Patents Examined by Edward Lefkowitz
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Patent number: 7409877Abstract: The invention relates to the field of dynamometer drive adapters. In particular, the invention relates to dynamometer drive adapters for motorcycles.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2006Date of Patent: August 12, 2008Assignee: Red Rackhams Treasure Co., Ltd.Inventor: Howard Wayne Askey
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Patent number: 7409848Abstract: An apparatus (10) for bulge testing an article (12) comprises a pressure vessel (14) arranged to define a chamber (15), the pressure vessel (14) has a first aperture (28) and a second aperture (30), means to pressurize the chamber (15), means (19) to measure the deflection of the article (12, means (39) to measure the pressure in the pressure vessel (14) and means (18) to determine material properties of the article (12) using the measurements of pressure in the pressure vessel (12) and the measurements of deflection of the article (12). A piston (24) is arranged to move within the pressure vessel (14) and the chamber (15) is filled with a fluid. The means to pressurise the pressure vessel (14) comprises a gun (16) arranged to fire a projectile (36) to strike the piston (24) to produce a high pressure in the fluid in the chamber (15) in the pressure vessel (14) to deform an article (12) placed over the first aperture (28) in the pressure vessel (14) to seal the pressure vessel (14).Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2007Date of Patent: August 12, 2008Assignee: Rolls-Royce plcInventors: Nikica Petrinic, Carlos Ruiz
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Patent number: 7409872Abstract: It is an object to provide a vortex flow meter with less measurement errors caused by a temperature change, a pressure change, and a mechanical vibration, and capable of performing a precise measurement regardless of conditions, in addition, to provide a vortex flow meter capable of sufficiently preventing corrosive chemicals that is a fluid to be measured from leaking from a measurement pipe line due to corrosion. A vortex generator that generates the Karman vortex and a measurement pipe line in which a holder body housing a detecting element that detects an alternating force of the Karman vortex is disposed are made of a material having a small coefficient of linear thermal expansion such as a quartz glass, and the vortex generator and the holder body are fixed to the measurement pipe line by welding in an integrating manner.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2006Date of Patent: August 12, 2008Assignee: Saginomiya Seisakusho, Inc.Inventors: Nobuyuki Ishikawa, Yuichi Saito
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Patent number: 7409869Abstract: A method for evaluating thermal fatigue resistance for a welding consumable alloy can include the following steps: placing a test specimen of a welding consumable alloy in a testing device such that a tensile load and a compressive load can be introduced to the test specimen; heating the test specimen to a first temperature; applying a compressive force to the test specimen while heating the test specimen; cooling the test specimen to a second temperature; and applying a tensile force to the test specimen while cooling the test specimen.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2005Date of Patent: August 12, 2008Assignee: Lincol Global, Inc.Inventors: Damian J. Kotecki, Sudarsanam S. Babu
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Patent number: 7409878Abstract: A torqueshaft magnetic field measurement system includes a ceramic package enclosing a magnetoresistive sensor for converting a sensed magnetic field into a differential output voltage, an amplifier for converting the voltage into an amplified sensor signal, and a temperature sensor. An electrical cable connects the ceramic package to an electronic controller with a microprocessor.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2005Date of Patent: August 12, 2008Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Chuck H. Von Beck, Hong Wan, Anthony D. D'Angelo
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Patent number: 7409868Abstract: A load detecting device includes a sensor element including a function for generating and detecting a vibration within a single element, the sensor element converting a load or an acceleration into a detection signal, a driving portion for outputting a driving signal for vibrating the sensor element, a vibration detecting portion for extracting the detection signal from the sensor element and for detecting a vibration characteristic value of the sensor element, a wiring for electrically connecting the sensor element, the driving portion and the vibration detecting portion to one another, and for transmitting a superimposed signal constituted by superposition of the driving signal from the driving portion and the detection signal from the sensor element, and a calculating portion for calculating one of or both of a load and an acceleration applied to the sensor element based on the vibration characteristic value from the vibration detecting portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2006Date of Patent: August 12, 2008Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Mitsuhiro Ando, Shunsuke Kogure, Katsuyoshi Shirai
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Patent number: 7406884Abstract: A device determines a torque that is exerted on a shaft, the shaft having a first shaft section and a second shaft section, the two shaft sections being rotatable in relation to one another. The device comprise a multi-pole magnetic ring and a stator support that is fixed to the second shaft section. Two stator elements are fixed to the stator support and each stator element has fingers that project in an axial or radial direction, are uniformly distributed at least over part of the circumference and are interspaced by gaps. The magnetic ring is situated between the fingers of one stator element and the fingers of the other stator element. A second magnetic ring is located on one of the two shaft sections and a magnetic sensor is mounted on one of the two shaft sections.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2005Date of Patent: August 5, 2008Assignee: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbHInventors: Frank Jerems, Dirk Rachui, Ekkehart Froehlich, Christian Ruetz
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Patent number: 7406881Abstract: A touch panel has an upper substrate, a lower substrate, an elastic layer, plural conducting wires, and a gel layer. An upper conductive layer is formed at a lower surface of the upper substrate, a lower conductive layer that faces the upper conductive layer with a gap in between is formed at a top surface of the lower substrate, and the elastic layer is formed at a top surface of the lower conductive layer. The conductive wires are partially buried in the elastic layer and are disposed in a manner vertically oriented with a gap from the upper conductive layer. The gel layer is formed between the upper conductive layer and the elastic layer. With this construction, the touch panel is obtainable that suffers less wrong operation and allows reliable operation.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2006Date of Patent: August 5, 2008Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventor: Koji Tanabe
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Patent number: 7406863Abstract: A contact-state obtaining apparatus for obtaining a contact state in which a tire of a wheel of a vehicle contacts a road surface, the apparatus including a deformation detecting device which is supported by the wheel and which detects a deformation of the tire that is caused by a force exerted to the tire in a direction parallel to the road surface; and a contact-state obtaining portion which obtains, as the contact state, (a) a slipping state of the tire relative to the road surface and/or (b) the force exerted to the tire in the direction parallel to the road surface, based on the deformation of the tire detected by the deformation detecting device.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2005Date of Patent: August 5, 2008Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Atsushi Ogawa
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Patent number: 7406876Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for detecting characteristics of an elastic structure (13, 22, 23, 32, 33, 93, 1202, 1302, 1402), said structure being provided with at least one sensor (111, 112, 14, 211, 212, 311, 312, 911, 1211, 1311, 1411) and said system comprising at least one detector (16, 416, 516, 916, 1316, 1416). The sensor comprises a deformable member, which upon deformation generates a signal convertible to a signal representing said characteristic, said sensor further comprises a passive transmitter and said detector a receiver for receiving said signal representing said characteristic.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2004Date of Patent: August 5, 2008Assignee: Vasensor ABInventors: Anatol Krozer, Christer Johansson, Sofia Johnsson, Brodde Wetter, Henrik Danielsson, Gustav Perers
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Patent number: 7406883Abstract: The invention concerns a device for measuring the speed and direction of rotation of an object (3) near to which it is placed. It comprises: a magnetic detection device (2) that delivers, in response to a rotation of the object (3) generating a magnetic field variation, signals representative of its speed and its direction of rotation, a conductor (4) intended to be connected to a power source to supply current to the magnetic detection device (2) at least, current receptor means (6) placed between the magnetic detection device (2) and the conductor (4) that create, from signals coming from said magnetic detection device (2), a modulation of the current (Iout) flowing in the conductor (4), said modulated current (Iout) reflecting both the speed and the direction of rotation of the object (3). Application particularly in the oil industry.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2003Date of Patent: August 5, 2008Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Marian Faur, Jacques Sellin, Bernard Parmentier
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Patent number: 7404334Abstract: A testing system includes a soft reaction structure formed by column assemblies, a base and a crosshead. Compliant devices are disposed between the column assemblies and the base and/or the crosshead to isolate interaction of these components and reduce structural vibration mode excitation.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2006Date of Patent: July 29, 2008Assignee: MTS Systems CorporationInventors: Byron J. Saari, Craig L. Campbell
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Patent number: 7404316Abstract: A method for estimating the friction coefficient between the stator and the rotor in a braking device including the following method steps: measurement of the temperature of the braking device, establishment of the friction coefficient by calculating the relationship between a measure of thermal energy generated by the rotor and the stator during a time interval and a measure of braking energy absorbed by the rotor and the stator during the same time interval, in which the generated thermal energy is calculated from a function of the measured temperature. The method is preferably used in calculating a correction factor for trailer compensation.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2006Date of Patent: July 29, 2008Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar ABInventor: Jan-Inge Svensson
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Patent number: 7404338Abstract: The resolution and the signal-to-noise ration of known force sensors as e.g. capacitive force sensors decrease when scaling them down. To solve this problem there is a solution presented by the usage of a nanostructure as e.g. a carbon nanotube, which is mechanically deformed by a force to be measured. The proposed force sensors comprises a support with two arms carrying the carbon nanotube. The main advantage of this nanoscale force sensor is a very high sensitivity as the conductance of carbon nanotubes changes several orders of magnitude when a mechanical deformation arises.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2004Date of Patent: July 29, 2008Assignee: ETH ZurichInventors: Christofer Hierold, Alain Jungen, Christoph Stampfer
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Patent number: 7404333Abstract: Sensor head or detector head (1) composed primarily of a protective casing that forms a hollow body (2) with an external surface, the so-called active surface (2?), and of a sensing or detection element mounted in the hollow body and adjacent to part of the front wall of the protective casing defining the active surface, at the level of the internal surface opposite the latter, the sensor head characterized in that the sensing element (3) is located at a distance from the internal surface (4?) of the part of the wall (4) of the hollow body (2) in such a way as to delineate an interstitial space (5) of small thickness (d) forming a mechanical and physical decoupling interface between the part of the wall (4) and the sensing element (3).Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2005Date of Patent: July 29, 2008Assignee: SenstronicInventors: Manuel Kesseler, Rémy Kirchdoerffer
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Patent number: 7405554Abstract: Systems and/or methods for detecting a rotating wheel's speed and/or acceleration are provided. A sensor is attached to the rotating wheel. The sensor includes a circuit (e.g. a Wheatstone bridge circuit) having a plurality of resistors (e.g. 4 resistors). Each resistor includes a giant magnetoresistance (GMR) element and has a resistance changeable based at least in part on a change in magnetic field intensity with respect to an external magnetic field. The sensor generates a signal based at least in part on the resistors' resistances. A processor is operable to calculate the rotating wheel's speed and/or acceleration based at least in part on the signal.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2006Date of Patent: July 29, 2008Assignee: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.Inventor: MingGao Yao
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Patent number: 7404330Abstract: A pressure sensor includes a metal housing and a semiconductor chip. The housing has a diaphragm unitary with the housing and an inlet for introducing fluid to the diaphragm. The inlet has a first end exposed to the diaphragm and a second end exposed to an outside of the housing. The housing has a thin-wall portion at the first end of the inlet and the thin-wall portion serves as the diaphragm. The chip is mounted on the diaphragm. The area and thickness of the chip are set so that separation between the chip and diaphragm can be prevented. Since the separation is prevented based on the area and thickness of the chip, there is no need that the diaphragm is made of a material having a thermal expansion coefficient similar to that of the chip.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2007Date of Patent: July 29, 2008Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroshi Uchigashima, Kiyoshi Otsuka, Osamu Itoh
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Patent number: 7401528Abstract: An apparatus for measuring stalk strength and/or root strength of a plant is provided. In accordance with various embodiments, the apparatus includes a conveyer operably connected to a motor for circulatorily driving the conveyer around at least one guide device. At least one pulling finger is coupled to the conveyer. Each pulling finger is structured such that, when the apparatus is positioned adjacent the plant stalk and the conveyor is driven around the guide device, each pulling finger will contact and pull a plant stalk as each pulling finger travels around the guide device. The apparatus additionally includes a force sensor for measuring resistive force encountered by the motor as each pulling finger pulls the plant stalk.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2007Date of Patent: July 22, 2008Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLCInventors: Kevin L. Deppermann, Mike Bohnert, Jason Bull, Jeremy Conry, Kevin Cook, Sam Eathington, Travis Frey, Jeff Hartsook, Bruce Schnicker, Jeremy Nefzger
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Patent number: 7401532Abstract: A passenger detection system for a person on a seat of a vehicle, includes a long range capacitance sensor for measuring a long range capacitance between a seating portion of the seat and a body of the vehicle and a short range capacitance sensor for measuring a short range capacitance in the seat, and a detection unit for detecting a passenger on the seat based on the measured long range capacitance and the measured short range capacitance. Therefore, the passenger detection system accurately detects a passenger on the seat of the vehicle while suppressing a detection error caused by an external effect.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2006Date of Patent: July 22, 2008Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventor: Shingo Wanami
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Patent number: 7401527Abstract: A pressure sensor assembly for measuring the pressure between a windshield and a windshield wiper. The pressure sensor assembly includes a support structure, a strain gage and a bearing member. The support structure supports the wiper spaced apart from the windshield. The strain gage is coupled to the support structure for providing pressure measurement data corresponding to the amount of strain in the support wall due to the pressure applied by the wiper toward the windshield. The bearing member is fixedly secured to the support structure to minimize friction between the pressure sensor assembly and the windshield.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2006Date of Patent: July 22, 2008Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: James P. Flaharty, Christian Arthur Trager, Nicholas G. Ruark