Patents Examined by Melissa J Koval
  • Patent number: 10895545
    Abstract: A method of detecting conversion quality includes the steps of providing an article having a green material and a semiconductor material, processing the green material and the semiconductor material to produce a matrix composite, and detecting a matrix composite conversion quality with the semiconductor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Birnkrant, Wayde R. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 10888067
    Abstract: A chip or carbon fiber substrate may be programmed to emit and/or augment energy tuned to interact with bodily functions. The chip or carbon fiber substrate may be programmed by using a pair of Tesla pancake coils, each coupled to a spherical electrode and driven to create an energetic field between the electrodes. Embodiments may include systems that include the programmed chip in a device (for example, a pet tag) worn on an animal's body. The systems may be wearable so that the effects of the programmed chip may be applied to selected areas of animals and pets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Inventors: Richard Michael Hassler, Michael Gerhard Hassler, Richard Jack Hassler
  • Patent number: 10889254
    Abstract: Provided is a steering wheel unit with which misdetections due to contact between a steering wheel and the thigh part of the legs of an overweight person can be avoided, and gripping (contact) by a hand can be accurately detected. In a contact sensor, the contact sensitivity [pF/mm2] of a prescribed area (an area including a blank portion on the side of a rim part of the steering wheel that is near a seat surface of a driver's seat when the vehicle is in a straight traveling state is set to be lower than the contact sensitivity of another area (an area comprising only a conductive part) of the rim part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shotaro Odate
  • Patent number: 10890629
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor includes first and second yokes, first and second magnetoresistive elements, and a current path for passing a current through the first and second magnetoresistive elements. Each of the first and second yokes receives an input magnetic field containing an input magnetic field component in a direction parallel to a first virtual straight line Lz, and generates an output magnetic field. The output magnetic field contains an output magnetic field component in a direction parallel to a second virtual straight line Lx orthogonal to the first virtual straight line Lz. The first and second magnetoresistive elements generate respective detection values corresponding to the output magnetic field components of the output magnetic fields generates by the first and second yokes. The first and second yokes are electrically continuous with the first and second magnetoresistive elements, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoki Ohta
  • Patent number: 10877086
    Abstract: A holder includes a substrate, at least one first fastener and a pressure block. The substrate includes a top surface, a primary recess recessed from the top surface, at least one first side-recess recessed from the top surface, wherein the first side-recess neighbors and communicates with the primary recess, and a channel recess recessed from the top surface, wherein the channel recess neighbors and communicates with the primary recess, and the first side-recess and the channel recess are positioned at opposite sides of the primary recess. The first fastener is disposed in the first side-recess, wherein the first fastener has a top substantially leveled with the top surface of the substrate. The pressure block is disposed in the channel recess, wherein the pressure block has a top substantially leveled with the top surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: NANYA TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ching-Chung Wang, Jui-Hsiu Jao
  • Patent number: 10876860
    Abstract: A position sensor to provide an absolute position of a movable portion with respect to a fixed portion of a mechanism comprises two elements to move with respect to one another. The first element comprises a component that is sensitive to a magnetic field. The second element comprises two pairs of magnets. In each of the pairs, the orientation of each of the magnets alternates. An air gap is formed between the two pairs of magnets, the air gap configured to allow the component to pass therethrough. Each magnet of one pair faces a magnet of the other pair and the magnets facing one another have the same orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: THALES
    Inventors: Damien Chassoulier, Alain Blanc, Guy Carron de la Morinais
  • Patent number: 10852330
    Abstract: Improved techniques for sensing and reporting power consumption from a single or multiple power supplies are disclosed. The disclosed techniques comprise integrated circuit solutions for sensing power. In some embodiments, an integrated circuit comprises circuitry for converting source voltage into a pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal and circuitry for modulating the PWM signal with a current sense signal to determine sensed power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Silego Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Tom Truong, Albert Chen, Minghan Chuang
  • Patent number: 10852321
    Abstract: A test head for a semiconductor device handler includes a plunger; and a funnel insert attached to the plunger via a funnel insert spring, the funnel insert having a channel extending axially therethrough, and the funnel insert including a plurality of sloped inner walls that are sloped outwardly in a distal direction of the funnel insert and configured to contact upper edges of a semiconductor device to center the semiconductor device in the funnel insert. The plunger includes a projecting portion that extends through the channel of the funnel insert. When the spring is in an uncompressed state, a distal end of the funnel insert extends past a distal end of the projecting portion of the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: DELTA DESIGN, INC.
    Inventors: David Rowe, Tyler Bettendorf, Julius Mulle, James Duffy, Thanh Du, Jay Gem Mandafe
  • Patent number: 10830717
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to determining a spatial configuration of multiple nuclei. An electron dipole generates a spatially varying magnetic field such that each of the multiple nuclei is resonant at a respective resonance frequency defined by the magnetic field at a location of that nucleus. A first signal generator generates a first signal at a first signal frequency such that, as a result of dipole-dipole interaction between the electron dipole and a subset of the multiple nuclei that are resonant at the first signal frequency, a phase of the electron dipole is indicative of a number of nuclei that are resonant at the first signal frequency. A readout module determines the phase of the electron dipole, and determines the spatial configuration of the multiple nuclei based on the phase of the electron dipole. As a result of the high spatial resolution of the sensing the nuclear structure of molecules can be determined with low noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: The University of Melbourne
    Inventors: Lloyd Hollenberg, Viktor Perunicic
  • Patent number: 10816616
    Abstract: A system for magnetic detection of an external magnetic field is described. The system includes a controller configured to control components of the system. The controller is configured to control an optical excitation source and a RF excitation source to apply pulse sequences to a magneto-optical defect center material such that in the excitation pulses of a first pair of RF excitation pulses have a first phase difference, the excitation pulses of a second pair of RF excitation pulses have a second phase difference, and the second phase difference is different from the first phase difference. The controller computes a combined magnetometry curve as a function of the RF excitation frequency based on a difference between a measured value of a first light detection signal and a measured value of a second light detection signal. The controller sets the first phase difference and the second phase difference based on the combined magnetometry curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arul Manickam, Peter G. Kaup, Gregory Scott Bruce
  • Patent number: 10809308
    Abstract: A method includes selecting a test waveform to inject to a battery from a first DC converter, determining a first resulting ripple that will be generated in response to injecting the test waveform, determining at least one offset waveform to inject to at least one second DC power source from at least one second DC converter such that one or more second ripples will be provided that will cancel the first resulting ripple if the battery is charging, injecting the test waveform to the battery, injecting the at least one offset waveform to the at least one second DC power source, determining if the first resulting ripple has been cancelled, and determining if the battery is charging or discharging based on the step of determining if the first resulting ripple has been cancelled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arne Ballantine, Ranganathan Gurunathan, Anilkumar Vishnuvarjula, Chockkalingam Karuppaiah
  • Patent number: 10802082
    Abstract: The methods and apparatus allow one user to test cable continuity using a wire-configurable directional connector. The methods and apparatus may transmit a first and second voltage pulse through a first and second wire of a cable under test, respectively, having a wire-configurable directional connector attached. Both voltage pulses travel through the wire-configurable directional connector. The first voltage pulse selectively leaves at least one of the second wire and a third wire of the cable under test and the second voltage pulse selectively leaves the third wire. The methods and apparatus may store a pre-determined pattern of a returning voltage pulse specific to the cable under test, and determine a state of the first, second, and third wires in response to receiving the first and second voltage pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Brent E. Davis
  • Patent number: 10802172
    Abstract: A system for detecting a specific relative position between a reader and a receiver, including: an inductive contactless receiver including an antenna winding and a circuit for selectively modulating a load; an inductive contactless reader including: a transceiver antenna circuit having nonzero mutual inductance with the antenna winding for the position, a communication circuit connected to the transceiver antenna circuit, a receiver antenna circuit having mutual inductance with the antenna winding that exhibits a minimum for the position, and a processing circuit for: identifying presence of a receiver by detecting nonzero mutual inductance between the transceiver antenna circuit and an antenna winding, and detecting a mutual inductance minimum between the receiver antenna circuit and an antenna winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Thierry Thomas, Jacques Reverdy
  • Patent number: 10796832
    Abstract: A method and a device determine a movement profile of a solenoid plunger in a solenoid for monitoring a plunger-type armature movement for changes. The solenoid is an electromagnet in which a magnetic field can be generated by an electrical coil and a measuring unit is connected to the electrical coil. The method includes measuring a current profile with respect to time when the solenoid is operated, examining a measured current profile with respect to time for a position of a first reversal point in respect of time after operation of the solenoid and a current intensity, and assigning the position of the first reversal point to a movement end of the plunger-type armature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Lecheler, Mario Schaefer
  • Patent number: 10788559
    Abstract: The invention provides for an instrument (100, 300) comprising: a radio-frequency antenna (102) comprising multiple antenna elements (104); a radio-frequency system (106) comprising independent receive channels for receiving a radio-frequency signal (140) from each of the multiple antenna elements; a memory (130) containing machine executable instructions (160, 162); and a processor (124) for controlling the instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Oliver Lips
  • Patent number: 10788513
    Abstract: A test device and a test method are provided. The test device can comprise a movable probe platform, a plurality of signal access points, and a plurality of test probes fixed on the movable probe platform. Each of the plurality of signal access points is correspondingly coupled to one test probe for accessing a corresponding test signal. The plurality of the test probes are configured to contact with test pads on a panel to be tested, and to transmit test signals accessed from the plurality of the signal access points to the test pads, so as to perform an electrical test to the panel to be tested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., HEFEI BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xun Pu, Hongmin Li
  • Patent number: 10788538
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for determining remaining lifetime of a battery, such as a battery used to power a pitch drive system in a wind turbine. In one example implementation, a method can include controlling a discharge of the battery through a load. The method can include obtaining data indicative of a discharge voltage and a discharge current of the battery during discharge through the load. The method can include obtaining data indicative of a temperature associated with the battery during discharge through the load. The method can include determining data indicative of remaining lifetime of the battery as a function of the discharge voltage, discharge current, and the temperature. The method can include performing at least one control action based at least in part on the data indicative of remaining lifetime of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Alan Melius, Darren John Danielsen, Parag Rameshchandra Dharmadhikari, Christopher Lee Tschappatt
  • Patent number: 10782336
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a system for measuring a degradation characteristic of a plurality of electronic components. The system includes a parallel stress generator communicatively coupled to the plurality of electronic components, and a serial electronic measuring component communicatively coupled to the plurality of electronic components. The parallel stress generator is configured to generate a plurality of stress signals, apply the plurality of stress signals in parallel to the plurality of electronic components and remove the plurality of stress signals from the plurality of electronic components. The serial electronic measuring component is configured to, subsequent to the removal of the plurality of stress signals, sequentially measure the degradation characteristic of each one of the plurality of electronic components in order to determine their degradation resulting from the applied stress signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keith A. Jenkins, Barry P. Linder
  • Patent number: 10782365
    Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes: a first magnetoresistance effect element; a second magnetoresistance effect element; an output port; a signal line; and a first input terminal configured to be capable of applying a DC current or a DC voltage to the first magnetoresistance effect element. Each of the first magnetoresistance effect element and the second magnetoresistance effect element includes a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer, and a spacer layer disposed therebetween, the first magnetoresistance effect element and the second magnetoresistance effect element are connected through the signal line, and the output port is connected in parallel with the second magnetoresistance effect element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tetsuya Shibata
  • Patent number: 10783815
    Abstract: A testing apparatus and a testing method for a display panel. The testing apparatus includes a microcontroller unit (MCU) module; an electrical monitoring module, a power supply module, and a field programmable gate array (FPGA) module that are connected to the MCU module; a user interface (UI) display module; an optical monitoring module connected to the UI display module; and a gate driver on array (GOA) signal processing module and a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) module that are connected to the FPGA module. The power supply module, the GOA signal processing module, the DAC module, the electrical monitoring module, and the optical monitoring module are connected to a to-be-tested display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Wuhan China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Meihong Wang, Peiqian Tong