Patents Examined by Freddie Kirkland, III
  • Patent number: 11686603
    Abstract: A pressure type flowmeter includes a fluid resistance element provided in a flow path through which fluid flows, and in which a resistance flow path communicating with the flow path is formed, an upstream-side pressure sensor that detects upstream-side pressure of the fluid resistance element, and a downstream-side pressure sensor that detects downstream-side pressure of the fluid resistance element, in which the fluid resistance element is sandwiched and fixed by a pair of sandwiching components sealing components having a sheet-like shape are provided between the fluid resistance element and the sandwiching components and protrusions that partially press the sealing components are formed on at least one of the fluid resistance element and the sandwiching components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: HORIBA STEC, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Horiguchi, Tadahiro Yasuda, Kentaro Nagai
  • Patent number: 11686634
    Abstract: A system comprises an engine mounted to an aircraft wing by a plurality of clevis pins, a respective strain sensor mounted in at least one of the clevis pins, and a monitoring system operatively connected to each respective strain sensor to monitor stress in each of the clevis pins having a respective strain sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Varun Kumar
  • Patent number: 11680868
    Abstract: The method for warning of risk of rupture or deformation of a part made of a composite material when it is subjected to a force relates to a part including a fibre-reinforced thermoplastic or thermohardenable matrix. The method includes arranging the fibers in a lattice structure produced by winding fibers to form bars that join together or intersect at nodes. The method includes designing at least one bar of the lattice and/or integrating, into the part, at least one additional bar with a determined location and tensile strength and associating, with the at least one bar, inside the part, a sensor to detect the rupture thereof. The method further includes associating, with the sensor, an emitter, outside the part, for a signal relating to the rupture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: CONSEIL ET TECHNIQUE
    Inventors: Guy Valembois, Bertrand Florentz, Nicolas-Jean Fischer
  • Patent number: 11674833
    Abstract: A thermal sensor comprises an active element (41), e.g., a heater or cooler, at least one temperature sensor (31), and processing circuitry (50). The processing circuitry causes a change of power supplied to the active element (41). It then determines, at a plurality of times, a thermal parameter based on an output signal of the temperature sensors and analyzes the transient behavior of the thermal parameter. Based on this analysis, the processing circuitry determines a contamination signal that is indicative of a contamination on a sensing surface of the thermal sensor. If the thermal sensor comprises a plurality of temperature sensors arranged in different sectors of the sensing surface, a multi-sector thermal signal can be derived from the outputs of the sensors, and determination of the contamination signal can be based on the multi-sector thermal signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Sensirion AG
    Inventors: Mark Hornung, Andreas Rüegg, Harry Figi, Lucas Huber
  • Patent number: 11668258
    Abstract: A method and device for controlling a four-stroke internal combustion engine, including a step of producing a reconstituted crankshaft signal having an electrical signal extending over two crankshaft revolutions in the nominal direction of rotation of the engine, the electrical signal including: a single main pulse, having a predetermined first duration, corresponding to the passing of a predetermined reference tooth of the toothed wheel associated with the crankshaft of the engine; a plurality of secondary pulses, each having a predetermined second duration, each corresponding to the passing of a tooth of the toothed wheel associated with the crankshaft of the engine; the predetermined first duration being greater than the predetermined second duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Thierry Menand, Stéphane Eloy
  • Patent number: 11668634
    Abstract: A window drop test apparatus includes a support protruding in a first direction from the prop, and a guide portion that defines a drop space together with the support, where a drop test is performed through the drop space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yu Ri Kim, Hoi Kwan Lee, Min Ki Kim, Byeong-Beom Kim
  • Patent number: 11662235
    Abstract: A probe head of an air data probe includes a body extending from a first end to a second end of the probe head and a rod heater. The body includes an inlet adjacent the first end of the probe head, an air passageway extending through the body from the inlet to a second end of the probe head, a water dam extending radially through the body such that the air passageway is redirected around the water dam, a heater bore extending within the body, and an enhanced conduction area between heater bore and an exterior surface of the probe head. The inlet, the air passageway, the water dam, and the heater bore are all unitary to the body. The rod heater is positioned within the heater bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Rosemount Aerospace Inc.
    Inventors: Scott D. Isebrand, Greg Allen Seidel, Scott Wigen
  • Patent number: 11662260
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for linear inductive torque sensing that may include transmitting an AC magnetic field with a transmit coil toward a conductive target and receiving a field reflected by the conductive target with a receive coil, wherein the conductive target comprises first and second targets positioned with respect to each other and each shaped to linearly increase or decrease an amount of conductive area of the conductive target due to relative movement of the first and second targets which changes an amount of the field reflected by the conductive target. A signal from the receive coil can be processed to determine a relative position of the first and second targets corresponding to an amount of torque on an elongate member connected to the first and second targets. In other embodiments, a change in inductance of the transmit coil is measured to determine relative target position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Latham, Hernán D. Romero
  • Patent number: 11657496
    Abstract: An inspection support apparatus comprises a support bed and a platform base wherein the support bed includes spaced first and second index surfaces adapted to support first and second portions, respectively, of an airfoil in fixed positions relative to the support bed. An adjustment apparatus is coupled to the support bed and the platform base and is adapted to establish a desired fixed positional relationship between the support bed and the platform base in three dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald Knerr
  • Patent number: 11656151
    Abstract: The probability of a heater portion of a sensor element being exposed to water is lowered. The sensor element includes a built-in heater that extends in a longitudinal direction and a surrounding housing extending in the longitudinal direction. The heater includes a heat generation portion and a lead portion. The heat generation portion has a front end and a rear end, and is positioned on the same side as a front end portion side of the sensor element. The housing includes an enlarged diameter portion having a diameter of an inner wall that increases in a direction toward the front end of the sensor. The enlarged diameter portion includes a front end portion and a rear end portion. The rear end of the heat generation portion is located closer to the front end of the sensor than the rear end portion of the enlarged diameter portion is.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Yusuke Watanabe, Shotaro Niizuma, Hayami Aota, Toshihiro Hirakawa, Kirari Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11656112
    Abstract: A temperature state of one or more fluids in one or more enclosures is determined. Acoustic data is collected using a microphone. Frequency domain features are determined based on the acoustic data, where the frequency domain features are obtained across a frequency range of the acoustic data. The frequency domain features are correlated to the output of a machine learning acoustic analysis model and the one or more fluids are classified based on temperature based on the correlated one or more frequency domain features. In addition, the machine learning acoustic analysis model is trained by recording acoustic training data using a microphone and collecting temperature data for a fluid across a range of temperatures for the fluid. Frequency domain features are determined across a frequency range of the acoustic training data and the frequency domain features are correlated to the temperature data for a fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Igor S. Ramos, Angelo Danducci, II, Kimberly J. Taft, Devon E. Mensching
  • Patent number: 11656111
    Abstract: A flowmeter is configured to measure a flow rate of a gas flowing through a main passage. The flowmeter includes a housing and a flow rate detector. The housing is made of a resin and includes a bypass passage branched off from the main passage. The flow rate detector is disposed in the bypass passage and transmits detection signals in accordance with the flow rate of the gas flowing through the main passage. The housing includes a non-insulation portion including graphite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hajime Mashita, Junzo Yamaguchi, Shinichi Kamiya, Akihumi Kurita
  • Patent number: 11650120
    Abstract: A calibration process for use in calibrating intelligent cable modules. A separate calibration load cell is provided. This device is placed in the load path for the cable on which the intelligent cable module is installed. The calibration load cell then establishes a communication link with the intelligent cable module. An iterative series of loading cycles are started. Tension data as measured by the calibration load cell is used to create a calibration curve. This calibration curve is used to correlate internal measurements made by the intelligent cable module against a desired value—such as cable tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Inventors: Richard V. Campbell, Philip Bull, John Wiley Horton
  • Patent number: 11650114
    Abstract: A torque detection device includes a base, a load sensing member, a push member, a transmission module, and a drive module. The push member has a first extension wall and a second extension wall. The transmission module includes two adjustable transmission sets each including a torque transmission part. The torque transmission part respectively rests on the first extension wall and the second extension wall of the push member. The torque transmission part of the transmission module applies a force to push and press the push member reciprocatingly. The push member transmits the force of the torque transmission part to the load sensing member which cooperates with an electronic device to measure the maximum static friction torque of a detected workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Shin Zu Shing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shen-Ding Chen, Po-Jung Chen, Ching-Hsiang Hsu, Jeng-Hung Tsai, King-Ho Tsai
  • Patent number: 11652343
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for monitoring icing of a transmission line and preventing a tower from falling down, including a power transmission tower, an insulator string and a connecting mechanism; the connecting mechanism includes two connecting plates, and a monitoring-control connector and a damping component are arranged between the two connecting plates; sides of the two connecting plates are respectively provided with connecting grooves matched with two ends of the monitoring-control connector; the monitoring-control connector is provided with a monitoring component in signal connection with a master station; the two ends of the monitoring-control connector are respectively provided with load release components and are fixedly connected with the two connecting plates, and sides of the two connecting plates further from the monitoring-control component are fixedly connected with the power transmission tower and one end of the insulator string respectively, the other end of the insulator string is hung with w
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Northeast Electric Power University
    Inventors: Dehong Wang, Yanzhong Ju, Yidan Ma, Yanting Liu
  • Patent number: 11650113
    Abstract: A torque-sensor strain beam structure and a torque sensor are provided. The torque-sensor strain beam structure comprises an external ring, a connecting hub and at least two strain beams. The external ring has a first joint. The connecting hub is located in the external ring and arranged coaxially with the external ring. The connecting hub has a second joint. A first end of each of the at least two strain beams is fixedly connected to an inner wall of the external ring and a second end of each of the at least two strain beams is fixedly connected to the connecting hub. A strain grid is provided on each of the at least two strain beams. A load inputting point is located at the first joint or the second joint. Arrangement of the torque-sensor strain beam structure allows the torque sensor to have smaller volume while having higher measurement sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: SONGNUOMENG TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chengyi Xu, Weiwu Lei, Yongnian Liu, Jianbo Zhang, Sufu Liu
  • Patent number: 11650115
    Abstract: A tension sensor for an electrified fence which includes two contacts and a spring arrangement which, in response to a tension level in a taut wire in the electrified fence keeps the contacts electrically connected to each other when the tension level is below a predetermined value and which breaks such electrical connectivity when the tension level exceeds the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: NEMTEK (PTY) LTD
    Inventor: Nicolas Manioudakis
  • Patent number: 11644377
    Abstract: Various disclosed embodiments include illustrative devices, systems, and methods for analyzing occupancy detection sensors. In an illustrative embodiment, a device includes a processor and a memory configured to store computer-executable instructions. The instructions are configured to cause the processor to receive an environmental value, send instructions to apply increasing forces to a seat portion of a seat, magnitude of sequential ones of the forces increasing over time, receive applied force values from a force applicator, receive a seat occupied signal from a seat sensor, record the applied force value associated with the applied force values in response to receiving the seat occupied signal, compare the recorded force value with a threshold force value associated with the received environmental value, and output a signal in response to the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Nathan Werner
  • Patent number: 11639864
    Abstract: There is disclosed herein a flow sensor comprising: a first substrate comprising an etched portion; a dielectric layer located on the first substrate, where the dielectric layer comprises at least one dielectric membrane located over the etched portion of the first substrate; a first heating element and a second heating element located on or within the dielectric membrane; and a controller coupled with the first heating element and the second heating element. The first heating element and the second heating element are arranged to intersect one another within or over an area of the dielectric membrane. The controller is configured to: take a measurement from the second heating element; determine a calibration parameter using the measurement from the second heating element; take a measurement from the first heating element; and determine a flow rate through the flow sensor using the determined calibration parameter and the measurement from the first heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Flusso Limited
    Inventors: Andrea De Luca, Ethan Gardner, Syed Zeeshan Ali, Florin Udrea
  • Patent number: 11630027
    Abstract: Systems and methods to test robotic end effectors may comprise a testing rig having variable mass properties. The testing rig may include a variable weight assembly and a movement assembly that can adjust a position or orientation of the variable weight assembly. In this manner, the testing rig can be modified to simulate or replicate mass properties of a plurality of items, and grasp performance of a robotic end effector may be measured using the testing rig. Further, simulation models of end effectors and items may be validated based on actual grasp performance of a robotic end effector and the testing rig having variable mass properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Erica Aduh, Jude Jonas, Kristine Bunker-Moore, Michel Bruehwiler