Patents Examined by Hoang Nguyen
  • Patent number: 10288034
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards an apparatus for power generation from the surface ocean waves in deep seas and methods thereof. Wave energy moves a float, vertically up and down, within the confines of four vertical pillars that are fixed to a buoyant tank. This buoyant tank is placed deep below the ocean surface and the upper surface of the float connects to a rack and pinion system which is coupled to a gearbox. Within the gearbox are freewheels and gears, that drive a generator shaft, in one direction only, as the float oscillates up and down on the ocean waves. For generating large amounts of power, a number of units are placed in a row. Many rows are placed side by side and the mechanical energy of all the rows is transferred to a long horizontal shaft which drives a generator through a gear box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Inventor: Pruthvi Raj Avadhuta
  • Patent number: 10280803
    Abstract: An energy storage device for storing energy including: a high-temperature regenerator containing a storage material and a working gas as heat transfer medium for the purpose of exchanging heat between the storage material and the traversing working gas, a closed charging circuit for the working gas, including a first compressor, a first expander, a first recuperator having a first and a second heat exchange duct, the high-temperature regenerator and a pre-heater, wherein the first compressor is coupled to the first expander by a shaft, a discharging circuit for the working gas, and including a switch that selectively connects the high-temperature regenerator to either the charging circuit or the discharging circuit, such that the circuit containing the high-temperature regenerator forms a closed circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Inventors: Peter Ortmann, Werner Graf
  • Patent number: 10260379
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of operating an engine (14) having one or more cylinders (16) each having a piston (18) within the cylinder (16) and each piston (18) having an expansion stroke and a return stroke and a top dead center (TDC) position and a bottom dead center position (BDC) and said engine (14) employing a working fluid (WF) and a heat exchange fluid (HEF), comprising the steps of: introducing the HEF during the return stroke of the engine; introducing the working fluid (WF) during the expansion stroke of the engine; causing the exhaust valve to be opened at or near bottom dead center of the piston BDC; delivering the HEF to the cylinder (16) after the exhaust valve has been opened; and closing the exhaust valve before TDC, such as to allow the working fluid to be compressed by the piston within the cylinder. The invention also provides an engine (14) capable of being operated in accordance with the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: DEARMAN ENGINE COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Peter Dearman, Michael Dearman, Don Old, Henry Clarke, Difei Zhao
  • Patent number: 10233833
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for pump control of a closed thermodynamic cycle system, such as a Brayton cycle. Operational parameters such as working fluid temperature, thermal fluid temperature, stream pressure, and power generation may be the basis for controlling a thermal fluid pump rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Malta Inc.
    Inventors: Raj Apte, Philippe Larochelle
  • Patent number: 10233787
    Abstract: Extra heat in a closed cycle power generation system, such as a reversible closed Brayton cycle system, may be dissipated between discharge and charge cycles. An extra cooling heat exchanger may be added on the discharge cycle and disposed between a cold side heat exchanger and a compressor inlet. Additionally or alternatively, a cold thermal storage medium passing through the cold side heat exchanger may be allowed to heat up to a higher temperature during the discharge cycle than is needed on input to the charge cycle and the excess heat then dissipated to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Malta Inc.
    Inventors: Philippe Larochelle, Raj Apte
  • Patent number: 10233910
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter includes a laminated robotic actuator. The laminated robotic actuator includes a strain-limiting layer comprising a flexible, non-extensible material in the form of a sheet or thin film, a flexible inflatable layer in the form of a thin film or sheet in facing relationship with the strain-limiting layer, wherein the inflatable layer is selectively adhered to the strain-limiting layer, and wherein a portion of an un-adhered region between the strain-limiting layer and the inflatable layer defines a pressurizable channel, and at least one fluid inlet in fluid communication with the pressurizable channel. The first flexible non-extensible material has a stiffness that is greater than the stiffness of the second flexible elastomeric material and the flexible elastomer is non-extensible under actuation conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventors: Aaron D. Mazzeo, Stephen A. Morin, Robert F. Shepherd, George M. Whitesides, William B. Kalb
  • Patent number: 10233789
    Abstract: A method of operating a combined heat and power plant (10) (CHP plant) includes generating hot flue gas and cooling the hot flue gas in a sequence of cooling steps to recover heat and to generate steam in a heat recovery steam generator (16) (HRSG). The HRSG (16) includes an LP steam evaporator (36) designed to generate steam at least over a pressure range of from 2 bar(g) to 18 bar(g) so that either LP steam or MP steam can selectively be generated by the LP steam generator (36), thereby to cool the hot flue gas, and an MP steam superheater (24) upstream of the LP steam evaporator (36) to superheat MP steam in heat exchange with the hot flue gas thereby to cool the hot flue gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Sasol Technology Proprietary Limited
    Inventors: Franco Gasparini, Rian Wessels, Corné Welgemoed
  • Patent number: 10227915
    Abstract: A turbocharger turbine (2) includes a wastegate subassembly (50) that includes a mounting plate (51) having a bore (55) therethrough, a valve shaft (60) disposed in the bore (55), and a wastegate valve (30) including a valve body (31) and a valve arm (36) that secures the valve body (31) to an end of the valve shaft (60). The wastegate subassembly (50) is preassembled prior to assembly with the turbocharger (1), and is detachably secured to an outer surface of the turbine exhaust gas inlet (10) such that valve body (31) is positioned to control exhaust gas flow through a bypass port (13) that extends between the exhaust gas inlet (10) and an exhaust gas outlet (12), and bypasses the turbine wheel (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Murphy, Rajmohan Chandramohanan
  • Patent number: 10227961
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the utilization of wave energy and its conversion into operating motion of an electrical energy generating system. The system for generation of electrical energy through the conversion of aquatic wave motion includes floating bodies and a constant rotation mechanism, which converts the two-way linear motion of an inflexible transmission shaft or a flexible transmission shafts into one-way rotation of an output shaft of the constant rotation mechanism. This mechanism allows utilization of wave energy in two directions caused by the rise and fall of waves. The output shaft of the constant rotation mechanism is coupled to a force multiplier that is further coupled to a generator which generates electrical energy. Constant rotation mechanism can be driven by inflexible transmission shaft pivotally coupled to the floating bodies at one end, and the other end to an input gear of the constant rotation mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Inventor: Mile Dragic
  • Patent number: 10224613
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a wireless device, which includes a substrate and an antenna. The antenna includes a printed antenna element and a 3-dimensional antenna element. The printed antenna element is printed on the substrate, while the 3-dimensional antenna element is disposed on the substrate and coupled to the printed antenna element. The printed antenna element and the 3-dimensional antenna element jointly have a physical length of a desired frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventors: Min-Chung Wu, Shao-Chin Lo
  • Patent number: 10224979
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices relating to reconfigurable antennas are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: William Hunter, Bradford Baker, Gregory Kiesel, Efstrateos James Strates, II, Matthew Habib, Ryan S. Westafer
  • Patent number: 10215059
    Abstract: A system and method for active draft control through a combined cycle power plant (CCPP) can initiate a CCPP shutdown, activate the recirculated exhaust gas (REG) system for the turbomachine; measure a HRSG airflow through the HRSG; communicate the HRSG airflow to a controller configured to condition a control signal; and adjust a recirculated exhaust gas volume in accordance with the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Wolfgang Franz Dietrich Mohr, Kurt Rechsteiner, David Martin Johnson, Kenneth Damon Black
  • Patent number: 10209284
    Abstract: A system for testing advanced antennas includes an antenna unit controller, a radio frequency instrument, and a test controller. The antenna unit controller is configured to connect to a device that includes an advanced antenna under test in an anechoic chamber. The radio frequency instrument is connected to a probe antenna in the anechoic chamber. The test controller is configured to control the test of the advanced antenna by controlling the antenna unit controller to reconfigure the advanced antenna under test, and by controlling the radio frequency instrument to communicate wirelessly with the device via the probe antenna in each of a sequence of multiple configurations of the advanced antenna while the advanced antenna remains in the anechoic chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Keysight Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Dean Gienger
  • Patent number: 10208718
    Abstract: An air intake system for directing intake air to an internal combustion engine of a machine is disclosed. The air intake system may comprise an air compressor configured to increase a pressure of the intake air, and a membrane unit downstream of the air compressor and having a membrane with selectivity for siloxanes. The membrane may have a first side and a second side, and the first side may be exposed to a higher pressure than the second side when the air compressor is operating. The membrane may be configured to separate the intake air into a permeate that traverses the membrane from the first side to the second side, and a retenate that remains on the first side. The permeate may have a higher siloxane content than the retenate. The retenate may be directed to the internal combustion engine for combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Robert D. Clayton
  • Patent number: 10205241
    Abstract: Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of a low profile wideband and/or multiband omnidirectional antennas. In an exemplary embodiment, an antenna generally includes a radiator and a ground plane. The ground plane may include a slanted surface along or defining an edge portion of the ground plane. The slanted surface may be configured to be operable for reducing null at azimuth plane to thereby allow the antenna to have more omnidirectional radiation patterns for the azimuth plane. In another exemplary embodiment, an antenna generally includes a substrate, a radiator along the substrate, and electrically-conductive tape or foil defining at least part of a ground plane. The electrically-conductive tape or foil is coupled to a ground of the radiator via proximity coupling and electrically insulated by masking of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Laird Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kok Jiunn Ng, Choon Chung Su, Chit Yong Hang
  • Patent number: 10205233
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a dual-polarization antenna including an isolation providing device including: a transmission antenna element outputting a transmission signal provided via a feeder through a first port; a receiving antenna element receiving a reception signal so as to provide same to the second port; a first coupler distributing part of the transmission signal; an equalizer equalizing the distributed signal from the first coupler to a preset waveform; a second coupler receiving the output of the equalizer so as to couple same to a signal output to the second port; and a conductor forming a signal delivery path between the first coupler, the equalizer, and the second coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: KMW INC.
    Inventors: Young-Chan Moon, Sunghwan So, Yong-Won Seo
  • Patent number: 10199727
    Abstract: A variable capacitor-based antenna adjustment method and a related apparatus. A first signal strength of a first communications system with a highest priority that is supported by an antenna having a variable capacitor is detected, and when the first signal strength is relatively strong to meet a first release condition, a capacitance value of the variable capacitor is adjusted to a preset capacitance value, where the preset capacitance value is closer to a second capacitance value corresponding to a working frequency band of a second communications system supported by the antenna, so that a working frequency band of the antenna having the variable capacitor is closer to the working frequency band of the second communications system, and therefore, communication quality of the second communications system is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Haowei Xu, Jianren Huang, Jianming Li
  • Patent number: 10199736
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a wireless device includes an interposer, a semiconductor chip, electrodes, and a slot antenna. The interposer includes conductive layers disposed at least at a side of a component mounting surface and a side of a reverse surface opposite to the component mounting surface. The semiconductor chip is mounted on the component mounting surface and includes a built-in transceiving circuit. The electrodes are disposed in a conductive layer disposed at the side of the reverse surface of the interposer so as to be electrically connected to an outside of the wireless device. At least a portion of the slot antenna is disposed in at least one of the conductive layers of the interposer. A shortest distance between an end in a width direction of the slot antenna and the electrodes is smaller than a sum of a minimum line width and a minimum line space of the interposer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Keiju Yamada, Makoto Sano, Koh Hashimoto, Makoto Higaki
  • Patent number: 10199747
    Abstract: An antenna includes a radiator, a first feeding portion, a second feeding portion, a first grounding portion, a second grounding portion, and a loading portion. The radiator is parallel to the base board to radiate signals. A first end of the first feeding portion is electrically coupled to a central position of the radiator. A second end of the first feeding portion receives a first feeding signal to generate a first radiation pattern. A first end of the second feeding portion is electrically coupled to a first corner of the radiator. A second end of the second feeding portion receives a second signal to generate a second radiation pattern. The first grounding portion is electrically coupled between a second corner of the radiator and a ground plane of the base board. The second grounding portion is electrically coupled between a third corner of the radiator and the ground plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: NANNING FUGUI PRECISION INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsung-Ching Lin, Liang-Hsien Hung
  • Patent number: 10193237
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present disclosure describes a flared antenna where the upper portions of the prongs are separated into a plurality of spaced apart parallel fins. The parallel fins disposed on the energized prong are energized by a common electrical feed, such as a coaxial transmission line that enters the energization region of the energized prong. The use of separate fins allows a wider range of tuning to gain greater BW and scan performance for a given equivalent design, since each fin pair may be designed independently from the other fin pairs in that flared antenna. The flared antenna may be a Vivaldi antenna, a stepped notch antenna or some other flared shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Glenn A. Brigham