Patents Examined by David B Frederiksen
  • Patent number: 11448672
    Abstract: A meter case used with a utility meter is disclosed. The meter shell includes a plurality of snap fit joints assembled on the meter case arranged to engage a module cover to mount the module cover to the meter shell. The module cover further includes wire housing formed along an inner periphery of the module cover that houses a wire having a first end and a second end therein. A metal shield placed behind the meter shell is electrically coupled to a first connector. A terminal electrically connected to the metal shield is arranged to discharge current to ground. An electrical contact electrically coupled to the second end of the wire is arranged to engage the first connector to establish an electrical connection to the metal shield for the discharge to ground of electrostatic currents sensed by wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Nitin Agarwal, Murali Krishna Bezawada, Murajith Menon, Krishna Mohan, Suresh Kumar Palle, Ganesh Patil, Vidyadhar Patwardhan, S Piramanayagam, Shalu Singhvi
  • Patent number: 11441888
    Abstract: An off-axis counter is suggested that is arranged to count magnetic poles of a magnetic field source that turns around a rotation axis modulo an integer number. Also, a rotation angle sensing device and a method for determining a rotation angle are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Udo Ausserlechner
  • Patent number: 11422159
    Abstract: A measurement device comprising a housing, a measurement channel, a trigger unit connected to the measurement channel, and an arbitrary waveform generator housed within the housing is disclosed. The measurement channel comprises an acquisition unit. The trigger unit is configured to detect a predetermined trigger event in a signal processed by the measurement channel. The trigger unit is configured to control the acquisition unit, and the trigger unit is configured to control the arbitrary waveform generator. Moreover, a measurement system and a method for operating a measurement device are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Markus Freidhof
  • Patent number: 11420772
    Abstract: A sensor signal comprising a first signal pulse having a first voltage amplitude and a second signal pulse having a second voltage amplitude greater than or substantially equal to the first voltage amplitude is obtained from a sensor positioned adjacent a feedback device coupled to rotate with an aircraft-bladed rotor about a longitudinal axis and to move along the axis with adjustment of the rotor's blade pitch angle. The feedback device comprises a reference feature configured to generate the second signal pulse and varying detectable feature(s) configured to generate the first signal pulse and to cause a change in the first voltage amplitude as a function of an axial position of the feedback device along the axis. A voltage ratio is determined based on the first voltage amplitude and the second voltage amplitude, and the axial position of the feedback device is determined from the voltage ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Dana Tomescu, James Jarvo, Ella Yakobov
  • Patent number: 11422007
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor includes first and second bridge circuits. The first bridge circuit includes a first group of magnetoresistive elements connected in a bridge. The first bridge circuit outputs a first detection signal corresponding to a magnetic field detected by the magnetoresistive elements in the first group. The second bridge circuit includes a second group of magnetoresistive elements connected in a bridge. Each magnetoresistive element of the first and second bridge circuits is formed by a sensor element bent in a serpentine manner. The second bridge circuit outputs a second detection signal corresponding to a magnetic field detected by the magnetoresistive elements in the second group and having a waveform that has a sine-cosine relationship with the first detection signal. The sensor elements of the first and second bridge circuits are arranged along a circumference of part of a circle about a center of the sensor elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Tatsuyuki Yamaguchi, Kazuhiro Kitada
  • Patent number: 11415620
    Abstract: A method of detecting a partial discharge in an electrical asset includes sensing of a discharge current in the electrical asset using a transducer and responsively providing a transducer output; processing the transducer output by comparing the transducer output to a baseline; calculating an accumulated amount by which the transducer output exceeds the baseline; decreasing the accumulated amount with time; detecting partial discharge in the electrical asset based upon the accumulated amount; and providing an output related to detected partial discharge. A partial discharge detection system for detecting a partial discharge in an electrical asset includes a transducer configured to receive a signal from the electrical asset generated due to an occurrence of partial discharging in the electrical asset and responsively providing a transducer output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: ROSEMOUNT INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Charles Andle, Jonathan P. Murray, David J. Lane, Thomas M. Cunneen
  • Patent number: 11408945
    Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes a current source configured to generate a bias current, a plurality of magnetic field transducers, each having power terminals coupled to the current source and output terminals at which an output signal of the transducer is provided, wherein the power terminals of each of the plurality of magnetic field transducers are electrically coupled together in series so that the bias current flows through each of the plurality of magnetic field transducers in series. A capacitively-coupled summing amplifier has a plurality of inputs, each configured to receive the output signal of a respective one of the plurality of magnetic field transducers, and an output at which an amplified and summed signal is provided, wherein the capacitively-coupled summing amplifier is configured to amplify and sum the received output signals of the plurality of magnetic field transducers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Craig S. Petrie, Hernán D. Romero, David J. Haas
  • Patent number: 11408756
    Abstract: A magnetic position measuring device includes a magnetic scale and a scanning unit movable relative thereto in at least one measuring direction. The magnetic scale has scale regions positioned at a regular pitch and have an oppositely oriented magnetization, the pitch indicating the extension of a scale region along the measuring direction. The scanning unit has at least one first detector unit cell, which includes three stripe-shaped magnetoresistive detector elements set apart from one another in the measuring direction, the longitudinal directions of the detector elements each having an orientation oriented perpendicular to the measuring direction. Adjacent detector elements along the measuring direction in the first detector unit cell have a distance of, for example, one twelfth of the pitch, relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GMBH
    Inventor: Johannes Schneider
  • Patent number: 11402239
    Abstract: A vehicle movement tracking system that employs floor mats for generating location information using magnetic stripes, detectable with a magnetic sensor in a wheel of the vehicle. Two sensors are in a wheel of a vehicle. One sensor senses wheel rotation, and the other sensor senses a magnetic. The vehicle passes over a floor mat comprising magnetic stripes thereon that code the mat and thereby indicate the location at which the mat is at. When the vehicle travels over this mat, the magnetic sensor in the wheel detects the magnetic stripes and the wheel rotation sensor detects the distance between the magnetic stripes. In combination, these two sensors are used to create a location word that denotes the mat over which the vehicle passes over. The location word is stored in non-volatile memory and later uploaded to a location collection station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Enrique Aleman, Monte Denton, Keith Edwin Curtis
  • Patent number: 11402417
    Abstract: A centralising meter is connected to a data concentrator via a first powerline communication network and to remote basic meters via a second powerline communication network. The centralising meter emulates a smart electricity meter application with respect to the data concentrator for each remote basic meter, in order in particular to construct a corresponding load curve. When the ratio of an energy consumption declared by all the remote basic meters to an energy consumption measured by the centralising meter is below a predefined threshold and when furthermore a plurality of load curves show a drop to zero, a fraud is detected. The centralising meter compares total energy consumptions estimated from extrapolations of certain load curves with the measured energy consumption, to identify which remote basic meter is subject to the fraud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: SAGECOM ENERGY & TELECOM SAS
    Inventor: Henri Teboulle
  • Patent number: 11391767
    Abstract: A measuring arrangement for monitoring a cable extending in a longitudinal direction includes a cable core having at least one electrical line element for transmitting electrical data or electric power, a signal unit for feeding a measurement signal into the cable core and for detecting a response signal, a sensor unit having a sensor line extending in the longitudinal direction and being disposed inside the cable core, and a monitoring unit. A method for monitoring a cable which extends in a longitudinal direction is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Leoni Kabel GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Janssen, Heiko Weber
  • Patent number: 11366146
    Abstract: An electric utility meter pedestal with provision for providing pre-construction power from underground service comprising an elongate support for a double compartment meter housing the upper portion of which accommodates a standard utility meter and the lower portion of which provides secure access to a pre-construction 110-volt duplex outlet and a breaker switch for that outlet. Access to the duplex outlet is made secure by virtue of an outer cover panel which can be put in place to fully cover and limit access to the outlet after the construction of the building has been complete. The 20 amp duplex outlet therefore provides 110 volt 20 amp service to workmen using tools during the construction phase as well as a convenient outdoor outlet for the homeowner after construction is complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Inventor: Matthew P. Linnell
  • Patent number: 11368060
    Abstract: A device including a plurality of motors is disclosed. The device includes a body comprising a plurality of magnet arrays. Each magnet array comprises a plurality of magnets which define a polygon and the plurality of magnets are arranged in a semi-Halbach configuration. The polygons of the plurality of magnet arrays form a tessellating pattern in which the magnet arrays each share at least one magnet with another one of the magnet arrays. Each magnet is configured to be rotatable relative to the body, or in the case of coils as magnets, the input of each coil can be manipulated to replicate the same or similar effect. The device further comprises a plurality of rotors, wherein each magnet array is configured to receive a rotor rotatable relative to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Jeffrey Seltzer, Boqin Sun
  • Patent number: 11360286
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor includes first to fourth resistors, a power supply port, a ground port, a first output port, and a second output port. The first resistor and the second resistor are located in a first region and connected in series via a first connection point connected to the first output port. The third resistor and the fourth resistor are located in a second region and connected in series via a second connection point connected to the second output port, at least a part of the second region being located at a position different from the first region in a direction parallel to an X direction. The first and second resistors are located between the third and fourth resistors in a direction parallel to a Y direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yongfu Cai, Hiraku Hirabayashi, Tsuyoshi Umehara
  • Patent number: 11360162
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for measuring a magnetic field and, more specifically, for measuring direct and/or alternating currents circulating in a primary conductor. The current sensor 1 according to the invention comprises: •at least two magnetic transducers 2, 3, each comprising at least one elongate coil 5, 6, forming a loop surrounding the primary conductor; •at least one loop closure mechanism allowing two ends of the coils 5, 6 of a transducer 2, 3 to be retained while providing: —a negative mechanical gap between the two ends of the coils 5, 6 closing each loop, along a first elongation axis Y of the coils 5, 6; an offset of each end of a coil 5, 6 of a loop relative to the other end of a coil of the loop, along an offset axis X; —a mechanical inversion of the offsets between the loops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: NEELOGY
    Inventor: Lionel Cima
  • Patent number: 11360150
    Abstract: A battery management system includes multiple sensors, status detection circuitry, and fault detection circuitry. The sensors sense statuses of a battery pack. The status detection circuitry detects whether the battery pack is in a normal condition based on the statuses to generate a detection result. The fault detection circuitry detects whether a fault is present in the battery pack. The sensors include a current sensor that senses a battery current of the battery pack. The fault detection circuitry includes a detection circuit that monitors a rate of change of a voltage at a terminal of the battery pack, and detects whether a fault is present in the current sensor based on a result of a comparison between the rate of change and a threshold and based on the detection result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: O2Micro Inc.
    Inventor: Guoxing Li
  • Patent number: 11353337
    Abstract: Implementations of a resolver sensor system may include a signal amplifier portion configured to be coupled to a magnetoresistive sensor coupled with a movable element where the signal amplifier portion configured to receive a sine signal and a cosine signal from the magnetoresistive sensor; and a sensor offset canceling portion coupled with a signal amplifier portion. The sensor offset canceling portion may be configured to generate a direct current offset correction signal to the signal amplifier portion which uses two or more amplifiers included in the signal amplifier portion to receive the sine signal and the cosine signal and to generate corresponding adjusted digital sine and cosine signals. The signal amplifier portion may be configured to provide the adjusted digital sine signal and the adjusted digital cosine signal to one of the servo signal processor or the system controller for use in determining a position of the movable element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Kazumasa Takai
  • Patent number: 11353339
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the angular position or the rotational movement of a shaft is described below. According to one exemplary embodiment, the apparatus has a first housing part and also a shaft which is arranged in the first housing part and can rotate about a rotation axis. The shaft has a bore which extends along the rotation axis from an end shaft of the shaft into the shaft. The apparatus further includes a magnet unit with at least one permanent magnet which is arranged within the bore and is fastened to the shaft, a second housing part with a projection which extends along the rotation axis into the bore, and also a magnetic field sensor element which is arranged in the interior of the projection of the second housing part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Inventor: Peter Slama
  • Patent number: 11346812
    Abstract: An inspection tool apparatus includes a core having an axial length. The axial length is determined based on a desired depth of inspection radially from the core. A plurality of arms are coupled to and extend radially from the core. The core and the plurality of arms comprise a high permeability magnetic material. The core or at least one of the plurality of arms is wound by a respective coil that is positioned to receive magnetic flux that is passing through the core or at least one of the plurality of arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Reza Khalaj Amineh, Luis Emilio San Martin, Burkay Donderici
  • Patent number: 11333528
    Abstract: A sensor device includes a first sensor arrangement configured to generate first sensor signals based on sensing a varying magnetic field generated by a pole wheel having a pole wheel pitch, wherein the first sensor signals represent a first differential signal that defines a first measurement value; a second sensor arrangement configured to generate at least one second sensor signal based on sensing the varying magnetic field, wherein the at least one second sensor signal defines a second measurement value that is phase shifted from the first measurement value; and a signal processor configured to detect the pole wheel pitch based on the first measurement value and the second measurement value, and adjust a gain setting of an amplifier circuit based on the detected pole wheel pitch, where the amplifier circuit is configured to amplify the at least one second sensor signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Inventors: Christoph Schroers, Alessandro Petri, Massimiliano Zilli