Patents Examined by Hezron Williams
  • Patent number: 8015860
    Abstract: A method of measuring the deposition of a composition onto a substrate. This information can be used to correlate how the composition will deposit on sanitary ware, such as shower cubicles, baths, and wash basins. The composition can be a liquid personal cleansing composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventors: Peter R. Hilliard, Jr., Joseph R. Knorr
  • Patent number: 8015859
    Abstract: A method for testing the integrity of welds used to secure a nozzle to a vessel and the like comprises forming a sealed space within the nozzle by providing a blind against the flange and a sealing plate within the vessel and filling the space with a pressurizing fluid. The sealing plate is not biased against the flange. As such, the method of the invention simulates normally occurring axial expansion stresses within the nozzle thereby providing a more accurate test. The apparatus of the invention comprises a blind flange for sealing the flange face and a back plate for positioning against the inner surface of the vessel. The apparatus includes a biasing means for urging the back plate against the vessel wall. In one embodiment, the biasing means includes a front plate located outside of the vessel and connected to the back plate. In another embodiment, the biasing means comprises a plurality of magnets for engaging the vessel wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: CAR-BER Investments Inc.
    Inventor: Glenn Carson
  • Patent number: 8015866
    Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid detection unit having a liquid detection chamber, a detection portion including a detection space communicating with the liquid detection chamber via a through hole of a detection portion installation member and a piezoelectric sensor which detects remaining vibrations, and a movable member including a detection space sealing surface which is urged by an urging member and thus comes to abut against one surface of a detection portion installation member. The liquid detection chamber includes an abutting surface abutting against a second sealing surface being in contact with a first sealing surface of the movable member and the detection portion installation member. When a distance between the first sealing surface of the movable member to the detection space sealing surface is defined as L1 and a distance between the second sealing surface of the liquid detection chamber to the abutting surface is defined as L2, the relationship L1>L2 is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Aoki, Hitotoshi Kimura
  • Patent number: 8011258
    Abstract: In one aspect, an apparatus includes a head configured to receive a pad for sampling explosive residue on a surface and a feedback system coupled to the head. The feedback system is configured to indicate when a pressure applied by the head is greater than a minimum threshold value. In another aspect, an apparatus includes a head configured to receive a pad and rotate to apply a shear force to the pad for sampling explosive residue on a surface. The apparatus includes a feedback system coupled to the head, which is configured to restrict the shear force applied by the head to be within a predetermined range. In another aspect, a method includes applying pressure to a pad to sample explosive residue on a surface, sensing the pressure applied to the pad, and providing an indication of when the pressure applied to the pad is greater than a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: L-3 Communications CyTerra Corporation
    Inventors: David H. Fine, Ravi K. Konduri, Freeman W. Fraim, George Jarvis
  • Patent number: 8011227
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for determining a moisture ingress in an insulating layer surrounding a pipe, the insulating layer being surrounded by a tubular jacket. The apparatus includes an acoustic transducer in communication with an exciter adapted to provide a brief and broad banded acoustic signal which includes frequencies which by their propagation in the material of the jacket has a wavelength which corresponds to twice the thickness of the jacket or an odd multiple of twice the thickness of the jacket, and to process a reverberation signal emitted from the jacket in response to sending into the jacket the brief and broad banded output signal from the transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Det Norske Veritas AS
    Inventors: Åge A. Olsen, Jostein Jacobsen, Tore Magne Halås Skar, Petter Norli, Ashild Bergh, Nils-Otto Negård, Steinar Låg
  • Patent number: 8011228
    Abstract: Disclosed is a lateral flow quantitative assay method capable of quantitatively determining the concentration and analyzing the spatial distribution of a disease marker by employing the principle of the laser-induced fluorescence detection technique, which is based on detecting emitted fluorescence when laser light is focused to the disease marker deposited onto a lateral flow quantitative assay chip. The present invention discloses a strip, a laser-induced epifluorescence detection device and a small scanner for the assay method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignees: Bio-Med Photonics, Co., Ltd., Boditechmed, Inc.
    Inventors: Kie-Bong Nahm, Eui-Yeol Choi, Jae-Hoon Kim
  • Patent number: 8006559
    Abstract: Inspection of rolling stock (e.g., rail vehicles) traveling along a set of rails is performed using devices that are placed in a housing that is attached to the set of rails. The housing conforms to standard width, height, and load bearing requirements for a railroad tie. As such, the housing can be readily installed and allows for the continued use of standard railroad maintenance equipment. One or more sensing devices are attached to the housing and acquire evaluation data on component(s) of the rail vehicle, such as the wheels. A computing device can evaluate a condition of the component(s) using the evaluation data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: International Electronic Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Zahid F. Mian, Jeremy C. Mullaney
  • Patent number: 8006556
    Abstract: A method for measuring positional changes of an object, including rotation about any or all of three axes, using linear accelerometers. There is disclosed a method of using a linear accelerometer to integrate two other 3D linear accelerometers in order to measure and supply for further use six-dimensional information, that is, translation in three dimensions and rotation about three axes. Two linear accelerometer sensors are used to determine all but one of the variables in the six degrees of freedom. Output from a third accelerometer generates the data need to determine a sixth, rotational, degree of freedom. The need for a gyroscope for detecting changes in heading (i.e., yaw or azimuth) may therefore be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventor: Leonid Sheynblat
  • Patent number: 8006542
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for contaminant detection of body parts, such as hands, and or their coverings, such as clean room suits or gloves, and small objects. Particularly, the method and apparatus involve collecting air samples containing aerosolized contaminate particles from the objects and analyzing the sample for presence of a contaminate. Aerosol lab-on-a-chip and/or electronic nose devices are utilized for the detection of contaminant particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Inventor: Arthur T. Jones, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8006555
    Abstract: A cap member for covering a sensor unit such as a rotational speed sensor is composed of a cylindrical wall, a thin bottom wall and an open end to be closed with a closing member. The cap member is formed by molding a resin material. Molten resin is injected into a cavity formed by an inner die and an outer die. After the injected resin is cooled, the inner die is separated from the molded cap member. If the molded cap member adheres to the inner die, it would be difficult to separate the inner die from the cap member by pulling out the inner die in the axial direction. A structure anchoring the cap member to the outer die is formed on an outer surface of the cylindrical wall. The anchoring structure may be formed in a shape of a ring or rings surrounding the center axis of the cap member. Alternatively, the anchoring structure may be formed in a shape of a depressed groove or grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Minoru Tokuhara
  • Patent number: 8006398
    Abstract: A measurement system has a surface sensing device mounted on an articulating probe head, which in turn is mounted on a coordinate positioning apparatus. The surface sensing device is moved relative to a surface by driving at least one of the coordinate positioning apparatus and probe head in at least one axis to scan the surface. The surface sensing device measures its distance from the surface and the probe head is driven to rotate the surface sensing device about at least one axis in order to control the relative position of the surface sensing device from the surface to within a predetermined range in real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Renishaw PLC
    Inventors: Geoffrey McFarland, Kenneth Cheng Hoe Nai, Nicholas John Weston, Ian William McLean
  • Patent number: 8006543
    Abstract: Device for measuring the permeation of a hollow body provided with an opening such as a neck in particular, this device comprising a chamber in which the follow body is placed, on a support; this hollow body, when placed on its support, together with the chamber defining an internal space and an external space, the device being provided with means for providing sealing between the internal space and the external space, the sealing means comprising three seals, namely a first seal, a second seal termed the intermediate seal, and a third seal, these three seals being housed in grooves belonging to the body of the support, these seals projecting from the side edge of the support and being able and configured to bear against the internal face of the opening of the hollow body; the body of the support, the opening of the object and the seals thus define two spaces positioned between the internal space and the external space, a first space being bordered by a first seal and an intermediate seal, the second space be
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Sidel Participations
    Inventor: Yann Pernel
  • Patent number: 8006560
    Abstract: A mode of the present invention includes a transmitter (12) for shooting exciting laser light to an object of measurement (M) to excite ultrasonic waves in the object of measurement (M), a receiver (14) for shooting probing laser light to the object of measurement (M) to receive reflected light of probing laser light from the object of measurement (M) for detection of ultrasonic waves, a light blocking structure (16) having a first opening (16a) allowing the object of measurement (M) to pass therethrough and operable to accommodate the object of measurement (M), and a cover (18) operable to cover and open the first opening (16a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric Industrial Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Mitsuhiko Sano
  • Patent number: 8008931
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of and a device for monitoring the operation of a flotation cell. In the method according to the invention, the electrical conductivity of the material (3, 7) in the flotation cell (1) is measured to observe any variations in the movement, the properties and/or the inner structure of the material. The device (10) according to the invention comprises a number of measuring sensors (11, 12, 13, 14) of electrical conductivity, which are to be fitted in the flotation cell (1) and embedded in the material (3, 7) contained in it for measuring its electrical conductivity and, on the basis of the conductivity values, defining the state and/or the properties of the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Geologian Tutkimuskeskus GTK
    Inventors: Pekka Parvinen, Jouko Kallioinen, Veikko Eronen
  • Patent number: 8001827
    Abstract: A sensor is provided, in particular a gas sensor for determining the concentration of a gas component in a measuring gas, which has a sensor element that projects from a housing by a measuring-gas-side end section exposed to the measuring gas, and a sheath tube having gas passageways, which is placed over the measuring-gas-side end section and affixed on the housing. To prevent condensation of water vapor contained in the measuring gas in the measuring space enclosed by the housing and the sheath tube, and thus the production of water droplets that reach the hot sensor element, sheath tube and/or sensor element are/is thermally decoupled from the housing. The thermal decoupling is produced using, for instance, a flange sleeve made of a material having poor thermal conductivity, which separates the sheath tube from the housing by a flange and, via a sleeve section, is inserted in the space between the housing and the measuring-gas-side end section of the sensor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Weyl, Helmut Denz, Matthias Entenmann
  • Patent number: 8001860
    Abstract: A vehicle sensor system consisting of video, radar, ultrasonic or laser sensors, oriented to obtain a 360 degree view around the vehicle for the purpose of developing a situation or scene awareness. The sensors may or may not have overlapping field of views, or support the same applications, but data will be shared by all. Orientation of the sensor to the vehicle body coordinates is critical in order to accurately assess threat and respond. This system describes methods based on measuring force and rotation on each sensor and computing a dynamic alignment to first each other, then second to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Eagle Harbor Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Dan Preston, David Olmstead
  • Patent number: 7997126
    Abstract: A texture measuring apparatus that measures surface information of an object includes: a probe coming into contact with the object while moving on a surface of the object; a first sensor unit, provided at the probe, for detecting a force acting on the probe in a direction perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of the probe; and a second sensor unit, provided at the rear of the probe, for detecting a force acting on the probe in the lengthwise direction of the probe. The apparatus further includes a third sensor unit, provided between the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit, for detecting variations in the forces acting on the probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Sung Chul Kang, Hyouk Ryeol Choi
  • Patent number: 7997120
    Abstract: A method for pressure testing a threaded component is provided. A cap includes a female threading that is matched with a threading of a first male threaded element. The cap is made up onto the first male threaded element of a component to be tested so as to compress a sealing ring between metal surfaces of the first element and the cap, and a test pressure is established inside the component. The male element has an annular lip which is capable of deforming radially outwardly under the effect of the test pressure. Between a radially outward surface of the lip and a facing surface of the cap, at the end of makeup there exists a clearance having a value which has been selected sufficiently small so that, under the effect of the test pressure, the lip bears on said facing surface without undergoing plastic deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Vallourec Mannesmann Oil & Gas France
    Inventor: Pierre Dutilleul
  • Patent number: 7997121
    Abstract: A milliwave melter monitoring system is presented that has a waveguide with a portion capable of contacting a molten material in a melter for use in measuring one or more properties of the molten material in a furnace under extreme environments. A receiver is configured for use in obtaining signals from the melt/material transmitted to appropriate electronics through the waveguide. The receiver is configured for receiving signals from the waveguide when contacting the molten material for use in determining the viscosity of the molten material. Other embodiments exist in which the temperature, emissivity, viscosity and other properties of the molten material are measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: William E. Daniel, Paul P. Woskov, Shanmugavelayutham K. Sundaram
  • Patent number: 7997136
    Abstract: Microelectromechanical (MEMS) accelerometer and acceleration sensing methods. A MEMS accelerometer includes a proof mass, a planar coil on the proof mass, a magnet, a first pole piece positioned proximate a first side of the proof mass, and a second pole piece positioned proximate a second side of the proof mass. A magnetic flux field passes from the magnet, through the first pole piece, through the planar coil at an angle between approximately 30 degrees and approximately 60 degrees relative to the coil plane, and into the second pole piece. The first pole piece may extend into a first recessed area of a first housing layer and the second pole piece may extend into a second recessed area of a second housing layer. A method includes sensing a capacitance of a pickoff in the MEMS accelerometer and rebalancing the MEMS accelerometer by sending a current through the planar coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Paul W. Dwyer, Ryan Roehnelt