Patents Examined by Daniel Larkin
  • Patent number: 8359902
    Abstract: A gas sensor apparatus and method of forming the same generally includes a gas sensor element comprising a heater and a plurality of electrodes. A ceramic substrate can be provided for supporting the electrodes on one side of the ceramic substrate and the heater on the opposite side of the ceramic substrate. The gas sensor element is preferably embedded in the ceramic substrate. The ceramic substrate also possesses a substantially circular shape in order to prevent a breakage of the gas sensor element, avoid thermal loss, and permit the gas sensor apparatus to withstand mechanical shock and high vibrations while occupying a minimal package space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Palani Thanigachalam, Thirumani A. Selvan
  • Patent number: 8353200
    Abstract: An arrangement for detection of the sharpness of chopper knives that can be moved relative to a shear bar includes a sensor that detects the effective cutting forces directly or indirectly and an evaluation arrangement connected to the sensor. The evaluation arrangement integrates the measured values of the sensor over time in order to generate information concerning the sharpness of the chopper knives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Folker Beck, Martin Schäfer
  • Patent number: 8347688
    Abstract: Methods and systems for analyzing samples, such as gas samples, are described. One method comprises providing a gas sample, increasing pressure applied to the gas sample to compress the sample to a smaller volume and provide a pneumatically focused gas sample, and analyzing the pneumatically focused gas sample using any of a variety of analytical techniques. Also disclosed are systems for gas analysis, including systems for analysis of pneumatically focused, and thereby concentrated, gas samples and for analysis of particulate matter in gas samples. Analytical systems constructed within personal computer cases also are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: State of Oregon acting by and through the State Board of Higher Education on behalf of Portland State University
    Inventor: Robert O'Brien
  • Patent number: 8347696
    Abstract: A method of forming a microchannel as well as a thin film structure including same is made by forming a first thin film on a side of a substrate, forming a fugitive second thin film on the first thin film such that the second thin film defines a precursor of the elongated microchannel and a plurality of extensions connected to and extending transversely relative to the precursor along a length thereof A third thin film is formed on the first thin film and the fugitive second thin film such that the second thin film resides between the first thin film and the third thin film. A respective access site is formed in a region of the third thin film residing on a respective extension and penetrating to the fugitive second thin film. The fugitive second thin film forming the precursor is selectively removed from between the first thin film and the third thin film using an etching medium introduced through the access sites, thereby forming the microchannel between the first thin film and the third thin film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Horacio D. Espinosa, Nicolaie A. Moldovan
  • Patent number: 8347692
    Abstract: Method for rheological characterization of a viscoelastic medium, with the following steps: (a) an excitation step during which a vibratory excitation is generated in the viscoelastic medium leading to a deformation of the medium, (b) a deformation measurement step during which the deformation of the medium caused by the excitation is observed, (c) and a characterization step during which at least one non-zero power parameter y is determined such that a rheological parameter of the medium x is equal to x(f)=a+b·fy, where f is the frequency, a is a real number and b a non-zero scale parameter. It is thus possible to obtain mapping of the power parameter y.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Super Sonic Imagine
    Inventors: Ralph Sinkus, Michaël Tanter, Mathias Fink, Jeremy Bercoff, David Savery
  • Patent number: 8347742
    Abstract: A sampler for automatic taking of liquid samples from a sample-taking location. The sampler includes: a housing with a door; an energy or power supply unit; a control/evaluation unit; a sample-taking unit, which, in a predeterminable time interval, takes a predetermined quantity of sample from the sample-taking location; a sample collecting unit arranged in a lower region of the housing of the sampler for storing taken samples; and a temperature-control unit, which controls at least the region of the sampler, in which the sample collecting unit is arranged, to a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Conducta Gesellschaft für Mess- und Regeltechnik mbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Ralf Steuerwald, Karl-Heinz Bareiss, Norbert Wandrei
  • Patent number: 8342008
    Abstract: In the case of measuring a pattern having a steep side wall, a probe adheres to the side wall by the van der Waals forces acting between the probe and the side wall when approaching the pattern side wall, and an error occurs in a measured profile of the side wall portion. When a pattern having a groove width almost equal to a probe diameter is measured, the probe adheres to both side walls, the probe cannot reach the groove bottom, and the groove depth cannot be measured. When the probe adheres to a pattern side wall in measurements of a microscopic high-aspect ratio pattern using an elongated probe, the probe is caused to reach the side wall bottom by detecting the adhesion of the probe to the pattern side wall, and temporarily increasing a contact force between the probe and the sample. Also, by obtaining the data of the amount of torsion of a cantilever with the shape data of the pattern, a profile error of the side wall portion by the adhesion is corrected by the obtained data of the amount of torsion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuichi Baba, Masahiro Watanabe, Toshihiko Nakata, Yukio Kembo, Toru Kurenuma, Takafumi Morimoto, Manabu Edamura, Satoshi Sekino
  • Patent number: 8342003
    Abstract: A system for measurement and analysis of pipeline contaminants is provided. The system includes a first assembly for engaging a pipeline from which a first fluid flow sample may be isokinetically collected for measurement of aerosol contaminants. The system also includes a second assembly for engaging the pipeline from which a second fluid flow sample may be collected for chromatographic analysis of the aerosol contaminants. The system may further include a third assembly for engaging the pipeline from which a fluid flow sample may be obtained for measurement of solid contaminants. Information on aerosol contaminants and solid contaminants can subsequently be used to select an appropriate extraction technology to control the presence of aerosol and solid contaminants within the pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Perry Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: David Burns, Tomas Borjon, Mark Scott
  • Patent number: 8336384
    Abstract: An ultrasonic probe includes a probe body having a contact surface and a cavity that is open at the contact surface, an ultrasonic transducer carried by the body, and a spacer within the cavity. The spacer has a first surface acoustically coupled to the transducer, and a second (coupling) surface within the cavity. The spacer propagates an acoustic signal between the transducer and the coupling surface. The coupling surface is spaced apart from the contact surface to form a recess within the body. The body further has at least one port for circulating a coupling fluid into the recess. Depth of the recess is selected to balance gravitational force on the coupling fluid versus surface tension of the coupling fluid so a bead of the fluid forms over an edge of a structure under inspection as the probe is moved over the edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Barry A. Fetzer, James C. Kennedy, Thomas E. Riechers, Fred D Young
  • Patent number: 8336368
    Abstract: The method includes the following steps—introducing a low amplitude air pressure transient into the drainage and vent system of a building in order to propagate a pressure wave from a fitting (6) into a stack (1) and the network of the drainage system;—recording the passage of the transient by use of an air pressure transducer (7) located near the fitting (6) or introduction area of the transient;—establishing a pressure versus time signature recorded by the pressure transducer (7) and sending those signals to a central data acquisition system;—the pressure transient is propagated throughout the network at an acoustic velocity and is reflected by each and every pipe termination of the network so as to establish a characteristic reflection coefficient for each pipe termination; —the characteristic reflection coefficient is compared with testing results performed initially in a perfect network with no dry trap defects or leakages and in case a different signature is of the pressure trace is recorded, the point
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Heriot Watt University
    Inventors: John Swaffield, David Campbell, Lynne Jack, Michael Gormley
  • Patent number: 8336371
    Abstract: Separating trihalomethanes from drinking water samples (via a process such as capillary membrane sampling, and the like) followed by gas chromatograph analysis to determine quantity measurements and species identification of such trihalomethane (THM4) contaminants therein is provided. With the necessity to chlorinate drinking water to remove harmful bacteria and other potential toxins, trihalomethane byproducts are generated that may harm humans after consumption as well due to suspect carcinogenicity of such compounds. A reliable manner of measuring such drinking water supplies for such THM4 contaminants at locations far from the source and closer to dispensers is highly desirable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: University of Memphis Research Foundation
    Inventors: Gary Lynn Emmert, Michael Andrew Brown
  • Patent number: 8333105
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods are described for preconcentrators, chemical sensing systems and gas chromatographs. A preconcentrator is described that comprises a hollow enclosure containing a sorbent material. The enclosure may be a capillary tube that can be formed in to a desired shape and that may be heated. Heating may be accomplished by passing an electrical current through the capillary or other hollow enclosure form. The sorbent material can be a liquid, a solid, a porous ceramic material and/or a chemiselective polymer. The sorbent material can be coated to the inner wall of the enclosure. The hollow enclosure may be maintained in an insulated chamber. The preconcentrator acts to concentrate a vapor passed through the preconcentrator to a chemical sensing array that can detect chemicals present in the vapor. A gas passed through the hollow enclosure can provide a chemically concentrated input to a chromatographic column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Seacoast Science, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Day Lucas, Manna Leon Warburton, Todd Mlsna, Sanjay V. Patel, Stephen Terrence Hobson
  • Patent number: 8327684
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for adjusting the resonant frequencies of a vibrating microelectromechanical (MEMS) device. In one embodiment, the present invention is a method for adjusting the resonant frequencies of a vibrating mass including the steps of patterning a surface of a device layer of the vibrating mass with a mask, etching the vibrating mass to define a structure of the vibrating mass, determining a first set of resonant frequencies of the vibrating mass, determining a mass removal amount of the vibrating mass and a mass removal location of the vibrating mass to obtain a second set of resonant frequencies of the vibrating mass, removing the mask at the mass removal location, and etching the vibrating mass to remove the mass removal amount of the vibrating mass at the mass removal location of the vibrating mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Teledyne Scientific & Imaging, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey F. DeNatale, Philip A. Stupar
  • Patent number: 8327691
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for determining whether a leak is present in an evaporative emission control system 10 for on-board diagnostic purposes. The method comprises predicting for a leak of predetermined size the time period required for the vacuum to fall from a predicted starting vacuum to a predetermined level of vacuum at which the state of a switch changes, checking at the end of the time period the state of the switch and using the state of the switch as an indication of whether a leak greater than the predetermined size is present in the evaporative emission control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robin J. Drane, Nick Wright
  • Patent number: 8327709
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for nondestructive evaluation (NDE) of structures and materials using a highly nonlinear medium for the generation and detection of one or multiple highly nonlinear pulses (or highly nonlinear waves) impinging on a material or structure. The apparatus includes pulse exciters that induce the propagation of highly nonlinear, weakly nonlinear or linear stress waves in the material, system, or structure to be inspected and/or detectors for the observation and the detection of the output waves from the material/structure being tested. The NDE method includes the use of the tunable highly nonlinear apparatus as impulse exciter alone, or in combination with an accelerometer or a nonlinear sensor to detect the outgoing pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignees: University of Pittsburgh, California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Chiara Daraio, Piervincenzo Rizzo
  • Patent number: 8327686
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the photo-acoustic identification and quantification of one or more analyte species present in a gaseous or liquid medium in low concentration utilizing a laser and a resonant optical cavity containing the medium and having within the cavity at least two partially transparent mirrors, one of which is a cavity coupling mirror and one of which is moveably mounted on an assembly responsive to an input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: LI-COR, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Kachanov, Serguei Koulikov
  • Patent number: 8322190
    Abstract: A photo acoustic trace gas detector for detecting a concentration of a trace gas in a gas mixture. The detector includes a light source for producing a light beam and a light modulator for modulating the light beam into a series of light pulses for generating sound waves in the gas mixture. The light modulator is arranged for modulating the light beam between a non-zero lower intensity level and a higher intensity level. An amplitude of the sound waves being a measure of the concentration. An optical cavity contains the gas mixture and amplifies a light intensity of the light pulses. A transducer converts the sound waves into electrical signals. A feedback loop with a photo detector for measuring the light intensity of the light pulses regulates the amplification of the light intensity in the optical cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Jeroen Kalkman, Maarten Marinus Johannes Wilhelm Van Herpen
  • Patent number: 8312761
    Abstract: A test accessory for testing a variety respirators. The accessory is designed to compliment existing equipment to provide a robust assessment of respirator performance. The accessory may include a head form having an inflatable bladder capable of fitting a variety of sizes of respirator masks. In some embodiments, the inflatable bladder does not rely on adhesives to effect a seal, thereby eliminating manufacturing and quality assurance steps. The test accessory may also include a detachable instrumentation module that may be removed from the accessory, enabling calibration and maintenance at a remote facility without need for transporting the entire unit. The module may also house a memory device that may be upgraded with calibration data and firmware during the calibration process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: TSI, Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert Montividas, Richard Remiarz, Brian Johnson, Max Carideo
  • Patent number: 8312762
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods and apparatus for placing a sample in a chromatographic system. The device and method feature placing samples held in a sample loop to pressurization prior to placing such sample loop in communication with high pressure conduits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Waters Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Keith Fadgen, James E. Usowicz, Miguel Soares
  • Patent number: 8302458
    Abstract: A portable analytical system for detecting organic chemicals in water comprising a miniature preconcentrator and a SAW detector, the latter being characterized by a nanoporous carbon coating that provides improved response compared to prior art polymer coatings, particularly when detecting low concentrations of trihalomethane chemicals, such as chloroform and bromoform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Kazi Zulfiqur Ali Hassan, William M. Cost, Curtis D. Mowry, Michael P. Siegal, Alex Robinson, Joshua J. Whiting, Stephen W. Howell