Patents Examined by John Breene
  • Patent number: 10229364
    Abstract: In certain example embodiments, moisture sensors, defoggers, etc., and/or related methods, are provided. More particularly, certain example embodiments relate to moisture sensors and/or defoggers that may be used in various applications such as, for example, refrigerator/freezer merchandisers, vehicle windows, building windows, etc. When condensation or moisture is detected, an appropriate action may be taken (e.g., actuating windshield wipers, turning on a defroster, triggering the heating of a merchandiser door or window, etc.). Bayesian approaches optionally may be implemented in certain example embodiments in an attempt to improve moisture detection accuracy. For instance, models of various types of disturbances may be developed and, based on live data and a priori information known about the model, a probability of the model being accurate is calculated. If a threshold value is met, the model may be considered a match and, optionally, a corresponding appropriate action may be taken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Guardian Glass, LLC
    Inventor: Vijayen S. Veerasamy
  • Patent number: 10209289
    Abstract: The service life of electrical equipment is predicted using a thermal history sensor mounted in the electrical equipment. At least one thermal history sensor is mounted inside or on an outer wall surface of electrical equipment. The thermal history sensor includes dissimilar metal joints, and the resistance values of the dissimilar metal joints change in response to the amount of intermetallic compound growing in the dissimilar metal joints due to the temperature inside the electrical equipment or of the outer wall thereof during operation. A determining mechanism periodically or irregularly monitors and stores in memory the resistance values of the dissimilar metal joints from the thermal history sensor, and uses the stored history of resistance values to predict the service life of the electrical equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Satsuo Kiyono, Eiji Ohno, Masahiro Uemura
  • Patent number: 10203368
    Abstract: Exemplary systems, methods and computer-readable mediums can assign, from the circuit, at least two scan cells as at least two interface registers, and generate at least one bidirectional scan path between the at least two interface registers of the at least one portion of the circuit. The at least two interface registers can be disposed in neighboring positions, and the assigning can include a partitioning procedure that can iteratively merge the scan cells of the at least one portion of the circuit into a plurality of regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: New York University
    Inventor: Ozgur Sinanoglu
  • Patent number: 10203292
    Abstract: A method for estimating a heating value of a biological material is disclosed. The method comprises: correlating amounts of radiation transmitted through a number of different reference materials, said radiation being electromagnetic radiation of at least two energy levels, with heating values for said reference materials obtained by calorimeter measurements; irradiating the biological material (102) with electromagnetic radiation of said at least two different energy levels;and measuring the amount of radiation (109a-c) transmitted through said biological material at said energy levels. The method further comprises determining, for each energy level, a transmission value through the biological material based on the radiation through said biological material; and determining, based on said determined transmission values and said correlation, an estimate of the heating value of said biological material. A corresponding apparatus (100) is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: MANTEX AB
    Inventors: Ragnar Kullenberg, Fredrik Danielsson, Eric Landstrom
  • Patent number: 10203314
    Abstract: A method where the weight of the bale is measured by a scale on the baler, the moisture of the bale is measured by sensors on the baler and this information is sent to a processor. Based on compaction properties of the leaf verses the stem of the alfalfa, the processor calculates a feeding value for the hay including protein, energy and relative feed value on the dry density of the bale. Additional inputs such as the compaction setting of the baler and information about the hay being harvested can also be input into the processor for making adjustment to the feeding value calculation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Harvest Tec, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey S. Roberts
  • Patent number: 10197696
    Abstract: A method for estimating an effect on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements of an invasion of solid particles into pores of an earth formation penetrated by a borehole includes conveying a carrier through the borehole and performing an NMR measurement on a volume of interest in the formation to provide a relaxation time constant using an NMR tool disposed at the carrier. The method further includes receiving information describing the solid particles in the pores and quantifying, using a processor, an effect on the measured relaxation time constant due to the invasion of solid particles using the received information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventor: Jinhong Chen
  • Patent number: 10191116
    Abstract: A method of predicting battery test results includes using a battery test computer to predict a battery test result for a battery undergoing testing. The battery test computer comprises a tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a battery test management system implemented as one or more sets of instructions. The battery test management system includes a predictive module configured to predict the battery test result using less than all data required for the battery test to be complete, a validation module configured to validate the prediction, and a training module configured to re-train the predictive module based on results generated by the validation module. The battery test computer also includes processing circuitry configured to execute the one or more sets of instructions, and outputting, via a user interface, the prediction of the result and a confidence level associated with the prediction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Timur L. Aliyev, Zhihong H. Jin, Diego Hernan Diaz Martinez
  • Patent number: 10184791
    Abstract: A method for measuring three dimensional coordinates of each of points on a surface of an object includes pre-storing an algorithm that includes a plurality of parameters. A driving device is controlled to drive a distance sensor to move to each of measuring positions, and a first distance between each of the points and the distance sensor is obtained using the distance sensor. Each position information of the distance sensor is obtained using a position sensor, when the distance sensor is located at each of the measuring positions. Once a parameter of a reference coordinate is determined, the three dimensional coordinates of each of the points is computed using the algorithm based on the plurality of parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignees: Fu Tai Hua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yu-Zhong Feng
  • Patent number: 10175275
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device includes a temperature prediction circuit that predicts the temperature of a power semiconductor device having a built-in switching transistor. The temperature prediction circuit includes: a delay circuit that stores a history of electric power values for a specific number of times, the electric power values being calculated based on the steady loss and switching loss of the switching transistor; and a circuit that calculates the temperature prediction value of the power semiconductor device based on the value of the delay circuit and a time factor corresponding to a temperature heat dissipation characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Makoto Tsurumaru
  • Patent number: 10168305
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for interrogating a liquid in a container. In one embodiment, methods are provided to interrogate and identify a container material type and a liquid within a container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Wesley C. Pirkle, Richard L. Shoaf
  • Patent number: 10168377
    Abstract: The service life of electrical equipment is predicted using a thermal history sensor mounted in the electrical equipment. At least one thermal history sensor is mounted inside or on an outer wall surface of electrical equipment. The thermal history sensor includes dissimilar metal joints, and the resistance values of the dissimilar metal joints change in response to the amount of intermetallic compound growing in the dissimilar metal joints due to the temperature inside the electrical equipment or of the outer wall thereof during operation. A determining mechanism periodically or irregularly monitors and stores in memory the resistance values of the dissimilar metal joints from the thermal history sensor, and uses the stored history of resistance values to predict the service life of the electrical equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Satsuo Kiyono, Eiji Ohno, Masahiro Uemura
  • Patent number: 10171954
    Abstract: A method and system for determining a driver is provided. The method includes receiving and analyzing GPS data identifying locations of GPS enabled devices of a plurality of users. A group of users are determined to be located within a specified proximity to each other based on the analysis. The group of users are determined, based on an altitude, velocity, and a vector of the group of users, to be located within a vehicle. A position and role for each user with respect to the vehicle is determined. Selected functions of each GPS enabled device are controlled based on each role.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lisa M. Chavez, Rhonda L. Childress, David B. Kumhyr, Michael J. Spisak
  • Patent number: 10167003
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an automated rail inspection system. The present disclosure also provides a method for calibrating a strain gage based neutral temperature measurement system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: voestalpine SIGNALING USA Inc.
    Inventor: James R. Bilodeau
  • Patent number: 10161766
    Abstract: A magnetic pole position detection device of a permanent magnet-type synchronous motor detects, through a current draw-in operation, an amount of deviation between an origin of a magnetic pole position of a permanent magnet that makes up a rotor of a permanent magnet-type synchronous motor, and an origin of an output signal of a magnetic pole position sensor, and correcting the output signal of the magnetic pole position sensor on the basis of the amount of deviation, to thereby detect a true magnetic pole position. The detection device computes a phase current Ia and computes a d-axis current from the phase current Ia. The current draw-in operation is performed by causing the d-axis current to flow through armature windings of the motor, to thereby draw the rotor to the magnetic flux axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jiangheng Liu
  • Patent number: 10159546
    Abstract: According to the invention, a method and system are provided for scanning, and for facilitating scanning of, an intraoral cavity. The target parts of the intraoral cavity that it is desired to have scanned are identified, and the spatial s relationships between a scanning device and the target parts of the intraoral cavity suitable for enabling said target parts to be scanned by said scanning device, are also identified or otherwise determined. These relationships are then displayed, and the displayed relationships are used as a guide for scanning the intraoral cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Avi Kopelman, Eldad Taub, Noam Babayoff
  • Patent number: 10145903
    Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring devices in a power distribution system are described. In one example, a method for use in a power distribution system including a plurality of devices is described. The method includes receiving a plurality of data signals associated with the power distribution system, determining a measurement error value associated with the power distribution system based on the plurality of data signals, comparing the determined measurement error value to a dynamic threshold, and generating an alert when the determined measurement error value exceeds the dynamic threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Marcelo Esteban Valdes, Thomas Frederick Papallo, Jr., Theodore Drummond Hill, III, Jeremy David Smith
  • Patent number: 10145832
    Abstract: A state of a ballast water treatment system of a ship detected by a variety of sensors is monitored by transmitting it to a control means provided with a data storage/transmission means. The control means transmits from a satellite communication means to a satellite communication means on the receiving side via a communication satellite, and a host computer receives it. The host computer analyzes and monitors information from the various sensors S1 to S6 and sends back an optimal operation state, which is received by the satellite communication means on the ship side via the communication satellite, and the control means maintains an operation of the ballast water treatment system based on instructions from the host computer. According to the remote monitoring device for a ballast water treatment system as above, the ballast water treatment system can be monitored and controlled from remote.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: KURITA WATER INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventors: Kotaro Fukuzawa, Tetsuo Koga, Kazuki Hayashi, Tetsuro Fukase
  • Patent number: 10139517
    Abstract: A method for imaging an earth formation includes estimating an apparent resistivity (AR) value and an apparent distance to a bedding plane (AD2B) value for each of a plurality of samples derived from measurements of a time-dependent transient electromagnetic signal, estimating an inversion-based resistivity value (IB-R) and an inversion-based distance to a bedding plane (IB-D2B) value at a first sample of each consecutive depth interval, wherein each depth interval includes a plurality of consecutive samples, and determining a difference between apparent values and the corresponding inversion-based values. The method further includes generating an image of the earth formation using the AR and AD2B values for the entire interval if the difference is less than a threshold value and generating an image of the earth formation using IB-R and IB-D2B values for the entire interval if the difference is greater than the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: BAKER HUGES, A GE COMPANY LLC
    Inventors: Fei Le, Gregory B. Itskovich, Marina N. Nikitenko
  • Patent number: 10139214
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are an apparatus for acquiring the location coordinates of an object to be measured using two measurement heads and a method using the apparatus. The apparatus for acquiring the location coordinates of an object includes two measurement heads for individually detecting a signal corresponding to the object to be measured, a measurement head fixing unit for placing the two measurement heads so as to face each other with the object therebetween, a rotatable structure for rotating the measurement head fixing unit, and a location determination unit for acquiring the location coordinates of the object to be measured based on the strengths of the two detection signals detected by the measurement heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Hyo-Bong Hong, Seung-Min Choi, Chang-Beom Kim
  • Patent number: 10132163
    Abstract: Assorted apparatus and methods optimize the detection of gas entrapped in drilling fluid. A mudlogging injection system can have a processor that autonomously injects sample gas into a gas chromatograph with near atmospheric pressures to optimize sample gas testing time and accuracy. The processor can autonomously detect errors, such as gas chromatograph detector drift, and conduct chromatograph adjustments to ensure accurate detection of different constituent gases entrapped in the drilling fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: IBALL INSTRUMENTS, LLC
    Inventor: Carl Bright