Patents Examined by Irving A Campbell
  • Patent number: 9134218
    Abstract: Methods of testing a honeycomb filter for defects include the step of wetting at least one of the first end portion and the second end portion to provide at least one wetted end portion. The method further includes the step of monitoring the second end portion for fog passing through the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Aisha Price Blanchard, Joseph Henry Citriniti, Julie Charmaine Frey, John Paul Bir Singh
  • Patent number: 9134192
    Abstract: A pressure gauge has an indicator needle and a scale plate. A preset pressure indicating member extending along a pressure scale in a circular arc pattern is slidably attached to a front wall of a case, and provided with a first display section. An opaque shield portion provided with a second display section at one end thereof is provided to a transparent cover rotatably attached to the front wall. The transparent cover drives the preset pressure indicating member to set a preset pressure range between the first display section and the second display section which is observable from the outside through the transparent cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: KOGNAEI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takeshi Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 9109927
    Abstract: A pointer-type meter is provided in which, even when a pointer has a meandering shape, the influence thereof on the operation characteristics of the pointer can be minimized. The meter includes a display 1, display plates 21 and 22 having indicator portions 211 and 221, respectively, and placed to allow visual recognition of the display 1, a driving apparatus 6 placed at the back of the display 1 and having a pointer shaft 61 protruding toward the display 1, and a pointer 7 pivoting about the pointer shaft 61 serving as a rotation center axis RC to point to the indicator portions 211 and 221, the pointer 7 including a detour portion 71 and a pointing portion 72 pointing to the indicator portions 211 and 221, wherein a point P1 of the detour portion 71 farthest from the rotation center axis RC is closer to the rotation center axis RC than a tip P2 of the pointing portion 72.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: NIPPON SEIKI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hideki Ikarashi
  • Patent number: 9091571
    Abstract: An instrument lighting device configured in such a manner that even index marks disposed away from the light sources can achieve sufficient luminance using a reduced number of light sources. An instrument lighting device comprising: a pointer needle (4) mounted to a drive shaft (2) of an instrument body (3); a display panel (6) having index marks (5); a light source (7b) for lighting the index marks (5); a reflecting surface section (9) for applying the light from the light source (7b) to the display panel (6); and a reflecting wall section (10) for guiding the light from the light source (7b) toward the reflecting surface section (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: NIPPON SEIKI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koichi Tomono, Norihiro Ogawa
  • Patent number: 9085923
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a door stopper with knocker apparatus for holding open a door. In some embodiments, the door stopper with knocker apparatus comprises a doorstop, a cord, and a knocker. In some embodiments, the door stopper with knocker apparatus is configured to allow an upright person place the doorstop in a position on the ground to hold the door open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Inventor: David J. McWhinney
  • Patent number: 9074963
    Abstract: An ultrasonic detector (10) suitable for mounting in a position for surveying an area for a source of airborne ultrasound, which detector comprises a sensor (20) for detecting an ultrasonic sound signal, characterized by a transducer (64) configured to produce a broadband ultrasonic sound signal for reception by said sensor (20) enabling said ultrasonic detector to perform a self-test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Rosemount Measurement Limited
    Inventor: Darren Michael Rose
  • Patent number: 9038439
    Abstract: Methods of testing a honeycomb filter include the step of wetting the outer peripheral surface of the honeycomb filter to enhance the flow of fog through outer peripheral channels of the honeycomb network of channels. In further examples, methods include the step of obstructing a flow of fog through inner peripheral channels to enhance the flow of fog through the outer peripheral channels of the honeycomb network of channels. In further examples, apparatus for testing a honeycomb filter include a flow diverter with a blocking member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Joseph Henry Citriniti, John Deane Madison, Thomas John McGeorge, Babak Robert Raj
  • Patent number: 9021978
    Abstract: A combination meter has an indicator for radiating light having entered from an entrance portion thereof and a display panel having a displaying portion illuminated by light passing through such portion. A cylindrical body is inserted into a panel-side opening of the display panel. The cylindrical body has a body-side supporting portion so as to hold the display panel between the body-side supporting portion and a housing-side supporting portion. An outer peripheral reflecting portion formed in the cylindrical body reflects light toward a housing-side reflecting portion of a housing. Light emitted from a light source not only illuminates the indicator but also is reflected by the respective reflecting portions to illuminate the displaying portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Akamatsu, Makoto Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 9021980
    Abstract: A dosage indicator assembly is presented which may be removably attached or fixedly attached to a pill bottle or other medication container, for instance, for disposition onto a top surface of a pill bottle cap, as a replacement cap for a pill bottle, or integral with a cap of a pill bottle. In particular, the dosage indicator assembly of the various embodiments of the present invention is cooperatively structured to track and/or indicate to a user the consumption of prescription pills or other medication in order to prevent inadvertent overdose, for instance, as a result of a lapse in memory as to whether a pill or medication has recently been consumed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Inventors: Joseph Vasta, Neal Rosenblum
  • Patent number: 9016142
    Abstract: A collision detection device which can determine in a short time a collision to each portion of a chamber member in the longitudinal direction thereof and which is highly reliable. A collision determination system (10) is provided with: a chamber member (20) which is disposed with the longitudinal direction thereof aligned with the vehicle width direction, has a pressure chamber (22) formed therein, and is provided forward of bumper reinforcement (14); a pair of pressure sensors (24) which is provided to the chamber member (20) at positions spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction thereof and outputs a signal corresponding to a variation in the pressure within the pressure chamber (22); and a collision determination ECU (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Takahashi, Takatoshi Tanabe
  • Patent number: 9016229
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an indicator device that can be used on an instrument panel comprising two electric motors, two concentric shafts, a visual information member moved in translation by one of the shafts in a transverse direction relative to the axis of rotation of the shaft, and a guide member that is rotatably linked to the other shaft, rotates the visual information member with itself, and guides the visual information member in translation in the transverse direction. According to the disclosure, the two shafts are concentric, the visual information member is self-supporting, and the visual information member is longer than the guide member in the transverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Moving Magnet Technologies (MMT)
    Inventor: Daniel Prudham
  • Patent number: 9010172
    Abstract: Detection system and humidity detection method for detecting volatile organic compound comprises a device for introducing clean air and a controller, wherein the device for introducing clean air is connected with a test chamber; a test chamber sheath is sleeved outside the test chamber; the test chamber is provided with a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature in the test chamber, a high-temperature test exhaust device is connected with a high-temperature exhaust pipeline of the test chamber, and a low-temperature test exhaust device is connected with a low-temperature exhaust pipeline of the test chamber; a pipeline connecting the test chamber with the low-temperature test exhaust device is also provided with a dew point sensor for detecting dew point of the air in the low-temperature exhaust pipeline; and the temperature sensor and the dew point sensor are connected with the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Dongguan City Simplewell Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keyu Xia, Jiaming Zhang
  • Patent number: 9010268
    Abstract: A vehicle display apparatus includes a first partition member and a second partition member disposed in front of a display screen of a display panel. Each of the first and second partition members includes a window portion. The first and second partition members may be set in separated positions or in overlapping positions. In the separated positions, the first and second partition members are spaced apart from each other along the display screen. In the overlapping positions, the first partition member is separated forward from the display screen, the second partition member is located between the first partition member and the display screen, and the window portions of the first and second partition members overlap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazunari Kato
  • Patent number: 9003861
    Abstract: Systems and methods for calibrating a coin sensor are disclosed herein. An auto-calibrating coin sensor configured in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure includes a movable carrier holding at least one test coin or other test object. The carrier can move the test object past or through the coin sensor to calibrate the coin sensor. Embodiments of the present technology can include rotatable and linearly moveable carriers that are configured to move an attached test object through a coin sensor. Additionally, auto-calibrating coin sensors in accordance with the present technology can be configured to initiate an auto-calibration based on the commencement of a coin counting session, a set schedule, a temperature change, and/or other events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Outerwall Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas A. Martin, Michael A. Stoy
  • Patent number: 9003863
    Abstract: A controlling unit and a method of correcting an actual limit value of a sensor signal is described, wherein above or below the limit value a specific state of the sensor is recognized, the method including the steps of determining a new limit value of the sensor, determining a stability criteria to decide whether the actual limit value is corrected with said new limit value and approaching the actual limit value to the new limit value when the conditions are fulfilled to correct the actual limit value for said sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Kirsch, Christoph Biggel
  • Patent number: 8997546
    Abstract: A method of detecting a fault of a frequency sensor having a bias resistor and associated with a rotary member. The following steps are performed while the rotary member is stationary: injecting into the bias resistor of the sensor inverted alternating signals (S1, S2) comprising at least one first alternation (A1) and at least one second alternation (A2), the first alternation being of amplitude greater than the amplitude of the second alternation; and detecting a frequency of an output signal (S?) from the sensor. A measurement circuit implementing the method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Sagem Defense Securite
    Inventors: Nicolas Geneste, Gwénaël Esteve
  • Patent number: 8997682
    Abstract: The patent application is directed to a moisture indicator that reversibly changes between two different colors depending on whether the moisture indicator is in a wet state or in a dry state. The moisture indicator is used to provide visual information about dryness/wetness of a substrate such as plant soil. The moisture indicator comprises a porous body member having a moisture indicating color and a moisture indicating material over the moisture indicating color. Water passed through the porous material activates the moisture indicating material from a dry opaque state to a transparent clear state. In the transparent clear state, the moisture indicating material reveals the moisture indicating color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Inventor: Thomas William David Ashcroft
  • Patent number: 8997590
    Abstract: A multi-part mounting device for an ultrasonic transducer, the mounting device comprising a first part configured to mount the mounting device on a housing of an ultrasonic test probe, and a second part configured to retain the ultrasonic transducer, wherein the second part is at least in touching contact with the ultrasonic transducer, wherein the second part comprises a first plastic and is connected by positive fit to the first part, and wherein the first part has a greater hardness than the second part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: York Oberdoerfer, Judith Duerscheid, Jochen Zilz, Willi Warkowski, Marek Parusel
  • Patent number: 8997573
    Abstract: An inspection apparatus and method for inspecting an interior surface of a hollow composite part. The inspection apparatus may have a first plug, a second plug, and a trolley positioned between the first and second plugs. The first and second plugs may form a leak-proof seal against the interior surface of the hollow composite part. The trolley may support at least one inspection probe for testing the interior surface of the composite part. A method of inspecting the composite part may include the steps of inserting the inspection apparatus into the hollow composite part, pushing or pulling the inspection apparatus with an elongated actuation element to a desired area to be inspected within the composite part, then filling a space between first and second plugs with a liquid. Finally, the method may include a step of inspecting the interior surface of the hollow composite part with the inspection probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Spirit AeroSystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Allison Jean Wright
  • Patent number: 8978463
    Abstract: A pressure gauge 10 has an indicator needle 23 and a scale plate 22. A preset pressure indicating member 31 extending along a pressure scale in a circular arc pattern is slidably attached to a front wall 11 of a case 13, and provided with a first display section 35. An opaque shield portion 36 provided with a second display section 37 at one end thereof is provided to a transparent cover 26 rotatably attached to the front wall. The transparent cover 26 drives the preset pressure indicating member 31 to set a preset pressure range between the first display section 35 and the second display section 37 which is observable from the outside through the transparent cover 26. Therefore, it is easy to change a preset pressure range which is within a measurable range of the pressure gauge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Koganei Corporation
    Inventor: Takeshi Yamauchi