Patents Examined by Jacques Saint-Surin
  • Patent number: 6662654
    Abstract: An accelerometer design is described. It operates by measuring a change in capacitance when one plate is fixed and one is mobile (free to accelerate). Unlike prior art designs where such changes are caused by variations in the plate separation distance, in the design of the present invention the plate separation distance is fixed, it being the effective plate area that changes with acceleration. A key feature is that the basic unit is a pair of capacitors. The fixed plates in each case are at the same relative height but the mobile plates are offset relative to the fixed plates, one mobile plate somewhat higher than its fixed plate with the other mobile plate being somewhat lower. Then, when the mobile plates move (in the same direction), one capacitor increases in value while the other decreases by the same amount. This differential design renders the device insensitive to sources of systematic error such as temperature changes. A process for manufacturing the design is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Institute of Microelectronics
    Inventors: Yubo Miao, Ranganathan Nagarajan, Uppili Sridhar, Rakesh Kumar, Qinxin Zhang
  • Patent number: 6658939
    Abstract: An ultrasonic scanner for inspection of radiused regions having scanner supports which include pivoted fingers containing the transducers and hands supporting the fingers attached to vertical arms by pins. The angle of the hands are controlled by the vertical position of the arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Gary E. Georgeson, Daniel J. Wright, Gary F. Dokken, Martin L. Freet, Stanley W. Richardson
  • Patent number: 6655208
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for quickly and efficiently balancing an article, such as a tube for use in a vehicular drive shaft assembly, for rotation about an axis is provided. Initially, a balance ring is press fit or otherwise mounted onto the article to be balanced. The balance ring includes a ring of a material that can be selectively removed to balance the article for rotation, such as powdered metal. The article is mounted on an apparatus for rotating the article at a predetermined speed and for sensing vibrations that are caused by imbalances in the structure of the article. An electronic controller is responsive to such sensed vibrations for determining the size and location of one or more balance weights that, if secured to the article, will minimize or eliminate these imbalances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Torque-Traction Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Virginia L. McClanahan
  • Patent number: 6655215
    Abstract: A non-intrusive apparatus and method for measuring vibration of an object along three axes. A vibration measurement device is provided which has three orthogonal right triangular panels forming a pyramidal shape having three 90° angled corners which meet at an apex, wherein each triangular panel has an outer mirrored surface. The device is attached to an object which is subjected to vibration, such that the apex of the device points in a direction away from the object. A beam of light is directed onto the apex of the device such that a portion of the light is reflected off of each mirrored surface, sending reflected light in three directions to three different light sensors. The magnitude of vibration of the object can then be determined in each of three orthogonal directions, along three axes, by measuring the difference in movements of position between the reflected light and a reference beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: George D. Hadden
  • Patent number: 6655214
    Abstract: An externally-powerable sensor is described for detecting ultrasonic energy and for providing an accurate indication of the level of such energy to an external monitoring device over a wide dynamic range. A first electrical signal proportional to the detected ultrasonic energy is chopped by the output of a free-running multivibrator to generate a signal having a frequency differing from the frequency of the first signal by an amount within the audio frequency range. Such difference signal is selectively amplified to concentrate the spectral energy of the difference component in a lower portion of the audio range. A low pass filter extracts, from the so-concentrated difference signal, a modified audio signal whose frequency content is at the lower end, illustratively 0-6 KHz, of the spectrum of the concentrated difference signal. The output of the low pass filter is processed to generate a DC output current that is proportional to the detected ultrasonic energy level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: U-E Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Goodman, William Bishop
  • Patent number: 6651503
    Abstract: The claimed method of in-tube ultrasonic flaw detection of pipelines is effected, in accordance with one embodiment, by placing inside a pipeline an inspection pig or flaw detector having ultrasonic transducers, devices for measurements, processing and storage of the measured data. During the pig travel, the transducers emit probing ultrasonic pulses and receive the reflected pulses corresponding to said probing pulse thus deriving data on the time intervals corresponding to the transit time of said pulses, the measured data being converted and stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: NGKS International Corp.
    Inventors: Alexandr Jurievich Bazarov, Alexandr Petrovich Desyatchikov, Nikolai Alekseevich Karasev, Sergei Pavlovich Kirichenko, Andrei Mikhailovich Slepov, Anatoly Valentinovich Smirnov
  • Patent number: 6647792
    Abstract: An ultrasonic probe which does not require electric wiring to a large number of microcomponents and does not induce increase of crosstalk and electric impedance. This ultrasonic probe comprises an optical transmission path array incorporating a plurality of optical transmission paths on which light is incident at first ends thereof; and a plurality of ultrasonic detecting elements which are formed on these optical transmission at the second ends thereof and adapted to reflect the light incident through the respective fibers based on ultrasonic waves applied thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Eiji Ogawa
  • Patent number: 6644122
    Abstract: Ultrasonic sensors can be integrated and used to monitor composites throughout their production and during their useful lifetime. In an integrated program, ultrasonic sensors, in the illustrated embodiment contact sensors, can be used for quality control on raw rubber used for making a composite and for monitoring the cure of the rubber as it is transformed into a useful product, and non-contact sensors can be used to evaluate the product when it is completed, and to monitor its aging and wear during use. Such sensors can also be used in research to evaluate potential raw materials, and to compare cured candidate materials for properties useful in a completed product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Marc Borowczak, Aaron Scott Puhala, Ran Ding, Fredrick Lewis Magnus, Blake Edward Matthies
  • Patent number: 6644121
    Abstract: An improvement in an on-line measurement system for product formed in a continuous manner includes a device for receiving a first waveform signal indicative of a presence of a first characteristic of the product and a second waveform signal indicative of a presence of a second characteristic of the product. A computer based device having phase shifting software is provided for shifting phase of each of the first waveform signal and the second waveform signal a predetermined amount to produce a respective first transformed waveform signal and a second transformed waveform signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Beta LaserMike, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy T. Dicke, Ronald Adkins
  • Patent number: 6640634
    Abstract: A two-dimensional array ultrasonic probe comprises printed circuit boards, each carrying piezoelectric vibrators arranged in the form of a matrix and adapted to draw signal leads and grounding wires from the vibrators through the gaps separating the columns of the matrix. A row of vibrators are arranged in an array on each of the printed circuit boards and then the printed circuit boards carrying vibrators are arranged in the column to produce a two-dimensional array transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shinichi Hashimoto, Satoru Tezuka, Yohachi Yamashita, Kazuhiro Itsumi, Tsuyoshi Kobayashi, Shiro Saito
  • Patent number: 6637269
    Abstract: An air spring system for a motor vehicle includes essentially a flexible member (4) having first and second ends. At a first end, the flexible member is closed off by the cover plate (8) as a connecting part and, at its second end, by a roll-off piston (10) as a second connecting part. To carry out a contactless distance measurement in accordance with the pulse/echo method in the interior space (6) of the air spring (2), an ultrasonic transmitter/receiver (14) is mounted on one of the two connecting parts (8, 10) and a reflector (16) is provided on the other one of the two connecting parts (8, 10). A separate reference reflector (18) is not used in order to simplify the construction and to save mounting space for the components. Instead, the reflector is configured as a two-step reflector. The one step functions as a target reflector (16) and the other step (26) functions as a reference reflector. A bumper (28) is preferably configured as a two-step target reflector (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Contitech Luftfedersystem GmbH
    Inventors: Siegfried Reck, Volker Plett
  • Patent number: 6637271
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for identifying and eliminating vibration in a hydraulic clutch actuator. The vibration is identified by using transducers to characterize the vibrational characteristics of a power train of a vehicle. That characterization is used to program a shaker on a test bed to replicate the vibrations on the vehicle in a hydraulic clutch actuator. Different hydraulic dampers may be employed to eliminate the vibration. The preferred apparatus of the present invention includes a two piece hydraulic damper which may be opened as to insert different diaphragms for testing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Automotive Products (USA) Inc.
    Inventors: Arlan Vennefron, Jiamu Hu
  • Patent number: 6634214
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the relative density of a gas. The apparatus includes a chamber to which a gas in question, for example natural gas, is supplied through an inlet and leaves through an outlet. The speed of sound SoS at ambient temperature is measured using any suitable method such as electronic control and a calculating device and an ultra-sound emitter and an ultra-sound receiver. The ambient temperature Ta is observed by a temperature sensor, and a thermal conductivity sensor measures the thermal conductivity of the gas at two different temperatures above the ambient temperature. One value ThCH of the thermal conductivity is measured at 70° C. above ambient and the other value ThCL of the thermal conductivity is measured at 50° C. above ambient. The control calculates the relative density RD of the gas according to the formula RD=g·ThCH+h·ThCL+i·SoS+j·Ta+k·.Ta2+l where (g, h, i, j, k and l) are constants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: BG Intellectual Property Limited
    Inventors: Robert Richard Thurston, Paul Stephen Hammond, Barry Leonard Price
  • Patent number: 6631640
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for accurately measuring an initial imbalance deviating from a predetermined imbalance, when the predetermined imbalance is to be left in a body of rotation. In the method and apparatus, data relating to the predetermined imbalance is stored in a memory 27 as dummy value information. The vibration of a crank shaft 1 during rotation is detected by vibration sensors 6L, 6R to obtain analogue vibration signals WDL, WDR. The rotational angle position of the crank shaft 1 is detected by a photo sensor 8 and, in response, the above described dummy value information is converted to analogue dummy signals DLX, DLY, DRX and DRY by multi D/A converters 12L, 12R, 13L and 13R. These analogue dummy signals are removed from the analogue vibration signals to obtain analogue initial imbalance signals WL, WR, which are converted by D/A converter to obtain the digital initial imbalance value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Kokusai Keisokuki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroki Miura
  • Patent number: 6631643
    Abstract: The accelerometer is linear having a substantially planar plate-like proof mass (9) mounted by four or more flexible mounting legs (8) each co-planar with the proof mass (9) to a substantially planar plate-like support (10) fixedly mounted relative to the proof mass (9) and co-planar therewith. In this way the proof mass (9) is mounted for linear movement in a sensing direction in the plane containing the proof mass (9), mounting legs (8) and support (10) to sense acceleration change applied to the accelerometer. At least two spaced apart substantially planar capacitor plates (11) each co-planar with the proof mass, mounting legs and support, are provided for sensing linear movement of the proof mass (9) in the sensing direction C. The proof mass (9), mounting legs (8), support (10) and capacitor blades (11) are formed from a single sheet of silicon and the mounting legs (8) extend substantially perpendicularly to the sensing direction C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: BAE Systems plc
    Inventors: Alan R Malvern, Ian D Hopkin, Kevin Townsend, Nicolaas F Derooij
  • Patent number: 6629463
    Abstract: These objects are achieved by a method of acoustically inspecting a one-piece bladed wheel in which the wheel is driven in rotation; each blade of the wheel is subjected to mechanical excitation; its acoustic response is picked up and a corresponding electrical signal is generated; its frequency response is determined by computing a FFT; the electrical signal and the associated frequency response are stored; the characteristic frequencies of each blade of the wheel are identified; and a wheel is rejected or accepted depending on whether or not the frequency distribution obtained in this way matches a predetermined set of forbidden frequency distributions. Advantageously, an additional step is provided in which the defects of a blade are determined by comparing its frequency response with predetermined frequency responses that are characteristic of various types of defect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Snecma Moteurs
    Inventors: Jacky Naudet, Jean-Luc Mary, André Collot, Marc Berthillier
  • Patent number: 6629464
    Abstract: A method for quality control monitoring of laser shock peening a surface of a production workpiece during which laser beam pulses form a plurality of corresponding plasmas. An acoustic signal of each laser beam pulse during a period of time during a duration of each corresponding one of the plasmas is monitored and an acoustic energy parameter value for each of the acoustic signals for each of the corresponding laser pulses is calculated. A statistical function value of the workpiece based on the acoustic energy parameter values is calculated and compared to a pass or fail criteria for accepting or rejecting the workpiece. The criteria may be based on a pre-determined correlation of test piece statistical function data such as high cycle fatigue failure data of test pieces. The statistical function value may be an average of the acoustic energy parameter values of the laser beam pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Inventors: Ui Won Suh, James Douglas Risbeck
  • Patent number: 6626039
    Abstract: An oscillatory gyroscope is described with decoupled drive and sense oscillators and reduced cross-axis sensitivity. The gyroscope is fabricated using a plasma micromachining process on standard silicon wafers. The electrical isolation of the drive and sense functions of the gyroscope, contained within the same micromechanical element, reduce cross-coupling while obtaining high inertial mass and high sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: MilliSensor Systems and Actuators, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott G. Adams, James Groves, Donato Cardarelli, Raymond Carroll, Charles R. Dauwalter
  • Patent number: 6622560
    Abstract: An ultrasound imaging method forms an image of an object using signals reflected from the object after transmitting an ultrasound pulse to the object. In the method, at a first step, a predetermined first spread spectrum signal is converted to the ultrasound signal at one or more transducers and the ultrasound signal is transmitted to the object. At a second step, pulse compression is performed on a reflected signal of the ultrasound signal reflected from the object to form a pulse compressed signal. And the pulse compressed signal is processed to produce a receive-focused signal and the image of the object from the receive-focused signal is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Medison Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tai Kyong Song, Yang Mo Yoo
  • Patent number: 6622562
    Abstract: An annular ultrasound bulk wave transducer array for electronic depth steering of symmetric focus from a near focus Fn to a far focus Ff includes elements that are divided into k groups with different fixed prefocusing. The central group participates in beam forming from Fn to Ff, the next outer group in beam forming from Fn1>Fn to Ff, and the kth outer group in beam forming from Fnk>Fn,k−1 to Ff. The fixed focus for the kth group is selected at Fk between Fnk and Ff. In this manner, beam formation close to Fn is performed only by the central group. By steering the focus outward from Fn, the focal diameter increases and, at a depth where the focal diameter exceeds a limit, the next outer group of elements is included in beam formation. This increase in aperture area reduces the focal diameter with subsequent increases in diameter as the focus is further steered toward Ff.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Inventors: Bjorn A. J. Angelsen, Tonni F. Johansen