Patents Examined by Ivan Rabovianski
  • Patent number: 9581531
    Abstract: A yarn entanglement strength tester includes first and second rolls that apply incrementally increasing elongation levels on a yarn in order to remove entanglements from the yarn. The yarn entanglement strength tester also includes a third roll, where the second and third rolls apply a constant tension on the yarn which enables optimum diameter measurements of the yarn by a camera. The camera captures images of diameters of the yarn after each of the incrementally increasing elongation levels is applied to the yarn. The yarn entanglement strength tester further includes a computing device that controls operation of the camera and the first, second, and third rolls, and determines an entanglement strength of the yarn based on the captured images of the diameters of the yarn after each of the incrementally increasing elongation levels is applied to the yarn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Lawson Hemphill, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean A. Ross, Filiz Avsar, Kendall W. Gordon, Steven Leary
  • Patent number: 9554740
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) for predicting patient respiratory stability includes a patient data memory (24) which stores patient data for a patient (12) and an analyzer (34) in communication with the memory computes a measure of patient respiratory stability. The analyzer applies one or more rules to the patient data that are based on a plurality of parameters which in combination, have been identified as being predictive of patient respiratory instability, such as mean airway pressure (MAWP), plateau pressure (PP), arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2 or SpO2), and heart rate (HR). Based on the application of the rules, the analyzer determines the measure of patient respiratory stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Mohammed Saeed, Kwok Pun Lee, Colleen M. Ennett, Larry Eshelman, Larry Nielsen, Brian Gross
  • Patent number: 9513337
    Abstract: An integrated circuit sensor includes circuitry and methods for generating a high speed delay fault test clock signal. A trimmable oscillator generates a master clock signal for use by an output protocol processor to provide the sensor output signal. A fault test clock signal generator is responsive to the master clock signal and to a test trigger signal for generating the test clock signal having a launch pulse and a capture pulse, each having edges substantially coincident with like edges of pulses of the master clock signal and a spacing between launch and capture pulses established by the trimmable master clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventors: Glenn A. Forrest, Aaron Cook, Dana Briere, Devon Fernandez, Naota Nakayama
  • Patent number: 9476709
    Abstract: Provided is a calibration apparatus, including: a holder for fixing an electronic device; a first motor for rotating the holder with a first rotation axis as a center; a second motor for rotating the holder with a second rotation axis perpendicular to the first rotation axis as a center; and a stopper for restricting a rotational position of the holder about the second rotation axis to a range between a reference position and a perpendicular position reached by rotating the holder by 90 degrees from the reference position, in which the first motor rotates the holder to which the electronic device is fixed at a predetermined speed in each of states in which the rotational position of the holder about the second rotation axis falls in the reference position and in which the rotational position of the holder about the second rotation axis falls in the perpendicular position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Noriyuki Fukushima, Hiroshi Osawa
  • Patent number: 9462838
    Abstract: The present disclosure provide techniques for creating a template piece of clothing that can accurately determine a best “fit” of apparel on the consumer. The template may be made of a highly stretchable material with embedded sensors at various locations, wherein the sensors detect an amount of pressure exerted thereon. The template may also include embedded tensile members, such that when the template is worn by the consumer, the tensile members can constrict, expand, or otherwise adapt to the body measurements of the consumer. The template can thereby effectively measure the size and shape of the consumer wearing the template. The information regarding the size and shape of the consumer obtained by the template be outputted to a computer or other readout, and used by the consumer in determining whether corresponding apparel will fit properly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Carl Ferman Smith, Mitchell Joseph Heinrich
  • Patent number: 9389325
    Abstract: A passive method for exploring a region below the surface of the earth. The method comprises using a plurality of sensors to obtain seismic data obtained by recording ambient seismic interface waves in a frequency range whose lower limit is greater than 0 Hz, and whose upper limit is less than or equal to substantially 1 Hz. The sensors may be sensitive to three orthogonal components. Recordings may be made simultaneously by all sensors and normalization of data is unnecessary. The sensors may be moved and clean data may be selected. Local dispersion curves may be determined to improve vertical resolution. The data are processed so as to obtain a measure of the energy in a frequency band within the frequency range. The energy measure may be calculated by integrating the spectrum in the frequency domain over a desired frequency range. The resulting calculated energy provides information about the region of the earth being explored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: STATOIL PETROLEUM AS
    Inventors: Sascha Bussat, Peter Hanssen, Simone Patricia Kugler
  • Patent number: 9383376
    Abstract: Abnormality causes are automatically identified during daily quality control, based on the focused consideration of complex uncertainty factors and, especially, of the causes of device-side abnormalities, the latter of which are often difficult to identify. The analyzer performance that affects measurement results can be estimated from analysis parameters and calibration results. Thus, uncertainty estimates are automatically calculated for each analysis item during quality control, and the estimates are compared with uncertainties obtained during actual QC sample measurement, thereby monitoring and evaluating the analyzer performance. Also, measurements are performed on QC samples of multiple concentrations that contain substances known to subject to particular influences such as those of the optical system, sample dispenser, and reagent dispenser, so that the causes of abnormalities can be identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Kumiko Kamihara, Tomonori Mimura
  • Patent number: 9378663
    Abstract: A system for mapping terrain using at least one machine traveling along the terrain includes at least one controller. The at least one controller is configured to determine a plurality of machine parameters of the at least one machine as the at least one machine travels along the terrain. The plurality of machine parameters include a steering parameter and a speed of a component of the at least one machine. The at least one controller is also configured to determine, based on the determined machine parameters, a geometry and a grade of at least one path on the terrain along which the at least one machine travels. The at least one controller is further configured to create, based on the determined geometry and grade, a map indicating the at least one path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Edward Jensen
  • Patent number: 9360352
    Abstract: A method for determining a lightning hazard distribution of a power network, includes: deriving a shielding failure lightning hazard distribution of the power network and a back flashover lightning hazard distribution of the power network from the number of ground lightning in each grid and ranges of hazardous currents, and deriving a historical lightning hazard distribution of the power network from a lightning faults database of the power network and the grids; and determining the lightning hazard distribution of the power network by integrating the shielding failure lightning hazard distribution of the power network, the back flashover lightning hazard distribution of the power network and the historical lightning hazard distribution of the power network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignees: Wuhan NARI Limited Company of State Grid Electric Power Research Institute, State Grid Electric Power Research Institute, North China Electric Power Research Institute Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jiahong Chen, Jian Wang, Xuefang Tong, Yaxin Liu, Qin Zhang, Yi Luo, Haitao Wang, Wanxing Feng, Shanqiang Gu, Xiaolan Li
  • Patent number: 9354099
    Abstract: A fuel level probe has a series of stacked, annular capacitors, the capacitance of which changes with the dielectric constant of the fluid in which they are immersed. A multiplexer provides sequential measurement of each capacitor to determine a step change in capacitance and hence fluid levels based on the time at which the capacitance changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventors: Franklin Tichborne, James Beale
  • Patent number: 9243938
    Abstract: An accelerometer system has a node with a first single-axis accelerometer coupled to a single associated TEDS Transducer Electronic Data Sheet memory component in accordance with IEEE 1451 Standards. Information about second and third single-axis accelerometers external to the mode resides in the single TEDS memory component. The first, second, and third accelerometers are of the same type and manufacturer, and the single TEDS memory component is configured with a memory table having listings of identifying data common to all of the first, second, and third accelerometers and first, second, and third calibration data unique to the first, second, and third accelerometers, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventors: Sidney Lin, Rand Peterson
  • Patent number: 9239315
    Abstract: A patch and associated methods for monitoring and inspecting a structure are provided in order to facilitate such inspections. The patch includes a sheet of material configured to be attached to the structure and a frequency steerable array carried by the sheet of material. The frequency steerable array includes a plurality of sources for emitting structural waves in response to an input having a variable frequency such that variations in the frequency of the input cause the structural waves emitted by the plurality of sources to be controllably steered relative to the sheet of material. Methods utilizing one or more frequency steerable arrays for monitoring and inspecting a patch-repaired structure are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Gary E. Georgeson, Richard H. Bossi
  • Patent number: 9234773
    Abstract: A method for self-compensating a method includes the steps of rotating the patterned element relative to the read heads, the rotation about the axis to a plurality of first angles covering a range of at least 360 degrees; obtaining, at each of the plurality of first angles, first angular readings for the m measure read heads and for the reference read head; calculating a first array for each of the m measure read heads, each first array including, for each of the plurality of first angles, a difference in the first angular readings of the measure read head and the first angular reading of the reference read head; calculating, for each of the m measure read heads, at least one first spectral component based at least in part on the first array; calculating, for each of the m measure read heads, at least one second spectral component, the second spectral component based, at least in part, on the at least one first spectral component and on estimates of the second angles of the m measure read heads; and recording
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Peter G. Cramer
  • Patent number: 9215290
    Abstract: A method includes determining a location of a first monitoring device used while performing an activity. The first monitoring device is worn by a first user. The method includes determining a location of a second monitoring device used while performing an activity. The second monitoring device is worn by a second user. The method further includes determining whether the locations of the first and second monitoring devices are within a range and whether the activities are similar. The method includes sending a prompt to the first monitoring device upon determining that the activities are similar and the locations are within the range. The prompt includes a request for permission from a first user account to allow a second user account to access information from the first user account regarding the activity performed using the first monitoring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Fitbit, Inc.
    Inventors: Shelten Gee Jao Yuen, James Park, Hans Christiansen Lee
  • Patent number: 9128131
    Abstract: A device and method for more accurately measuring power consumption in a residential application without having to make connections to high voltage sources in a distribution panel. Since the device calculating the power consumption generally needs to be powered to perform its functions (e.g., plugged into wall outlet), the disclosure utilizes the power supply as a voltage source for measuring voltage without having to make connections to the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael Francis Finch, Joshua Blake Huff
  • Patent number: 9043177
    Abstract: A sensor information acquisition section acquires angular velocity information (GX, GY, GZ) around three axes acquired by three angular velocity sensors, and acceleration information (AX, AY, AZ) in three axial directions acquired by three acceleration sensors. A posture information calculation section calculates a posture angle and position coordinates in a virtual three-dimensional space based on the angular velocity information (GX, GY, GZ) and the acceleration information (AX, AY, AZ). The posture information calculation section calculates a fixed coordinate system velocity vector based on an inertial coordinate system acceleration vector (A) obtained from the acceleration information (AX, AY, AZ), and calculates position coordinates in a virtual three-dimensional space corresponding to the fixed coordinate system velocity vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hirofumi Udagawa, Yoshihiro Kobayashi, Yasushi Nakaoka
  • Patent number: 8965728
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for providing a real time, radial exhaust temperature distribution in a gas turbine to improve the understanding of exhaust gas temperature in a manner similar to installing production rakes. The thermocouples are installed along the exhaust frame strut skins at a number of radial positions. The data from the thermocouples along each of the struts is used to produce a normalized radial profile of the turbine exhaust temperature. The existing turbine station instrumentation is then used to expand the normalized profile into an actual profile of the turbine exhaust temperature. The calculations/transfer functions for temperatures are obtained from data collected during performance testing with full rakes. This profile is integrated to determine a bulk Tx to improve gas turbine controls including model-based controls or corrected parameter controls (MBC/CPC) controls, or specific radial temperatures are used, to provide protective action for bucket platforms, or other turbine components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David August Snider, Harold Jordan, Christopher Holsonback
  • Patent number: 8935113
    Abstract: Disclosed is a battery system for a secondary battery including a blended cathode material, and an apparatus and method for managing a secondary battery having a blended cathode material. The blended cathode material includes at least a first cathode material and a second cathode material. The first and second cathode materials have different operating voltage ranges. When the secondary battery comes to an idle state or a no-load state, the battery system detects a voltage relaxation occurring by the transfer of operating ions between the first and second cathode materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Won-Tae Joe, Geun-Chang Chung, Sun-Young Cha
  • Patent number: 8935104
    Abstract: Techniques are described for inspecting a web and controlling subsequent conversion of the web into one or more products. A system, for example, comprises an imaging device, an analysis computer and a conversion control system. The imaging device images the web to provide digital information. The analysis computer processes the digital information to identify regions on the web containing anomalies. The conversion control system subsequently analyzes the digital information to determine which anomalies represent actual defects for a plurality of different products. The web inspection system may preferentially apply different application-specific defect detection recipes depending on whether a given anomaly is a repeating or random anomaly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Steven P. Floeder, James A. Masterman, Steven R. Dreger, Carl J. Skeps, Steven R. Wageman
  • Patent number: 8914244
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus, method and system for inspecting structures, and more particularly for evaluating the condition of a structure. The disclosed nondestructive inspection testing method and apparatus enables an operator to assess the condition of a structure, such as a composite laminate part and determining the location and depth of anomalies. The method includes generating a subsurface longitudinal ultrasonic wave signal at a high incidence angle into a structure being evaluated and collecting at least one of any front, back or side reflected wave data. The method may include processing the reflected wave data to determine the condition of the structure, including any anomalies that may have been detected and their location, size and shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Kollgaard, William J. Tapia