Patents Examined by Jewel Thompson
  • Patent number: 8127617
    Abstract: A pressure sensor which includes: a semiconductor substrate; a first cavity portion that spreads out approximately parallel with one surface of the semiconductor substrate in the interior of a central region thereof; a diaphragm portion of a thin plate shape that is positioned on one side of the first cavity portion; a pressure sensitive element that is disposed on the diaphragm; and a bump that is disposed in an outer edge region of the one surface of the semiconductor substrate that excludes the diaphragm portion and is electrically connected with the pressure sensitive element, wherein a second cavity portion is disposed in at least one portion of the outer edge region in the interior of the semiconductor substrate and is closed with respect to the one surface of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.
    Inventors: Sinichi Murashige, Satoshi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8122768
    Abstract: A pressure sensor module includes a pressure sensor, a bump, and a laminated substrate. The pressure sensor includes a semiconductor substrate; a cavity; a pressure-sensitive element; and a conductive section. The cavity is disposed inside the semiconductor substrate such that a thin-plate region of the semiconductor substrate is provided and the thin-plate region being defined as a diaphragm. The pressure-sensitive element is arranged at the diaphragm. The conductive section is electrically connected to the pressure-sensitive element and disposed on the face of the semiconductor substrate at a region excluding the diaphragm. The bump is electrically connected to the conductive section. The laminated substrate includes a wiring base material electrically connected to the pressure sensor via the bump. The wiring base material is disposed inside the laminated substrate. A face of the wiring base material is electrically connected to the bump and has an exposed area from the laminated substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Yamamoto, Hirokazu Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 8028588
    Abstract: A flow meter for measuring flow rate and flow composition of a process fluid includes a microwave source configured to generate a microwave signal. A probe tip is coupled to the microwave source and in near field proximity to the process fluid. The probe tip is configured to apply the microwave signal to the process fluid. A microwave detector coupled to the probe tip is configured to detect a near field microwave signal from the process fluid in response to the applied microwave signal. Flow calculation circuitry determines flow rate and/or composition of the process fluid as a function of the detected microwave signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Rosemount Inc.
    Inventor: Fabian Wenger
  • Patent number: 8020452
    Abstract: A device for measuring the volume flow rate of the controlled medium in a pipeline comprises first and second transmitting-receiving radiators installed and spaced on the pipeline and alternately fed with ultrasonic signals. Received after they have passed in and counter the direction of the flow, the signals are digitized and stored. Times of signal transmission in and counter the direction of the flow of the medium and the difference of the times are calculated. Providing an additional unit for the time difference calculation, applying a correlation measuring method and increasing the sampling rate enhance the accuracy in measuring the volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Closed Corporation Coherent
    Inventors: Yuriy Igorevich Romanov, Dmitry Yurievich Svilpov, Stanislav Vladimirovich Maletskiy, Olga Vladimirovna Chagina
  • Patent number: 8015882
    Abstract: A pressure transmitter for measuring a pressure of a process fluid in an industrial process, includes a pressure sensor having an output related to an applied pressure. Measurement circuitry coupled to the pressure sensor is configured to provide a transmitter output related to sensed pressure. A pressure coupling face having an opening therein is arranged to transfer the applied pressure to the pressure sensor. A pressure coupling flange having a flange face abutting the pressure coupling face is configured to convey the process fluid to the opening of the pressure coupling face. Features are provided to control distribution of a leading force across the pressure coupling face and the flange face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Rosemount Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew J. Klosinski, David A. Broden, Fred C. Sittler
  • Patent number: 8011242
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, a sensor device for determining forces exerted by a cyclist on a pedal of a bicycle is provided. The sensor device includes a plurality of sensors coupled to a substrate, and wiring coupled to the sensors and the substrate, wherein the sensors, the substrate, and the wiring are housed inside a pedal spindle coupled to the pedal. The sensor device may also be used in a system for improving a pedaling technique of a cyclist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Garmin Switzerland GmbH
    Inventors: George David O'Neill, Clark Farrell Foy, Timothy S. Clark, Patrice Gagnon
  • Patent number: 8006553
    Abstract: A sensor includes: a silicon substrate having a hollow portion, which is arranged on a backside of the substrate; an insulation film disposed on a front side of the substrate and covering the hollow portion; a heater disposed on the insulation film, made of a semiconductor layer, and configured to generate heat; and an anti-stripping film for protecting the insulation film from being removed from the silicon substrate. The silicon substrate, the insulation film and the semiconductor layer provide a SOI substrate. The hollow portion has a sidewall and a bottom. The anti-stripping film covers at least a boundary between the sidewall and the bottom of the hollow portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryuichirou Abe, Tsuyoshi Fukada, Keisuke Suzui
  • Patent number: 8006569
    Abstract: A magnetic flow meter includes a first spud end, a second spud end, and a sensing area positioned between the first spud end and the second spud end. The sensing area has a wall thickness that is thinner than a thickness of the first spud end and the second spud end. The flow meter can be manufactured via molding while a plug is positioned in at least two holes of the magnetic flow meter. The flow meter can also be manufactured to have a near hermetic seal formed by inserting a flexible printed circuit board in a slit of a gasket and then either compressing a register cup surrounding the tube gasket or driving a pin into a center pin around which the tube gasket is positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Sensus USA Inc.
    Inventors: Jörn Gögge, Michael Zimmerman, Raymond Pstir, Roland Stripf, Patrick McGrath
  • Patent number: 8001847
    Abstract: There is provided a Coriolis mass flowmeter. The flowmeter is configured to vibrate a pipe line through which a fluid flows and measure a mass flow rate of the fluid flowing through the pipe line, based on a phase difference between an upstream vibration signal and a downstream vibration signal, wherein the upstream vibration signal is detected in an upstream side of the pipe line, and the downstream vibration signal is detected in a downstream side of the pipe line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Chiken
  • Patent number: 7997149
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the sound velocity of a flowing fluid includes a cartridge having a hollow interior through which the fluid flows formed by first and second chambers of different diameters that define first and second walls extending toward the cartridge longitudinal axis from which energy transmitted by a single sensor mounted in the cartridge is reflected back to the sensor. An electronic circuit includes a microprocessor that is programmed with the distance between the first and second walls and that measures the round-trip transit time of the signal energy transmitted to and reflected from each of the first and second walls and calculates the sound velocity of flowing fluid using the two measured round trip transit times and the programmed value of the fixed distance between the walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Hema-Q, Inc.
    Inventor: Naim Dam
  • Patent number: 7992450
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for measuring the mass flow, in particular of a foaming liquid, comprising a measuring device with two electrodes and at least one electrical means for generation of an electrical parameter and an analytical device. The electrical means is connected to the first electrode at two remote points, such as to be wired in parallel with the first electrode. The second electrode is connected to the first electrode by means of the analytical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Gea Farm Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Springer, Otto Krone
  • Patent number: 7992452
    Abstract: A measuring transducer of vibration type for registering, on the basis of the Coriolis principle, at least one measured variable of a medium flowing through a pipeline. The measuring transducer includes: a measuring tube, which is connectable with the pipeline via an inlet and an outlet, wherein the measuring tube includes a first measuring tube arc and a second measuring tube arc; an oscillation exciter for exciting oscillations of the measuring tube arcs; at least one oscillation sensor for registering resulting oscillations of the measuring tube arcs; and a transducer housing surrounding the measuring tube arcs. The measuring tube arcs are elastically coupled to the transducer housing. In this way, a robust and reliable measuring operation is guaranteed, which is little influenced by oscillatory in-couplings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Ennio Bitto, Martin Anklin-Imhof, Gerhard Eckert, Dieter Mundschin
  • Patent number: 7992453
    Abstract: An erosion-resistant insert is provided for a flow measurement device having a fluid displacement member. The insert includes a flange and a sleeve extending axially from the flange. The sleeve may be inserted into a recess machined into a fluid conduit of the fluid measurement device to protect the inner wall of the conduit. The insert maintains the inner diameter of the conduit and the beta ratio of the flow measurement device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventor: Philip A. Lawrence
  • Patent number: 7992454
    Abstract: A testing system includes a single air collection box and a laminar flow system for obtain an airflow measurement. The single airflow box has air inlet and outlet ports at opposite ends. The laminar flow element has a laminar flow element inlet in fluid communication with the air collection box and a laminar flow element outlet sealed with the air outlet port of the air collection box. A blower in fluid communication with the laminar flow element outlet draws airflow into the air collection box through a unit under test and out of the air collection box through the laminar flow element. A pressure transducer senses the differential air pressure across the laminar flow element and enables a determination of the airflow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael S. Purdy, Mark E. Steinke, Leo H. Webster, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7987711
    Abstract: A device (1) for diagnosing a disorder comprises a stop for stopping a human extremity (5), such as a finger, when said extremity exerts a force on the stop. Detection means are provided for detecting said exerted force. The device has a support member (20) for supporting the stop. The stop comprises one or more resilient strips (8,17), each of which projects from the support member up to in each case a free end. The resilient strips are arranged substantially parallel to and at a distance from one another. Each resilient strip can, by being deformed, contact an adjacent resilient strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Consulo B.V.
    Inventors: Leonardus Antonius Maria Elders, Johannes Gerardus Steenkamer
  • Patent number: 7987733
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for measuring densities and flow rates of gas-liquid fluid mixtures. In the systems and methods, the fluid mixture is caused to exhibit swirling flow as it flows through a conduit that includes a constriction, a first pressure difference is measured between two vertically-spaced measurement positions in the conduit, a second pressure difference is measured between two horizontally-spaced measurement positions in the conduit, the first horizontally-spaced measurement position being at the constriction region and the second horizontally-spaced measurement position being upstream or downstream of the constriction region, and one or more of the pressure differences is used to determine a density or a flow rate of the gas-liquid fluid mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Ian Atkinson, John Sherwood
  • Patent number: 7987709
    Abstract: A device for measuring the flow speed of a fluid as well as its direction and its orientation, based on a thermal-sensor measurement principle, that comprises at least three flow measurement probes each having a sensitive member and an obstacle masking a predetermined measurement area of the sensor, characterized in that the flow measurement probes are attached on carrier posts, the carrier posts defining the obstacles that form masking members for an angular sector of the flow measurement probes facing the sensitive member of the probes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Airbus France
    Inventors: Cyril Barre, Michel Dos-Reis, Hervé Magnin
  • Patent number: 7984647
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting ice particle accumulation is disclosed herein. In one exemplary implementation, a method for detecting ice is described in which a parameter within an interior volume of a heated conduit is measured. The method also includes detecting the presence of an accumulation of ice particles based on the parameter measured within the interior volume of the heated conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Rosemount Aerospace Inc.
    Inventors: John Albert Severson, Darren Jackson, Matthew J. Hansen
  • Patent number: 7980125
    Abstract: A sensor system for determining at least one parameter of a fluid medium flowing in a main flow direction has at least one sensor situated in the fluid medium, for determining the parameter of the fluid medium, and at least one grating situated transversely to the main flow direction and having at least one crosstie, the crosstie having a crosstie depth directed essentially in the main flow direction. The crosstie has at least one recess, the crosstie depth being reduced in the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Erhard Renninger, Uwe Konzelmann, Christoph Gmelin
  • Patent number: 7980127
    Abstract: A flow meter includes a transparent holder with an inlet and an outlet connected to a first, second and third fastening portions through a first, second, third and fourth connection ribs, a first and second fastening assemblies screwed respectively with the inlet and outlet, a butting member located at one end of the transparent holder, a flow scale plate located on a recess of the transparent holder, and a regulation member coupled to the inlet. The three fastening portions with respectively a first, second and third fastening hole are integrally formed with the inlet and outlet. Through the first and second fastening holes, the transparent holder is firmly fastened to a machine. Thus hydraulic pressure generated in the inlet and outlet does not cause loosening due to screw fastening of the three fastening portions. The structural strength of the transparent holder is increased and assembly is easier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Inventor: Yao-Sung Hou