Patents Examined by Lisa Caputo
  • Patent number: 9988914
    Abstract: An environmental severity measurement tool measures acceleration along 3 axes to determine shock and vibration affecting a downhole tool in which the environmental severity measurement tool is disposed. The environmental severity measurement tool includes a replaceable battery and electronics disposed within an external housing. A pin provides a way to ensure the environmental severity measurement tool is oriented in a known orientation. Data sampled by the tool can be downloaded from the tool to an external device through a connector port of the electronics. Software in the tool controls the operation of the tool and can be configured from an external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Arrival Oil Tools, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris Konschuh, Mike Crowther, Landon Steiger, Michael Craig Shaw
  • Patent number: 9989423
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring temperature in a gas turbine are disclosed. The method can include directing a first acoustic signal towards a gas path in a turbine; directing a second acoustic signal towards the gas path in the turbine; receiving the first acoustic signal and the second acoustic signal at a downstream gas path location; combining the first acoustic signal and the second acoustic signal to create a combined acoustic signal, where a portion of the first acoustic signal cancels out a portion of the second acoustic signal; and determining a temperature of the gas path based at least in part on the combined acoustic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Eamon P. Gleeson, Fei Han
  • Patent number: 9989445
    Abstract: A device comprises a main body equipped with at least one handle, three sampling chambers that are mounted outside the main body and a control unit. The three sampling chambers are independent of each other and protrude radially from a predefined portion of the main body. The control unit is device can effect multiple environment to be controlled programmed so that the samplings from an in one, two or three different positions in the space, remaining stationary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: ORUM INTERNATIONAL S.R.L.
    Inventors: Roberto Ligugnana, Sandro Ligugnana
  • Patent number: 9989440
    Abstract: Method for indicating attacks on a tire (1) for a heavy vehicle of the civil engineering type. This method comprises a first step of applying a retroreflective covering material (7) to at least part of at least one tire lateral face (6) allowing visual detection in an environment of darkness of that part of at least one tire lateral face (6), a second step of using the tire (1) in a mechanically aggressive environment, a third step of identifying, in an environment of darkness, the attacked zones (8) of the part of at least one tire lateral face (6) initially covered with the retroreflective covering material (7) and now devoid of the said retroreflective covering material (7) as a result of the mechanical attack experienced by the tire (1) in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventor: Olivier Ferlin
  • Patent number: 9989506
    Abstract: Provided is a gas sensor in which a protective cover has no looseness even by repetitive use. The gas sensor includes a sensor element for detecting a predetermined measurement target gas component in a measurement gas; a protective cover which protects a side of one end portion of the sensor element; and a housing which houses the sensor element. The protective cover includes a brim portion at one end portion of an outer surface of the protective cover. The brim portion is brought into contact with a contact surface provided in said housing, and is held between a swaging portion and the contact surface, the swaging portion extending from the contact surface while bending, so that the protective cover is fixed to the housing. The brim portion is tilted at a tilt angle of 5° or more and 15° or less relative to a plane vertical to a central axis of the gas sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Yusuke Watanabe, Takao Murase, Masashi Yasui
  • Patent number: 9983005
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus optically measure acceleration, without Sagnac-effect corruption, without requiring slow light and without moving parts. Each optical accelerometer includes at least one measurement cell and at least one reference cell. Two optical signals traverse the cells in opposite directions around a figure-8-configured optical path and then interfere to produce an output signal. The reference cells have different indices of refraction than the measurement cells. Acceleration differentially affects speeds of the optical signals traversing the measurement and reference cells through differentially affecting the indices of refraction of the measurement and reference cells. These differences are evident in changes in the interference in the output signal, thereby enabling measurement of the acceleration. Several embodiments, including optical bench, vertical slab multi-pass, toroidal prism, planar waveguide, cylindrical waveguide, wound waveguide and optical fiber, are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Inventor: Marvin A. Biren
  • Patent number: 9983003
    Abstract: An angular acceleration detection device includes a rotating weight, a fixed portion, a support beam, and a detection portion. The rotating weight is rotatable about a Z-axis with respect to the fixed portion by action of an inertial force generated by an angular acceleration about the Z-axis. The fixed portion is disposed at a position spaced from the rotating weight. The support beam is disposed in an X-Y plane between the fixed portion and the rotating weight, the support beam elastically supporting the rotating weight with respect to the fixed portion. The detection portion outputs a detection signal corresponding to stress generated in the support beam. A gravity center position of the rotating weight is aligned with the support beam when viewed in a Z-axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masayuki Ichimaru
  • Patent number: 9976909
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling stray radiation within a CVD chamber. A heater array disposed beneath a wafer carrier for radiatively heating of the wafer carrier includes a peripheral or outermost heating element or elements. Scattered radiation originating from a designated segment of the peripheral heating element(s) can be reduced locally by one of several mechanisms, including reducing the emission (e.g., operating temperature) of the designated segment, or capturing or deflecting a portion of the radiation originating from the designated segment. In one embodiment, an electrical connector on a resistance heating element provides the reduced emission from the designated segment. It has been found that radiation thermometers fixed proximate an axis that extends from the center of the wafer carrier and across the designated segment is subject to less stray radiation, thus providing a more reliable temperature reading in the optical wavelengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Veeco Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Gurary Tas, Jing Zhou, Daewon Kwon
  • Patent number: 9977011
    Abstract: A portable drug sampling device for handheldly collecting a sample from exhaled breath of a subject for further sensor based analysis. The device comprising: a housing (406) comprising at least one inlet (407) and at least one outlet (408) for the exhaled breath to exit through, and a sampling membrane (302) arranged in the housing. A tubular element (40) having a mouthpiece section (401) for the subject to exhale into, and a saliva trap section comprising baffles (103) to create a non-straight gas flow path for letting aerosols pass through the tubular element. The sampling membrane (302) is arranged to collect the aerosols from the exhaled breath. The portable drug testing device further comprises a volume collecting element (208).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Sensa Bues AB
    Inventor: Bo Hammarlund
  • Patent number: 9977008
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a method and apparatus for investigating the uniformity of concrete and/or grout. Embodiments can identify the existence of one or more anomalies in the uniformity of concrete and/or grout, and/or determine or estimate the size, shape, type, and/or location of one or more anomalies in the uniformity of concrete and/or grout. Embodiments can utilize a string of temperature measuring sensors placed within one or more access bore(s), such as tube(s), positioned at least partially within the concrete and/or positioned proximate the concrete. The measurements obtained from the temperature measuring sensors can then be used to assist in the identification of existence of, size of, type of, shape of, and/or location of anomalies in the concrete and/or grout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: FUGRO USA LAND, INC.
    Inventors: Melvin Gerrard England, Paul Frederick Cheesman
  • Patent number: 9978484
    Abstract: Provided are a metal nitride film for a thermistor, which has an excellent bending resistance and can be directly deposited on a film or the like without firing, a method for producing the same, and a film type thermistor sensor. The metal nitride film for a thermistor, which consists of a metal nitride represented by the general formula: TixAlyNz (where 0.70?y/(x+y)?0.95, 0.4?z?0.5, and x+y+z=1), wherein the crystal structure thereof is a hexagonal wurtzite-type single phase, and the peak ratio of the diffraction peak intensity of a-axis orientation (100) relative to the diffraction peak intensity of c-axis orientation (002) (i.e., the diffraction peak intensity of a-axis orientation (100)/the diffraction peak intensity of c-axis orientation (002)) is 0.1 or lower in X-ray diffraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tanaka, Toshiaki Fujita, Noriaki Nagatomo, Kazutaka Fujiwara, Hitoshi Inaba
  • Patent number: 9976919
    Abstract: A fiber-optic force and displacement sensor includes a mirror comprising a plurality of sectors extending from a center point to a peripheral edge. Each of the sectors has a high reflectance corresponding to only one of a plurality of single wavelength light beams having different wavelengths transmitted from a laser light source. A method of measuring force and displacement includes measuring the radiant flux between each of a plurality of reflected single wavelength light beams that change as the area of the sectors are displaced towards and away from a center of projection of a combination light beam that comprises the plurality of single wavelength light beams projected towards the center point of the mirror when the mirror is in a rested position. Forces acting upon the mirror are measured as a function of the displacement of the mirror and the transverse and the axial stiffness of a connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: KETTERING UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Corneliu Ioan Rablau
  • Patent number: 9970834
    Abstract: A torque sensor includes a pair of magnetic yokes arranged in a magnetic field from a multipolar magnet that rotates integrally with, for example, a first shaft, and the magnetic yokes rotate integrally with, for example, a second shaft. The torque sensor includes magnetic collecting elements magnetically coupled to the respective magnetic yokes and a magnetic flux detecting element. The magnetic collecting elements have a pair of magnetic collecting portions (magnetic collecting protrusions) facing each other. The magnetic flux detecting element includes a circuit board with a cutout formed therein and a Hall IC having a Hall element arranged between the magnetic collecting portions, and the Hall IC is mounted parallel to the circuit board so as to extend over the cutout. At least a part of one of the magnetic collecting portions is arranged in the cutout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yutaro Ishimoto
  • Patent number: 9970836
    Abstract: Disclosed are a multi-axial force sensor capable of measuring multi-axial force and a grasper for sensing multi-axial force using the same. The multi-axial force sensor includes: a first operating section which includes a first member, and a first protrusion module formed protruding from one side of the first member; an elastic section which is formed at one end of the first member; a second operating section which includes a second member formed with one end to face one end of the first member with the elastic section therebetween, and a second protrusion module formed protruding from one side of the second member to face the first protrusion module; and an electrode section which is formed in the first protrusion module. With this, there is provided a force sensor capable of precisely measuring force through a simple structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Research & Business Foundation Sungkyunkwan University
    Inventors: Hyouk Ryeol Choi, Yong Bum Kim, Ui Kyum Kim, Dong Yub Seok, Dong Hyuk Lee
  • Patent number: 9968082
    Abstract: A method of perfusing an organ or tissue includes perfusing the organ or tissue with a perfusion apparatus; detecting a condition representing at least one of an attitude of the perfusion apparatus or at least one shock experienced by the perfusion apparatus; and altering perfusion based upon the detected condition and/or recording the detected condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: LIFELINE SCIENTIFIC, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher P. Steinman, John Stark, Joel C. Hagen, Aaron R. Ferber, Rodney H. Monson, Evan D. Shapiro
  • Patent number: 9970757
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory processor-readable media of the present disclosure are presented for efficiently executing applications based on pressure sensor data. In some embodiments, a method includes monitoring pressure, and determining a rate of change in the pressure over time exceeds a predetermined rate-of-pressure-change threshold. The method further includes subsequently determining that the rate of change in the pressure over time no longer exceeds the predetermined rate-of-pressure-change threshold. The method further includes determining a change in pressure has exceeded a predetermined pressure-change threshold, and performing floor disambiguation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Saumitra Mohan Das, Faraz Mohammad Mirzaei
  • Patent number: 9969549
    Abstract: A system for controlling an environment within a fuel tank is provided. The system includes a conduit with a plurality of vents, wherein the conduit defines a path through the fuel tank, and wherein the conduit is configured to direct a flow of air along the path and out the plurality of vents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Jonathan Christopher Heath
  • Patent number: 9964561
    Abstract: An acceleration sensor includes weights, a support, and beams on which piezoresistive elements are disposed. The weights include projections and recesses. The support includes projections and recesses. The beams are connected to the projections and the recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Hamamura
  • Patent number: 9964451
    Abstract: Provided is a temperature sensor which does not easily cause a crack in a Ti—Al—N-based thermistor material layer when the film is bent, can be directly deposited on a film or the like without firing, and has a high reliability with a high heat resistance. The temperature sensor includes an insulating film 2, a thin film thermistor portion 3 made of a Ti—Al—N-based thermistor material formed on the insulating film, a pair of pattern electrodes 4 formed on the insulating film with a pair of opposed electrode portions 4a being arranged so as to be opposed to each other on the thin film thermistor portion, wherein the pair of opposed electrode portions covers the entire surface of thin film thermistor portion excluding the region between the opposed electrode portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tanaka, Hitoshi Inaba, Kazuta Takeshima, Noriaki Nagatomo
  • Patent number: 9964504
    Abstract: The invention relates to a test system for cooling and/or heating at least one test piece comprising a platform, at least one heating and/or cooling fluid providing means coupled to the platform, at least one position means for reproducibly fixing the relative position of the fluid providing means to the at least one test piece and wherein the at least one position means is connected to the platform, the platform comprising at least one fastening means, in particular two openings for releasable coupling the fluid providing means for an at least temporarily fixing of the relative position of the fluid proving means to the test piece. It also relates to a test method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE DEUTSCHLAND LTD & CO KG
    Inventors: Stephan Peter Brookes, Barry Ward