Patents Examined by Max H Noori
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Patent number: 11781958Abstract: The present invention relates, in part, to systems for characterizing force (e.g., friction, wear, and/or torque). In one embodiment, the system allows for wear testing of samples in a high throughput manner. In another embodiment, the system allows for torque sensing in a non-contact manner.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2021Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLCInventors: Brendan L. Nation, Michael T. Dugger, John Curry
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Patent number: 11781927Abstract: A torque sensor which can improve detection accuracy is provided. The torque sensor includes a first structure, a second structure, a third structure provided between the first structure and the second structure and at least two sensor portions provided between the first structure and the second structure, and a stiffness of one of the first structure and the second structure, closer to the sensor portions is higher than that of the other one.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2021Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: NIDEC COPAL ELECTRONICS CORPORATIONInventors: Keiya Hoshino, Takayuki Endo, Ryuji Hokari
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Patent number: 11774303Abstract: An accelerator is an automobile accelerator. The accelerator includes a sensor configured to detect a force to press the accelerator. The sensor includes a flexible substrate and a resistor formed of a film containing Cr, CrN, and Cr2N, on or above the substrate. The sensor is configured to detect the force to press the accelerator as a change in a resistance value of the resistor.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2019Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: MINEBEA MITSUMI Inc.Inventors: Atsushi Kitamura, Shigeyuki Adachi, Toshiaki Asakawa, Eiji Misaizu
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Patent number: 11774304Abstract: A torque sensor to detect torque transmitted by a shaft having magnetostrictive properties is provided with a pair of cylindrical detection units arranged around the shaft and aligned side-by-side in an axial direction of the shaft, and first and second connection lines connecting the pair of detection units. Each detection unit includes first to fourth detection coils stacked in a radial direction. A series circuit formed by series connecting the first and fourth detection coils is parallel connected to a series circuit formed by series connecting the second and third detection coils. The first and second connection lines are configured to connect between corresponding connecting portions of the first and fourth detection coils and between corresponding connecting portions of the second and third detections coils, respectively. The torque transmitted by the shaft is detected based on a potential difference between the first connection line and the second connection line.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 2021Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: PROTERIAL, LTD.Inventors: Ken Okuyama, Teruyuki Nakamura, Naoki Futakuchi
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Patent number: 11774318Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensor device, system, and monitoring system for monitoring force and inclination of load supporting members, such as temporary support props. The sensor devices include a tubular member that interface with and slidably/detachably attached to the temporary support props, and sensors on the tubular member for measuring force, inclination and position of the temporary support props for construction and demolition work. The sensor device includes a controller for processing data from the sensors. The sensor system includes a wireless device that communicates with the sensor device. The sensor system further comprises positioning device, such that precise location or position of the sensor devices may be detected/calculated by the sensor system. The monitoring system includes a server that communicates one or more sensor systems to form a network.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2020Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Inventors: Ronald Chun Yu Lam, Louis Chi Hung Lam
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Patent number: 11774305Abstract: A magnetostrictive torque sensor includes detection coils formed around a magnetostrictive material made of chrome steel or chrome molybdenum steel, a magnetic ring configured to cover around the detection coils, and a drive unit for providing alternating current excitation to the detection coils at an excitation frequency of 50 kHz or more and 333 kHz or less. A torque applied to the magnetostrictive material is detected based on a change in inductance of the detection coils. The magnetic ring is configured by wrapping around the detection coils with an amorphous tape made of amorphous soft magnetic material in a tape shape. The thickness of the magnetic ring is 1.455 times or more as thick as a skin effect thickness of the magnetostrictive material and less than 1.000 mm.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2021Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignees: PROTERIAL, LTD., NSK LTD.Inventors: Teruyuki Nakamura, Yuta Sugiyama, Yiming Jin, Kota Fukuda
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Patent number: 11768124Abstract: An apparatus for calibrating a rotational tool includes a communications interface configured to establish a wireless communications link between a rotational tool and a calibrator to communicate one of a tool torque measurement or a calibrator torque measurement via the communications link. The apparatus may further include calibration processing circuitry configured to receive the tool torque measurement measured by a tool torque sensor, and receive the calibrator torque measurement measured by a calibrator torque sensor.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2020Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: APEX BRANDS, INC.Inventor: Michael Robert Sandy
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Patent number: 11768160Abstract: A multiparameter standard solution for verifying and calibrating water quality sensors containing an aqueous pH buffer, a xanthene dye, and distyryl biphenyl (DSBP) is provided. The standard solution provides a safe, quick, easy, and stable field standard to simultaneously conduct calibration analysis for several sensors at once. The standard solution is stable when stored and can be safely disposed of in the field. Methods of calibrating sensors used in water quality analysis using the multiparameter standard solution are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2020Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: U.S. Geological SurveyInventors: Brian Anthony Pellerin, Angela Merleen Hansen
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Patent number: 11758969Abstract: An article of footwear or an article of apparel can include provisions for facilitating the use of a sensor device and protecting the sensor device from external particles or fluid. The sensor device can include a conduit for moving air through the sensor device from one portion of the sensor device to another portion of the sensor device. An elastic membrane can be attached to an opening formed in the sensor device. The elastic membrane can deform in response to changes in air pressure within the sensor device.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2021Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Tiffany A. Beers, Andrew A. Owings
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Patent number: 11761830Abstract: There is provided a force sensor including a substrate and a polymer material layer. The substrate has a circuit layout that includes a first electrode and a second electrode configured to form a capacitor therebetween. The polymer material layer covers at least on a space between the first electrode and the second electrode, and is used to change capacitance of the capacitor while being pressed. The force sensor is arranged inside a stem of an earphone for detecting the user input.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2021Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INC.Inventors: Yen-Po Chen, Hao-Che Liu, Yen-Chang Chu, Chih-Ming Sun
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Patent number: 11761831Abstract: A strain body of a force sensor according to the present invention includes a tilting structure disposed between a force receiving body and a support body, a force-receiving-body-side deformable body connecting the force receiving body and the tilting structure, and a support-body-side deformable body connecting the tilting structure and the support body. The tilting structure includes a first tilting body that extends in a second direction orthogonal to a first direction and that is elastically deformable by the action of force in the first direction.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2022Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: TRI-FORCE MANAGEMENT CORPORATIONInventors: Kazuhiro Okada, Miho Sekine, Yuki Hongo
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Patent number: 11761835Abstract: The object is to provide a mounting structure for a torque sensor capable of improving a detection accuracy of a torque sensor. A torque sensor includes a first structure, a second structure, a third structure provided between the first structure and the second structure, and at least two sensor units provided between the first structure and the second structure. A plurality of contact portions are provided on one of the first structure and the first attachment portion and one of the second structure and the second attachment portion, and are in contact with another of the first structure and the first attachment portion and another of the second structure and the second attachment portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2021Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: NIDEC COPAL ELECTRONICS CORPORATIONInventors: Takayuki Endo, Keiya Hoshino, Yoko Yasutomi, Subei Shun, Yuji Usui
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Patent number: 11747224Abstract: In a Force/Torque sensor employing strain gages, a hardware temperature compensation procedure substantially eliminates thermal drift of a plurality of load-sensing strain gages with changes in temperature, using trimming resistors and a single, unstressed strain gage. The strain gages are connected in a quarter-bridge configuration, in multiple parallel stages. An unstressed strain gage in quarter-bridge configuration is connected in parallel. Trimming resistors are added across one or more of the unstressed and load-sensing strain gages in a compensation procedure that substantially eliminates thermal drift of the load-sensing strain gages over a predefined temperature range.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2022Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: ATI Industrial Automation, Inc.Inventor: David Fleissner
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Coal rock three-dimensional strain field visual system and method under complex geological structure
Patent number: 11747246Abstract: Coal rock three-dimensional strain field visual system and method are provided under a complex geological structure. The system includes a stress condition simulation system and a strain monitoring system. The stress condition simulation system includes a similar simulation experiment rack, a loading system and a circular slideway. The method includes preparing a 3D printing wire, printing a strain visual similar model, simulating a stratum dip angle and a gas-containing condition, applying stress fields, recording a cracking and dyeing condition of microcapsules inside the model, and the like. The system can realize tracing the generation and development of internal cracks in simulation models with complex geological conditions, and tracing the three-dimensional movement of internal ink dots to draw four-dimensional images of displacement fields.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2021Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignees: NORTH CHINA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, CHONGQING UNIVERSITYInventors: Zhiheng Cheng, Haobin Gao, Quanle Zou, Liang Chen, Jiakai Sun, Bichuan Zhang, Fanjie Kong, Biao Liu, Ruizhi Wang -
Patent number: 11733087Abstract: A fluid container measurement system is disclosed. The fluid container measurement system is configured to suspend a load measurement assembly a distance above a support surface. The load measurement assembly houses a load cell and a measurement control circuit. The measurement control circuit is coupled to the load cell and configured to receive electrical signals indicative of a force imposed on the load cell. Electrical signals generated by the load cell indicative of the force exerted on the load cell can be used to measure the fluid container attached to the load cell linkage member.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2021Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: Adaptec Medical Devices, LLCInventors: Walter D. Parker, Edward J. Mueller, Keith H. Gausmann, Nathan T Luck, Scott E. Liddle
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Patent number: 11733111Abstract: A method for calibrating an output of a torsional vibration transducer can include: providing a torsional vibration transducer proximate to a body of a shaft configured to rotate along an axis of rotation, the torsional vibration transducer configured to measure a torsional vibration of the shaft; actuating the shaft to cause rotation of the shaft; while the shaft rotates, acquiring, using the torsional vibration transducer, a plurality of zero-stress measurements of the shaft across a plurality of gaps between the torsional vibration transducer and the shaft; calculating at least one calibration coefficient using the plurality of zero-stress measurements; and calibrating the output of the torsional vibration transducer according to the at least one calibration coefficient to reduce a sensitivity of the torsional vibration transducer to changes in gap between the torsional vibration transducer and the shaft when the torsional vibration of the shaft is measured.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2021Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLCInventors: Daniel Farr, Lysle Turnbeaugh, Trevor Cowan
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Patent number: 11733113Abstract: A strain element (10), which is configured such that a frame portion (11) and a central portion (12) are connected by arm portions (20) to (22), is masked except for the arm portions (20) to (22) where a strain gauge (A1) and the like are to be disposed, and then peening is carried out. With this, a compressive residual stress layer is formed on four sides of each of the arm portions (20) to (22). When the strain element (10) receives a load resulting from an external force, the arm portions (20) to (22) elastically deform; however, due to the compressive residual stress layer thus formed, the arm portions (20) to (22) are less prone to fatigue failure. When projection of a shot material is carried out as peening, the surface roughness of the arm portions (20) to (22) increases, the adhesion of strain gauges improves, detection accuracy improves, and stable measurement can be ensured.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2019Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: SINTOKOGIO, LTD.Inventors: Masahiko Nagasaka, Hiroyasu Makino
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Patent number: 11733109Abstract: There is provided a force sensor including a substrate and a polymer material layer. The substrate has a circuit layout that includes a first electrode and a second electrode configured to form a capacitor therebetween. The polymer material layer covers at least on a space between the first electrode and the second electrode, and is used to change capacitance of the capacitor while being pressed.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2020Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INC.Inventor: Chih-Ming Sun
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Patent number: 11725994Abstract: Disclosed herein is a composition and a method for energy harvesting and the autonomous detection of structural failure. This method can be used to monitor, for example, the structural integrity of unmanned aircraft systems.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2021Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: New Mexico Tech University Research Park CorporationInventor: Donghyeon Ryu
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Patent number: 11712178Abstract: A plantar pressure sensing system is located at a sole of shoe. The plantar pressure sensing system includes a first layer, a second layer a plurality of sensor, a plurality of convex portions, a plurality of connection portions, a processor and a storage. The processor is coupled with the storage and configured to be connected with the plurality of sensors. The plurality of sensors are configured to form the first layer. The plurality of convex portions and the plurality of connection portions are configured to form the second layer. Overall, the plantar pressure sensing system is able to detect pressure with the sensors by setting the alignment of the convex portions, thereby obtaining a more accurate pressure(s) reading from the sole of shoe. The data validity of the plantar pressure sensing system is improved.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2021Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: CHANG GUNG UNIVERSITYInventors: Hsiao-Lung Chan, Jiunn-Woei Liaw, Ya-Ju Chang, Cheng-Chung Kuo