Patents Examined by John E. Breene
  • Patent number: 11320472
    Abstract: A method is provided for improving the EMC robustness of Integrated Capacitive Sensor systems with a sensor Signal-Conditioner (SSC). The SSC is connected with a capacitive integrating converter to convert a received signal into a bit stream. An oscillator provides a plurality of sampling frequencies. A counter connected with the capacitive integrating converter collects the bit stream and calculates the digital representative of the physical input which is than stored in an output register.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: IDT EUROPE GmbH
    Inventors: Reinhard Kauert, Martin Schmidt
  • Patent number: 11313938
    Abstract: Remote monitoring of an area with a remote sensing device (100, 200, 300) encased in a rubber ball (302) is provided. A remote sensing device (100, 200, 300) is provided which receives a spoken description of a location of the remote sensing device and stores the spoken description as predetermined location information. The description can be received directly prior to deployment or wirelessly transmitted from another device (400). The remote sensing device can sense information related to its environment via a motion sensor (314), such as whether an intruder is located within a vicinity of the remote sensing device (100, 200, 300). The remote sensing device (100, 200, 300) can then transmit the predetermined location information and the environment information to the another device (400) in response to the sensing. In response to receipt, the other device (400) can render the predetermined location information and the environment information in an audible format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: BITWAVE PTE LTD.
    Inventors: Siew Kok Hui, Chu Guangzhi
  • Patent number: 11300550
    Abstract: Methods for determining the presence of an unmeasured chemical in an environment can include receiving a plurality of sensor readings from a plurality of chemical sensors, wherein each chemical sensor of the plurality of chemical sensors is configured to detect a different chemical, determining a cross-sensitivity pattern from one or more unmeasured chemicals in the plurality of sensor readings, comparing the cross-sensitivity pattern with one or more known chemical patterns, determining that the cross-sensitivity pattern matches at least one of the one or more known chemical patterns that correspond to one or more chemicals, and identifying one or more unmeasured chemicals based on determining that the cross-sensitivity pattern matches the at least one of the one or more known chemical patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Hsi, James Liu, Thomas Negre, Praveen Sharma
  • Patent number: 11287381
    Abstract: A chlorophyll fluorescence measuring system having at least one spectrometer coupled to a data logger. The data logger provides direct control of the spectrometer and includes on-board memory for storage of target and reference spectrum data obtained by the spectrometer. The data logger may be coupled to an external computer that receives and analyzes target and reference spectrum data to determine SIF using a spectral fitting algorithm. The system may include a spectrometer aiming system coupled to and controlled by the data logger. The system may also include one or more environmental sensors configured to measure environment variables. The environmental sensors may be coupled to the data logger for control and data storage. The environmental data may be communicated to the external computer for use in the spectral fitting algorithm. The data logger may be connected to a network for remote monitoring and control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
    Inventors: Lianhong Gu, Jeffrey S. Riggs
  • Patent number: 11287305
    Abstract: A pressure-sensitive device and a computing device are configured to register various steps of a meal lifecycle, including one or more of food purchasing, meal preparation, the serving and consumption of a meal, use of leftovers, management of food inventory, the transferring of a food item from one container to another, the transferring of a food item into a container, the transferring of a portion of a food item into a container. A food item may be automatically identified based on a weight and footprint of the food item. In some instances, a database associates a food item with multiple footprints such that a food item may be identified regardless of its orientation on the pressure-sensitive device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Inventor: Bradley Charles Ashmore
  • Patent number: 11280191
    Abstract: A methodology that performs fluid sampling within a wellbore traversing a reservoir and fluid analysis on the fluid sample(s) to determine properties (including asphaltene concentration) of the fluid sample(s). At least one model is used to predict asphaltene concentration as a function of location in the reservoir. The predicted asphaltene concentrations are compared with corresponding concentrations measured by the fluid analysis to identify if the asphaltene of the fluid sample(s) corresponds to a particular asphaltene type (e.g., asphaltene clusters common in heavy oil). If so, a viscosity model is used to derive viscosity of the reservoir fluids as a function of location in the reservoir. The viscosity model allows for gradients in the viscosity of the reservoir fluids as a function of depth. The results of the viscosity model (and/or parts thereof) can be used in reservoir understanding workflows and in reservoir simulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youxiang Zuo, Oliver C. Mullins, Francois Xavier Dubost, Cosan Ayan, Wael Abdallah, Andrew E. Pomerantz, Dingan Zhang
  • Patent number: 11279153
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a roller pair for transporting a sheet, a recording head, and a controller. The controller determines a linefeed amount by which the sheet is transported by the roller pair between corresponding two adjacent passes of the recording head. The controller executes image recording on the sheet by alternately repeating a linefeed operation for rotating the roller pair by the determined linefeed amount to transport the sheet in a transport direction, and a pass recording operation in which the controller causes the roller pair to stop and the recording head to perform a pass and to record part of an image on the sheet. Upon determining that a linefeed operation would cause the sheet to travel past the roller pair while the roller pair is decelerating, replace for the linefeed operation a determined linefeed amount by an adjusted linefeed amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keisuke Wakakusa, Shohei Ichikawa, Masatake Sato, Yoshimitsu Taniguchi, Tsuyoshi Ito, Hiroaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11268804
    Abstract: There is provided a first positioning electronic device for use in a system of positioning electronic devices. The first positioning electronic device includes a first projector for projecting a structured light pattern on a reflective surface. In addition, the first positioning electronic device includes an image sensor for detecting all or part of one or more reflected structured light patterns projected using a second projector of a second positioning electronic device. Also, the first positioning electronic device include a communications transceiver for transmitting and receiving communication signals to the second positioning electronic device. The first positioning electronic device also includes a control logic processor for determining a relative position of the positioning electronic device relative to the second positioning electronic devices using the detected reflected structured light patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: JDRF ELECTROMAG ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventor: Roumanos Dableh
  • Patent number: 11261726
    Abstract: A selection of a hydrocarbon well of a hydrocarbon production system is received at a safety logic solver (SLS) for proof testing. Test mode pressure sensors attached to a common header of the hydrocarbon production system are activated to monitor a live process condition status of the common header from all wells of the hydrocarbon production system. A simulated overpressure condition is induced in the operation pressure sensors. An indication of overpressure is received at the SLS from at least two operation pressure sensors. Final elements associated with the hydrocarbon well are signaled to close while leaving other wells in the hydrocarbon production system in operation. The operation pressure sensors are restored to a normal pressure condition, and the final elements associated with the selected hydrocarbon well are signaled to re-open the hydrocarbon well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Pedro Alejandro Mujica, Kiran Patel, Chan Eldon Miller, Herman Roberto Cipriano
  • Patent number: 11262342
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for molecular content analysis. One of the methods includes receiving molecular content data that indicates a molecular content of a portion of a batch of sludge; determining, by a machine learning module included in the system using the molecular content data and multiple parameters, a predicted value for a property of the portion of the batch of sludge; and providing the predicted value for the property of the portion of the batch of sludge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Accenture Global Solutions Limited
    Inventors: Corinna Lamberti, Katherine Goldklang, Robert Riley
  • Patent number: 11258855
    Abstract: A system and method that enable analysis and visualization of disparate data to provide actionable insight regarding a smart meter network are disclosed. In some implementations, smart meter grid dashboard functionality may provide an improved and integrated data view and enable dynamic investigations and actions based on smart meter analytics. A method of aggregating and displaying data relevant to operations of an AMI network may provide actionable insight into operation of the network, predict failures, and recommend remedial actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Florida Power & Light Company
    Inventor: Gary Wayne Sterkel
  • Patent number: 11237257
    Abstract: An arithmetic processor is provided to detect a background even when observed data values vary. The processor includes a background candidate data memory 20 storing data as a background candidate. In the data, an observation count, as the number of times of obtaining the same observation data, is correlated with distance data representing the observed data. The processor also includes a ranking section 11 ranking background candidates using the observation count as a basis; an observation count update section 12 comparing observed data with a background candidate stored in the memory 20 to find a match, counting observations of the background candidate if there is a match, and replacing distance data of a lowest-ranked background candidate with the observed data if there is no match; and a background determination section 13 determining there are two backgrounds if the top two background candidates remain unchanged for a predetermined period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Kunihiko Ito, Gaku Takano, Wataru Kobori, Tetsuya Iwasaki, Keiji Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 11234624
    Abstract: A diagnostic Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) procedure is applied to measure values of impedance-related parameters for one or more sensing electrodes. The parameters may include real impedance, imaginary impedance, impedance magnitude, and/or phase angle. The measured values of the impedance-related parameters are then used in performing sensor diagnostics, calculating a highly-reliable fused sensor glucose value based on signals from a plurality of redundant sensing electrodes, calibrating sensors, detecting interferents within close proximity of one or more sensing electrodes, and testing surface area characteristics of electroplated electrodes. Advantageously, impedance-related parameters can be defined that are substantially glucose-independent over specific ranges of frequencies. An Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) enables implementation of the EIS-based diagnostics, fusion algorithms, and other processes based on measurement of EIS-based parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Ning Yang, Raghavendhar Gautham, Bradley C. Liang, Rajiv Shah
  • Patent number: 11226300
    Abstract: A method for determining fluid parameters, such as a heat capacity cP?, a calorific value Hp, a methane number MN, and/or a Wobbe index WI, of an unknown fluid (g). An unknown flow (55) of the fluid (g) is set in a sensor device (10), the sensor device (10) comprising a thermal flow sensor (1) and a pressure sensor device (15) for measuring at least one temperature value T1, T2, a further parameter, and differential pressure value ?? over a flow restrictor (14). Using these measurement parameters T1, T2, ?? and calibration data, the calorific value Hp, and/or the Wobbe index WI, or parameters indicative thereof, of an unknown fluid (g) are calculated. The invention also relates to such a sensor device (10) and to a computer program product for carrying out such a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Sensirion AG
    Inventors: Mark Hornung, Andreas Rüegg
  • Patent number: 11221616
    Abstract: A sensor service prediction system and method are provided for a sensor. The system monitors sensor operations of the sensor, and provides a calendar age odometer which increments a calendar age of the sensor by a first time interval as the sensor operates. The system further provides an accelerated age odometer which increments an accelerated age of the sensor by a second time interval according to the increment of the calendar age and a sensor temperature or other measurable environmental condition associated therewith. The system obtains a value of a sensor property at different calendar ages or accelerated ages of the sensor over time, and predicts and outputs when the sensor property of the sensor is anticipated to reach a sensor property threshold based on the values of the sensor property in relations to the accelerated age.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Systems USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. West, Joseph Downey, Zhisheng Sun, Spencer Howe, Michael Plaziak
  • Patent number: 11204379
    Abstract: Electrical structures, methods, and computer program products for radio frequency (RF) de-embedding are provided. A structure includes a first test device, a first through structure corresponding to the first test device, and a first open structure corresponding to the first test device. The structure also includes a second test device having at least one different physical dimension than the first test device but otherwise identical to the first test device, a second through structure corresponding to the second test device, and a second open structure corresponding to the second test device. A method includes determining a first electrical parameter of the first test device in a first DUT structure and a second electrical parameter of the second test device in a second DUT structure based on measured electrical parameters of the first and the second DUT structures, through structures, and open structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert A. Groves, Ning Lu, Christopher S. Putnam, Eric Thompson
  • Patent number: 11204443
    Abstract: Computerized method and system for estimating a rain attribute on microwave communications, the estimation being carried out by: obtaining quantized minimum and maximum levels of received signals and transmitted signals over a microwave link during a period; subtracting the quantized maximum level of received signals from the quantized minimum level of transmitted signals to provide a minimal attenuation value; subtracting the quantized minimal level of received signals from the quantized maximal level of transmitted signals to provide a maximal attenuation value; calculating an attenuation difference related to the period by subtracting the minimal attenuation value from the maximal attenuation value; calculating a bias compensated attenuation difference based on the attenuation difference, and bias value related to the microwave link; and calculating the rain attribute, including the average rain during the period, based on the bias compensated attenuation difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: RAMOT AT TEL-AVIV UNIVERSITY LTD.
    Inventors: Jonathan Ostrometzky, Hagit Messer-Yaron
  • Patent number: 11204258
    Abstract: An apparatus for sensing a rotating body includes a unit to be detected, including a first pattern portion having at least one first pattern and a second pattern portion having at least one second pattern, and configured to rotate around a rotating shaft, a sensor module comprising a first sensor disposed opposite to the first pattern portion and a second sensor disposed opposite to the second pattern portion, and a rotation information calculator configured to calculate a difference value by differentiating output signals of the first sensor and the second sensor, and to compare comparison values, determined according to a target sensing angle and a size of the first pattern and the second pattern, with the difference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jong Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 11199647
    Abstract: A method for computing effective permeability for a discrete fracture network in a subterranean environment. The method may include: obtaining (800) attributes of the discrete fracture network, spatially sampling (810) points on the surfaces of fractures inside a computation cell; allocating (820) to each sampled point at least one attribute of the corresponding fracture, computing (850) discrete pressure values in the computation cell at the location of the sampled points by solving partial derivative equations of a flow model; computing effective permeability (860) values for the computation cell from the pressures values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Emmanuel Malvesin, Jean Pierre Joonnekindt
  • Patent number: 11185378
    Abstract: A motor assembly and method of operating the motor assembly include a motor, a memory to store calibrated parameters of the motor, and electronics coupled to the memory and the motor. The electronics are configured to retrieve the calibrated parameters from the memory, provide the calibrated parameters to an external system, and receive control signals for driving the motor from the external system. The control signals are based on the calibrated parameters. The calibrated parameters include a motor speed versus no-load current relationship for the motor determined by a procedure that includes performing an initial calibration of the motor, wearing in the motor after performing the initial calibration, performing a final calibration of the motor after wearing in the motor, and storing the calibrated parameters in the memory based on the initial calibration and the final calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: David W. Weir, Melody Wu, Kevin Durant, Grant Duque