Patents Examined by David Frederiksen
  • Patent number: 9780780
    Abstract: A target detection system may include a power supply and an inductor capacitor (LC) tank circuit. The LC tank circuit may include a sensing coil, a first tank capacitor, and a second tank capacitor. Further, the LC tank circuit may alternate between the first tank capacitor and the second tank capacitor, and the power supply may power the LC tank circuit. The target detection system may further include measurement circuitry to measure a first decay characteristic of a first set of free oscillations from the first tank capacitor and a second decay characteristic of a second set of free oscillations from the second tank capacitor. Additionally, the target detection system may also include processing circuitry to compare the first decay characteristic to the second decay characteristic to determine a presence and a distance of a target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James Feng Sun, Frederic Boutaud
  • Patent number: 9772347
    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. An interconnection meter socket adapter may be configured to be coupled to a DC-AC inverter, which may be coupled to various energy sources. As such, the energy sources are coupled to an electrical power system. In addition, a connector such as a flexible cable or flexible conduit containing insulated wires can be provided for connecting various energy sources and/or sinks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: SAN DIEGO GAS & ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ken Parks, Michael Colburn
  • Patent number: 9766290
    Abstract: A method is described for operating at least one magnetic switching element, at least one first connection of at least one sensor device being connected to at least one connection of a coil of the magnetic switching element, and the first connection or an additional connection of the sensor device being connected to a reference potential, and a measuring state being established in which at least one connection of the coil is essentially at least temporarily decoupled from the reference potential and/or from a source activating the coil, and at least one signal of at least one sensor of the sensor device being ascertained in the measuring state from at least one electrical potential at at least one connection of the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Nestor Rodriguez-Amaya, Siegfried Ruthardt, Holger Rapp, Wolfgang Stoecklein, Bernd Berghaenel, Marco Beier
  • Patent number: 9746583
    Abstract: A well integrity inspection system configured to inspect a well structure including multiple concentric layers. The well integrity inspection system includes an inspection probe positioned in the well structure. The inspection probe includes a plurality of excitation assemblies for transmitting a plurality of radiation emissions into the well structure. The plurality of excitation assemblies includes at least a neutron excitation assembly and an X-ray excitation assembly. The inspection probe also includes a plurality of detection assemblies configured to receive a plurality of backscatter radiation returns from the well structure. The plurality of detection assemblies includes at least a neutron detection assembly and an X-ray detection assembly. The well integrity inspection system further including a processor operatively coupled to the inspection probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Inventors: Ertugrul Berkcan, John Scott Price, Edward James Nieters, William Robert Ross, Clifford Bueno, Yuri Alexeyevich Plotnikov, Susanne Madeline Lee
  • Patent number: 9740911
    Abstract: A biometric scanner having an electric field device and a method of using that scanner are disclosed. The electric field device (a) has no electric field generator or an electric field generator that is prevented from providing an electric field to a biometric object, such as a finger, and (b) has an electric field sensor array comprised of a plurality of electric field sensors. Capacitance readings from the sensor array are used to generate values that are attributed to locations corresponding to the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: John K. Schneider, Jack C. Kitchens
  • Patent number: 9739643
    Abstract: A physical quantity sensor includes a substrate, a fixation section and a wiring line provided to the substrate, a contact section adapted to electrically connect the fixation section and the wiring line to each other, and a movable electrode electrically connected to the wiring line via the fixation section. The contact section is disposed in the fixation section in a second area outside a first area obtained by imaginarily extending a fixed support area in a displacement direction of the movable electrode in a plan view. The fixed support area is sandwiched by edge portions of an area where the movable electrode and the fixation section are connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Satoru Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9720058
    Abstract: A magnetic field measurement apparatus includes an irradiation portion, a gas cell, a measurement unit (polarization separation unit, light receiving portion, signal processing circuit), and a magnetic shield. The magnetic shield is formed in a elongated hollow shape having openings at both sides thereof. The gas cell, in which gaseous atoms are sealed, is disposed in a hollow area of the magnetic shield. The irradiation portion irradiates irradiation light including linearly polarized light adjusted so that the vibration direction of an electric field coincides with the axis direction of the magnetic shield onto the gaseous atoms sealed in the gas cell along a direction perpendicular to the axis of the magnetic shield. The measurement unit measures a rotational angle of a polarization plane of the irradiation light that has been irradiated by the irradiation portion and passed through the gaseous atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Ueno, Kimio Nagasaka
  • Patent number: 9709424
    Abstract: An inductive detection type rotary encoder of the present invention includes: first and second transmission windings in a stator; first and second reception windings within first and second regions, respectively; and first and second magnetic flux coupling bodies within third and fourth regions, respectively, in a rotor. The second, first, third, and fourth regions are sequentially disposed in an axial direction. The shortest distance between the first transmission winding and the first magnetic flux coupling body is shorter than those between the second transmission winding and the first magnetic flux coupling body and between the first transmission winding and the second magnetic flux coupling body. The shortest distance between the second transmission winding and the second magnetic flux coupling body is shorter than those between the first transmission winding and the second magnetic flux coupling body and between the second transmission winding and the first magnetic flux coupling body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kouji Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9709423
    Abstract: Provided are an electromagnetic-induction-type position detector which can be small sized and in which interference errors do not occur, and a detection method. The present invention has: a stator having first and second main patterns and first and second sub-patterns; and a rotor having a main pattern part and a sub-pattern part, in which adjacent comb-shaped electrodes of the main pattern part and the sub-pattern part are connected to form a single loop; and when an excitation electric current is supplied to the first and second main patterns, an excitation voltage excited in the main pattern part is detected in the first and second sub-patterns via the sub-pattern part, and when an excitation electric current is supplied to the first and second sub-patterns, the excitation voltage excited in the sub-pattern part is detected in the first and second main patterns via the main pattern part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES MACHINE TOOL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Katsuyoshi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 9702943
    Abstract: A single chip push-pull bridge-type magnetic field sensor. The sensor comprises a substrate, bonding pads, magnetoresistance sensing elements, and flux concentrators, wherein the magnetoresistance sensing elements are positioned in the clearances of the adjacent flux concentrators, and the directions of the pinning layers of the magnetoresistance sensing elements are identical. The flux concentrators are divided into a push arm type and a pull arm type, the included angle between one type and an X-axis forward direction is positive, and the included angle between the other type and the X-axis forward direction is negative. The working principle of the sensor is that the magnetic field along the X-axis direction in the clearances of the flux concentrators are oppositely oriented. The sensor has the advantages of small size, low cost, simplicity in manufacturing, high sensitivity, good linearity, high sensitivity, wide working dynamic range, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Multidimension Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: James Geza Deak
  • Patent number: 9681844
    Abstract: A biopotential signal acquisition system, comprising: a first active electrode including an integrated pre-amplifier and an analogue to digital converter; a second active electrode including an integrated pre-amplifier and an analogue to digital converter, wherein the second active electrode has variable gain; a test signal generator for generating a test signal at a test frequency and coupling the test signal to the first and/or second active electrodes; and a digital signal processor configured to: process the digital outputs of the first and second active electrodes to derive a gain control signal based on a difference between the first and second active electrode outputs at the test frequency, and apply the gain control signal to the second active electrode. The disclosure also relates to an electronic circuit or device and a biopotential signal acquisition method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignees: IMEC VZW, Stichting IMEC Nederland
    Inventors: Jiawei Xu, Refet Firat Yazicioglu
  • Patent number: 9664768
    Abstract: A TMR element and a corrective AMR element are series-connected between a power supply and a ground. The resistance value of the corrective AMR element is set so as to offset an output error in the rotation angle of an external magnetic field, which is included in the resistance value of the TMR element. The resistance value of the corrective AMR element is smaller than that of the TMR element. An increased voltage can be applied from the power supply to the TMR element. It is possible to increase, in the resistance value of the TMR element, the amount of change that depends on the rotation angle of the external magnetic field. This makes it possible to increase, in the output of a magnetic sensor, the amount of change that depends on the rotation angle of the external magnetic field. The sensitivity of the magnetic sensor can be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takamoto Furuichi, Toshifumi Yano, Hisanori Yokura
  • Patent number: 9664496
    Abstract: A method of determining the length of a cable coupled to a transceiver of a network device includes transmitting a first series of pulses of a first pulse width onto a cable, receiving reflections of the first series of pulses, transmitting a second series of pulses of a second pulse width onto the cable, and receiving reflections of the second series of pulses. The second pulse width is wider than the first pulse width. It is determined whether the reflections of the first series of pulses satisfy a criterion. The length of the cable is calculated using either the reflections of the first series of pulses or the reflections of the second series of pulses, based at least in part on whether the reflections of the first series of pulses satisfy the criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Inc.
    Inventors: Yanyan Zhang, Xiabing Liu
  • Patent number: 9658254
    Abstract: A method of detecting a magnetic coupling in a meter includes obtaining in an electricity meter information representative of power consumption as measured within the meter of a plurality of lines of an electrical service. The method also includes obtaining from a magnetic sensor information representative of a magnetic field within an electricity meter. A processing circuit then determines whether a first condition exists wherein the magnetic field exceeds a first threshold and the information representative of the power consumption indicates a load imbalance on the plurality of lines such that the load imbalance exceeds an imbalance threshold. The method further includes performing a processing step responsive to a determination that the first condition exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Landis+Gyr, Inc.
    Inventor: Anibal Diego Ramirez
  • Patent number: 9651610
    Abstract: Visible laser probing is described. In one example a probe device has a laser configured to provide a laser beam at a visible wavelength, an objective lens positioned in front of the laser to focus the laser beam on an active region of an integrated circuit through a back side of an integrated circuit die, and a detector positioned to receive a reflected laser beam reflected from the active region through a back side of the die, through the objective lens. The detector is configured to detect an amplitude modulation of the reflected laser beam wherein the amplitude modulation is attributable to the electric field at the active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Travis M. Eiles, Rajiv Giridharagopal, David Shykind
  • Patent number: 9638028
    Abstract: A method for signal communication between a well drilling instrument and the Earth's surface includes generating an electromagnetic field in an instrument disposed in drill string used to drill a wellbore. The electromagnetic field includes encoded measurements from at least one sensor associated with the instrument. A signal corresponding to an amplitude of the electromagnetic field is measured and the measurements from the measured signal are decoded. The signal comprises a voltage measured across electrodes or a voltage induced in an electromagnetic receiver disposed at a selected depth below the Earth's surface. The selected depth is at least the depth of a formation below the water table having a highest resistivity within 500 meters of the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Guozhong Gao, Luis E. Depavia
  • Patent number: 9631951
    Abstract: A resolver includes a stator core (3), winding wires (12) and a resin mold (6). The resin mold (6) contains a ring portion (4), a connector (5) and a stress reduction structure (9). The ring portion (4) covers the stator core (3). The stress reduction structure is arranged at the connecting portion between the ring portion (4) and the connector (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinya Sano, Masakazu Nagaishi, Hiroki Tsuboi, Taketo Takeuchi, Takafumi Ogisu
  • Patent number: 9632048
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a sheet resistance measuring method, comprising the following steps: connecting at least one to-be-measured thin film having a predetermined shape to two separate electrodes in at least one pair of electrodes; measuring the resistance between the two electrodes in each pair of electrodes; and determining the sheet resistance of the to-be-measured thin film based on the measured resistance and the shape of the corresponding to-be-measured thin film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shi Shu, Bing Sun, Bin Zhang, Kexin Lu, Yue Shi, Zhijun Lv
  • Patent number: 9620046
    Abstract: A method of detecting a defect in an organic light-emitting display device includes: preparing an organic light-emitting display device including an organic light-emitting display panel which includes a plurality of pixels, where each of the pixels includes a driving transistor which operates in a saturation region or a transition region based on a potential difference between a source and a drain thereof and outputs a driving current, and an organic light-emitting diode which emits light based on the driving current; providing a plurality of voltages to the organic light-emitting display panel to operate the driving transistor in the transition region, and determining whether the organic light-emitting display device is defective based on an image, which is displayed on the organic light-emitting display panel based on data applied thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Bong Sub Song
  • Patent number: 9618562
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus that includes a first internal-potential generation circuit that generates a first internal potential from a power supply potential and that outputs the first internal potential to a first node, and an internal-potential force circuit that includes a first switch element provided between the first node and a second external terminal. The internal-potential force circuit causes the first switch element to enter into an off-state when the test signal supplied to a third external terminal is activated and a potential level of a first external terminal is a first level, and causes the first switch element to enter into an on-state when the test signal supplied to the third external terminal is activated and the potential level of the first external terminal is a second level different from the first level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Kiyohiro Furutani