Patents Examined by Feba Pothen
  • Patent number: 11133623
    Abstract: A conductive liquid path detection circuit for detecting a conductive liquid present in a receptacle connector and/or a mating connector plug is configured for discharging an electron charge from any conductive liquid present on a connector pin in the receptacle connector and/or a mating connector plug. The conductive liquid path detection circuit charges any conductive liquid present on the connector pin with an electron charge. The circuit repeatedly samples and retains the samples of the measurements of a voltage level present at the connector pin. The conductive liquid path detection circuit then analyzes the samples of the measurements to determine a slope of the samples of the measurements of a voltage level over time; and determines when an amplitude of a final measurement of the voltage level is less than a conductive liquid detection threshold level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Julian Tyrrell, Andrew Repton, Gary Hague
  • Patent number: 11125776
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, a short circuit inspection method for an all solid battery assembly is provided which includes: a step of preparing an all-solid-state battery assembly; a step of preparing a restraint jig including a pair of restraint plates sandwiching the all-solid-state battery assembly in the thickness direction, and a restraint member including a bolt and a nut, wherein where a smallest thermal expansion coefficient among the thermal expansion coefficient of the positive electrode current collector and the thermal expansion coefficient of the negative electrode current collector of the all-solid-state battery assembly is denoted by ?1, the thermal expansion coefficients of the bolt and the nut are each equal to or greater than ?1; a step of restraining the all-solid-state battery assembly; a step of increasing the resistance of the all-solid-state battery assembly by cooling; a step of applying a voltage to the all-solid-state battery assembly and measuring a current; an
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takayuki Hojo
  • Patent number: 11123231
    Abstract: A diaper includes a diaper body and a wet diaper monitoring device, which includes a disposable pouch and a monitoring device. The monitoring device includes a monitoring casing, a first sensor electrode, a second sensor electrode, a sensing circuitry and an indicator. The first sensor electrode and the second sensor electrode are provided on an inner surface of and received in the monitoring casing, and form a single planar capacitor when the diaper body is dry. When the diaper body becomes wet, a capacitance between the first sensor electrode and the second sensor electrode increases substantially so as to transform the single planar capacitor of the first sensor electrode and the second sensor electrode into two much larger series connected capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Inventor: Peter Lee
  • Patent number: 11123834
    Abstract: Proposed is a machine tool unit with a stator unit and a rotor unit which is rotatable about an axis of rotation, wherein the rotor unit comprises a spindle head with a tool-holding unit having a tool-clamping device, wherein a testing device is provided for testing the clamping state of the tool, the testing device having precisely one sensor head for sensory detection. To improve the precision, the sensor head is arranged at a fixed position on the stator unit in such a manner that it measures the distance to an end-side part of the spindle head rotating relative to the sensor head, wherein the testing device is designed to record a temporal/position-related sequence of at least two distance values and/or of at least two successive series of in each case at least two distance values, in order to determine an axial run-out error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Franz Kessler GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Van Sprang, Harald Weing
  • Patent number: 11119142
    Abstract: A device may utilize a cable that includes connectors and conductors to transfer signals, electrical power, or both. Some cable failures result in an inability to transfer signals. Other failures may result from different cables being used at different times, resulting in a mismatch in which the cable is rated to transfer less power than what could otherwise be delivered by the power source. Parameters, such as cable impedance, transmitter gain, signal conditioning, and so forth that are associated with use of the cable are monitored at different times. If the values of these parameters from one time to another exceed a threshold value, a fault in the cable is determined. A notification about the impending or actual failure of the cable may be presented, and a suitable cable may be recommended for purchase. For example, a hyperlink may be provided to allow for purchase of the suitable cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin Thomas Gaide, Donald Joseph Brunnett
  • Patent number: 11105772
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for powering a pipeline inspection system. The system includes an induction generator extending along a radially curved plane. The induction generator having an outer surface and an opposing inner surface. The outer surface is positioned proximate to an inner surface area of a pipeline. The system also includes a controller circuit configured to generate a plurality of periodic waveform signals. The plurality of periodic waveform signals are received by the induction generator. The induction generator is configured to generate active power that charges an electric power source based on the plurality of periodic waveform signals and the inner surface area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Francesco Papini, Alexander Felix Fiseni, Christoph Boeld
  • Patent number: 11085907
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for detecting contaminants in water are provided. A device may include: a sensor configured to detect one or more contaminants in a liquid when the sensor is dipped into the liquid; a computing device connected to the sensor, the computing device being configured to determine a resistance of the device when the sensor is dipped into the liquid; and a wireless electronic device connected to the computing device via one or more wireless links and configured to receive the resistance of the device when the sensor is dipped into the liquid from the computing device, and the wireless electronic device determines a level of contamination in the liquid based on a difference between the resistance of the device when the sensor is dipped into the liquid and a set or predetermined resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Inventor: Gitanjali Adhikarla Rao
  • Patent number: 11085976
    Abstract: A field-sensor device comprises first and second field sensors disposed in corresponding different first and second orientations, each responsive to an external field to produce corresponding first and second sensor signals. One of or both the first and second sensor signals are converted to equivalent comparable sensor signals in a common orientation and compared to determine a faulty field sensor. If a faulty field sensor is determined, a faulty sensor signal is produced or, if a faulty sensor is not determined, an output sensor signal responsive to the first, second or comparable sensor signals is produced. Evaluation of the direction of differences between the comparable sensor signals can determine which of the first and second field sensors is faulty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES SA
    Inventors: Javier Bilbao De Mendizabal, Mathieu Poezart
  • Patent number: 11085975
    Abstract: A dropped conductor sensor includes a housing installable on a first conductor; a sensor supported in the housing and configured to sense in real time at least one of an acceleration, a vibration, a tilt, a roll, or an angular displacement of the dropped conductor sensor; and an antenna in the housing, the antenna configured to transmit a signal including information sensed by the sensor away from the dropped conductor sensor in real time. A monitoring system including a dropped conductor sensor, and a method of monitoring a conductor using a dropped conductor sensor are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: LINDSEY MANUFACTURING CO.
    Inventors: An-Chyun Wang, John McCall, Keith E. Lindsey
  • Patent number: 11079421
    Abstract: A control module for a lighting fixture may include an input circuit (e.g., a wireless communication circuit) that may be susceptible to noise generating by a noise-generating source (e.g., a lighting control device in the lighting fixture). The control circuit may execute a self-test procedure to determine if the magnitude of the noise is acceptable or unacceptable for normal operation of the control module. During the self-test procedure, the control circuit may measure a noise level at a connection of the input circuit and determine if the noise level causes the self-test procedure to fail. The control circuit may control the lighting load to multiple intensities, measure noise levels of the output signal at each intensity, and process the noise levels to determine if the test has passed or failed. The control circuit may illuminate a visual indicator to provide an indication that the self-test procedure has failed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Richard S. Camden, Jordan H. Crafts, Vidur Garg, Kevin L. Gascho, Alexander F. Mosolgo, Dragan Veskovic, Sean R. Pearson
  • Patent number: 11079446
    Abstract: Magnetic sensor arrangement comprising a component board delimited by two opposing main surfaces and having an accommodation hole for accommodating at least part of a magnetic field generating structure, and a magnetic sensor package located at least partially between the two opposing main surfaces and configured for sensing a magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generating structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Udo Ausserlechner, Michael Holliber
  • Patent number: 11079211
    Abstract: A caliper tool for measuring a shape of a wellbore may include a sensor assembly and a movable measurement component including a hub and a measurement arm extending from the hub, and a magnetically-permeable target coupled to the hub and configured to rotate with the hub upon movement of the measurement arm. A sensor assembly includes primary coil and one or more secondary coils spaced apart from the primary coil, wherein output signals from the secondary coils facilitates measurement of the shape of the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Harrigan, Michael Simmons, Laurence T. Wisniewski, Abbas Arian, Gary Lee Fickert
  • Patent number: 11067617
    Abstract: A line-mounted device is used to provide power system signals to a device for detecting a fault and calculating a fault location using a traveling wave launched thereby. Current at the line-mounted device is used to separate incident and reflected traveling waves at a terminal. Times and polarities of traveling waves passing the line-mounted device and the terminal are compared to determine if the fault is located between the terminal and line-mounted device or at a location beyond the terminal or line-mounted device. Voltage of the traveling wave may be calculated using currents from the line-mounted device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Edmund O. Schweitzer, III, Raymond W. Rice
  • Patent number: 11067610
    Abstract: A partial discharge (PD) detection system includes a PD sensor configured to sense a PD event of an electrical system and to generate a sensor signal in response to the PD event. An envelope generator is coupled to receive the sensor signal from the PD sensor. The envelope generator extracts an envelope signal from the sensor signal. A digitizer is configured to convert the envelope signal to a digital representation of the PD event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Todd Karin, Peter Kiesel, Ajay Raghavan
  • Patent number: 11061061
    Abstract: Methods, systems and locators for detecting faults in an insulation layer of an insulated conductor buried beneath a ground surface are described. The locator comprises a magnetometer arranged to detect a magnetic field generated by the alternating current and to generate a current signal on the basis of the detected magnetic field, and an Alternating Voltage Gradient receiver comprising a pair of probes arranged to make electrical contact with the ground surface, which is arranged to generate a voltage signal indicative of a voltage between the pair of probes. A processor is configured to substantially synchronously sample the current signal and the voltage signal. This enables improved detection of faults in the insulation layer of the insulated conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Radiodetection Limited
    Inventors: Mark Marsden, Peter Mann, Charles Alexander, Jeff Thompson
  • Patent number: 11041887
    Abstract: A current sensor, which is configured to individually detect a current flowing in each of at least two current paths, includes at least two phases. Each phase includes a magnetic field detection element and a pair of first magnetic shield and second magnetic shield. The magnetic field detection element is disposed to face one of the current paths. The magnetic field detection element is configured to detect a magnetic field generated from the one of the current paths and to convert the detected magnetic field into an electric signal. The first magnetic shield and the second magnetic shield are disposed to face each other with the current path and the magnetic field detection element interposed between the first magnetic shield and the second magnetic shield. The first magnetic shield and the second magnetic shield are configured to shield the magnetic field detection element from an external magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuma Esaka, Kohsuke Nomura, Ryosuke Sakai, Tatsuaki Sugito
  • Patent number: 11035972
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for performing real-time detecting and spatially-positioning a waterfront in an oil-producing reservoirs are disclosed. An example method of predicting movement of a waterfront in a reservoir may include generating a plurality of electrical signals having different frequencies with a surface electric source; injecting currents corresponding to the plurality of generated signals into the earth near a well extending into the reservoir with a surface dipole; sensing a vertical component of an electric field generated by each of the injected currents at a location in the reservoir with a sensor; detecting a location of the waterfront within the reservoir based on the received vertical components of the electric fields; and analyzing the detected vertical components of the electric fields taken on at least two different points in time with machine learning to predict a rate of movement of the waterfront within the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Daniele Colombo, Gary W. McNeice, Ernesto Sandoval-Curiel
  • Patent number: 11029372
    Abstract: A Hall element including a contact is provided. A Hall element is provided, including: a substrate; a magnetosensitive portion formed on the substrate; an insulating film formed on the magnetosensitive portion; and a conductive portion which is formed on the insulating film, extends from a peripheral region of the magnetosensitive portion toward a central region of the magnetosensitive portion, penetrates the insulating film, and is electrically connected to the magnetosensitive portion, wherein when observing a cross section passing through a center of the magnetosensitive portion in plan view and a portion at which the conductive portion is in contact with the magnetosensitive portion, at least a part of the conductive portion extends below the insulating film in the cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Akagi, Tetsuya Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11029437
    Abstract: The present invention provides a filter which is configured to filter frequencies created by noise outside of the band of interest and to then amplify the filtered signal to allow a weaker signal to be used for guidance. According to a first preferred embodiment, the filter of the present invention includes a 5th order active high pass filter cascaded with a 5th order active low pass filter. According to a further preferred embodiment, the filter of the present invention preferably provides a cutoff of frequencies below 700 Hz and above 1500 Hz. According to a further preferred embodiment, the filter of the present invention further uses a voltage amplifying circuit to amplify the filtered signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Valmont Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Lowell Imhof
  • Patent number: 11016217
    Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for monitoring water cresting in a subsurface formation. Embodiments include, for each of a plurality of locations along a length of a horizontal section of a wellbore extending into a hydrocarbon reservoir of a subsurface formation, advancing an omnidirectional electromagnetic logging tool (ODEMLT) to the location, operating the ODEMLT to transmit (into a portion of the subsurface formation below the horizontal section of the wellbore) an electromagnetic (EM) source signal comprising a multi-frequency waveform, operating the ODEMLT to sense an EM return signal comprising a reflection of the multi-frequency waveform from the subsurface formation, and generating a subset of saturation data for the location corresponding to the sensed EM return signal, and generating, based on the subsets of saturation data, a radargram including a two-dimensional mapping of water saturation within the portion of the subsurface formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Jesus Manuel Felix Servin, Howard Khan Schmidt