crystal, and transmit at least a portion of the electromagnetic energy transmitted to the surface of the first electro-optic crystal and subsequently passed through at least a portion of the first electro-optic crystal to the first light sensor that is configured to generate a signal based on an attribute of the electromagnetic energy received by the first light sensor from the at least one optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Yue Guo, Yang Yang, Kartik Ramaswamy, Fernando Silveira, A N M Wasekul Azad
  • Patent number: 12111363
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring and/or protecting state-of-charge of one or more batteries. One method comprises determining, via a controller, location information associated with the battery. The method includes determining, via the controller, one or more battery parameters. The method includes calculating, based on the one or more battery parameters and the location information, a state of charge of the battery. The method includes controlling, via the controller and based on the state of charge, a mode of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Aclara Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Mark Dubuque
  • Patent number: 12111287
    Abstract: A wire rope inspection system is provided with: an excitation unit configured to apply a magnetic flux to a wire rope that is an inspection target; a detection unit configured to detect a magnetic flux of the wire rope to which the magnetic flux has been applied by the excitation unit; a detachable unit configured to be detachably mounted to a stationary unit fixed in proximity to the wire rope, the detachable unit being provided with at least the detection unit; and a positioning mechanism configured to position the detachable unit with reference to the stationary unit such that the detection unit is arranged at a predetermined position with reference to the wire rope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hajime Takemoto, Yoshio Takami
  • Patent number: 12111379
    Abstract: A calibration method is configured for calibrating an operation circuit which has a variant offset. The operation circuit includes at least one comparator circuit having a first variant offset. The calibration method provides an adjustable offset to calibrate the variant offset. The method includes: resetting an adjustment parameter to an initial value and configuring the operation circuit to a calibration mode; conducting an initial calibration procedure according to a comparison result of the comparator circuit, to decide an operation calibration code having plural bits; configuring the operation circuit to an operation mode; conducting a predetermined operation procedure according to the operation calibration code, wherein the operation calibration code corresponds to the adjustable offset; conducting a less bit number calibration procedure according to the adjustment parameter and a test calibration code to update the adjustment parameter or the operation calibration code; and repeating the above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Yu-Hsin Lih, Ming-Jun Hsiao
  • Patent number: 12105118
    Abstract: A testing head for testing the functionality of an electronic device is disclosed having a plurality of contact probes including a probe body extended between respective end portions adapted to contact respective contact pads, a lower guide provided with guide holes for housing the contact probes, and a conductive portion in the lower guide. The conductive portion includes a group of the guide holes and is adapted to contact and short-circuit a corresponding group of contact probes housed in the group of holes. The contact probes housed in the group of holes include a deformable portion adapted to be partially inserted into the guide holes of the group. The deformable portion, when housed in the guide holes, is in a configuration in which it is deformed by the contact with a wall of the guide holes and exerts on the wall a reaction force ensuring a sliding contact during testing of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: TECHNOPROBE S.P.A.
    Inventor: Roberto Crippa
  • Patent number: 12105148
    Abstract: Disclosed are a gas density relay having a simulation check function and a simulation check method thereof, the gas density relay includes a gas density relay body, a simulation reference signal unit, a simulation check signal unit, a driving contact action mechanism, and an intelligent control unit. The intelligent control unit obtains, according to the check, by the simulation reference signal unit, of a simulation check signal generated by the simulation check signal unit, a current working state of a monitoring part, so as to quantitatively and accurately measure the precision of the gas density relay; by providing the driving contact action mechanism, the gas density relay body generates an alarm and/or a locking contact action to ensure that a contact execution mechanism of the gas density relay body and a contact itself are normal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Shanghai Roye Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Haiyong Jin
  • Patent number: 12105130
    Abstract: A microwave sensor determines an electric-field strength of a microwave field populated by quantum particles in an ultra-high vacuum (UHV) cell. A probe laser beam and a coupling laser beam are directed into the UHV cell so that they are generally orthogonal to each other and intersect to define a “Rydberg” intersection, so-called as the quantum particles within the Rydberg intersection transition to a pair of Rydberg states. The frequency of the probe laser beam is swept so that a frequency spectrum of the probe laser beam can be captured. The frequency spectrum is analyzed to determine a frequency difference between Autler-Townes peaks. The electric-field strength of the microwave field within the Rydberg intersection is then determined based on this frequency difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: ColdQuanta, Inc.
    Inventors: Evan Salim, Dana Zachary Anderson, Jayson Denney, Farhad Majdeteimouri
  • Patent number: 12105159
    Abstract: An external field response distribution visualization device includes: an induction circuit that induces a first field component from each of induction positions; a sensor that senses a field strength at sensing positions for each of the induction positions; and an information processing circuit that generates an image showing an external field response distribution. The information processing circuit: calculates, using the sensing result as a boundary condition, an induction position dependent field function that takes an induction and sensing positions as inputs and outputs the field strength; calculates an imaging function that takes an imaging target position as an input and outputs an image intensity, and is defined based on the strength output from the induction position dependent field function in response to inputting the imaging target position; and generates the image based on the imaging function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignees: NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION KOBE UNIVERSITY, Integral Geometry Science Inc.
    Inventors: Kenjiro Kimura, Yuki Mima, Shogo Suzuki, Noriaki Kimura
  • Patent number: 12105138
    Abstract: Disclosed is a test socket. The test socket includes a first block comprising a first base member of a conductive material and a first insulating member of an insulating material, a second block comprising a second base member of a conductive material and a second insulating member of an insulating material, a gap member of an insulating material, interposed between the first block and the second block, a first probe supported being in contact with the first base member and being not in contact with the second base member, a second probe supported being not in contact with the first base member and being in contact with the second base member, and electronic parts provided in the gap member and placed on a conductive path by which the first base member and the second base member are electrically connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: LEENO INDUSTRIAL INC.
    Inventors: Young taek Shin, Byeong cheol Lee
  • Patent number: 12105167
    Abstract: Signal generation devices including an auto-tuning electronic circuit module for generating tuned output signals are disclosed. The auto-tuning electronic circuit module may include a tunable resonant electronic circuit element for providing a tuned output signal, including a voltage divider element and a tuning array element and control element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: SeeScan, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephanie M. Bench, Mark S. Olsson, Jan Soukup
  • Patent number: 12105160
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a magneto-optical material capable of exhibiting the Faraday effect even though no magnetic field is applied. The magneto-optical material of the present invention has a nanogranular structure in which magnetic nanoparticles are dispersed in a fluoride matrix, and can exhibit Faraday properties without requiring the application of a magnetic field because the magnetic nanoparticles are configured by a magnetic material that has residual magnetization and consists of any of a Fe—Pt alloy, a Co—Pt alloy, a Fe—Co—Ni—Al alloy, a Co ferrite, or a Ba ferrite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Research Institute For Electromagnetic Materials
    Inventors: Nobukiyo Kobayashi, Tadayoshi Iwasa, Kenji Ikeda, KenIchi Arai