Patents Examined by Jewel V. Thompson
  • Patent number: 8679186
    Abstract: A prosthetic component suitable for long-term implantation is provided. The prosthetic component measures a parameter of the muscular-skeletal system is disclosed. The prosthetic component comprises a first structure having at least one support surface, a second structure having at least one feature configured to couple to bone, and at least one sensor. The electronic circuitry and sensors are hermetically sealed within the prosthetic component. The sensor couples to the support surface of the first structure. The first and second structure are coupled together housing the at least one sensor. In one embodiment, the first and second structure are welded together forming the hermetic seal that isolates the at least one sensor from an external environment. The at least one sensor can be a pressure sensor for measuring load and position of load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Ortho Sensor Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Stein, Andrew U. Chase
  • Patent number: 8677818
    Abstract: There is described a flow sensing device having a semiconductor chip with a flow channel integrated therein and a sensing element positioned in the flow channel, and a package base attached to the semiconductor chip and allowing access to the two passage-openings of the flow channel from opposite sides of the package base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Sensortechnics GmbH
    Inventors: Leslie M. Landsberger, Oleg Grudin, Salman Saed, Gennadiy Frolov
  • Patent number: 8677832
    Abstract: A Coriolis mass flow meter (1) which has at least two curved measurement tubes (2), at least one actuator arrangement, at least one sensor arrangement and comprising at least one housing structure (5), the measurement tubes (2) being connected at their inlet end portion and an outlet end portion with at least a first oscillation node plate (3) and a second oscillation node plate (4). The flow meter achieves increased measurement accuracy and a reduced susceptibility to perturbing oscillations by at least one of the oscillation node plates being connected at the inlet end and the outlet end of the housing structure (5). A third oscillation node plate (6) can be additionally arranged on the inlet end portion and the outlet end portion of the tubes, the third oscillation node plate being connected to the housing structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Krohne AG
    Inventors: Tao Wang, Yousif Hussain
  • Patent number: 8677833
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for measuring a mass flow of flowable bulk materials according to the Coriolis principle of measurement. The apparatus comprises a vane wheel by which a mass flow that is supplied in axial direction can be radially redirected and by which it is possible to detect the drive torque that that necessary to achieve the redirection. A drive shaft that is routed through the top side of the housing is configured as a hollow shaft through which the bulk material can be fed to the vane wheel in vertical direction toward the center of its axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Schenck Process GmbH
    Inventor: Jens Kahle
  • Patent number: 8677820
    Abstract: An input apparatus includes: an input apparatus main body that is used to make an input for operating an operation target; a grip detection portion configured to detect that a user has gripped the input apparatus main body with a predetermined force or more; a motion detection portion configured to detect a movement of the input apparatus main body and output a movement detection value corresponding to the movement of the input apparatus main body; a controller configured to execute, while/after the grip of the input apparatus main body is being detected by the grip detection portion, processing for controlling the operation target based on the movement detection value; and a first response portion configured to return, when at least the grip of the input apparatus main body is detected by the grip detection portion, a first response to the user irrespective of the control of the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Nakagawa, Masatoshi Ueno, Kenichi Kabasawa, Hideo Kawabe, Shinobu Kuriya, Tetsuro Goto, Tsubasa Tsukahara
  • Patent number: 8671775
    Abstract: When a flow rate is equal to or more than a reference flow rate, a reference voltage is changed to a level capable of measuring stably to thereby realize the improvement of measurement accuracy at the time of a large amount of flow rate. A flow rate determination means compares a flow rate calculated by a flow rate calculation means with the reference flow rate. When the calculated flow rate is larger than the reference flow rate, the reference voltage set by a reference voltage setting means is changed, whereby the zero cross point can be detected stably at the portion where the degree of the influence of the change in the amplitude of the received signal is small. Thus, it is possible to provide a flow rate measuring device capable of measuring a flow rate stably with high accuracy even when a fluid flow is disturbed due to a large amount of flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hirokazu Gotou, Aoi Watanabe, Yuji Fujii, Kouichi Takemura, Yuji Nakabayashi
  • Patent number: 8671774
    Abstract: The present invention provides an ultrasonic flow meter unit which can eliminate design factors associated with measuring performance, and improve general versatility and diversity. An ultrasonic flow meter unit of the present invention comprises a measurement fluid passage through which a fluid flows; a pair of ultrasonic transducers provided on the measurement fluid passage; and a measuring circuit board which measures a propagation time of an ultrasonic signal transmitted and received between the ultrasonic transducers, and calculates a fluid flow, lead pins bent with a predetermined angle are connected to terminals of the ultrasonic transducers, and the measuring circuit board is on-board mounted to the measurement fluid passage, and then the lead pins are connected to the measuring circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hirokuni Murakami, Yuji Fujii, Masato Satou
  • Patent number: 8671773
    Abstract: An electronic flow meter includes a magnetic sensor, phase-A and phase-B drivers, a phase-A comparator, a phase-B comparator, a two-phase encoder, and a rotational speed timer. The two-phase encoder determines a normal/reverse direction where the impeller is rotated based on event signals sampled by the phase-A and the phase-B comparators, respectively, causing a counter to count up or to count down according to the normal/reverse direction as determined, thereby outputting an event count signal. The rotational speed timer calculates a rotational frequency of the impeller from the event count signal outputted by the two-phase encoder and sets frequencies of respective sampling signals of the phase-A and the phase-B comparators at a time when the rotational frequency of the impeller is measured next, and respective drive periods of the phase-A and the phase-B drivers in accordance with the rotational frequency of the impeller as calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Ono, Osamu Karino, Yoshihiro Shimizu, Yoshihiro Miyagawa, Hiroyuki Kawajiri, Takehiro Furukawa
  • Patent number: 8671779
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a vibrating flow meter and method of operating a vibrating flow meter are provided. The vibrating flow meter includes a conduit (210), at least one pick-off (230, 231), a driven member (250), at least one driver (220), and a base (260). The conduit (210) defines a fluid flow path. The at least one pick-off (230, 231) measures the motion of the conduit (210). The at least one driver (220) vibrates the conduit (210) and the driven member (250) in phase opposition. The base (260) is coupled to the conduit (210) and the driven member (250) and switches between remaining substantially stationary or moving substantially in phase with the conduit (210) or moving substantially in phase with the driven member (250) in order to balance the motion of the conduit (210) and the driven member (250).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig Brainerd Van Cleve
  • Patent number: 8667852
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vibrating flow meter (210) and a method of providing a vibrating flow meter (210). The vibrating flow meter (210) includes a conduit (103A) and a driver (104) configured to vibrate the conduit (103A). The vibrating flow meter (210) also includes a first pick-off (105). The first pick-off (105) includes a first pick-off component (105a) and a second pick-off component (105b). The vibrating flow meter (210) also includes a reference member (150). The first pick-off component (105a) is coupled to the reference member (150) while the second pick-off component (105b) is coupled to the conduit (103A) proximate the first pick-off component (105a). The vibrating flow meter (210) also includes a balancing element (253) coupled to the reference member (150).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Treat Lanham, Christopher A. Werbach
  • Patent number: 8667839
    Abstract: A heat conduction-type sensor corrects (calibrate) effects of a temperature of a measurement target fluid and a type of the fluid on a measurement value in measurement of a flow velocity, a mass flow, or an atmospheric pressure. Also provided is a thermal flow sensor and a thermal barometric sensor with this correcting function, high sensitivity, simple configuration, and low cost. At least two thin films that are thermally separated from a substrate through the same cavity are provided, one thin film comprises a heater and a temperature sensor, and the other thin film comprises at least one temperature sensor, the temperature sensors being thin-film thermocouples. The thin film is arranged in proximity so that it is heated only through the measurement target fluid by heating of the heater. A calibration circuit calculates and compares quantities concerning heat transfer coefficients of a standard fluid and the unknown measurement target fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Inventor: Mitsuteru Kimura
  • Patent number: 8661893
    Abstract: A prosthetic component suitable for long-term implantation is provided. The prosthetic component measures a parameter of the muscular-skeletal system is disclosed. The prosthetic component comprises a first structure having at least one support surface, a second structure having at least one feature configured to couple to bone, and at least one sensor. The electronic circuitry and sensors are hermetically sealed within the prosthetic component. The sensor couples to the support surface of the first structure. The support surface of the first structure is compliant. The first and second structure are coupled together housing the at least one sensor. In one embodiment, the first and second structure are welded together forming the hermetic seal that isolates the at least one sensor from an external environment. The at least one sensor can be a pressure sensor for measuring load and position of load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Orthosensor Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Stein, Andrew Chase
  • Patent number: 8661914
    Abstract: A flowmeter is disclosed. The flowmeter includes a vibratable conduit, and a driver connected to the conduit that is operable to impart motion to the conduit. A sensor is connected to the conduit and is operable to sense the motion of the conduit and generate a sensor signal. A controller is connected to receive the sensor signal. The controller is operable to detect a single-phase flow condition and process the sensor signal using a first process during the single-phase flow condition to generate a validated mass-flow measurement. The controller is also operable to detect a two-phase flow condition and process the sensor signal using a second process during the two-phase flow condition to generate the validated mass-flow measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Manus P. Henry, Maria Jesus De La Fuente
  • Patent number: 8656772
    Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to flow sensors, and more particularly, to flow sensors that include a pressure related output signal. In one example, a flow sensor assembly may include a housing with an inlet flow port, an outlet flow port and a fluid channel extending therebetween, with a flow sensing element positioned in the housing and exposed to the fluid channel. A filter insert may be situated in the fluid channel, sometimes upstream of the flow sensor. When so configured, the flow sensor assembly may output a pressure or differential pressure based, at least in part, on a value of the flow rate through the fluid channel as sensed by the flow sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Mohammed Abdul Javvad Qasimi, William Hoover, Richard Charles Sorenson, Craig Scott Becke
  • Patent number: 8640552
    Abstract: A MEMS airflow sensor die having a heater control circuit, differential instrumentation amplifier, temperature compensation, and/or offset correction circuitry integrated with an airflow sensor on the MEMS die. The added circuitry may be placed on space available on the basic airflow die with MEMS fabrication techniques without enlarging the sensor die. The die with the added circuitry may result in a device having a reduced form factor, improved reliability and lower cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Mohammed Abdul Javvad Qasimi, Lamar Floyd Ricks
  • Patent number: 8640538
    Abstract: Technique of suppressing performance variations for each flow sensor is provided. In a flow sensor FS1 of the present invention, a part of a semiconductor chip CHP1 is configured to be covered with resin (MR) in a state in which a flow sensing unit (FDU) formed on a semiconductor chip CHP1 is exposed. Since an upper surface SUR(MR) of the resin (MR) is higher than an upper surface SUR(CHP) of the semiconductor chip (CHP1) by sealing the resin (MR) on a part of the upper surface SUR(CHP) of the semiconductor chip CHP1 in a direction parallel to an air flow direction, the air flow around the flow sensing unit (FDU) can be stabilized. Further, interface peeling between the semiconductor chip (CHP1) and the resin (MR) can be prevented by an increase of contact area between the semiconductor chip (CHP1) and the resin (MR).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Kono, Keiji Hanzawa, Takeshi Morino, Yuki Okamoto, Noboru Tokuyasu, Shinobu Tashiro
  • Patent number: 8631712
    Abstract: A method for detecting complete or partial plugging of a measuring tube of a Coriolis flow measuring device, which is insertable into a pipeline, and which has a measuring transducer of the vibration type having at least two measuring tubes connected for parallel flow. The method includes, in such case, the steps of measuring a subset flow occurring in a subset of the measuring tubes, and comparing a subset flow value obtained from this measurement with a reference value to be expected for this subset. The reference value is, in such case, determined from a total mass flow determined in the context of a Coriolis mass flow measuring. Additionally, the method includes the step of detecting plugging of at least one measuring tube of the measuring transducer, if the subset flow value deviates from the reference value by more than a limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Hao Zhu, Wolfgang Drahm, Alfred Rieder
  • Patent number: 8627717
    Abstract: A thermal flow sensor includes a heater temperature controller that realizes stable startup characteristics and prevents degradation of a sensor element and can also accommodate a smaller heater. The sensor also includes a semiconductor substrate; a cavity portion provided in the semiconductor substrate; a dielectric film provided on the semiconductor substrate; a thin layer area formed as a result of the dielectric film covering the cavity portion; a heating resistor provided in the thin layer area on the dielectric film; a first temperature-sensitive resistor provided in the thin layer area on the dielectric film; a heating controller; a second temperature-sensitive resistor provided near the heating resistor; and a flow rate detector that detects a flow rate of a fluid on the basis of temperature of the second temperature-sensitive resistor. The heating controller controls the temperature of the heating resistor on the basis of first and second reference temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Asano, Masahiro Matsumoto, Hiroshi Nakano, Keiji Hanzawa
  • Patent number: 8621937
    Abstract: A multi-phase fluid is passed through a Coriolis flowmeter and a watercut meter. The multi-phase fluid includes two phases during a first time period and three phases during a second time period. It is determined that the multi-phase fluid includes two phases during the first time period, and a first value of a parameter of the multi-phase fluid is determined using a value measured by the Coriolis flowmeter during the first time period. A second value of a parameter of the multi-phase fluid is determined using a value measured by the watercut meter during the first time period. The first value is compared to the second value, and it is determined, based on the comparison, that the first value and the second value are inconsistent with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Manus P. Henry
  • Patent number: 8621936
    Abstract: A flow cell for a plurality of sensor assemblies to communicate with a flow meter for measuring characteristics. The flow cell includes a sensor body with a sensor body bore extending through the sensor body. The flow cell also includes a sensor body quadrant extending outwardly from the sensor body bore on a side of the flow cell, wherein the sensor body quadrant intersects the sensor body bore. A plurality of sensor ports extend through the sensor body quadrant to provide openings from the exterior of the flow cell to the sensor body bore in which sensor assemblies can be inserted. A cable channel extends internally within the sensor body quadrant at least from the plurality of sensor ports to an access port on the exterior of the flow cell for routing cables from the sensor ports to communicate with the flow meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Benjamin Edward McDonald, Mykhaylo Barsukov