Patents Examined by Daniel S. Larkin
  • Patent number: 11401471
    Abstract: A method to simulate distillation of a petroleum stream by gas chromatography can include separating the petroleum stream with a gas chromatograph as a function of boiling point; passing the separated petroleum stream through a vacuum ultraviolet detector to yield data comprising a vacuum ultraviolet signal as a function of boiling point; integrating the vacuum ultraviolet signal as a function of boiling point over two or more wavelength ranges to derive relative concentrations of two or more components of the separated petroleum stream that correspond to the two or more wavelength ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company
    Inventor: Frank C. Wang
  • Patent number: 11402308
    Abstract: A system and method for imaging a biological sample using a freezable fluid cell system is disclosed. The freezable fluid cell comprises a top chip, a bottom chip, and a spacer to control the thickness of a vitrified biological sample. The spacer is positioned between the top chip and the bottom chip to define a channel that is in fluid communication with an inlet port and an exit port to the freezable fluid cell system. The channel can be filled with a biological sample, vitrified, and imaged to produce high-resolution electron microscopic image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Brandeis University
    Inventors: Joel Meyerson, Jungwon Park
  • Patent number: 11391706
    Abstract: A chromatography system includes a modulator, a chromatograph, a cooler, and a detector. The chromatograph is connected to the modulator by a first heated transfer line. The detector is connected to the modulator by a second heated transfer line. The cooler is connected to the modulator. The modulator is arranged outside of the chromatograph.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: LECO Corporation
    Inventor: Mark Firmer Merrick
  • Patent number: 11391687
    Abstract: The invention provides: a gas sensor device that is capable of removing a component adsorbed on a gas sensor by relatively simple means and easily restoring a signal baseline of the gas sensor to a constant state; and a method for removing a gas component. The gas sensor device according to an embodiment of the invention includes a gas sensor and cleaning means that contains a liquid for cleaning the gas sensor. The gas sensor includes a sensor main body that is capable of detecting a characteristic parameter of a component present in a gas phase or a liquid phase, and a sensitive membrane that is coated on a surface of the sensor main body and is durable against the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignees: NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR MATERIALS SCIENCE, KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Genki Yoshikawa, Kota Shiba, Gaku Imamura, Takanori Yasuda, Kyohei Kobayashi, Hisashi Sakai
  • Patent number: 11378495
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices that takes advantage of the unique fluid dynamics involved when oscillating flow across a sensor or sensor array. A time-variant source of information about an agent(s) of interest being sensored is established. This source of information is used in machine learning algorithms to speed up the time and accuracy of agent classification and identification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Spencer, David Hu, Alexander B. Lee
  • Patent number: 11378235
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting multiple incidents in a set of flow meter units attached to a set of water consuming units. A plurality of uniquely identified flow meter units are operatively connected to a central control unit. The control unit is programmable to send alerts based on leaking incident status of particular flow meter units so that a responder may receive the alert and timely address the alert. The central control receives and stores data from the multiple flow meter units, including volumetric flow, time, and status and location of each alert. A method of detecting leaking in a building having multiple separate units, each unit having a unit water supply, includes placing a specially configured controller having a flow meter and automatic shut-off valve in each unit of the building. Leak sensors are positioned in water-leak risk areas wherein the controller communicates with both the flow meter and the sensors. A communication is established in between the controller and the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: ENCO ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Gary H. Dietzen, Ronald R. Murphy, Terry L. Beasley, Daniel L. Dietzen
  • Patent number: 11378556
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methodologies, systems, apparatus, and kits for controlling fluid flow within a chromatography system. A makeup pump is configured to pump a makeup fluid into the chromatography system downstream of the column. A first restrictor is located upstream of a detector and downstream of both the makeup pump and the column. Decreasing an output volume of the makeup pump can direct an output from the column through the first restrictor to the detector. Increasing an output volume of the makeup pump can direct the output from the column to a second restrictor located downstream of the makeup pump and the column and in parallel with the first restrictor and the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Waters Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael O. Fogwill, Thomas S. McDonald, Joshua A. Shreve
  • Patent number: 11371873
    Abstract: The disclosed technology is a portable/mobile test bench apparatus and method for testing the accuracy of fluid flow meters. The system comprises an improved drain line system that better removes the test fluid after testing. The system is configured to automatically test the fluid meter at a plurality of flow rates and record the test data as well as transfer the test data to a centralized database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Inventors: Christopher Michael Mastic, David Allen Zook, Michael Louis Mastic, Floyd Stanley Salser, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11371967
    Abstract: A fluid network controls a gaseous flow, the fluid network having several pre-concentration units including at least one first series in which the pre-concentration units are linked in series and each defined by a rank j in the series, with j ranging from 1 to m and m being greater than or equal to 2. Each pre-concentration unit of the network includes a cavity filled with an adsorbent material, at least one first fluid pathway emerging in the cavity, at least one second fluid pathway emerging in the cavity. Finally, each pre-concentration unit includes a component for heating the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Commissariat A L'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventor: Bertrand Bourlon
  • Patent number: 11364621
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for regulation of a sample manipulator. The method includes generating a list of at least one first displacement for at least one pre-defined object; estimating a least one second displacement with respect to at least one location on the manipulator; comparing the estimated displacement with the list of first displacements to obtain an optimum displacement; and computing at least one second force at the given location from the obtained optimum displacement. The estimation of the optimum displacement facilitates regulation of the manipulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: BENDFLEX RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PRIVATE LIMITED
    Inventors: Ramnath T J Babu, Santosh D B Bhargav
  • Patent number: 11360002
    Abstract: A portable sampling device includes a housing at least partially enclosing an inner chamber and an airflow assembly disposed within the inner chamber and comprising a portion of an airflow path. The airflow assembly includes a portion of a printed circuit board (PCB); a manifold configured to be sealably coupled to the portion of the PCB to define at least one airflow channel disposed between an inner surface of the manifold and an outer surface of the PCB; and one or more pumping elements positioned on the PCB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Colorado State University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Daniel D. Miller-Lionberg, Casey William Quinn, John Volckens, David Leith
  • Patent number: 11340143
    Abstract: A soil sample collection apparatus is comprised of an extension member, a soil sample collection container, and a collection panel. The extension member includes first and second ends. The soil sample collection container includes first and second ends, the first end of the soil sample collection container being coupled to the second end of the extension member. The collection panel is proximate to the first end of the soil sample collection container, the collection panel moveable to an open position during collection of a soil sample and a closed position during extraction of the soil sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: One Pass Innovators, LLC
    Inventor: Ryan DeWind
  • Patent number: 11333592
    Abstract: Provided is a rubber wear testing device including a holding portion for holding a test sample of rubber, and a compression bonding mechanism for applying an additional force oriented to a circular circumferential surface of a rotation body rotating such that the test sample is pressed to the circular circumferential surface at a predetermined fixed position and the movement of the test sample in a direction opposite to the additional force is always allowed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Gang Hou, Susumu Hatanaka
  • Patent number: 11333648
    Abstract: Ultrasensitive, decoupled thermodynamic sensing platforms for the detection of chemical compounds in the vapor phase at trace levels are disclosed, wherein the sensors have a heating resistor decoupled from a sensing resistor. Embodiments of the decoupled sensor comprise a metallic microheater resistor on one side of substrate, and a sensor resistor coupled to a catalyst on the other side of the substrate. A sensor array may be provided including a plurality of sensors each having a different catalyst that, when exposed to an analyte, each experience an endothermic reaction, an exothermic reaction, or no reaction. A comparison of the reaction results to data comprising previously obtained reaction results may be used to determine the presence and the identity of the analyte. Advantageously, the decoupled sensors utilize less power and provide greater sensitivity than other known systems, and may be used to detect and identify a single molecule of an analyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: PGR Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Peter P. Ricci, Otto J. Gregory
  • Patent number: 11326987
    Abstract: A cultivation and sampling method for plants grown in a multi-section sampling device, the sampling device including an upper section with an upper section identifier and a number of cultivation containers, and a lower section with a lower section identifier and an equal number of sample containers. When the sampling device is in an assembled position, the upper section is connected to the lower section such that the sample containers are arranged to correspond to the cultivation containers being underneath them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: DEUTSCHE SAATVEREDELUNG AG
    Inventors: Zeljko Micic, Simon Radtke
  • Patent number: 11327057
    Abstract: A Gas Chromatograph (GC) detector comprises a first circuit, a second circuit, a digital subtractor and a digital logic shared between one to many detector channels to provide a GC measurement in a digital form. The first circuit includes a first counter circuitry to provide a first counter output. The second circuit includes a second counter circuitry to provide a second counter output. The GC detector includes a digital subtractor to subtract the first counter output from the second counter output and provide a digital subtractor output. The GC detector further includes a digital logic shared between one to many detector channels to implement at least a portion of the first counter circuitry and the second counter circuitry. The digital logic to receive the digital subtractor output and provides the GC measurement in the digital form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Glen Eugene Schmidt
  • Patent number: 11320351
    Abstract: Provided is a component extraction device for eluting a component in a sample into a supercritical fluid to extract the component from the sample. The component extraction device includes: a container rack including a plurality of sample container holding parts; a rack mounting stand including a mounting section on which the container rack is mounted; a plurality of heating blocks fixedly disposed on a mounting face of the mounting section at positions respectively corresponding to the plurality of sample container holding parts; a plurality of temperature sensors each configured to detect a temperature of each of the plurality of heating blocks; and a control unit configured to respectively control the plurality of heating blocks, based on results of detection by the plurality of temperature sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takao Okado
  • Patent number: 11320410
    Abstract: In the present invention, an analysis schedule is pre-created such that streams of a plurality of liquid chromatograms can operate in parallel and a mass spectrometer can collect data at the timing of each component elution. A control unit controls so as to: divide the time required to analyze each sample in a plurality of liquid chromatogram systems into pre-collection time, time during collection, and post-collection time; search and allocate time positions in which the time during collection in the liquid chromatogram units do not overlap; determine start times for the plurality of liquid chromatogram units to thereby create an analysis schedule; and thereafter perform analysis. The control unit further stores parameter sets for varying component elution times, adjusts analysis parameters so as to make data collection timings appropriate for creating an analysis schedule, and changes the component elution times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Tech Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Maekawa
  • Patent number: 11320355
    Abstract: Devices and methods are described for measuring formed blood component sedimentation rate. Some of the methods may use (1) centrifugal techniques for separating red blood cells from plasma and (2) video and/or still imaging capability. Both may be used alone or in combination to accelerate formed blood component sedimentation and to measure its rate. In one example, the method may advantageously enable rapid measurement of sedimentation rate using small blood sample volumes. Automated image analysis can be used to determine both sedimentation rate and hematocrit. Automated techniques may be used to compensate for effects of hematocrit on uncorrected sedimentation rate data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Labrador Diagnostics LLC
    Inventors: Mark Dayel, Samartha Anekal, Elizabeth A. Holmes
  • Patent number: 11313849
    Abstract: An expansion ratio detection system for rubber, including a controller, a rubber sampling module, a rubber calender, a temperature control module, and an expansion ratio detection module. The rubber sampling module obtains a rubber to be tested consistent with a weight value. After the temperature control module determines that the rubber to be tested has reached a first temperature value, the rubber calender outputs the rubber to be tested having a thickness value. The expansion ratio detection module obtains an expansion ratio according to twice the thickness value and a roller pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: KAUO JEI IND CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Wen-Ho Chen