Patents Examined by Gregory J Redmann
  • Patent number: 9039100
    Abstract: A dual wheel axle assembly includes an axle, a hub coupled to the axle, a rotor coupled to the hub, a surface of the axle assembly inboard of the hub, and an adapter. The adapter is coupled to the rotor or the hub. The adapter has an encoder ring portion positioned at a first distance from the surface of the axle assembly, wherein the first distance is substantially equal to a second distance from a corresponding surface of a single wheel axle assembly to an encoder ring portion of the single wheel axle assembly without the adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Tasich, Jonathon P. Verdun, Mark S. Crowell
  • Patent number: 8997572
    Abstract: A probe for use with an imaging system, including a scanning device configured to receive a first light beam from a light source, a beam-divider configured to split the first light beam into a plurality of second light beams, and a focusing device configured to focus each of the second light beams on respective locations in an object of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Washington University
    Inventors: Lihong Wang, Liang Song, Konstantin Maslov, Bin Rao
  • Patent number: 8978474
    Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) inertial measurement system facilitates accurate location and/or attitude measurements via passive thermal management of MEMS inertial sensors. Accuracy of the system is also improved by subjecting the inertial sensors to programmed single-axis gimbal motion, and by performing coarse and fine adjustments to the attitude estimates obtained by the system based on the programmed motion and on the passive thermal management of the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignees: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Matthew S. Bottkol, Richard D. Elliott, Michael Y. Feng, Thomas F. Marinis, Michael F. Mcmanus, Shan Mohiuddin, Peter G. Sherman, John E. Pritchett, Jeffery W. Warren, Charles H. Lange
  • Patent number: 8973439
    Abstract: A sensor is disclosed. The sensor includes a substrate and at least two proof masses. The sensor also includes a flexible coupling between the at least two proof masses and the substrate. The at least two coupling proof masses move in an anti-phase direction normal to a plane of the substrate in response to acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: InvenSense, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonardo Baldasarre, Matthew J. Thompson
  • Patent number: 8931342
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide an angular velocity sensor capable of measuring an exact angular velocity, an ink jet head capable of producing an exact amount of ink, and a piezoelectric generating element capable of generating electric power due to positive piezoelectric effect. In the present invention, a piezoelectric film comprising a first electrode, a piezoelectric layer, and a second electrode is used. The first electrode comprises an electrode layer having a (001) orientation. The piezoelectric layer comprises a (NaxBiy)TiO0.5x+1.5y+2—BaTi03 layer (0.30?x?0.46 and 0.51?y?0.62) having a (001) orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takakiyo Harigai, Yoshiaki Tanaka, Hideaki Adachi, Eiji Fujii
  • Patent number: 8919181
    Abstract: A multiple flow conduit flow meter (200) is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The multiple flow conduit flow meter (200) includes a first flow conduit (201) conducting a first flow stream and a pair of first pickoff sensors (215, 215?) affixed to the first flow conduit (201). The multiple flow conduit flow meter (200) further includes at least one additional flow conduit (202) conducting at least one additional flow stream and at least one pair of additional pickoff sensors (216, 216?) affixed to the at least one additional flow conduit (202). The at least one additional flow stream is independent of the first flow stream. The multiple flow conduit flow meter (200) further includes a common driver (220) configured to vibrate both the first flow conduit (201) and the at least one additional flow conduit (202) in order to generate a first vibrational response and at least one additional vibrational response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Paul Stack, Andrew Timothy Patten, Gregory Treat Lanham, Mark James Bell
  • Patent number: 8919197
    Abstract: A bank angle detecting device includes an angular velocity sensor for detecting a roll rate and a yaw rate of the vehicle, a roll rate estimating circuit for calculating an estimated roll rate, which is an angular velocity about a forward and rearward axis, on the basis of the roll rate, the yaw rate and a travelling speed, a bank angle estimator for calculating an estimated bank angle from the estimated roll rate, a straightforward travel determiner for determining a straightforward travelling condition on the basis of the estimated roll rate and an estimated yaw rate, a time-of-straight-forward-travel drift amount estimator for estimating a time-of-straight-forward drift amount from an output of the angular sensor in the event that the straightforward travel determiner determines a straightforward travel, and an angular velocity corrector for correcting the output of the angular velocity sensor with the time-of-straight-forward drift amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuya Sakamoto, Yoshiteru Harada
  • Patent number: 8915137
    Abstract: A yaw rate sensor having a substrate which has a main plane of extension, and a Coriolis element is proposed. The Coriolis element is excitable to a vibration along a third direction which is perpendicular to the main plane of extension. A Coriolis deflection of the Coriolis element along a first direction which is parallel to the main plane of extension may be detected using a detection arrangement. The detection arrangement includes a Coriolis electrode which is connected to the Coriolis element, and a corresponding counterelectrode. Both the Coriolis electrode and the counterelectrode may be excited to a vibration along the third direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Classen, Torsten Ohms, Daniel Christoph Meisel, Joerg Hauer
  • Patent number: 8910519
    Abstract: A vibration gyro element that includes a piezoelectric substrate configured to have a shape that is line-symmetrical about each of the two detection axes X1 and X2 which are parallel to a principal surface and orthogonal to each other; and a plurality of pairs of principal surface electrodes which are provided on front and back principal surfaces of the piezoelectric substrate. The piezoelectric substrate is formed from a monocrystal classified into the trigonal system 3m point group, and a crystal axis X of a crystal coordinate system (X, Y, Z) coincides with an axis that equally divides between the two detection axes X1 and X2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshimaro Yoneda
  • Patent number: 8904849
    Abstract: A novel gas analysis system and method of identifying analytes in a gas sample are provided. The system uses multiple gas analysis technologies and uses the combined qualitative and quantitative data obtained from the multiple gas analysis technologies to analyze a gas sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Smiths Detection Inc.
    Inventors: Mark L. Norman, Terence W. Sauer, David R. St. Pierre, Greger Andersson, Eric G. Diken
  • Patent number: 8887565
    Abstract: A device for measuring the rotational imbalance of a specimen, having a spindle unit with a spindle, which is embodied to hold the specimen and to allow it to rotate at a testing speed, a holder suspension by means of which the spindle unit is anchored to the machine base in pendulum fashion such that the imbalance forces occurring during the measurement operation are able to move the spindle unit back and forth in a predetermined measuring direction M, and a sensor arrangement that detects at least one imbalance parameter occurring in the measuring direction M during rotation of the spindle, wherein the spindle unit is supported by means of at least one auxiliary bearing that is only able to transmit forces in the direction of a normal N to the measuring direction M.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Franz Haimer Maschinenbau KG
    Inventor: Franz Haimer
  • Patent number: 8887567
    Abstract: An accelerometer includes a base, a proof mass flexibly connected to the base, and a double-ended tuning fork (DETF) coupled to the proof mass and the base. The DETF includes a base attached to the accelerometer base, an outrigger that extends from a first side of the base, and two tines that extend from a side of the outrigger that is opposite the first side of the base. The accelerometer also includes a drive mechanism that generates opposing forces in different halves of the outrigger, thereby causing the tines to oscillate. An excitation voltage applied to metallized traces on the outrigger at the base of the DETF cause the tines to resonant. The alternating strains generated at the root of the tines excite the tines themselves at their resonant frequency without the requirement of complex metallization applied to the tines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Paul W. Dwyer, Arthur Savchenko, Fred Petri
  • Patent number: 8875574
    Abstract: A coupling structure for a rotation rate sensor apparatus, having at least one first oscillating mass; and having a first frame, surrounding the first oscillating mass, to which the first oscillating mass is coupled; the first frame encompassing four angle elements, each of which angle elements has at least one first limb and one second limb and is respectively coupled with the first limb and with the second limb to another adjacent angle element of the four angle elements. Also described is a further coupling structure for a rotation rate sensor apparatus, to a rotation rate sensor apparatus, to a manufacturing method for a coupling structure for a rotation rate sensor apparatus, and to a manufacturing method for a rotation rate sensor apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Sattler, Daniel Christoph Meisel, Joerg Hauer
  • Patent number: 8875577
    Abstract: An oscillator circuit includes an oscillator, a filter that filters a monitoring signal output from the oscillator and outputs the filtered signal, a driver that amplifies the filtered signal to generate a driving signal, and a controller operable to control a passing characteristic of the filter based on the monitoring signal. The oscillator performs a vibration while being driven by the driving signal, and outputs the monitoring signal according to the vibration. This oscillator circuit allows the oscillator to vibrate stably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Uemura, Keisuke Kuroda
  • Patent number: 8875572
    Abstract: An apparatus for rotatably mounting a rotor to be balanced is provided. The apparatus include a rotatably mounted balancing spindle to which the rotor to be balanced is to be non-rotatingly connected, at least one bearing block, a plurality of spring bars aligned parallel to the spindle axis and used to mount the balancing spindle on the bearing block such that the balancing spindle is able to vibrate, and a drive mechanism for the balancing spindle. The spring bars are arranged in more than two planes at different distances from the spindle or in planes having different rotary angular positions about the spindle axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hofmann Maschinen-und Anlagenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Bernhard Bork
  • Patent number: 8875557
    Abstract: A diagnostic flame sensing circuit having less filtration so that an AC component of a flame sensing input is available for circuit diagnostics. Synchronized data sampling may used to detect the peak to peak magnitude of the residual AC component. A comparison of the magnitude of the component relative to a magnitude of the component during normal operation of the circuit may be used to check the condition of nearly all of the elements in the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Chian, Timothy J. Nordberg
  • Patent number: 8869616
    Abstract: A method and structure for fabricating an inertial sensing device using tilt conversion to sense a force in the out-of-plane direction. The method can include forming anchor structure(s) coupled to portions of a surface region of a substrate member. Also, the method can include forming flexible anchor members coupled to portions of the anchor structures and frame structures, which can be formed overlying the substrate. The method can also include forming flexible frame members coupled to portions of the frame structures and movable structures, which can also be formed overlying the substrate. Forming the movable structures can include forming peripheral and central movable structures, which can be coupled to flexible structure members. Peripheral movable structures having flexible tilting members can convert a pure tilting out-of-plane motion to a pure translational out-of-plane motion. The forming of these elements can include performing an etching process on a single silicon material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: mCube Inc.
    Inventors: Sudheer Sridharamurthy, Xiao “Charles” Yang
  • Patent number: 8869595
    Abstract: An adhesive assembly is provided in particular for assembling a novel element on a structure or further for reinforcing a structure. The adhesive assembly includes a substrate, a rigid element placed with an interval relative to the substrate, at least one seal compressed between the substrate and the rigid element and defining a sealed space within said interval, and a hardened adhesive occupying said space. The seal is compressed by the rigid element that is held on the substrate by the hardened adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Cold Pad
    Inventors: Jean-Philippe Court, René-Louis Geffroy
  • Patent number: 8869593
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for increasing the size of gas-entrained particles in order to render the gas-entrained particles detectable by a particle detector, the apparatus comprising an evaporation chamber (2) and a condenser (7); the apparatus is configured so that vapour-laden gas from the evaporation chamber can flow into the condenser and condensation of the vaporisable substance onto gas-entrained particles in the condenser takes place to increase the size of the particles so that they are capable of being detected by a particle detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Particle Measuring Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Boris Zachar Gorbunov, Harald Wilhelm Julius Gnewuch
  • Patent number: 8850892
    Abstract: An actuator driven by a smart material device and suitable for use as an actuator, energy capture device, or sensor, having an enclosed compensator, potting material, at least one actuating arm, and two mechanical webs and a movable supporting member adapted such that application of a suitable electric potential causes a change in shape of the smart material device, thereby flexing the mechanical webs and causing movement of the actuating arm. As an energy capture device or sensor, external motion causes the actuating arm to move, thereby causing the smart material device to generate recoverable electrical energy or an electric signal indicating motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Viking AT, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffery Moler, Aaron Dickey