Patents Examined by Gregory J. Toatley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10228477
    Abstract: Calculating hypocenters of microseismic events. At least some of the example embodiments are methods including: detecting seismic waves from a microseismic event, the detecting by a sensor array disposed on a seafloor, the microseismic event originating in a formation below the sensor array, and the detecting creates received data; separating the received data into up-going data and down-going data, the down-going data indicative of detected seismic waves after a first reflection of the seismic waves at a sea surface; and calculating a hypocenter of the microseismic event using both the up-going data and the first down-going data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: PGS Geophysical AS
    Inventors: Alexander V. Goertz, Joseph Richardson
  • Patent number: 10224908
    Abstract: An integrated circuit may include path delay calibration circuitry. The calibration circuitry may be configured to calibrate respective delay paths so that data and control signals travelling through the respective delay paths experience proper propagation delays during normal user operation. The calibration circuitry may include a high frequency error calibration circuit, a monitoring circuit, and a calibration processing circuit. The high frequency error calibration circuit may be used to compute first calibration settings that take into account jitter and process variations. The monitoring circuit may be used to measure a proxy parameter of interest. The processing circuit may be used to compute an offset based at least partly on the measured value of the proxy parameter. The offset may be applied to the first calibration settings to obtain second calibration settings, which can be used to configure the respective delay paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua David Fender, Navid Azizi, Gordon Raymond Chiu
  • Patent number: 10215587
    Abstract: A method for detecting a human's steps and estimating the horizontal translation direction and scaling of the resulting motion relative to an inertial sensor is described. When a pedestrian takes a sequence of steps the displacement can be decomposed into a sequence of rotations and translations over each step. A translation is the change in the location of pedestrian's center of mass and a rotation is the change along z-axis of the pedestrian's orientation. A translation can be described by a vector and a rotation by an angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: TRX SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Kamiar Kordari, Benjamin Funk, Jared Napora, Ruchika Verma, Carole Teolis, Travis Young
  • Patent number: 10190158
    Abstract: A circuit comprising a substrate with sectors on the substrate is provided, each sector comprising clock and data lines, a controller in electrical communication with the clock and data lines, a counter bias line, an amplifier input line and nano-electronic measurement devices on the substrate. A source of each device is coupled to the counter bias line and a drain of each device is coupled to the amplifier input line to obtain an electrical signal on the drain, the identity of which is determined by electrical interaction between the device and a charge label. Each device drain is gated by a corresponding switch between an on state, in which the drain is connected to the amplifier input line, and an off state, in which the drain is isolated from the amplifier input line. The controller controls switch states responsive to clock signal line pulses and data input line data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Turner, Jonas Korlach, Steven Warren
  • Patent number: 10192677
    Abstract: The present invention comprises an apparatus and method for detecting a loss of oil from an oil-immersed transformer, based on fitting a transformer top-oil temperature model to online measurements in an iterative optimization process that yields fitted values for a first model parameter representing the top-oil temperature rise over ambient temperature and a second model parameter representing the oil time constant. Among the several advantages seen in the contemplated apparatus and method is the reduction in required instrumentation, whereby transformer oil leaks are indirectly detected without requiring pressure sensors or mechanical floats, although the presence of such sensors is not excluded by the teachings herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: ABB Inc.
    Inventors: Xianyong Feng, Mirrasoul Mousavi
  • Patent number: 10168306
    Abstract: A rotor arrangement and method by which a time reference is provided for a rotor. The rotor includes N time of arrival features. The method includes steps to: provide a plurality of time of arrival probes spaced apart circumferentially outside the periphery of the rotor; for each revolution of the rotor, measure a time of arrival of each feature at each probe; select N time of arrival measurements at each probe; derive a best fit of the measured times of arrival measured at all the probes against angular position; and set the time reference for the next revolution of the rotor equal to the best fit at the end of the current revolution of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Peter Russhard, Jason David Back
  • Patent number: 10145744
    Abstract: The present invention intends to eliminate the need for a temperature detecting element adapted to measure the temperature of a roll main body in an induction-heated roller apparatus, and includes an impedance calculation part that calculates the impedance of a winding, a relational data storage part that stores relational data indicating the relationship between the impedance of the winding and the temperature of the roll main body, and a roll temperature calculation part that calculates the temperature of the roll main body from the impedance obtained by the impedance calculation part and the relational data stored in the relational data storage part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: TOKUDEN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toru Tonomura, Yasuhiro Fujimoto, Masayoshi Kimura
  • Patent number: 9933469
    Abstract: A movement-sensitive capacitive sensor includes a first conductive element and a second conductive element positioned adjacent to the first conductive element. The sensor also includes a first protective insulator and a second protective insulator sealed to the first protective insulator with the first conductive element and the second conductive element positioned between the first protective insulator and the second protective insulator. The sensor further includes a circuit configured to calculate, over time while a person is occupying the movement-sensitive capacitive sensor and moving while occupying the movement-sensitive capacitive sensor, capacitance values between the first conductive element and the second conductive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Inventors: Samuel Alden Ridenour, Paul Michael Wempe, Mark Andrew Hanson, Adam T. Barth
  • Patent number: 9775374
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for calculating a food additive. A first method includes identifying chemical compounds of an averse food ingredient, identifying chemical compounds of a flavorful food ingredient and calculating a set of chemical compounds for the food additive such that an olfactory perception of a mixture of the averse food ingredient, the flavorful food ingredient and the food additive is the same as an olfactory perception of only the flavorful food ingredient. A first device includes a database storing information identifying chemical compounds of an averse food ingredient and identifying chemical compounds of a flavorful food ingredient, and a processor for calculating a food additive such that an olfactory perception of flavors of a mixture of the averse food ingredient, the flavorful food ingredient and the food additive is the same as an olfactory perception of only the flavorful food ingredient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kush R. Varshney, Lav R. Varshney
  • Patent number: 9645282
    Abstract: An adaptive weather interrogation system capable of determining whether currently available weather for a particular trajectory or portion thereof, a particular volume of space or geospatial point meets subscriber operations and requirements. More specifically, the system provides the capability to determine the “best” weather information by evaluating the weather data and associated weather quality, accuracy or confidence attribute values against subscriber operations and requirements. If the weather data, quality, accuracy, and confidence do not meet the subscriber's requirements, the system is capable of interrogating weather data sources for additional or updated weather data to meet the subscriber's needs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Ryan D. Hale, Louis J. Bailey, Gregory T. Saccone
  • Patent number: 9581018
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for horizontal directional drilling (HDD). The system and method utilize predictive algorithms to both characterize the soil within the borehole and to quantify instability within the drillstring. The soil characteristics are represented by a soil coefficient (?) which relates the curvature of the borehole with the length of thrust of the drill rig as well as by comparison of thrust while thrusting with torque while drilling. The value of (?) is obtained by comparison of the historical orientation of the drilling head over the length of the borehole and the borehole shape as determined by an arbitrary navigation sensor. Drillstring instability is determined as a function of historical thrust and torque efficiencies and windup over the length of the borehole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Benjamin P. Dolgin, William G. Suliga, Thomas G Pepin, John T. Ishibashi, Michael A. Toreno, James A. Nalasco
  • Patent number: 9470670
    Abstract: Method and system for detecting and/or quantifying recent human presence in an environment using a calculated rate of decay of carbon dioxide concentration levels within that environment. A sensor measures the change in carbon dioxide levels over time to calculate the rate of decay to equilibrium and extrapolate recent human presence. Also provided is a method and system for quantifying recent human activity in an environment using the calculated rate of decay to equilibrium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: SRC, INC.
    Inventors: Mark Angeli, John Durst, Garrett Liddil, Marcello M. DiStasio
  • Patent number: 9459173
    Abstract: A method for calibrating a force platform includes, providing a force platform and applying an n×m grid on a top surface of the force platform via a computing device. Next, applying p known loads on each of the n×m grid points of the top surface along a Z-axis being perpendicular to the X and Y axes and along the X and Y axes. Next, taking multipoint measurements at each grid point and for each applied known load along the X, Y and Z axes and generating six measured output signals, exact position coordinates and applied known load magnitude for each grid point. Next, assembling an array of n×m×p of six equations with six unknown for each grid point and applied known load and then solving the assembled equations and deriving a position and load specific calibration matrix for each grid point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Advanced Mechanical Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce F. White, Fred Ruland, Forest J. Carignan, Albert Drueding, Gary Glass, Jonathan Taylor
  • Patent number: 9418045
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods for quantifying and identifying diversion of electrical energy are provided. Bypass and tap diversions may be identified in an electric utility power distribution inventory zone having both bypass and tap diversions. Bypass diversion factors for consumer nodes in an inventory zone are determined by finding a solution to a system of load balance equations having slack variables representing aggregate tap loads for the inventory zone and in which consumer load profile data is scaled by the bypass diversion factors, which solution minimizes an objective function whose value is positively related to the sum of the slack variables representing the aggregate tap loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: MBH CONSULTING LTD.
    Inventor: Michael Brent Hughes
  • Patent number: 9228945
    Abstract: A sensor chip includes a substrate, a relief structure composed of protruding sections formed so as to be arranged on a surface of the substrate to have a lattice shape and a recessed section between the protruding sections, and fine metal particles arranged along upper ridge lines of the respective protruding sections of the relief structure, the protruding sections being adjacent to each other, having a minute gap with which the surface plasmon resonance occurs. By irradiating the gap between the fine metal particles with a laser beam, the localized surface plasmon resonance occurs more efficiently. As a result, the sensor chip capable of taking out the surface enhanced Raman scattering to thereby detect the substance with high sensitivity can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yusuke Sakagami
  • Patent number: 9176121
    Abstract: A method of identifying the elements of a blood sample including placing an aliquot of blood on a transparent substrate such as a coverslip. The blood is allowed to stand and the cells to settle to form a layer or matrix. Inverted microscopy is used to identify the elements in the sample. Various forms of illumination may be used alone or in multiple combinations. The method improves the accuracy due to homogenous distribution of formed elements in the wet drop or aliquot, simplifies the method, lowers the cost of the test and results in a shortened analytical cycle time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Hematology, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Winkelman, Milenko J. Tanasijevic, David Zahniser
  • Patent number: 8817270
    Abstract: An apparatus and associated method for testing a non-symmetric (e.g., phi-polynomial) surface. The apparatus uses several simple (singlet) optical elements (e.g., an Offner null configuration) and a tilted optic under test in combination with an active optical element (e.g., actuated, deformable membrane mirror, optical phase modulator, etc.) that together form a null or quasi-null that allows for conventional null-based interferometry. This solution solves the problem of exceeding the dynamic range of a conventional interferometer when trying to test non-symmetric optical surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: University of Rochester
    Inventors: Jannick P. Rolland, Kyle Fuerschbach
  • Patent number: 8810792
    Abstract: A beam sampling system, includes a first beam splitter adapted to split a laser beam having a primary polarization component and a secondary polarization component, into a first intermediate sample beam, and a first beam splitter output beam, the intermediate sample beam including first percentage of the primary polarization component and a second percentage of the secondary polarization component. A 90-degree polarization rotator is positioned in the intermediate sample beam line. A second beam splitter is mounted so that the intermediate sample beam is split into an output sample beam on an output sample beam line, and a second transmitted beam, the output sample beam including substantially said first percentage of the secondary polarization component and substantially said second percentage of the primary polarization component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Metal Improvement Company, LLC
    Inventors: C. Brent Dane, Edward W. H. Lao, Scott N. Fochs
  • Patent number: 8760645
    Abstract: A method of normalizing an analyzer response value of a fluorescence analyzer is provided. The method includes measuring an excitation spectrum of the analyzer and measuring an emission sensitivity spectrum of the analyzer. Next, a normalization factor based at least in part upon the excitation spectrum of the analyzer and the emission sensitivity spectrum of the analyzer is determined. The sample is then analyzed to obtain an uncorrected analyzer response value. A normalized analyzer response value is calculated based at least in part upon the uncorrected analyzer response value and the normalization factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: IDEXX Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Garland Christian Misener, James Edward Milan, Robert W. Lachapelle
  • Patent number: 8749794
    Abstract: The general field of the invention is that of optical devices designed for measuring anemometer parameters such as speed and temperature, the device being mounted on an aircraft and comprising an optical emission module illuminating the outside air, an optical reception module capable of receiving the light scattered by the air molecules, optical means forming a reference path and computing means connected to the reception module. The optical reception module comprises optical mixing means for mixing a portion of the beam originating from the reference path and a portion of the scattered light beam. The optical emission and reception means are arranged so that the reception device collects the light originating from the Brillouin-Mandel'shtam scattering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Patrick Feneyrou, Jean-Pierre Schlotterbeck, Gabrielle Lehureau