Patents Examined by G. Verbitsky
  • Patent number: 6126311
    Abstract: A dew point sensor includes a micro-cantilever beam formed on a substrate. A cooling device and a temperature sensor are in thermal contact with the micro-cantilever beam and a control circuit is coupled to the micro-cantilever beam, the cooling device and the temperature sensor. The control circuit controls and monitors a resonance of the micro-cantilever beam, controls a temperature of the cooling device and receives a temperature indication from the temperature sensor. Using the above information, the dew point temperature is determined by identifying the temperature of the micro-cantilever beam when its resonance changes due to a change in mass caused by the formation of dew on the micro-cantilever beam when the dew point is reached. A method of determining the dew point is also disclosed. The method includes exciting a micro-cantilever beam in a vibratory mode and decreasing a temperature of the micro-cantilever beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Claud S. Gordon Company
    Inventor: William C. Schuh
  • Patent number: 6109783
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a high temperature pyrometer 20 which is suitable, in particular, for temperature measurement in a gas turbine. The pyrometer comprises a flexible lightguiding measuring probe 21 with a microlens 22 resistant to high temperatures and with an optic fiber 24 composed of quartz or sapphire, said microlens and said fiber being provided with a gold sheathing 25, 26 and/or a protective capillary 27, 28. The heat radiation is evaluated in a remote detector 32 having measuring electronics 33 connected to it. The pyrometer 20 is distinguished by compactness, high temperature capability, flexibility, versatile installability and high measuring accuracy. The invention also relates to a development of the pyrometer 20 for gas turbines, to a gas turbine with a pyrometer 20 according to the invention, and to a method for monitoring a gas turbine with the aid of a pyrometer 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Thomas Dobler, Wolfgang Evers, Ken Haffner
  • Patent number: 6059453
    Abstract: A temperature probe for measuring temperatures in a fluid contains a temperature responsive electrical element partially encased by a sapphire encasement. The sapphire encasement and the electrical element are further partially encased by a ceramic encasement that is exposed to the fluid. The ceramic encasement is permeable to certain gases to which the sapphire encasement is impermeable. A series of seals in the temperature probe prevents fluid from exiting through the temperature probe if the ceramic encasement and sapphire encasement are breached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Rosemount Inc.
    Inventors: Konrad Kempf, Werner Doring
  • Patent number: 6017147
    Abstract: A calorimetric wattmeter for testing a microwave oven. The wattmeter comprises a housing which defines an interior chamber for holding a quantity of a microwave absorbing liquid. Attached to the housing is a thermometer having a sensor portion which extends into the interior chamber and an indicator portion which moves in response to temperature changes sensed by the sensor portion. Additionally, rotatably attached to the housing is a scale which circumvents the indicator portion and includes indicia thereon for correlating the position of the indicator portion to a microwave oven wattage reading. The scale is selectively rotatable for purposes of resetting the microwave oven wattage reading to zero relative to the position of the indicator portion. The housing also includes a pair of neon gas filled enclosures attached thereto for providing a visual indication of the presence of microwaves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Inventor: Oliver E. Gibson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6000845
    Abstract: A temperature sensing and indicating device, comprising a housing, a microprocessor and an arm. The arm is retractable and extendible into and out of the housing, such that the length of the arm external to the housing can be varied in a predetermined manner. A probe having a temperature sensor therewithin is enclosed by the arm such that varying the external length of the arm exposes varying lengths of the probe whereby the exposed length of the probe is designed to be inserted into a medium such that the temperature sensor senses the temperature of the medium and converts the temperature sensed into a signal. Through the utilization of a programmable microprocessor, the signal is conditioned and converted and drives a display causing the display to provide a visual indication of the temperature sensed. The visual indication is comprised of a digital numeric display and an analog display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Marlin Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: John Tymkewicz, deceased, Richard Park, Gary Kloock
  • Patent number: 5993060
    Abstract: In a temperature sensor, between a first power supply and a second power supply, there are disposed a resistor group consisting of a plurality of resistors connected in series and a MOS transistor in the form of a temperature transducer, the resistor group being connected in series with the MOS transistor having a drain connected to the resistor group and having a source and a bulk which are connected to the first power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Sakurai
  • Patent number: 5975758
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and sensor for easily detecting the thermal history (or the change in state by heat) of a specimen. The sensor is made up of a pair of electrodes 1, 1, a diffusion layer 2 of insulating material disposed between the electrodes, and an electrically conductive metal 3. The electrodes are electrically isolated from each other in the beginning. As the sensor experiences heat history, the electrically conductive metal diffuses into the diffusion layer 2, thereby changing the resistance of the diffusion layer. When in use, the sensor is placed in or near the atmosphere to which the specimen is exposed. In response to the change of the specimen by heat, the electrically conductive metal 3 diffuses into the diffusion layer 2 to such an extent that the electrical resistance across the electrodes extremely decreases after a certain period of time. Thus it is possible to detect the deterioration or life of the specimen by monitoring the change in electrical resistance of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho
    Inventors: Koji Yokota, Yoshimi Kizaki, Yoshiyuki Sakamoto, Tomoyoshi Motohiro