Patents Examined by David Z Huang
  • Patent number: 10753910
    Abstract: A process for the analysis of the acoustic characteristic of an exhaust gas flap (10) for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, wherein the exhaust gas flap (10) includes a flap diaphragm (14), which is adjustable in a flap body (12). A measurement noise is applied to the exhaust gas flap (10). A disturbing noises originating at the exhaust gas flap (10) is detected and a disturbing noise time course (50) is generated. A disturbing noise frequency course (56) is generated based on the disturbing noise time course (50). The disturbing noise frequency course (56) is compared with a reference disturbing noise frequency course (58). The acoustic quality of the exhaust gas flap (10) is evaluated based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Eberspächer Exhaust Technology GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Sven Grötzinger
  • Patent number: 10753790
    Abstract: An improved system and method for analyzing motor performance to detect vibration of an electric machine controlled by a motor drive is disclosed. A load observer determines an estimated torque present as a load on the motor as a function of input signals corresponding to a desired torque to be generated by the motor and to a measured angular position of the motor during operation. The motor drive determines a frequency response of the estimated torque to identify at what magnitude and frequency any vibration components are present within the estimated torque signal. The motor drive compares the frequency response of the estimated torque signal to set points. If the measured magnitude of vibration at a particular frequency, as seen in the frequency response, exceeds a threshold set in one of the set points for that frequency, the motor drive generates an output signal indicting an excessive vibration is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Rokwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Miklosovic, Mark A. Chaffee
  • Patent number: 10739373
    Abstract: A micromechanical spring for a sensor element, including at least two spring sections formed along a sensing axis, the at least two spring sections each having a defined length, and the at least two spring sections having different defined widths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Monika Koster, Rudy Eid
  • Patent number: 10739225
    Abstract: Techniques for implementing and operating a system that includes a pipe segment, which has tubing that defines a bore and a fluid conduit implemented in an annulus of the tubing, and a test head. The test head includes a shell, which defines an annulus cavity, and an inflatable bladder implemented in the annulus cavity, in which the system maintains the inflatable securing bladder in a less inflated state while pipe segment tubing is not present in the annulus cavity and increases inflation of the inflatable bladder to a more inflated state when the tubing is present in the annulus cavity to facilitate securing and sealing an open end of the pipe segment in the test head to enable integrity of the tubing to be tested at least in part by flowing a test fluid into the annulus of the tubing via a testing port on the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Trinity Bay Equipment Holding, LLC
    Inventors: Kirk Spencer Francis, David Michael Gregory, Jonathan Guerrero, Alexander Lee Winn
  • Patent number: 10734092
    Abstract: A vehicle, a satellite control system, and a method for controlling the same are provided. The satellite control system, for example, may include, but is not limited to, a control moment gyroscope having a gimbal, at least one gimbal angle sensor configured to determine an angle of the gimbal, each gimbal angle sensor having an output circuit configured to output the determined angle, a signal conditioner circuit having substantially identical circuit topology as the output circuit, and a common mode error compensation circuit electrically coupled to the signal conditioner, the common mode error compensation circuit configured to determine common mode error in the gimbal angle sensor based upon a voltage output from the signal conditioner circuit and to output a signal to compensate for the common mode error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Douglas Edward Smith, Don Crippen, Joshua Matthew Stiles, Mostafa Sayed
  • Patent number: 10724857
    Abstract: A fastening system for securing and real-time monitoring of a bolted connection is described. An ultrasonic signal is used to measure time-of-flight in the bolt and calculate an effective length of the bolt. By comparing the calculated effective length against reference values, a loosened bolt may be detected, and a real-time decision can be made to initiate protective measures and/or make a report to a support system. The measuring subsystem can be configured to be electrically isolated, and the bolted connection may include a live electrical connection. The real-time monitoring can provide early warning of potential system failures across any system having bolted connections: this includes civil systems such as buildings and bridges, transportation devices such as trains and airplanes and automobiles, and power distribution systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Smart Wires Inc.
    Inventors: Susheel Brahmeshwarkar, Antonio Ginart
  • Patent number: 10718398
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and devices for identifying an action. In some embodiments, a method for identifying an action includes: recording vibration trajectory information, wherein the vibration trajectory information corresponds to vibration of at least a portion of an intelligent device from a start of a vibration event to stabilization of the vibration event; determining whether the vibration is a damping vibration based on the vibration trajectory information; and in response to determining that the vibration is a damping vibration, determining that the vibration is caused by a user's trigger action, or in response to determining that the vibration is not a damping vibration, determining that the vibration is not caused by the user's trigger action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignees: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd., Beijing Smartmi Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dongxu Liu
  • Patent number: 10704380
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a cross-bore between a first pipe and a second pipe that are installed underground includes a support and an electronic circuit assembly. The support is movable through the first pipe. The electronic circuit assembly is mounted to the support to move through the first pipe with the support. The electronic circuit assembly includes a controller and a capacitance sensor. The capacitance sensor outputs a capacitance value based on an interaction of an electric field generated by the capacitance sensor with an environment of the first pipe. The capacitance sensor outputs to the controller a given capacitance value when the capacitance sensor is at a location where the environment of the first pipe is a cross-bore intersection with the second pipe. The controller generates an indicator indicative of a presence of a cross-bore upon the capacitance sensor outputting the given capacitance value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: ULC Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: John L. Jayne, G. Gregory Penza, Robert E. Kodadek, III
  • Patent number: 10704907
    Abstract: A circuit device includes a clock signal generation circuit that generates a clock signal through an oscillation circuit, and a detection circuit including a circuit operating through an operation signal based on the clock signal. The clock signal generation circuit includes a first frequency adjustment unit which is capable of adjusting an oscillation frequency before an physical quantity transducer and the circuit device are connected to each other, and a second frequency adjustment unit which is capable of adjusting the oscillation frequency in a state where the physical quantity transducer and the circuit device are connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Teppei Higuchi, Katsuhiko Maki
  • Patent number: 10697823
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided, which use at least two coherent light sources with known phase relations between them, which are configured to illuminate a target with at least two corresponding spots, an optical unit comprising a mask and configured to focus, onto a sensor, interfered scattered illumination from the spots of the target, passing through the mask, to yield a signal, at least one shifter configured to shift a frequency of at least one of the coherent light sources to provide a carrier frequency in the signal, and a processing unit configured to derive a vibration frequency of the target from the sensor signal with respect to the carrier frequency. The vibration frequency of the target is separated from the carrier frequency and speckle disturbances may be attenuated or avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignees: Elbit Systems Land and C4I Ltd., Soreq Nuclear Research Center
    Inventors: Dan Nussinson, Aner Lev, David Karl
  • Patent number: 10697873
    Abstract: A method for determining a physical similarity simulation material of a solid backfill body is provided. A compaction test is run on a gangue backfill body in a lab, to obtain a ?-? curve regarding the gangue backfill body in the compaction process. Backfill blocks are made by using a thin wood board, sponge, and a paper sheet in different proportions, and then an unconfined compression test is separately run on the backfill blocks used for physical similarity simulation, to obtain ?i-?i curves regarding the backfill blocks in the compression process. A sum of squared errors ?(?i??0)2 is introduced to separately calculate a sum of squared errors of the backfill block and that of the gangue backfill body, and accordingly an error between ?-? curves regarding the test block and the gangue backfill body is determined. Finally, a backfill block for which the sum of squared errors is less than 0.5 is determined as a physical similarity simulation material of the gangue backfill body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignees: China University of Mining and Technology, XUZHOU ZHONAN SCIENCE&TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD, China Pingmei Shenma Energy and Chemical Industry Group Co., LTD, Pingdinghsan Tianan Coal Mining Co., LTD
    Inventors: Jixiong Zhang, Xiaole Han, Qiang Zhang, Lixin Lan, Yadong Chen, Yang Tai
  • Patent number: 10697874
    Abstract: A consumable part having a body with a surface is configured to be exposed to plasma during processing in a chamber. The consumable part includes a trigger feature disposed in the body. The trigger feature includes a void, and the void is an identifiable feature on the surface of the body to identify a wear level of the consumable part. The wear level is correlated to a lifetime remaining for the consumable part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventor: Richard Alan Gottscho
  • Patent number: 10690566
    Abstract: The invention relates to a test disc system having at least one test disc for testing the seal of a glove which is installed in a port of an insulator. The test disc (1) can be connected in a hermetically sealed fashion to the port, wherein the glove encloses with the test disc (1) a glove volume which can be placed under overpressure by the test disc (1). The test disc (1) has a base body in which electronic components for recording and storing a pressure profile in the glove volume, and at least one data interface are arranged. The test disc (1) also has a reading device for reading both a first identification element which is arranged on the glove and a second identification element which is assigned to the port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Inventor: Michael Keil
  • Patent number: 10690537
    Abstract: A test result evaluating method and a material tester are provided. A test result evaluating part includes a representative value calculating part that acquires a representative value of section data corresponding to one period of a natural vibration frequency from data of a time period representing a force applied to a test piece also including a natural vibration and a ratio calculating part that calculates a ratio between the representative value acquired by the representative value calculating part and a value based on an amplitude of the natural vibration. The representative value calculating part and the ratio calculating part are arranged in a test result evaluating part as programs realizing functions by operating an arithmetic operation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tohru Matsuura
  • Patent number: 10684259
    Abstract: A system and method for substantially coincidental sample takeoff flow rate verification which detects unstable flow conditions in a pipeline, terminates fluid sample analysis during flow instability, and resumes sample takeoff when a steady flow state is re-established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Mustang Sampling, LLC.
    Inventors: Kevin Warner, Kenneth O. Thompson
  • Patent number: 10683202
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device and a method for calibrating a MEMS device. The device includes a first semiconductor substrate including at least one MEMS component. The device also includes an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) comprising a second semiconductor substrate. The second semiconductor substrate is attached to the first semiconductor substrate. The second semiconductor substrate includes at least one piezoresistive strain gauge. Each piezoresistive strain gauge includes at least one doped semiconductor region having a resistivity that is determined by a strain on said doped semiconductor region. The second semiconductor substrate also includes a circuit for evaluating a trim algorithm for the at least one MEMs component using one or more output values received from the at least one piezoresistive strain gauge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Yean Ling Teo, Aaron A. Geisberger, Laurent Cornibert
  • Patent number: 10677703
    Abstract: Methods for determining a density of a fluid are provided. The method can include passing the fluid through a conduit, measuring a vibration of the conduit by distributed acoustic sensing via a fiber optic cable coupled to the conduit, and generating a vibrational signal indicative of the measured vibration. At least a portion of the vibration of the conduit can be produced by the fluid passing therethrough. The method can also include measuring a temperature of the conduit and generating a temperature signal indicative of the temperature. The method can further include calculating the density of the fluid passing through the conduit by using the vibrational signal and the temperature signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Li Gao, Christopher L. Stokely
  • Patent number: 10670567
    Abstract: A testing system and methods for using the same are provided. The testing system can include a sensor and a radiofrequency (RF) tag mounted on the sensor. The RF tag can be configured to store sensor information regarding the sensor and to wirelessly communicate at least a portion of the sensor information to a portable computing device upon request. The portable computing device can be configured to allow an operator to obtain selected sensor information from the RF tag and display it on the portable computing device. The portable computing device can also be configured to retrieve additional sensor information from external sources, such as a sensor manufacturer, via a network. Thus, sensor information can be retrieved in the field by the portable computing device for use in operating the testing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Torsten Behrendt
  • Patent number: 10670565
    Abstract: A method and system for inspecting a structure. The method may comprise sending a pulsed wave signal into the structure from a transmitter array. The method may detect a response signal in response to sending the pulsed wave signal into the structure at a group of receivers in a receiver array. The method may identify a group of time delays between sending the pulsed wave signal and may detect the response signal generated in response to the pulsed wave signal at the group of receivers. The method may identify a group of intensities for the response signal detected at the group of receivers. The method may determine a distance to a reflector within the structure using the group of time delays and the group of intensities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Keith Daniel Humfeld, Scott D. Hartshorn
  • Patent number: 10663376
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a motor having a first shaft extending therefrom. The motor is configured to apply energy to the first shaft. A particle cartridge mechanically is coupled to the motor via the first shaft. The particle cartridge includes a screen separating an internal volume of the particle cartridge from an environment of the apparatus, and a plurality of particles disposed within the internal volume. A particle manipulation element is mechanically coupled to the first shaft and in contact with the plurality of particles. The particle manipulation element moves in response to the energy being applied to the first shaft to force some of the particles through the screen and into the environment of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Juan H. Agui, Rajagopal Vijayakumar