Patents Examined by John E. Barlow, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7428472
    Abstract: A device supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot during an outing may monitor a performance parameter of the user. The performance parameter may comprise a pace and/or a speed of the user. Prior to the outing, the device may be configured to specify a first interval and second interval, corresponding to a first and second performance zone, respectively, for the outing. Each performance zone may be different from one another and each zone may comprise one of a zone of paces and a zone of speeds. During the first interval, an action may be taken with the device in response to determining that the monitored performance parameter has fallen outside of the first performance zone. During the second interval, an action may be taken with the device in response to determining that the monitored performance parameter has fallen outside the second performance zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Jesse Darley, Thomas P. Blackadar
  • Patent number: 7426444
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods for determining a phase shift acquired by an entangled N-qubit system represented by a NOON state. In one embodiment, a probe electromagnetic field is coupled with each qubit system. The phase shift acquired by the qubit systems is transferred to the probe electromagnetic field by transforming each qubit-system state into a linear superposition of qubit basis states. An intensity measurement is performed on the probe electromagnetic field in order to obtain a corresponding measurement result. A counter associated with a measurement-result interval is incremented, based on the measurement result falling within the measurement-result interval. A frequency distribution is produced by normalizing the counter associated with each measurement-result interval for a number of trials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Raymond G. Beausoleil, William J. Munro, Timothy P. Spiller, Pieter Kok, Sean D. Barrett, Kae Nemoto
  • Patent number: 7425097
    Abstract: An inertial measurement unit comprises an outer case assembly including an upper gas plenum and a lower gas plenum, with upper and lower support shells surrounded by the upper and lower gas plenums. A sensor assembly includes a sensor shell, with the sensor assembly surrounded by the upper and lower support shells. A plurality of gas bearing pads extend through apertures in the upper and lower support shells and are configured to inject a first pressurized gas into a gap that separates the gas bearing pads and the sensor shell. A wireless power transfer transformer includes a power transmitting core mounted to the outer case assembly, and a power receiving core mounted in an opening of the sensor shell. The receiving core is configured to be aligned with the transmitting core for wireless power transfer. The transmitting core is configured to inject a second pressurized gas into a gap between the transmitting core and the receiving core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Charles D. Chappell, Robert E. Johnson, David A. Bowen
  • Patent number: 7426452
    Abstract: A dual-protocol handheld field maintenance tool is provided with radio frequency communication. The radio frequency commination can be provided by virtue of an SDIO card inserted within an SDIO slot in the handheld field maintenance tool. A method of interacting with a process using a dual-protocol handheld field maintenance tool is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems. Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Zielinski, Alan R. Dewey, Alden C. Russell, II
  • Patent number: 7424394
    Abstract: A utility diagnosing equipment can recognize an abnormality or a normality in a plurality of utilities of an identical type, which would not be recognized when an absolute threshold is set. The equipment accepts state values from the plurality of utilities, sets an average value of the state values of each utility to a proxy value, finds a relative value between the state value of each utility and the proxy value thereof, and displays the relative value for each utility. The relative values of the utilities exceeding a predetermined threshold is highlighted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Suzuki, Masahiko Saito, Toshimi Yokota, Tomotsune Taira
  • Patent number: 7424395
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for detecting an abnormal event for process units of an ethylene processing system. The method compares the operation of the process units to a model developed by principal components analysis of normal operation for these units. If the difference between the operation of a process unit and the normal operation indicates an abnormal condition, then the cause of the abnormal condition is determined and corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Kenneth F. Emigholz, Richard B. McLain, Robert K. Wang, Stephen S. Woo
  • Patent number: 7421345
    Abstract: A multicomponent induction logging tool is used on a MWD bottomhole assembly. Multifrequency focusing that accounts for the finite, nonzero, conductivity of the mandrel is applied. Using separation of modes, the principal components and a direction of a conductivity tensor are determined. The results are used for reservoir navigation in earth formations. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Leonty A. Tabarovsky, Michael B. Rabinovich
  • Patent number: 7421355
    Abstract: There is provided a measuring apparatus for measuring a signal-under-test, having a comparator for sequentially comparing voltage values of the signal-under-test with a threshold voltage value fed thereto at timing of strobe signals sequentially fed thereto, a strobe timing generator for sequentially generating the strobe signals placed almost at equal time intervals, a capture memory for storing the comparison result of the comparator and a digital signal processing section for calculating jitter of the signal-under-test based on the comparison result stored in the capture memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Advantest Corporation
    Inventors: Harry Hou, Takahiro Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7421348
    Abstract: A method for predicting emissions from an emissions source. Test values of process variables relating to operation of the emissions source are gathered, along with corresponding time-correlated test values of the emissions variable to be predicted. Using the test values of the process variables, test values of a plurality of first coefficients are calculated for each process variable and associated with the process variable, and test values of a plurality of second coefficients are calculated for each value of each process variable and associated with the value of the process variable. Comparison values of the process variables relating to operation of the emissions source are gathered, along with corresponding time-correlated comparison values of the emissions variable to be predicted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Inventor: Brian G. Swanson
  • Patent number: 7418355
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a condition of a piston rod of a reciprocating compressor is provided. The piston rod having a length defined between a piston end and a crosshead end. The method includes positioning a first probe with respect to the piston rod along a x-axis and positioning a second probe with respect to the piston rod along a y-axis coplanar with and substantially perpendicular to the x-axis. A current ringing vibration amplitude greater than ten times a maximum of a one-hour average and a noise floor at a ringing frequency is detected, and a bent rod condition is diagnosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John W. Grant, Olga Malakhova, Roger Hala, Brian F. Howard
  • Patent number: 7418348
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus and a system, as well as a method and an article, may include selecting a plurality of signal thresholds including a product of an integer ranging from about 2 to N and a ratio of a quotient of a maximum peak amplitude of the acoustic borehole signal and a root-mean-square amplitude of the acoustic borehole signal, to N. Applying the plurality of signal thresholds to the acoustic borehole signal to determine a corresponding plurality of peak amplitudes and signal travel times for selected ones of the plurality of signal thresholds may also be included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Craig Woerpel, Bruce E. Cornish
  • Patent number: 7418351
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods for analyzing measurement errors in measured signals obtained in an experiment, e.g., measured intensity signals obtained in a microarray gene expression experiment. In particular, the invention provides a method for transforming measured signals into a domain in which the measurement errors in the transformed signals are normalized by errors as determined from an error model. The methods of the invention are particularly useful for analyzing measurement errors in signals in which at least portion of the error is dependent on the magnitudes of the signals. Such transformed signals permit analysis of data using traditional statistical methods, e.g., ANOVA and regression analysis. Magnitude-independent errors can also be used for comparing level of measurement errors in signals of different magnitudes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Rosetta Inpharmatics LLC
    Inventor: Lee Weng
  • Patent number: 7418362
    Abstract: A method and device for determining force exerted on a rolling vehicle wheel. Firstly, data on a relationship between a force exerted on a vehicle wheel and a physical parameter such as strain of the radius part of the wheel at predetermined measuring positions are obtained. Using the obtained data on the relationship, a formula for the force is made. Then, the vehicle wheel is measured for the physical parameter during rolling, and using the measured physical parameter and formula, the force is calculated. The force may be a vertical force, lateral force, longitudinal force or self aligning torque. The physical parameter may be the magnitude of a radial strain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaki Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 7418349
    Abstract: A method of processing seismic data that includes including first and second modes of seismic energy where the second mode has been generated by partial mode conversion of the first mode at a boundary face of a layer of the seabed includes the step of cross-correlating a trace acquired at a receiver and including events corresponding to the first mode with a trace acquired at the same receiver and including events corresponding to the second mode. An event in the cross-correlated data that corresponds to partial mode conversion is identified, and the amplitude of this event is normalized, for example relative to the amplitude of the peak in the cross-correlogram at zero time delay. Information about the effects of the static shift produced by the layer and/or about vector infidelity can be arrived from normalized cross-correlograms for receivers in a receiver array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventors: Johan Olof Anders Robertsson, Andrew Curtis, Dirk-Jan Van Manen
  • Patent number: 7418364
    Abstract: A method and system senses the attitude of an accelerating object by measuring acceleration with accelerometers in three orthogonal axes and measuring angular rate with angular rate sensors disposed about each such axis to compute attitude of the object accurately relative to a vertical axis. A processor updates a quaternion representation of attitude based upon the angular rate of the object, and a corrective rate signal is determined from level frame acceleration as a reference for a Kalman filter in calculating the attitude of the object. When velocity or airspeed is available from an external source, an aiding algorithm is employed to provide accurate attitude representations throughout all flight regimes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Crossbow Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Horton, Jose Rios
  • Patent number: 7415382
    Abstract: System and method providing surveillance of an asset such as a process and/or apparatus by providing training and surveillance procedures that numerically fit a probability density function to an observed residual error signal distribution that is correlative to normal asset operation and then utilizes the fitted probability density function in a dynamic statistical hypothesis test for providing improved asset surveillance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Intellectual Assets LLC
    Inventors: Randall L. Bickford, James P. Herzog
  • Patent number: 7415391
    Abstract: Complex event evaluation systems and methods are disclosed. A mathematics model for complex events and corresponding factors, and calculates a critical level of respective complex events according to weightings of respective factors in the mathematics model are provided. If several complex events occur simultaneously, a priority of respective complex events is calculated according to the historic occurrence of respective complex events. The critical level and priority of respective complex events are provided to users for decision making. Additionally, the mathematics model is established and adjusted according to the feedback scores for complex events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Institute for Information Industry
    Inventors: Pin-Chan Chen, Jen-Feng Li, Wen-Ju Huang, Chih-Hao Hsu
  • Patent number: 7415378
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for analyzing critical defects in analog integrated circuits. The method for analyzing critical defects, among other possible steps, may include fault testing a power field effect transistor (120) portion of an analog integrated circuit (115) to obtain electrical failure data. The method may further include performing an in-line optical inspection of the analog integrated circuit (115) to obtain physical defect data, and correlating the electrical failure data and physical defect data to analyze critical defects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Texas Instruments incorporated
    Inventors: Martin B. Mollat, Milind V. Khandekar, Tony T. Phan, Kyle M. Flessner
  • Patent number: 7415372
    Abstract: Noise discrimination in signals from a plurality of sensors is conducted by enhancing the phase difference in the signals such that off-axis pick-up is suppressed while on-axis pick-up is enhanced. Alternatively, attenuation/expansion are applied to the signals in a phase difference dependent manner, consistent with suppression of off-axis pick-up and on-axis enhancement. Nulls between sensitivity lobes are widened, effectively narrowing the sensitivity lobes and improving directionality and noise discrimination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Step Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Jon C. Taenzer, Bruce G. Spicer
  • Patent number: 7412331
    Abstract: A method for predicting the rate of penetration (ROP) of a drill bit drilling a well bore through intervals of rock of a subterranean formation is provided. The method uses an equation based upon specific energy principles. A relationship is determined between a bit-specific coefficient of sliding friction ? and confined compressive strength CCS over a range of confined compressive strengths CCS. Similarly, another relationship for the drill bit is determined between mechanical efficiency EFFM and confined compressive strength CCS over a range of confined compressive strengths CCS. Confined compressive strength CCS is estimated for intervals of rock through which the drill bit is to be used to drill a well bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: William Malcolm Calhoun, Hector Ulpiano Caicedo, Russell Thomas Ewy