Patents Examined by Freddie Kirkland, III
  • Patent number: 12291985
    Abstract: The control device of an exhaust sensor includes a processor. The processor is configured to control supply of power to the heater. The processor is configured to start the supply of power to the heater at a predetermined timing before a starter for cranking the internal combustion engine is turned on and increase power supplied to the heater when the starter is turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Wakao, Mie Kato, Daisuke Kawai
  • Patent number: 12292418
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a metal foil fatigue test apparatus and a metal foil fatigue test method using the same. The metal foil fatigue test apparatus includes: a metal foil moving unit including an unwinding roll, from which a metal foil is unwound, a plurality of guide rolls configured to support and transfer the metal foil supplied from the unwinding roll, and a rewinding roll where the metal foil transferred from the guide rolls is wound; and a tensile strength measuring unit configured to measure tensile strength of the metal foil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: LG ENERGY SOLUTION, LTD.
    Inventors: Ki Tae Kim, Hyung Kyun Yu, Ki Hoon Paeng, Sang Myeon Lee
  • Patent number: 12281952
    Abstract: The manufacturing method includes: performing testing of samples having the same configuration as the torque measuring device to be manufactured to find a coil balance Cb that is a ratio (R1×R3)/(R2×R4) of a product R1×R3 of resistance values R1 and R3 of one pair of opposite sides of the four sides of a bridge circuit 8, and a product R2×R4 of resistance values R2 and R4 of another pair of opposite sides of the four sides, and a temperature change rate VT of output voltage Vo of a sensor portion 4, and acquiring a relationship X between the coil balance Cb and the temperature change rate VT from the test results; and measuring the resistance values R1, R2, R3, R4 of the four sides to find the coil balance Cb to find the temperature change rate VT from the relationship X for the torque measuring device to be manufactured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignees: NSK LTD., PROTERIAL, LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Kobayashi, Kota Fukuda, Hisayoshi Fukui, Takahiro Odera, Haruhiko Tanno, Yoshinori Kubo, Naoki Futakuchi, Ken Okuyama, Teruyuki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 12276559
    Abstract: Apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the present invention provide torque realization via electrical measurements traceable to the revised International Standard of Units (SI). Torque can be realized via a conversion of linear mechanism of a Kibble balance to a rotational mechanism. Embodiments of the present invention relates to an electronic torque realization apparatus including a rotor for holding permanent magnets and an encoder scale ring and for coupling to a torque device, a stator for characterizing physical aspects of a torque tool and for generating the torque on rotor in conjunction with the permanent magnets, a base plate for mounting a first end of rotor and stator, a cantilever for supporting a second end of rotor and for maintaining axial alignment, a bearing assembly for supporting the motion of rotor, and encoder for recording the angular position of rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE
    Inventors: Leon Shih Chao, Stephan Schlamminger
  • Patent number: 12276560
    Abstract: A torque measurement system includes a first rotatable carrier structure and a second rotatable carrier structure mechanically coupled to a shaft; a first metamaterial track coupled to and configured to co-rotate with the first rotatable carrier structure; a second metamaterial track coupled to and configured to co-rotate with the second rotatable carrier structure; and a low-friction material arranged between the first and the second rotatable carrier structures. The first and the second metamaterial tracks are spaced apart by a predetermined distance and are mutually coupled to each other by a torque-dependent coupling. Responsive to a torque applied to the shaft, the first metamaterial track is configured to undergo a rotational shift relative to the second metamaterial track. The low-friction material provides a low-friction rotational shift between the first rotatable carrier structure and the second rotatable carrier structure such that the predetermined distance is constant during the rotational shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Dirk Hammerschmidt, Christof Michenthaler
  • Patent number: 12276568
    Abstract: A sensing device for a bearing and a bearing component. The sensing device includes a sensing body for mounting into the bearing by a press fit. The sensing body is provided with: a sensing measurement module having a pressure sensor for measuring the load of the bearing and a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the sensing device, and the measured load is corrected using the measured temperature; a wireless communication module used for wirelessly transmitting bearing information from the sensing measurement module; and a wireless power supply module used for supplying power for the sensing measurement module and the wireless communication module. The bearing component includes a bearing and the sensing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ran Guan
  • Patent number: 12264982
    Abstract: A light emitting structure emits light in response to a load applied to an object from a load object. In the light emitting structure are formed contacting portions which are provided on a supporting surface of the object, and which have a predetermined length from the surface of the supporting surface in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the object, wherein a stress-luminescent material is included in at least a portion of the supporting surface and the surface of the contacting portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Yuki Fujio, Kazuma Kurihara, Kazuya Kikunaga, Kengo Manabe
  • Patent number: 12264983
    Abstract: In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a sensing system includes a sensor mat configured to conform to a component having a central axis, a first sensor cluster disposed on or in the sensor mat configured to sense one or more conditions at a first location on the component, and a second sensor cluster disposed on or in the sensor mat configured to sense one or more conditions at a second location circumferentially spaced to the first location. In embodiments, the second location can be diametrically opposed to the first location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter J. Carini, Eric DeWind, Nathan Palmer
  • Patent number: 12259367
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a metal foil fatigue test apparatus and a metal foil fatigue test method using the same. The metal foil fatigue test apparatus includes: a metal foil moving unit including an unwinding roll, from which a metal foil is unwound, a plurality of guide rolls configured to support and transfer the metal foil supplied from the unwinding roll, and a rewinding roll where the metal foil transferred from the guide rolls is wound; and a tensile strength measuring unit configured to measure tensile strength of the metal foil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: LG ENERGY SOLUTION, LTD.
    Inventors: Ki Tae Kim, Hyung Kyun Yu, Ki Hoon Paeng, Sang Myeon Lee
  • Patent number: 12255555
    Abstract: A self-aware composite mechanical metamaterial, comprising first and second electrically conductive components disposed relative to each other to act as opposite electrodes to induce contact electrification; wherein the first and second electrically conductive components, along with a dielectric component serving as a skeleton of the self-aware composite mechanical metamaterial, form a lattice of snapping curved semicircular-shaped segments, wherein each of the snapping curved semicircular-shaped segments has an elastic snap-through instability mechanism; and wherein the lattice comprises periodic repeatable parallel rows of the snapping curved semicircular-shaped segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: University of Pittsburgh-Of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventors: Amir Alavi, Kaveh Barri
  • Patent number: 12247891
    Abstract: A system for protecting a pressure measuring instrument from high temperatures is disclosed herein. The system can include a diaphragm seal, a liquid metal alloy, a temperature isolator, and an isolator diaphragm. Methods of assembling the system are also presented. A benefit of the systems and methods disclosed herein can include protecting pressure measuring instruments from high temperatures as well as other adverse conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: HAYGOR INSTRUMENT & COMPANY, INC.
    Inventor: Allen Bishop
  • Patent number: 12241798
    Abstract: A self-aware composite mechanical metamaterial, comprising first and second electrically conductive components disposed relative to each other to act as opposite electrodes to induce contact electrification; wherein the first and second electrically conductive components, along with a dielectric component serving as a skeleton of the self-aware composite mechanical metamaterial, form a lattice of snapping curved semicircular-shaped segments, wherein each of the snapping curved semicircular-shaped segments has an elastic snap-through instability mechanism; and wherein the lattice comprises periodic repeatable parallel rows of the snapping curved semicircular-shaped segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: University of Pittsburgh—Of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventors: Amir Alavi, Kaveh BarRI
  • Patent number: 12241873
    Abstract: A test system includes subsystems for application to a test sample of a range of conditions that might be encountered in an actual application. Conditions may include the presence of particular fluid environments, temperatures, pressures, and mechanical loads including tensile and bending loads. The system is particularly suited for elongated samples such as tubular products used in oil and gas applications, though a range of samples may be tested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Inventor: Mitchell Z. Dziekonski
  • Patent number: 12235184
    Abstract: A rotary encoder includes a stator and a shaft having a bearing configuration arranged in a housing. The shaft is rotatable relative to the housing via the bearing arrangement, and a rotor is attached to the shaft. A strain sensor arrangement, attached to the housing, is adapted to determine a malfunction of the bearing configuration. The housing has a flexible structure that facilitates transmitting forces associated with the bearing configuration to the strain sensor arrangement. The strain sensor arrangement is adapted to detect tension and/or compression associated with the housing, and a malfunction of the bearing configuration is determined based on the detected tension and/or compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: LEINE & LINDE AB
    Inventors: Mats Gustafsson, Martin Lundgren, Robin Johansson
  • Patent number: 12228587
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for indicating the presence of a directional differential pressure between separated adjacent spaces are provided. At least one movable element may be movable within an inclined conduit from a first vertically lower region to a second vertically higher region in response to a differential pressure between a first space and a second space separated by a barrier. The inclination of the conduit may be adjustable along a plane transverse to the barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: AirFlow Direction, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian M. Wiseman
  • Patent number: 12216027
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a wire rope diagnostic device that is capable of being fastened or unfastened by means of battery packs, and more specifically, to a wire rope diagnostic device for performing safety diagnosis of a wire rope used for a lifting device such as a crane, an elevator, a water gate, and the like in real time that is capable of being fixedly fastened by means of battery packs so that it can be simply installed and separated and allow the battery packs to be easily exchanged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: NKIA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung Soo Yoo, In Hwan Lee, Ki Hoon Shin, Eun Min Yoo, Jung Hwan Son
  • Patent number: 12195307
    Abstract: The disclosure discloses a device for detecting idling time of a brake shoe of a monorail hoist and a detection method thereof. The device includes a contact detection unit, a common end roller unit, an idling time detection unit and detection lines. The contact detection unit installed on a brake of the monorail hoist includes a tube in connection with the brake shoe. The common end roller unit is installed on a frame of the monorail hoist and corresponds to a travelling track. A metal probe corresponding to the travelling track is arranged inside the tube. A limiting bolt corresponding to a raised cylindrical block formed on the metal probe is formed on an inner side wall of the tube. The metal probe is contactable with the travelling track or the limiting bolt when the brake shoe brakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: China University of Mining and Technology
    Inventors: Zhencai Zhu, Yu Tang, Gang Shen, Xiang Li, Mengmeng Gao, Wei Wang, Yuxing Peng, Gongbo Zhou, Hao Lu, Qingguo Wang
  • Patent number: 12188842
    Abstract: An exhaust gas aftertreatment system includes an outlet housing body, an outlet housing fitting, an outlet sampling system, and an outlet sensor. The outlet sampling system includes a sampling bowl and a sampling ring. The sampling bowl is coupled to the outlet housing body and extends away from the outlet housing body so as to define a sampling bowl cavity between the sampling bowl and the outlet housing body. The sampling ring is coupled to the sampling bowl and separated from the outlet housing body by the sampling bowl. The sampling ring is coupled to the outlet housing fitting and defines a sampling ring cavity. The sampling ring includes a plurality of sampling ring inlet apertures and a connector. The sampling ring inlet apertures are each configured to receive exhaust gas from within the outlet housing body and provide the exhaust gas to the sampling ring cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Cummins Emission Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Dylan J. Richardson, Monika Agrawal, Jim L. Alonzo, Amol Yuvraj Patil
  • Patent number: 12174093
    Abstract: Cracks in foundations may be detected by sensing motion within the foundation. Depth sensors may be applied to a foundation, and the depths of the sensors may be read. At subsequent points in time the depths of the sensors may be read again. If the depths of the sensors are changing in a way that suggests that portions of the foundation are moving apart from each other, then it may be inferred that a crack is forming in the foundation. The formation of cracks may be used to take various actions. For example, the owner of the building that rests on the foundation may be information of the crack so that he or she may take remedial action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventor: Bradly Jay Billman
  • Patent number: 12165938
    Abstract: A semiconductor package includes a flat plate-shaped terminal integrally formed with a housing portion for a semiconductor chip and a rod-shaped terminal pin that penetrates through a through-hole of the plate-shaped terminal. On a surface of the plate-shaped terminal, a resin guide portion for guiding the terminal pin to the through-hole of the plate-shaped terminal is provided. The resin guide portion is a portion of the housing portion and has a through-hole that is continuous with the through-hole of the plate-shaped terminal. During assembly of the semiconductor package, the terminal pin is inserted into the through-hole of the plate-shaped terminal, via the through-hole of the resin guide portion. A sidewall of the through-hole of the resin guide portion and a sidewall of the through-hole of the plate-shaped terminal have a same slope and form a single continuous surface; a border between the through-hole of the resin guide portion and the through-hole of the plate-shaped terminal is free of any step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kimihiro Ashino