Patents Examined by Lisa Caputo
  • Patent number: 10048181
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a device for performing a bending test having a base plate, counter bearings connected via the base plate, bearing blocks which in each case comprise a support for applying a bending sample, and a bending punch or a bending rail for exerting a force on a bending sample. The distance of the supports can be set precisely and in a force resistant manner by abutting the counter bearings and the bearing blocks against each other via contact surfaces inclined to the base plate. Further provided is a method for performing a bending test using a device according to the invention, in the case of which a bending sample is applied on the supports and in the case of which a force is exerted between the supports on the bending sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Hydro Aluminium Rolled Products GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Aegerter, Stefan Keller
  • Patent number: 10046102
    Abstract: A tubular medical fluid flow set comprises a pressure sensing chamber connected in flow-through relation to fluid flow tubing of the set. The pressure sensing chamber defines a movable, flexible, impermeable diaphragm dividing the chamber into two separate compartments. The fluid flow tubing communicates with one of the compartments and is isolated from the other of the compartments. A port is carried on the chamber, the port having a seal therein, and communicating with the other of the compartments. Thus, the other of the compartments is hermetically sealed until the port is opened for connection with a pressure measuring device, to keep the flexible diaphragm in a desired, initial position prior to opening of the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: NXSTAGE MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventors: William J. Schnell, David Bell, Karen Wilson, David S. Utterberg
  • Patent number: 10048139
    Abstract: A flexible transducer structure suitable for attaching to a curved surface such as the leading edge of an aircraft wing is provided. In one example embodiment, a method may include receiving, at a sensor disposed on a flexible sheet, a pressure, wherein the sensor is electrically coupled to a conductive trace disposed on the flexible sheet; measuring, by the sensor, the pressure to generate a pressure signal; outputting, by the sensor, to the conductive trace, the pressure signal, wherein the conductive trace extends away from the sensor on the flexible sheet; and wherein the flexible sheet is adaptable to conform to a contour of a curved surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: KULITE SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventor: Nora Kurtz
  • Patent number: 10048188
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for sensing particulate matter in an exhaust system of a vehicle. An example system comprises a first outer tube with a plurality of intake apertures on an upstream surface, a second inner tube with a plurality of intake apertures on a downstream surface, and a particulate matter sensor placed within the second inner tube. The second inner tube may be positioned within the first outer tube such that a central axis of the second inner tube is parallel to a central axis of the first outer tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Xiaogang Zhang, Jianwen James Yi, David John Kubinski
  • Patent number: 10048232
    Abstract: A photo acoustic non-destructive measurement apparatus and method for quantitatively measuring texture of a food snack is disclosed. The apparatus includes a laser generating tool, an acoustic capturing device, and a data processing unit. The laser generating tool directs a laser towards a food snack placed on a surface and creates pressure waves that propagate through the air and produce an acoustic signal. The acoustic capturing device records and forwards the signal to a data processing unit. The data processing unit further comprises a digital signal processing module that processes the received acoustic signal. A statistical processing module further filters the acoustic signal from the data processing unit and generates a quantitative acoustic model for texture attributes such as hardness and fracturability. The quantitative model is correlated with a qualitative texture measurement from a descriptive expert panel. Texture of food snacks are quantitatively measured with the quantitative acoustic model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ou Bai, Wilfred Marcellien Bourg, Jr., Scott Fagan, Enrique Michel-Sanchez, Shahmeer Ali Mirza, Scott G. Richardson, Chen C. Shao
  • Patent number: 10048097
    Abstract: A gas sensor includes a sensor element that includes a gas inlet through which a measurement target gas is introduced into the sensor element and a protective cover that contains a substance having a capability of decomposing ammonia. The protective cover has a gas-contact surface area within a range of 450 mm2 to 1145 mm2, the gas-contact surface area being a sum of a surface area of a portion facing the inlet-side gas flow path and a surface area of a portion facing an in-element-chamber flow path of the sensor element chamber that is a shortest flow path for the measurement target gas from the element-chamber inlet to the gas inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoya Seimori, Mika Murakami, Kengo Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 10048145
    Abstract: A sensor assembly comprises a base plate and a sensor member displaceable relative to the base plate. A spring arrangement operates in first and second stages in response to displacement of the sensor member relative to the base plate. Different resolutions of force and torque measurements are associated with the first and second stages. A light sensitive transducer senses displacement of the sensor member relative to the base plate and generates corresponding output signals. A collimator directs a plurality of light beams onto the light sensitive transducer so that the light beams strike different pixels of the light sensitive transducer to sense displacement of the sensor member relative to the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: STRYKER CORPORATION
    Inventors: John J. Janik, Robert A. Brindley, Edward Tang, Leland J. Spangler
  • Patent number: 10048195
    Abstract: An oxygen analysis system (OAS) for measuring, monitoring and recording oxygen concentration in aircraft fuel tanks. The OAS has a rack support structure installed in an aircraft cabin with a plurality of oxygen analyzer devices mounted in the rack support structure. Each oxygen analyzer device has an oxygen sensor to measure oxygen concentration in gas samples continuously drawn from sample locations in aircraft fuel tanks and at an aircraft NGS ASM exit. The OAS further has a plurality of valves, a supply of calibration gases, a supply of purge and operating gases, and a power distribution assembly, all coupled to the rack support structure. The OAS further has a transport tubing assembly, a plurality of fuel tank gas sampling ports, an NGS ASM exit gas sampling port, a drain manifold assembly, and a data acquisition and recording system having a user interface software to monitor and control the OAS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Daniel E. Hedges, Mark J. Holland, Scott S. Rhodes, Jennifer D. Klemisch, Jessica C. Pavia, Thomas Michael Henry, Clay J. Anderson, Bruce W. McCaul, Thomas Mac Winsemius, Eric K. Thorson
  • Patent number: 10050155
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, a cap wafer and a via wafer configured to encapsulate a single proof-mass 3-axis gyroscope formed in an x-y plane of a device layer. The single proof-mass 3-axis gyroscope can include a main proof-mass section suspended about a single, central anchor, the main proof-mass section including a radial portion extending outward towards an edge of the 3-axis gyroscope sensor, a central suspension system configured to suspend the 3-axis gyroscope from the single, central anchor, and a drive electrode including a moving portion and a stationary portion, the moving portion coupled to the radial portion, wherein the drive electrode and the central suspension system are configured to oscillate the 3-axis gyroscope about a z-axis normal to the x-y plane at a drive frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Cenk Acar
  • Patent number: 10048157
    Abstract: A balancing device, a uniformity device and an apparatus including the balancing device and the uniformity device are disclosed. Each of the balancing device and the uniformity device includes at least one multi-axis transducer. Methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Android Industries LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence J. Lawson, Robert Reece, Barry A. Clark, Donald G. Straitiff
  • Patent number: 10041860
    Abstract: A method for detecting a faulty air handler of a heat pump appliance is provided. The method includes activating a compressor of the heat pump appliance and deactivating the compressor of the heat pump appliance at a predetermined period of time after the step of activating. The method also includes determining temperatures of a fluid treated by the heat pump appliance and refrigerant in the heat pump appliance and requesting replacement of the air handler of the heat pump appliance if various conditions associated with the temperatures of fluid treated by the heat pump appliance and refrigerant in the heat pump appliance are met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Rizwana Rahman
  • Patent number: 10041855
    Abstract: A system includes a substrate having a surface and a circuit with a plurality of conductive paths disposed adjacent (e.g., directly on or separated by a thin layer). The circuit is configured to detect an interruption or alteration of conduction of one or more of the plurality of conductive paths due to a flaw in the substrate. The circuit is further configured to identify the interrupted or altered one or more of the plurality of conductive paths based on one or more electrical characteristics of the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: QUEST INTEGRATED, INC.
    Inventors: Giovanni Nino, Tyler Blumenthal
  • Patent number: 10041867
    Abstract: A flexible device including sensors for shape detection is provided. The flexible device includes a measurement unit including a plurality of bending sensors disposed along at least one edge of the flexible device, and configured to output measurement values sensed by the plurality of bending sensors, and a controller configured to detect a position of at least one curve point on the flexible device by receiving the sensed measurements values from the measurement unit, and to detect at least one bending line of the flexing device according to information about positions of curve points, which are detected on at least two different sides of the flexible device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyung Sun Lee, Youn-Ho Choi, Seok-Myong Kang, Shi-Yun Cho
  • Patent number: 10041427
    Abstract: A sensor output value estimation device that effectively estimates sensor output values reflecting a response delay of a temperature sensor. The device includes an estimated gas temperature calculation unit for calculating an estimated gas temperature of an engine on a basis of at least a running condition of the engine and a state quantity of the gas in the engine. The device also includes an estimated sensor output value calculation unit for calculating an estimated sensor output value reflecting the response delay of the temperature sensor on a basis of the calculated estimated gas temperature and a pre-stored first model formula specifying a relation among the temperature change time constant of the temperature sensor, the gas flow rate, and the gas temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignees: ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED, TRANSFORM INC
    Inventors: Satoshi Hanawa, Yoshiaki Ikai
  • Patent number: 10041869
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to wear measurement. A system according to one embodiment includes a transport mechanism for running a tape across a wear structure and a measuring device for optically measuring an extent of wear of the wear structure by directly optically detecting a back of the tape. A method according to one embodiment includes positioning a tape across a wear structure and optically determining a first position of a back of the tape by directly optically detecting the back of the tape. The tape is rim across the wear structure for a period of time, and a second position of the back of the tape is optically determined by directly optically detecting the back of the tape after the period of time. A difference between the first and second positions is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert G. Biskeborn, Jason Liang
  • Patent number: 10042083
    Abstract: A thermal sensing device can include an electromagnetic radiation source configured to generate electromagnetic radiation, a first antenna configured to direct electromagnetic radiation generated by the radiation source toward a target, and a second antenna configured to receive microwave radiation emitted from an internal portion of the target. The thermal sensing device can also include a microwave sensor coupled to the second antenna and configured to acquire sensor data regarding the microwave radiation emitted from an internal portion of the target. A processing device, included in the thermal sensing device, can be configured to produce thermal data based on the sensor data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Bowers, Tom Driscoll, Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, David R. Smith, Clarence T. Tegreene, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10041872
    Abstract: The present invention places in the field of the maintenance of aeration, conditioning, air-conditioning, etc. plants, and in particular the present invention relates to a method for evaluating the cleaning state of a plant, with particular reference to the atmospheric particulate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignees: CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE, TAGLIAFERRI S.R.L.
    Inventors: Domenico Vitulano, Daniela De Canditiis, Vittoria Bruni, Sante Tagliaferri, Fabio Buccolini, Elisa Rossi, Daniele Pigozzi
  • Patent number: 10041839
    Abstract: The present disclosure proposes the placing of temperature sensors embedded in the power semiconductor device. In this, at least one of the embedded temperature sensors is placed within or close to the heat source, active areas or channels of the power semiconductor circuit, and at least one of the embedded temperature sensors is placed more apart from the heat source, active areas or channels of the power semiconductor circuit. Furthermore, a new the temperature measurement method is provided, with timing of the temperature measurement and adjusting measurement parameters to appropriate threshold values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Fabrizio Cortigiani, Adolfo De Cicco
  • Patent number: 10041868
    Abstract: A consumable part, for use inside a chamber where plasma is used to process a semiconductor substrate, includes a body and a trigger feature. The body has a surface configured to be exposed to the plasma during processing in the chamber, and the trigger feature is integrated within the body. The trigger feature includes a void disposed under the surface of the body, where the void is configured to become visible when the surface is eroded from exposure to the plasma over time. The void becoming visible is an identifiable feature on the surface of the body that indicates a wear level for the consumable part, the wear level being associated with an amount of processing time remaining for the consumable part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventor: Richard Alan Gottscho
  • Patent number: 10041969
    Abstract: An acceleration sensor includes: a moving electrode extending in at least one of a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and including a plurality of planar patterns connected with each other; and an opposing electrode forming a capacitance with the moving electrode, wherein the plurality of planar patterns include: a first frame pattern; a first anchor pattern fixing the moving electrode to a surrounding structure; a first spring pattern connecting the first frame pattern and the first anchor pattern and having a stretching direction of the first direction; a second spring pattern connecting the first frame pattern and the first anchor pattern and having a stretching direction of the second direction; a wing pattern; and a third spring pattern connecting the first frame pattern and the wing pattern and having a stretching direction of a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Hiwon Lee