Patents Examined by Hezron E. Williams
  • Patent number: 9908771
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a single chip combination inertial and pressure sensor device includes a substrate, an inertial sensor including a movable sensing structure movably supported above the substrate, and a first fixed electrode positioned adjacent to the movable sensing structure, and a pressure sensor including a gap formed in the sensor at a location directly above the movable sensing structure, and a flexible membrane formed in a cap layer of the device, the flexible membrane defining a boundary of the gap and configured to flex toward and away from the gap in response to a variation in pressure above the flexible membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ando Feyh, Gary O'Brien
  • Patent number: 9901499
    Abstract: A sensor for attachment to an inflatable air cell cushion designed to detect optimal immersion of the cushion user into the in the inflatable cushion. The immersion depth of a user positioned on the cushion is determined by sensing air pressure in the cushion. The sensor accurately reads changes in pressure as air exits the cushion to allow an algorithm to determine optimal internal cushion pressure for a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: ROHO, INC.
    Inventors: Leane Darnold, Kevin C. Meier, Thomas John Chaney, Glenn G. Fournie, Ross P. Peyton
  • Patent number: 9903786
    Abstract: A radial rolling-bearing testing device includes a rotary shaft which an inner ring of a radial rolling bearing is fitted, a rotational driving section which rotates a rotary shaft, a lubricant reservoir which is configured so as to retain lubricant in which a portion of the radial rolling bearing is immersed, and a load applying section which is configured so as to apply a radial load to the radial rolling bearing. A bottom surface of the lubricant reservoir is a curved concave surface which has a partially cylindrical form which is concentric to a central axis of the rotary shaft. An entirety of a housing which supports the rotary shaft may be integrally formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Ikuo Taguchi, Masato Yoshida
  • Patent number: 9903787
    Abstract: The rotor of the turbine is monitored by sensors of the rotor vibrations arranged in at least one plane of measuring perpendicular to the axis of the rotor and by sensors of the absolute vibrations of the bearings. When using this method of processing, synchronically digitalized signals of the sensors of rotor vibrations, first the arithmetic mean of the individual harmonic bands in full spectrum in the frequency domain is calculated, by which means the information about the subharmonic components and their multiples in the full spectrum of these signals is transferred into the frequency band ?1X to 1X, at the same time is by the calculation of the median estimated the level of the signal noise, with which individual frequency bands of the full spectrum are encumbered, and which is subtracted from the amplitudes in the individual frequency bands of full spectrum of the signals of the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignees: DOOSAN SKODA POWER S.R.O., ZAPADOCESKA UNIVERZITA V PLZNI
    Inventors: Vaclav Cerny, Jindrich Liska
  • Patent number: 9903200
    Abstract: An apparatus for estimating a viscosity or density of a fluid downhole includes a carrier configured to be conveyed through a borehole penetrating the earth. A pump is disposed at the carrier and configured to pump the fluid. A flow restriction element is configured to receive a flow of the fluid pumped by the pump and to reduce pressure of the fluid flowing through the flow restriction element. A sensor is configured to measure a differential pressure across the flow restriction element and to provide an output that is used to estimate the viscosity or density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Stefan Sroka, Thomas Kruspe, Peter Schaefer
  • Patent number: 9897431
    Abstract: An edge detector is provided for determining the axial position of the leading or trailing edge of a rotating blade within rotating machinery. The edge detector includes a set of axially spaced tip detection probes locatable within a casing of the machinery. Each probe is arranged to detect whether or not the blade tip passes over that probe. The edge detector determines the axial position of the edge of the blade as the position of the boundary between those tip detection probes which detect passage of the blade tip thereover and those tip detection probes which detect no passage of the blade tip thereover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: Alan Richard Jones
  • Patent number: 9897503
    Abstract: Provided is a capacitive pressure sensor that prevents not only a change in temperature but also electromagnetic noise in the air from affecting the measurement value of pressure. In the capacitive pressure sensor, an electrode member includes: a measurement electrode fixed to an insulating positioning member and having an electrode face; a signal extraction electrode fixed with an insulating seal sealing the other end of the body; and a flexible connection member for electrically connecting the measurement electrode and the signal electrode. Moreover, the flexible connection member is accommodated in the accommodating depressed portion formed in the measurement electrode or the signal extraction electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: HORIBA STEC, CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sotaro Kishida, Takehisa Hataita, Akira Kuwahara
  • Patent number: 9897508
    Abstract: A hose leakage detection system includes a ring configured to be disposed within a hose. The ring has a lateral slot formed in an outer surface, defining a first slot wall and a second slot wall. A sensor is disposed on one of the first slot wall and the second slot wall and a power source is electrically connected to the leakage detection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Srinivasan Raghavendra, Avamthsa Sreeram, Abhishek Muglikar
  • Patent number: 9897576
    Abstract: A gas chromatography device includes a sample injection part, a detector, a separation column, and a transfer line connecting between the sample injection part and the separation column and between the sample injection part and the detector. Furthermore, a column temperature adjustment part for adjusting the temperature of the separation column, and a line temperature adjustment part for adjusting the temperature of the transfer line are provided. The line temperature adjustment part is structured to include a heat block which includes a heating element and which is in contact with the transfer line from one side, and a holding member which presses the transfer line toward the heat block side by being in contact from the other side, and to sandwich the transfer line by the heat block and the holding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Matsuoka, Takahiro Nishimoto, Masaki Kanai, Masanori Nishino
  • Patent number: 9897526
    Abstract: A vacuum apparatus includes a vacuum chamber, first sensor units disposed in the vacuum chamber facing a deposition direction of particles, and second sensor units disposed in the vacuum chamber, each disposed on a corresponding first sensor of the first sensor units facing the deposition direction, wherein the first sensor units are configured to sense a pressure in the vacuum chamber and an absorption amount of the particles adsorbed to the first sensor units, and the second sensor units are configured to sense the pressure in the vacuum chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eun-Ju Song, Hoonchul Ryoo
  • Patent number: 9891201
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of analyzing the components of a flavor sample comprising the steps of a) preparing a composition comprising a number (n) of aroma compounds to form a replica of a flavor; b) preparing a further composition comprising the same aroma and/or taste compounds with one of the components being reduced in amount by from 5 to 95% compared to the amount in the first composition; and c) comparing the aroma and/or taste of the first and second compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Mars, Incorporated
    Inventors: Joanne Hort, Andrew Taylor, Neil Desforges
  • Patent number: 9884526
    Abstract: An electronic unit includes an electronic box (1) and a “snap-in” inflation valve (2) made up of a shaft (5) and of an abutment head (6) which are separated by a neck (7) in the shape of an annular groove. The electronic box (1) and the inflation valve (2) are rigidly connected by element, firstly, of an annular piece (22) housed in the neck (7) of the valve body (3), which piece is continued by at least one arm (23) for connecting the annular piece with the electronic box (1), extending externally along the abutment head (6) and in a continuation of the latter, and, secondly, of members (27) for fixing the connecting arm (23) on the electronic box (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignees: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Christian Kempf
  • Patent number: 9880143
    Abstract: The invention provides a sensor system, mote and a motes-system. The sensor system is configured for being contained in a container having a maximum outer dimension less than 10 millimeter and for sensing at least one environmental parameter (T, P, pH, ?). The sensor system includes at least one sensor configured for measuring the at least one environmental parameter and for generating a sensed value (xT, xP). The sensor system includes a storage element and a timer in which the at least one sensor is configured to measuring the at least one environmental parameter at each time triggers (t1, t2, . . . ) from the timer and for storing a sensed value (xT, xP). The sensor system further includes an energy storage comprising a chargeable capacitor being chargeable via electro-magnetic radiation of a predefined frequency, and wherein the sensor system is configured to initiate a sequence of sensed values when the energy storage is charged or is being charged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: INGU Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Heinrich Johannes Wörtche, Elena Talnishnikh, Johannes Hubertus Gerardus Van Pol
  • Patent number: 9880083
    Abstract: The invention relates to a particle sensor (20) for determining a particle content in a gas flow, wherein the particle sensor (20) has, on the surface thereof, at least two interlocking interdigital IDE electrodes (23) and a heating element (26), separated from the IDE electrodes (23) by an insulating layer (21), by means of which heating element the particle sensor (20) can be heated in a regeneration phase and a soot load on the particle sensor can thus be removed, and by means of which particle sensor, in a diagnostic phase during the regeneration phase, a current is measured by intermittently applying a measurement voltage to the IDE electrodes (23) and, based on the chronological progression and size thereof, a functional inspection of the particle sensor (20) is carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Benjamin Gaertner, Andy Tiefenbach, Mathias Klenk
  • Patent number: 9873568
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for detecting seal failure of a sealed region within a conveyor component. A fluid line extends out of the sealed region and a sensor is connected to the fluid line. A valve is connected subsequent to the sensor, and a fluid pump that is connected subsequent to the valve. A controller is connected to the sensor, the valve, and the fluid pump. The sensor is external to the sealed region and the valve is a solenoid valve. The sealed region is within an idler pulley that has a drum shell with an end lid affixed at an axial end thereof, and a shaft. The sealed region can be contained within a motorized drum or a hollow conveyor frame structure. A method detects seal failure by forming a sealed region bounded by a surface and a seal, and altering a fluid pressure, th time rate of change of which is monitored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Mol Belting Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Laurens G. J. Wolters, Michael Hendrik DeGroot
  • Patent number: 9872624
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a strain sensing element is provided on a film unit configured to be deformed. The strain sensing element includes a functional layer, a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer, and a spacer layer. The functional layer includes at least one of an oxide and a nitride. The second magnetic layer is provided between the functional layer and the first magnetic layer. A magnetization of the second magnetic layer is variable in accordance with a deformation of the film unit. The spacer layer is provided between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer. At least a part of the second magnetic layer is amorphous and includes boron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Fuji, Hideaki Fukuzawa, Shiori Kaji, Akio Hori, Tomohiko Nagata, Michiko Hara, Yoshihiro Higashi, Akiko Yuzawa
  • Patent number: 9874490
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for determining a fluid leakage of a vehicle component. In one example, a method may include measuring a strain of an underbody cover in order to determine the fluid leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Enrique Remes
  • Patent number: 9873293
    Abstract: A tire wear state estimation system estimates forces and sliding velocity generated in a tire contact patch, determines frictional energy from the tire force and sliding velocity, and generates an estimate of tire wear state based upon the frictional work done by the tire. A tire wear estimate, pursuant to the system and methodology, is made by determining the amount of frictional work performed by the tire through the integrated use of tire-mounted, GPS sourced, and vehicle-mounted sensor information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Kanwar Bharat Singh, Marc Engel
  • Patent number: 9869614
    Abstract: A sampling apparatus includes a pressure-reducing safety unit, which includes a device accommodation chamber that accommodates safety devices and a cylinder connection chamber, and a cylinder unit. The cylinder unit removably accommodates a cylinder, excluding an exposed portion where a front end portion of the cylinder, a mouthpiece, and a cylinder on-off valve are exposed, in an openable/closable casing. The exposed portion of the cylinder is formed so as to be insertable from the open surface portion of the cylinder connection chamber into the cylinder connection chamber, the mouthpiece of the cylinder and a hydrogen outlet of a supply pipe of the device accommodation chamber are connected by using a flexible hose, and thereby a sample of hydrogen gas is taken into the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: IWATANI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuto Matsumoto, Shinichi Omoteda, Ken Nishida, Goichi Inoue
  • Patent number: 9866090
    Abstract: An electric machine such as for example, an electric generator, is provided having a lock system which enables a monitoring device to be housed in the machine such that the generator is not required to be purged. The machine, which can be filled with a gas, with a housing, wherein a first chamber is arranged on the housing, wherein a first flap valve is arranged between the housing and the first chamber, creating a fluidic connection between said housing and first chamber, and a second chamber which is arranged on the first chamber, wherein a second flap valve is arranged between the first and the second chambers, creating a fluidic connection between said first chamber and second chamber, wherein a monitoring device for inspection purposes is provided in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiegesellschaft
    Inventors: Waldemar Kowalski, Christoph Lehmann