Patents Examined by Jermaine Jenkins
  • Patent number: 9766148
    Abstract: A diaphragm seal system, which is filled with a pressure transmission medium, wherein the pressure measurement instrument is welded by its connecting thread into a connecting adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: WIKA Alexander Wiegand SE & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Berberich, Udo Hoerning, Albrecht Kalisch, Heiko Kern, Horst Weis-Schneider
  • Patent number: 9753052
    Abstract: A measurement unit for measuring a first static pressure of the ambient air in a first measurement zone of the aircraft, a measurement unit for measuring a second pressure of the ambient air, at least one static pressure probe, in a second measurement zone of the aircraft, the second pressure having a value lower than the first static pressure, a computation unit for estimating a Mach number using these two measured pressures and a data transmission unit configured to transmit the estimated Mach number to a user system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS SAS
    Inventors: Maxime Semat, Martin Delporte
  • Patent number: 9739681
    Abstract: Certain implementations of the disclosed technology may include systems, methods, and apparatus for assigning a distinct identifier (ID) to a pressure transducer based on resistor values. Embodiments include electrically identifying the distinct ID, and compensating the pressure transducer based on the distinct ID. According to an example implementation, a method is provided that can include coupling a transducer ID measurement assembly with a transducer assembly; measuring, by the transducer ID measurement assembly, a plurality of divided voltages between a plurality of configurable ID switches and a reference resistor; determining, with a processor, a distinct ID associated with the transducer assembly based on the plurality of measured divided voltages; retrieving one or more compensation parameters based on the distinct ID; and compensating, with the one or more compensation parameters, a measurement signal of the transducer assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Kulite Semiconductor Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Wolf Landmann
  • Patent number: 9739694
    Abstract: A compression test rig apparatus for determining a mechanical characterization of a gel-based LCM test sample comprising an LCM test cell configured to contain the gel-based LCM test sample, the LCM test cell comprising a cylinder wall defining a cell space volume configured to hold the gel-based LCM test sample, and a floor defining an extrusion hole configured to extrude the gel-based LCM test sample to create an extruded gel; an extruded gel collector configured to receive the extruded gel from the extrusion hole as an extruded gel volume; a perforated disc comprising perforations, wherein the perforated disc is configured to allow the gel-based LCM test sample to pass through the perforations; and a flat foot disc piston in flush contact with the cylinder wall, the flat foot disc piston configured to compress the gel-based LCM test sample at a displacement speed to produce compression data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Md Amanullah, Turki Thuwaini Mohammed Alsubaie
  • Patent number: 9732878
    Abstract: An emergency shut-off valve and means for initiating a test on said emergency shut-off valve includes a source of pressurized gas, a main solenoid responsive to a signal from said means for initiating a test and a source of pressurized gas are included. Further, means including a main solenoid responsive to a signal from said means for initiating a test and a main solenoid valve and a quick exhaust valve connected to the source of pressurized gas. Further, a pneumatic actuator for opening and closing the shut-off valve and test means for testing the emergency shut-off valve without fully closing the emergency shut-off valve in response to a signal from the means for initiating a test. The test means includes a second solenoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Inventor: Hassan Abdullah Ahmad Alkandari
  • Patent number: 9726561
    Abstract: A differential pressure sensor comprises a cavity having a base including a base electrode and a membrane suspended above the base which includes a membrane electrode, wherein the first membrane is sealed with the cavity defined beneath the first membrane. A first pressure input port is coupled to the space above the sealed first membrane. A capacitive read out system is used to measure the capacitance between the base electrode and membrane electrode. An interconnecting channel is between the cavity and a second pressure input port, so that the sensor is responsive to the differential pressure applied to opposite sides of the membrane by the two input ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: ams International AG
    Inventors: Willem Frederik Adrianus Besling, Iris Bominaar-Silkens, Remco Henricus Wilhelmus Pijnenburg, Marten Oldsen
  • Patent number: 9726557
    Abstract: A strain sensor having an active area that includes a magnetoelastic resonator and spring configured so that the spring undergoes a greater amount of strain than the resonator when the sensor is under load. The sensor is anchored at opposite ends of the active area to a substrate for which strain is to be measured. An interrogating coil is used for wireless sensor readout. A biasing magnet may be included to provide a desired sensor response for the particular application of the sensor. The strain sensor may be implemented as a differential strain sensor that includes a second, strain-independent reference resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Yogesh Gianchandani, Venkatram Pepakayala, Scott Green
  • Patent number: 9719860
    Abstract: A power device temperature monitor is provided. The power device temperature monitor includes a power device having a control terminal and an output terminal, where the output terminal is configured to output a current as directed by a voltage of the control terminal. The power device temperature monitor includes an inductor coupled to the output terminal of the power device and an amplifier coupled to the inductor. The power device temperature monitor includes a computing device that receives an output of the amplifier, the computing device is configured to derive a temperature of the power device based upon the output of the amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Atieva, Inc.
    Inventor: Yifan Tang
  • Patent number: 9719885
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a test arrangement for the crash simulation of motor vehicles, said test arrangement having a first carriage, which is movable substantially horizontally along a longitudinal axis, and a second carriage, which is movable along the longitudinal axis together with the first carriage, wherein the second carriage is attached to the first carriage in such an articulated manner that the second carriage is movable with respect to the first carriage. In order to be able to simulate actual accident conditions better, in the test arrangement according to the invention, in addition to at least one first actuating element and at least one second actuating element, there is also provided at least one third actuating element, which is configured to accelerate the second carriage in a horizontal direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Michael Deleeuw, Wolfgang Brendel, Heike Kern
  • Patent number: 9715039
    Abstract: This invention consists of a unique apparatus and system consisting of devices, materials and methods specially engineered to perform high precision and smart cloud seeding by the dispersion of micro and nanoparticles of sodium chloride and similar chemistry compounds at specific locations with the purpose of rain induction and related applications. A safe and precise unmanned aerial vehicle UAV device instrumented with portable thermometer, hygrometer, barometer, anemometer and 3D visual register will scrutinize these internal cloud climate parameters. By means of these real time measurements and communications, a meteorological ground operating team is enabled to perform the data acquisition and processing from the clouds. This device and system be enabled to select the locations suitable for rain induction and perform on site accurate particulate seeding dispersion from a device mounted on the same UAV within the eligible clouds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Inventors: Lorenzo Martinez Martínez De La Escalera, Jorge Joaquin Canto Ibanez, Diego Martinez Martínez De La Escalera, Hernán Rivera Ramos, Lorenzo Martinez Gomez
  • Patent number: 9709377
    Abstract: Even when a strain sensor chip and an object to be measured are bonded to each other by using a metallic bonding material such as solder, the metallic bonding material shows the creep behavior when used under high temperature environment of, for example, 100° C. or higher, and therefore, the strain detected by the strain sensor chip is gradually reduced, and the strain is apparently reduced. In the strain sensor chip mounting structure which is one embodiment of the present application, a strain sensor chip is fixed onto a surface to be measured of the object to be measured via a metallic bonding material. And, the metallic bonding material is bonded to a metallic film that is formed on a side surface of the strain sensor chip. In this manner, temporal change in a measurement error can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ohta, Kisho Ashida
  • Patent number: 9709546
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for use in a test to measure the corrosivity of a high temperature hydrocarbon based fluid by determining areal mass density change from a metal layer deposited on a surface of a gallium orthophosphate (GaPO4) crystal. The device includes a blind flange according to ASME B 16.5 having a peripheral bolt portion and a central portion. Bolt holes are present in the peripheral bolt portion of the blind flange for attaching the blind flange to a vessel. A hole through the central portion of the blind flange is provided to which a tube is securely attached at a first end. A second end of the tube is capable of holding the GaPO4 crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventor: Kyrolos Paul El Giheny
  • Patent number: 9702771
    Abstract: A sensor able to detect shearing forces as well as simple pressure includes a substrate, a support secured to the substrate, and shear force sensing unit located at an exterior surface of the support facing away from the substrate. The support can be elastically deformed in proportion to the shearing force or pressure. The shear force sensing unit includes first piezoelectric films on outer opposing shoulders of each support, the first piezoelectric film being elastically deformed with the support and outputting a signal accordingly. The magnitude of simple pressure is recorded by similar deformation of a second piezoelectric film entirely covering its support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jen-Tsorng Chang
  • Patent number: 9696226
    Abstract: Collecting data includes generating a sensor signal from each of a plurality of sensors located on a sensing roll, wherein each signal is generated when each sensor enters a region of a nip between the sensing roll and mating roll during each rotation of the sensing roll; wherein a web of material travels through the nip and a continuous band contacts a region of the web of material upstream from or at the nip. A periodically occurring starting reference is generated associated with each rotation of the continuous band and the signal generated by each sensor is received so that the one of the plurality of sensors which generated this signal is determined and one of a plurality of tracking segments associated with the continuous band is identified. The signal is stored to associate the respective sensor signal with the identified one tracking segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY
    Inventor: Kerry D. Figiel
  • Patent number: 9689756
    Abstract: A tool for use in locating a pressure measurement device between a surface and a biasing member is provided. The tool includes a first indexing member configured to couple to a first side of the pressure measurement device, and a second indexing member configured to couple to a second opposing side of the pressure measurement device. The second indexing member includes an outer surface including a recess sized to receive at least a portion of the biasing member. The first and second indexing members are configured to be pressed between the biasing member and the surface such that the first and second indexing members compress against the pressure measurement device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Ryan F. Drake, Steven P. Kury, James P. Conners
  • Patent number: 9683916
    Abstract: A system includes a platform for receiving a test device programmed to output a data signal. A shaft is spaced from the platform. A plurality of impact objects are disposed on the shaft and are configured to strike the platform. A motor is coupled to the shaft and configured to rotate the shaft. A processor is programmed to identify an anomaly in the data signal as a result of the plurality of impact objects striking the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam, Stephen Philip Panoff, Michael Barnhart, Michael Foster, Roy Joseph Scott
  • Patent number: 9678036
    Abstract: A graphene sensor and method for selective sensing of vapors, gases and biological agents are disclosed. The graphene sensor can include a substrate; a dielectric substrate on an upper layer of the substrate; a layer of graphene on an upper layer of the dielectric substrate; and a source and drain contact on an upper surface of the layer of graphene. The method for detection of vapors, gases and biological objects with low frequency input as a sensing parameter can include exposing a graphene device to at least one vapor, gas, and/or biological object, the graphene device comprising: a substrate; a dielectric substrate on an upper layer of the substrate, a layer of graphene on an upper layer of the dielectric substrate, and a source and drain contact on an upper surface of the layer of graphene; and measuring a change in a noise spectra of the graphene device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventor: Alexander A. Balandin
  • Patent number: 9677973
    Abstract: A drive-over tire tread depth measurement system is configured with environmental protection components for preventing or impeding environmental contaminates from falling through openings in a vehicle support surface or cover plate onto underlying components such as sensor optical windows and adjacent surfaces. The environmental protection components may include air discharge assemblies, movable shields, guards, wipers or deflectors such as drip edges, water-accumulating textured surfaces, flow diverters, and selectively placed flanges or fixed guards which operate cooperatively to displace accumulated contaminates, debris, or liquids from the optical windows and adjacent sensor surfaces. A portion of the vehicle support surface or cover plate is removable to permit access to underlying components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company
    Inventors: Craig A. Carroll, Michael T. Stieff
  • Patent number: 9651433
    Abstract: A force detector includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a circuit board provided between the first substrate and the second substrate, and an element mounted on the circuit board and outputting a signal in response to an external force, wherein a hole is formed in the circuit board at a location where the element is placed, and a first convex part inserted into the hole and protruding toward the element is provided on the first substrate. Further, the element is placed within a periphery of the first convex part as seen from a direction perpendicular to the first substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Matsuzawa, Hiroki Kawai, Toshiyuki Kamiya
  • Patent number: 9651464
    Abstract: A spring performance tester and method of testing a spring are disclosed that has improved accuracy and precision over prior art spring testers. The tester can perform static and cyclic testing. The spring tester can provide validation for product acceptance as well as test for cyclic degradation of springs, such as the change in the spring rate and fatigue failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Bradley Salzbrenner, Brad Boyce