Patents Examined by David Frederiksen
  • Patent number: 10114094
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for detecting magnetic resonance (MR) data a slice is slice-selectively excited followed by irradiation of a refocusing pulse and activation of first and second phase encoding gradients, and a readout gradient, in order to read out MR data that are entered into a line of k-space. MR data for further multiple lines of k-space are acquired without the first phase encoding gradient being activated again, and follow radiation of another refocusing pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Dominik Paul
  • Patent number: 10107851
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an arrangement for detecting connection loss at a circuit part which has a capacitive behavior and is electrically connected to a useful signal source. The disclosure provides an evaluation circuit which is electrically connected to an input node of the circuit part having a capacitive behavior and detects the pulsed useful signal (UNUTZ), output by the useful signal source, at the input node of the circuit part having a capacitive behavior and evaluates the signal characteristics in order to detect connection loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Mathias Reimann
  • Patent number: 10101384
    Abstract: A signal converter circuit includes a sensor connection, two comparator circuits, each having a signal input for an electric connection to the sensor connection, a reference input for an electric connection to a respectively assigned reference signal source and a signal output for a provision of an output signal, with a feedback line being formed between the respective signal output and the respective reference input, and further including two reference signal sources, each of the comparator circuits being configured for comparing a signal level at the signal input to a signal level at the reference input and for outputting a digital output signal as a function of a comparison result between the signal levels, wherein the two reference signal inputs are connected to one another via a coupling line being configured to transmit a presettable fraction of the respective signal level present at one reference input to the other reference input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: FESTO AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Roland Kalberer, Martin Hommel
  • Patent number: 10094863
    Abstract: Disclosed examples include systems to determine an on-state impedance of a high voltage transistor, and measurement circuits to measure the drain voltage of a drain terminal of the high voltage transistor during switching, including an attenuator circuit to generate an attenuator output signal representing a voltage across the high voltage transistor when the high voltage transistor is turned on, and a differential amplifier to provide an amplified sense voltage signal according to the attenuator output signal. The attenuator circuit includes a clamp transistor coupled with the drain terminal of the high voltage transistor to provide a sense signal to a first internal node, a resistive voltage divider circuit to provide the attenuator output signal based on the sense signal, and a first clamp circuit to limit the sense signal voltage when the high voltage transistor is turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Sandeep R. Bahl, Grant L. Smith, Daniel Ruiz Flores
  • Patent number: 10093349
    Abstract: A magnet is fixed to an output shaft of a motor. The output shaft is rotated such that a magnetic field emitted by the magnet also rotates. A voltage pulse is generated from a passive sensor when the magnetic field rotates past the passive sensor. The voltage pulse is generated using a Wiegand wire. An active sensor is activated, from an unpowered state, in response to the voltage pulse. The active sensor detects a position of the magnet that correlates to a position of the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: TRW Automotive U.S. LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Woodruff, Timothy Sworn
  • Patent number: 10089641
    Abstract: Interconnection meter socket adapters are provided. An interconnection meter socket adapter comprises a housing enclosing a set of electrical connections. The interconnection meter socket adapter may be configured to be coupled to a standard distribution panel and a standard electric meter, thereby establishing connections between a distribution panel and a user such that electrical power may be delivered to the user while an electrical meter measures the power consumption of the user. A power regulation module is disposed between the interconnection meter socket adapter, and configured to selectively connect one or more energy sources or energy sinks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: SAN DIEGO GAS & ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ken Parks, Michael Colburn
  • Patent number: 10082593
    Abstract: A method of creating a synthetic aperture. The method may comprise identifying a static configuration, inputting the static configuration into a dynamic controller, configuring a transmitter with the dynamic controller, and configuring a receiver with the dynamic controller. The method may further comprise inputting operational variables and environmental variables into a dynamic configuration, inputting the dynamic configuration into the dynamic controller, and re-configuring the transmitter and the receiver with the dynamic controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: GOWell International, LLC
    Inventors: Yanxiang Yu, Jinsong Zhao, Qinshan Yang
  • Patent number: 10078094
    Abstract: A sensor system (01) for measuring the rotational speed of a rotatable component having a pole wheel (02) comprising a carrier (04) with at least one path of alternating magnetic north and south poles (05), and at least one magnetic field sensor (03) for sampling the path of the pole wheel (02) is provided. The sensor system (01) provides that the rotational direction in front of and behind the magnetic field sensor (03) a ferromagnetic flux-conducting component (07) is arranged in each case opposite the path, the ferromagnetic flux-conducting components (07) being arranged in the installation space between the magnetic field sensor (03) and the pole wheel (02), the distance between the ferromagnetic flux-conducting components (07) corresponding to the width of one magnetic pole (05) of the pole wheel (02).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Benjamin Kaufner
  • Patent number: 10065590
    Abstract: A capacitive sensing device includes an antenna electrode for emitting an alternating electric field in response to an alternating voltage caused in the antenna electrode and a control and evaluation circuit configured to maintain the alternating voltage equal to an alternating reference voltage by injecting a current into the antenna electrode and to measure the current. The control and evaluation circuit includes a microcontroller with a digital output for providing a digital signal and a low-pass filter operatively connected to the digital output for generating the alternating reference voltage by low-pass-filtering the digital signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: IEE International Electronics & Engineering S.A.
    Inventor: Laurent Lamesch
  • Patent number: 10066966
    Abstract: A magnetic position detection device configured to detect a relative movement position of a magnetic encoder, which includes N-magnetic poles and S-magnetic poles arranged alternately in a moving direction, by a magnetosensitive portion as a change in direction of a magnetic field from the encoder. As the magnetosensitive portion, direction detection type magnetoresistive elements are arranged, which each have a resistance value that changes depending on a direction of an applied magnetic field. The encoder further includes non-magnetized portions arranged at boundaries between the N-magnetic poles and the S-magnetic poles so that changes through the movement of the encoder of a magnetic-field component Bs in the moving direction of the encoder and a magnetic-field component Br in a direction in which the magnetosensitive portion and the encoder are opposed to each other, which are formed at a position of the magnetosensitive portion, are approximately sinusoidal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takafumi Hara, Fusako Tomizumi
  • Patent number: 10060759
    Abstract: A rotational angle detecting device may include a flat face part formed on a detected object, and a permanent magnet having a magnetic pole face facing the flat face part. The device may also include a pair of first yokes arranged in line symmetry along a magnetization direction and project in parallel with a rotational axis of the detected object from the permanent magnet, and a second yoke spaced from projecting ends of the first yokes to face a face of the permanent magnet, the first yokes projecting from the face. The device may further include a magnetic detection element having a magnetic sensitive part positioned in a detection point corresponding to each of the first yokes, and may be configured to detect magnetic flux densities in directions parallel with the rotational axis and a magnetic flux density in a direction perpendicular to the rotational axis and the reference line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Valeo Japan Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Shunichi Sato
  • Patent number: 10054647
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for fault detection in a power control system. In one aspect, a method includes measuring a plurality of values of a feedback voltage from a power control system over a period of time; determining a rate of feedback voltage change based on the measured values of the feedback voltage and a duration of the period of time; determining, with a controller, that the determined rate of feedback voltage change is smaller than a threshold rate of change; and in response to determining that the determined rate of feedback voltage change is smaller than the threshold rate of change, transmitting a fault indication signal to the power control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventor: Sean S. Chen
  • Patent number: 10054616
    Abstract: A device and method are provided for monitoring voltage and current in a continuous conductor. A current sensor is configured to sense current in the continuous conductor. A voltage sense conductor is provided and a guided path is configured to bring the voltage sense conductor into contact with the continuous conductor at a pre-determined orientation. A communication interface is configured to receive information about a common reference voltage from a source, the source being external to the device. A voltage measuring circuit is configured to estimate voltage between a voltage sensed by the voltage sense conductor and the common reference voltage using the information about the common reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: The NanoSteel Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin M. Johnson, Greg Hunter, Paul C. M. Hilton
  • Patent number: 10041895
    Abstract: A sensor system comprises a marginal oscillator. A tank circuit comprises inductive and capacitive elements including a probe arranged to generate an electromagnetic field in a sensing region. A non-linear drive circuit drives oscillation of the tank circuit by supplying a differential signal pair of complementary signals across the tank circuit, sustaining the oscillation on the basis of at least one of the complementary signals. A detection circuit detects a characteristic of the oscillation of the tank circuit that is dependent on the electromagnetic properties of the contents of the sensing region and to derive a signal representing the at least one characteristic. The differential signaling provides numerous advantages, including improved accuracy and signal-to-noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Salunda Limited
    Inventors: Philip Samuel Pickles, Peter Wherritt, Martin Roy Harrison
  • Patent number: 10041990
    Abstract: A water tree testing apparatus using a flat test piece comprising a candidate insulation material an d having a first surface having a plurality of electrode holes formed therein has: a liquid-permeable conductive first permeable member that is attached to the first surface and covers the electrode holes; a liquid-permeable conductive second permeable member that is attached to a second surface that is opposite side from the first surface, and extends along the second surface as to face the first permeable member with the test piece therebetween; a first water tank for immersing the first surface in the first aqueous solution; a second water tank for immersing the second surface in the second aqueous solution; a first electrode, and a second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirotake Nakaji, Yuichi Tsuboi, Toshihiro Tsuda, Tetsuo Yoshimitsu
  • Patent number: 10036826
    Abstract: A method is disclosed herein. The method includes disposing an electromagnetic logging tool in a borehole penetrating a formation, the electromagnetic logging tool being part of a drill string in the formation, the drill string having a drill bit. The method includes acquiring measurements using the electromagnetic logging tool. Further, the method includes using a processor, applying a pixel-based inversion to the acquired measurements to determine at least one formation property, wherein applying the pixel-based inversion includes using adaptive regularization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Thiel, Dzevat Omeragic, Tarek M. Habashy
  • Patent number: 10012525
    Abstract: A device for determining the fill level of a medium in a container has at least one electronic device and at least one signal conductor arrangement. The electronic device supplies the signal conductor arrangement with electromagnetic signals. To provide a device for determining the fill level that is advantageous compared to the prior art, the signal conductor arrangement has several emitting devices for emitting the electromagnetic signal. A support element that can be inserted in a wall of the container supports the signal conductor arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: KROHNE Messtechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Baer, Thomas Musch, Michael Deilmann, Attila Bilgic, Stephan Neuburger
  • Patent number: 10002060
    Abstract: A matrix circuit includes, besides a plurality of common signal lines and a plurality of data signal lines arranged in a matrix, a plurality of monitoring signal lines that allow states of the common signal lines to be monitored. Inputs to the monitoring signal lines during one scan of the common signal lines are stored such that a fault including a ground fault, a short circuit, or disconnection on any of the common signal lines is detected and a location of the faulty common signal line is identified based on the stored inputs to the monitoring signal lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Okita
  • Patent number: 9989568
    Abstract: An electrical meter and methods of use and operation are disclosed. The electrical meter includes a housing and an electrical interface including a plurality of electrical connections having a predetermined physical layout. The meter further includes a plurality of voltage measurement elements within the housing, each of the plurality of voltage measurement elements connected to at least one of the plurality of electrical connections, and an electrical metering circuit within the housing and configured to detect power consumption based at least in part on monitoring a voltage at each of the plurality of voltage measurement elements. The meter also includes a power supply electrically connected to the electrical metering circuit, the power supply supplying power to one or more circuits of the electrical meter. The meter further includes a low voltage electrical connection dedicated to the power supply and from an electrical service to which the electrical meter is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: TSTM, Inc.
    Inventor: Greg May
  • Patent number: 9983274
    Abstract: A magnetic detection in which a first element (3) and a second element (4) that are a magnetoresistance element whose resistance value changes in response to an external magnetic field are connected in series with each other so as to form a bridge circuit, one end of the bridge circuit is connected to a power supply (5), the other end thereof is grounded, a connecting point (6) between the first element (3) and the second element (4) is connected to an amplifier means (9), at least one switching means (1) is connected in series with the bridge circuit, and an output terminal (11) of the amplifier means (9) is connected to a failure detection means (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshinori Tatenuma, Junichi Ichikawa