Patents Examined by Herzon E. Williams
  • Patent number: 9733390
    Abstract: A downhole tool measurement device mounting system and method are provided. The mounting system may include a chassis and a first sensor area and a second sensor area in the chassis capable of housing a first sensor and a second sensor that measure a characteristic along a first axis and a second axis, respectively. The system may also have a sensor assembly mounted in a cavity of the chassis in a third sensor area wherein a sensing axis of the sensor assembly is orthogonal to the first and second axes, the sensor assembly having a block and an orthogonal sensor mounted in the block to form a monolithic assembly that is secured into the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Bench Tree Group, LLC
    Inventors: Pedro R. Segura, Rene M. Rey
  • Patent number: 9470567
    Abstract: A technique for calibrating a fluid flow sensor includes generating fluid flow at a first speed. A first temperature of the fluid flow is determined using a first temperature sensor that is positioned upstream of the fluid flow sensor. A first power is supplied to a main heater of the fluid flow sensor to adjust a second temperature of a first plate of the fluid flow sensor to be substantially equal to the first temperature, A second power is supplied to a guard heater of the fluid flow sensor to adjust a third temperature of a second plate of the fluid flow sensor to be substantially equal to a fourth temperature of the first plate. The first and second plates are separated by a spacer and the first speed and the third temperature provide a calibration point on a calibration curve for the fluid flow sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Arden L. Moore, Katie L. Pizzolato, Carrie Sitten Westmark
  • Patent number: 9435824
    Abstract: A compensation circuit connected to an accelerometer's output extends the frequency response of the accelerometer, while reducing noise produced by the accelerometer. The compensation circuit has a gain as a function of frequency that is (i) constant up to a first frequency that is less than the accelerometer's natural resonance frequency, and (ii) reduced to approximately zero at a second frequency that is greater than the accelerometer's natural resonance frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Inventor: Garimella R Sarma
  • Patent number: 9297817
    Abstract: Described are pipetting systems that automatically track the dispensing and extracting of reagents to and from arrays of well locations. The systems track the position of a pipette with respect to the well locations, and selectively illuminate those locations to indicate the progress of pipetting operations. Control logic can shepherd pipetting processes, indicating errors and guiding the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Actrace, LLC
    Inventor: Lei Zeng
  • Patent number: 9279795
    Abstract: A flammable gas concentration detection apparatus (1) including an energization control unit (50) that switches the energization state of heating resistor (34) at regular time periods TW, and a gas concentration computation unit (7). The heating resistor has first and second set temperatures CH and CL. The voltage detected across the heating resistor at the first and second set temperatures corresponds to a high and low temperature voltage, respectively. The gas concentration computation unit computes the concentration of a flammable gas based on a first information group including an average high temperature voltage averaging the values of two temporally successive high temperature voltages, the low temperature voltage in a period of time between two high temperature voltages, and an environment temperature in the period of time in which the low temperature voltage is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yusuke Matsukura, Shoji Kitanoya, Masaya Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9217640
    Abstract: A gyroscopic system provides measurements on the basis of a vibrating gyroscope and provides a measurement signal. A periodic control signal is applied to it; in order to rotate the position of vibration, during a half period, according to a first speed profile, from a first up to a second position; and in order to rotate the position of vibration in an opposite direction during the other part of the period, according to a second speed profile, up to a third position. The measurements are based on corrected signals, each of said corrected signals, respectively for each of the vibrating gyroscopes, being obtained by; deducting the control signal from the measurement signal of the vibrating gyroscope; and taking account of errors identified on the basis of a comparison of the measurements provided by the gyroscopic system as a function of the position of vibration with reference measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: SAGEM DEFENSE SÉCURITÉ
    Inventors: Christian Lignon, Yannick Foloppe
  • Patent number: 9157782
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a coverslipping machine (1) including: a hollow needle (2) for applying mounting medium onto a specimen slide (5); a transparent container (103) to be filled with a liquid; a light source (101) for radiating measurement light in a principal radiating direction (A) into the container (103); and a light sensor (102, 102?) for detecting the measurement light, the light source (101) being arranged with respect to the container (103) in such a way that the radiated measurement light is refracted by a liquid in the container whose fill level exceeds a fill level limit, the light sensor (102, 102?) being arranged with respect to the container (103) in such a way that only measurement light refracted by the liquid or only measurement light not refracted by the liquid is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Berberich, Christian Wilke, Tobias Trump
  • Patent number: 9103811
    Abstract: An electronic equipment enclosure (10), especially for an oil-in-water analyzer. The enclosure has a metal body (22) including an expandable folded section (26) that expands in response to increased pressure within the enclosure thereby increasing the volume defined by the enclosure. The enclosure is capable of containing internal explosions and is suitable for use in hazardous environments where the electronic equipment can come into contact with explosive gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Advanced Sensors Limited
    Inventors: Khalid Thabeth, Raymond Acheson, John Tierney
  • Patent number: 9080490
    Abstract: A Selective Catalytic Reduction sensor that does not degrade a measurement accuracy of a quality sensor even when a remaining amount of a urea tank is reduced. A quality sensor is installed between a minimum remaining amount liquid level and a bottom portion of the urea tank; a drop pipe is installed from a ceiling portion of the urea tank to a top space in the urea tank; a support is installed from a bottom portion to the ceiling portion of the urea tank; the quality sensor and the drop pipe are integrated through the support; and a bubble diffusion region caused by the urea aqueous solution dropping from the drop pipe is out of a sensitive region of the quality sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Itou
  • Patent number: 9074959
    Abstract: A method of determining the accuracy and repeatability of leak testing instrumentation comprises the following steps: providing a two chamber vessel having an access port and a flow controlling reference orifice associated with each chamber and a third reference orifice communicating between the two chambers, providing a leak testing device and connecting such leak testing device first to one of such ports, pressurizing the associated chamber and, with the associated orifice open, observing and recording the pressure measured by the leak testing device under test as a function of time. The second test repeats this activity with the other chamber and the other orifice. A third test is undertaken with the third orifice open. One of the chambers is smaller and incorporates a smaller orifice and the other chamber is larger and incorporates a larger orifice thus achieving leak testing under different conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Ranajit Ghosh, Sunil Nandwani, John S. Agapiou, Paul W. Tanis
  • Patent number: 9032820
    Abstract: A protective device for a test installation, the test installation being used for testing objects that have a tendency to burn and emit gas, in particular for testing lithium-ion batteries, and the test installation having a test chamber that is sealable via a door-type opening element with the interposition of a sealing element, and having a testing device configured in the test chamber for the objects. The test chamber includes a venting device for gases and is surrounded by a sealed enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Frank Dallinger, Rudi Kaiser, Jannis Stemmann, Rainer Kern, Carsten Pipper
  • Patent number: 8935963
    Abstract: A test fixture is provided for mounting a sample to a gas gun. The fixture includes a gun barrel mount including an annular enclosure with first and second axial ends, and a sample platform. The mount connects to the gas gun at the first end. The sample platform includes a tubular component having third and fourth axial ends, a pusher disk, an end plate, and a flange. The disk supports the sample and mounts to the end plate. The flange removably attaches to the component at the third end. The end plate removably attaches to the component at the fourth end and to the enclosure at the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Susan L. Bartyczak, Willis Mock, Jr.
  • 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: 8695444
    Abstract: In the case of a tool (140) for handling a sample, which comprises a fastening device (141) for detachably fastening the tool to a tool holder of a sample handling apparatus, and comprises a sample manipulation device, for example realized as a syringe (150), fastened to the fastening device (141), this tool comprises a holding device, for example in the form of a needle guide (160), which, on the one hand, is fastened to the fastening device (141) so as to be movable in a coupling direction (165) and, on the other hand, can be coupled to and decoupled from the tool holder in the coupling direction (165).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: CTC Analytics AG
    Inventor: Roland Hiltbrand
  • Patent number: 8683861
    Abstract: A sensor senses a characteristic of an environment, e.g., humidity. The sensor has a substrate with strips of material that is sensitive to corrosion as a result of the characteristic. The strips are configured to respond differently to the characteristic. By means of repeatedly measuring the resistances of the strips, the environment can be monitored in terms of accumulated exposure to the characteristic. The strips are manufactured in a semiconductor technology so as to generate accurate sensors that behave predictably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: NXP, B.V.
    Inventors: Aurelie Humbert, Youri Victorovitch Ponomarev, Matthias Merz, Romano Hoofman
  • Patent number: 8646314
    Abstract: An externally engaging test barrier for use in testing hydrostatic pressure in a plumbing system having two abutting plumbing components. The test barrier includes a barrier body having a first face, a second face, and at least one peripheral engagement for engaging an external surface of at least one of the two abutting plumbing components to hold the barrier body in position across an end of at least one of the two abutting plumbing components. The peripheral engagement extends perpendicularly from the first face or the second face. A removable portion of the barrier body is defined by a frangible connection. The peripheral engagement of the barrier body is incapable of sealing the plumbing system during a hydrostatic pressure test, unless used in combination with a pipe coupling that forms an overlying sealing sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Inventor: Gabe Coscarella
  • Patent number: 8549934
    Abstract: A segmented sampling apparatus is designed to extract a sample from a source and deliver the sample to a collector for storage or analysis. The sample is extracted from the source at a sample withdrawal or extraction rate but is delivered to the collector at a faster rate. Air is injected into or drawn into the apparatus which allows for an expedited sample delivery rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Flownamics Analytical Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Biksacky
  • Patent number: 8459111
    Abstract: An angular rate sensor having two generally planar proof masses, a sense axis in the plane of the masses, and an input axis perpendicular to the sense axis. The masses are suspended from a driving frame, which is mounted for torsional movement about the input axis in drive-mode. And the masses are constrained for anti-phase movement along the sense axis in sense-mode in response to Coriolis forces produced by rotation of the masses about the input axis, with sensors responsive to the anti-phase movement of the masses along the sense axis for monitoring rate of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Inventor: Minyao Mao
  • Patent number: 8181518
    Abstract: A magnetic float is provided for a level indicator system that is suitable for low density liquids at high pressure, such as C3-liquids. The float comprises a hollow tube, first and second endcaps, and a magnet assembly. The hollow tube comprises a carbon fiber reinforced cured resin matrix and has a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the ends. The first and second endcaps are formed from polymer and dome-shaped. They seal the first and second ends of the hollow tube, respectively, to hermetically seal the inside of the float the outside. At least one polymeric reinforcing ring is mounted inside of a midsection of the hollow tube between the first end and the second end to resist radial inward collapse of the tube. The magnet assembly is mounted in the tube near the first endcap and comprises a plurality of longitudinally elongated magnets positioned adjacent the inside wall of the hollow tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Inventor: Wade L. Donehue
  • Patent number: 8061220
    Abstract: A device for simultaneously dispensing a solution containing a sample to a test device and aspirating the sample from the device. In one embodiment the device is hand-held and includes a control mechanism, e.g., button for activating the dispensing and aspiration of the sample. The testing device may take the form of a multi-well plate with a plurality of wells arranged in rows and columns, with the bottom of the wells formed as a photonic crystal biosensor. The device can be configured with dispense and aspirate manifolds and associated dispense and aspirate ports which are positioned in all the wells along a row or column of wells so as to simultaneously aspirate and dispense solution to all the wells in a row or column of the multi-well plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: SRU Biosystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Lance G. Laing, Timothy F. Smith, John Gerstenmeier, III, Gangadhar Jogikalmath