Patents Examined by Jamel Williams
  • Patent number: 9221050
    Abstract: This document provides conductive patterns, electrical sensors including conductive patterns, and methods of making conductive patterns used in electrical sensors. In some cases, the conductive patterns can define one or more microelectrodes. For example, thermal transfer printing techniques are described. In some cases, a microfluidics device can include one or more microelectrodes in a micro-channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Daktari Diagnostics, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Winston Etheredge, III, Aaron Oppenheimer
  • Patent number: 9222820
    Abstract: A self-leveling measuring device is provided. The self-leveling measuring device includes at least two measuring devices each having a measuring cup. The two measuring devices are hinged together at one end so they swivel with respect to each other and are positioned such that the measuring cup of a first device is positioned opposite the measuring device of a second device when the two are positioned over each other. The upper measuring device acts as a leveler for ingredients contained in the lower measuring device by swiveling the upper device over the ingredient filled lower device measuring cup, and can also act as a cover for the ingredient filled lower measuring cup when positioned over the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.
    Inventor: James P. Connors
  • Patent number: 9222821
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of determining a volume of liquid in a sample tube, comprising the steps of capturing an image of the sample tube, determining a first region of interest within the sample tube based upon pre-stored information concerning dimensional properties of the sample tube, scanning the first region of interest to detect the position of a meniscus indicative of an upper extent of the liquid, and using said meniscus position together with certain pre-stored properties of the sample tube to determine a volume of liquid in the tube, and outputting said volume. Also disclosed is an apparatus for performing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Walsh, David Charles Lee, Martin Geoffrey Short
  • Patent number: 9217330
    Abstract: A product for balancing a shaft and wheel assembly of a turbocharger is disclosed. A fixture may have an exterior surface, with an aperture extending through the exterior surface. A first conduit may extend through the fixture and may exit from the first conduit through the exterior surface. A second conduit may extend through the fixture and may exit into the aperture. A pressurized gas source may be connected to the first and second conduits. An electromagnet may be positioned in the fixture and may extend around the aperture. The pressurized gas source may be operated to apply pressurized gas through the first and second conduits and the electromagnet may be operated to apply a magnetic field to the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Robert S. LeRosen
  • Patent number: 9217682
    Abstract: A torque sensor arrangement including a contactless torque sensor, in which the torque sensor is arranged on an electrically operating linear carriage is provided. A distance sensor is also arranged on the linear carriage such that it allows the distance to the object of which the torque is to be determined to be measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Hans-Gerd Brummel, Jürgen Götz, Uwe Linnert, Carl Udo Maier, Jochen Ostermaier
  • Patent number: 9214753
    Abstract: In the present invention, a metal upper cover that covers an upper face opening of a frame is mounted on this upper face opening, and a bent piece that is inserted into a bent piece insertion hole provided to the frame is provided to a portion of the upper face cover on the side of a sensor insertion hole. Furthermore, ground connection pieces formed by extending the outside of the left and right sides of the frame from the upper face toward the lower face are provided in portions opposite the left and right edges linked to the edge of the top cover on which the sensor insertion opening of the frame is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: PANASONIC HEALTHCARE HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Takeuchi, Kaoru Shigematsu
  • Patent number: 9212936
    Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a metal carrier plate (2) and a sensor housing (3) made of plastic, that contains at least one sensor element. The sensor housing (3) is connected to the carrier plate (2) by at least one screw (5) that extends through a through hole (6) of the carrier plate and is screwed into a screwing channel (7) defined in the plastic housing material of the sensor housing. As a result, the sensor assembly has a secure screwed connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Conti Temic microelectronic GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Wenk, Matthias Keuten, Uwe Trenner, Helmut Karrer, Juergen Henniger, Matthias Wieczorek
  • Patent number: 9215515
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for observing a physical phenomenon in the ocean and the atmosphere, the observation apparatus including an observation signal receiving unit to receive an observation signal indicating a physical phenomenon of an observation object, a physical quantity determining unit to determine a physical quantity of the observation object, using the observation signal, and a frequency determining unit to determine whether an observation frequency is to be changed, based on the physical quantity of the observation object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventor: Cheol Oh Jeong
  • Patent number: 9207103
    Abstract: A quick release coupling for connecting at least two connecting elements of a fluid system for a liquid medium, and comprises a coupling body, defining a flow channel between a first connecting end for the connection of a first connecting element, and a second connecting end. The coupling body includes a sensor chamber separated from the flow channel by a separating wall. At least one sensor is disposed in the sensor chamber, wherein a sensor probe is connected to the sensor, which extends through the separating wall from the sensor such that an end of the sensor probe facing the flow channel is in communication with the flow channel. The coupling body rests against the sensor probe without a seal. The sensor probe is a capillary tube and could be made of glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: TI Automotive (Fuldabrück) GmbH
    Inventor: Hans Jensen
  • Patent number: 9204832
    Abstract: A test device and a rotation module thereof are provided. The rotation module includes a rotation body and a sleeve. The rotation body includes a shaft, a first tube element, and a second tube element. The shaft is pivoted in the housing, and has an annular protrusion. The first tube element and the second tube element are sleeved on the shaft respectively, and the second tube element is located between the first tube element and the annular protrusion. The sleeve is slidably disposed on the rotation body. When the sleeve moves between a first position and a second position back and forth, the second tube element is driven to rotate back and forth relative to the first tube element. The annular protrusion is respectively driven by second tube element and the sleeve drive the annular protrusion so that the shaft rotates relative to the first tube element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Lite-On Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Sz-Shian He, Chia-Chun Wei, Hung-Wei Chen, Wei-Chieh Hu
  • Patent number: 9206322
    Abstract: The present application relates to an anti-fingerprint coating material. a method for evaluating a surface property. More particularly, the present application relates to a non-fluorinated coating materials with anti-fingerprint property, as well as a method for manufacturing thereof, and evaluating an anti-fingerprint properties of the coating materials surface and non-fluorinated coating materials with anti-fingerprint property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: National Taiwan University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Toyoko Imae, Ampornphan Siriviriyanun
  • Patent number: 9207223
    Abstract: A calibration device for a breath alcohol testing device includes a pump providing a controlled air flow at a predetermined rate, a chamber in fluid communication with the pump that receives the air flow from the pump, and an outlet opening in fluid communication with the chamber that allows the air flow to exit the chamber in which the chamber and/or outlet opening can be heated to a predetermined maintainable temperature during operation of the pump. The calibration device is releasably connected to or brought in fluid communication with a breath alcohol testing device such that the air flow exiting the outlet opening passes into the testing device. The calibration device receives a sealed cartridge containing a predetermined alcohol concentration in the chamber and further includes a lid for opening/closing the chamber wherein the cartridge can be pierced such that the air flow provided by the pump to the chamber will pass through the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Alco Systems Sweden AB
    Inventors: Miguel Arias, Nigel Evans
  • Patent number: 9207131
    Abstract: A system and method for measuring load and an additional property using a sensor gasket embedded between two components. The sensor gasket may include a sensor layer and a conductive layer. A gap between the sensor layer and conductive layer may be filled with a load sensitive material. The thickness of the load sensitive material varies with the load applied to the two components between which the sensor gasket sits. The sensor operates in a first mode to obtain a sensor measurement that depends on the distance between the sensor layer and conductive layer. The sensor measurement then used to estimate the applied load. The sensor operates in a second mode to estimate a property of one or both of the components. The property of interest may be cracking, material loss due to corrosion, temperature, or another property of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Jentek Sensors, Inc.
    Inventors: Darrell E. Schlicker, Neil J. Goldfine
  • Patent number: 9200972
    Abstract: An external force judgment method including a reference value acquisition step of acquiring a reference value of a relative position or angle of a second member with respect to a first member when a robot on which no external force is acting or on which a known external force is acting is assumed to be operated by a predetermined command in advance; a measured value acquisition step of acquiring a measured value of a relative position or angle of the second member with respect to the first member when the robot is operated by the predetermined command; and a judgment step of judging the presence or absence of an external force acting on the robot based on a difference between the reference value and the measured value and a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Youichi Inoue
  • Patent number: 9202498
    Abstract: A head transducer comprises a reader coupled to reader bond pads and configured to interact with a magnetic storage medium. A first thermal sensor is configured to produce a first sensor signal. The first sensor is biased relative to a common mode voltage at the reader bond pads. A second thermal sensor is configured to produce a second sensor signal. One of the first and second sensors is situated at or near a close point of the head transducer in relation to the magnetic storage medium, and the other of the first and second sensors spaced away from the close point. Circuitry is configured to combine the first and second sensor signals and produce a combined sensor signal indicative of one or both of a change in head-medium spacing and head-medium contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Declan Macken
  • Patent number: 9200971
    Abstract: Mechanical parameters of an object subjected to a force or condition are measured. A curved portion of a multicore optical fiber is attached to the object, and the multicore optical fiber includes a center core and plural off-center cores. A distributed, optically-based sensing technique is used to obtain information at each of multiple points along the curved portion from multiple ones of the cores of the multicore optical fiber. A curvature associated with the fiber attached to the object is determined using the information obtained from multiple ones of the cores. Strain information is obtained for the center core without having to obtain strain information for the off-center cores. Mechanical parameters are determined based on the strain information obtained for the center core and the curvature information obtained from the multiple ones of the cores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Froggatt, Dawn K. Gifford
  • Patent number: 9196516
    Abstract: A wafer temperature measurement tool for measuring the surface temperature of a semiconductor wafer. The tool can be used to measure temperature on different parts of the wafer to provide a high resolution temperature distribution map. The tool includes an internal calibrated weight that is slidably disposed within a tool body. A temperature sensor is attached to the bottom of the weight. Ceramic stands are attached to the bottom of the tool body. Gravity pulls down on the weight such that the temperature sensor contacts the wafer when the ceramic stands of the tool body are placed on the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Qualitau, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward McCloud, David VandenBerg
  • Patent number: 9188520
    Abstract: A tensile-testing apparatus (10) comprises a platen (40) for situating a tendon-type support system in manner mimicking its expected installation condition. A force-imposing device (20) imposes installation-expected forces and sensors (61, 71) sense displacement in the force-imposing direction. A station (80) collects force and displacement data and a station (90) outputs the collected data in format allowing system analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: ENGINEERED MINE SOLUTIONS, LLC
    Inventor: Gregory Earl Smith
  • Patent number: 9188464
    Abstract: The present sensing device comprises a sensor (1, ) for providing sensor data representative of a quantity to be measured. Together with the sensor (1, ) a radio frequency interface (2, ) for transmitting the sensor data is arranged in a casing (3, ). The casing (3, ) comprises an opening (33, ) for exposing a sensitive element (11, ) of the sensor (1, ) to an environment of the casing (3, ). A seal (4, ) is provided for sealing the opening (33, ) against an interior (3, ) of the casing (3, ). The sensing device can be used as autonomous humidity detector for detecting humidity e.g. in cars under test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Sensirion AG
    Inventors: Markus Graf, Pascal Gerner, Christian Landis, Matthias Streiff
  • Patent number: 9188494
    Abstract: A method, device, and system for improved measurement of fluid temperatures are provided. In one embodiment, a temperature probe structure comprises a header having a cavity; a longitudinal probe disposed at least partially within the cavity of the header; a temperature detector disposed within the longitudinal probe; and an insulator disposed between the header and the longitudinal probe for insulating the longitudinal probe from the header.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Kulite Semiconductor Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Gardner, Louis DeRosa