Patents Examined by Michael Dalbo
  • Patent number: 8805649
    Abstract: A monitoring system for monitoring one or more operating conditions of a structure such as an aircraft, method of operating a system for monitoring one or more operating conditions of the structure, and a sensor node for use in a monitoring system for monitoring one or more operating conditions of the structure, are provided. An example of a monitoring system can include a plurality of sensor nodes coupled to the structure and a controller for monitoring the sensor nodes. Each sensor node can include a communications interface including memory storing a plurality of sensor node communication protocol attributes used for communicating with the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Samantha Rao, Ertugrul Berkcan, Emad Andarawis, Eladio Delgado
  • Patent number: 8805623
    Abstract: A current detector and a voltage detector respectively detect a current value and a voltage value outputted from an engine generator. An operating block determines a weight constant on the basis of the current value and the voltage value, weights the operating time of an engine by using the weight constant, and integrates the weighted operating time to calculate an integral time. A judging block compares the integral time and a reference time, and gives a notification to an indicator when it judges that the integral time exceeds the reference time. Receiving the notification, the indicator makes an external indication. The current detector and the voltage detector can be made of electric circuitry, so that the life of the engine can be predicted at low costs and with high reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sumikazu Matsuno, Tetsuo Nakata
  • Patent number: 8775084
    Abstract: Disclosed is an adaptive borehole correction (ABC) technique based on an inversion approach that advantageously corrects shallow laterolog measurements for borehole effects, including determining and accounting for unknown tool eccentricity. The algorithm is based on simplex radial 1-D inversion where at every logging up to four unknowns are determined, namely tool eccentricity, Rt, Rxo, and Lxo. After that a borehole correction methodology is employed wherein the tool response in a borehole with real mud resistivity Rm is modified to a response in the borehole with virtual mud resistivity equal to Rxo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael Boris Rabinovich, Bill H. Corley
  • Patent number: 8744780
    Abstract: A clogged filter detector has a transmitter and a sensor which are held in place by a transmitter bracket and a sensor bracket, respectively. The transmitter emits a beam of electromagnetic radiation, and the sensor is positioned in the path of this beam at a point such that the beam travels through a filter between the transmitter and the sensor. The transmitter and sensor are misaligned with the air flow at the point where the beam contacts the filter. The transmitter alternates between a transmitting mode and a dormant mode, and the transmitter emits a plurality of electromagnetic pulses during each transmitting mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Filtersmarts, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Wilson, Jr., Douglas Morris
  • Patent number: 8718972
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electron beam writing apparatus and an image placement error correcting method each capable of calculating a high-accuracy correction amount relative to an image placement error in consideration of a difference in required unit area of height distribution data between the shape of a back surface of an EUV mask and the shape of a surface of a pin chuck. Of back surface shape data of the EUV mask necessary to perform an image placement error correction of each pattern, the back surface shape data of a position brought into contact with each pin of the pin chuck is extracted. The image placement error is calculated only from the extracted back surface shape data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: NuFlare Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Shusuke Yoshitake
  • Patent number: 8660804
    Abstract: The invention relates to the non-destructive measurement of components, in particular the functional assessment of the bonding of cast-in parts, eg. in pistons for internal combustion engines. With such a measurement or functional assessment, it is a question of assessing the function and completeness of the bonding between the base material and the material cast in or otherwise joined. The quality of the component or its suitability for a specific purpose can thus be assessed and/or quality monitoring of the production process, e.g. in the foundry or during production, can take place. According to the invention, this purpose is served by a multi-stage correction procedure, wherein the measured values ascertained by means of a suitably devised measuring arrangement and method, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventor: Holger Schnell
  • Patent number: 8589096
    Abstract: The present invention provides a technique for estimating a remaining capacity of a battery. In particular, the technique measures a current value, a voltage value and temperature of the battery and corrects the current value based on the voltage value. The corrected current value is then integrated and the result is used to calculate a current integration capacity by reflecting a charge/discharge efficiency accordingly. A battery forward voltage capacity is then determined from the measured current value, voltage value and temperature, and used to determine whether it is necessary to correct the current integration capacity. The current integration capacity is then converted into a remaining capacity, if it is determined that a correction is not necessary. If it is determined that a correction is necessary, the current integration capacity is corrected and then the corrected current integration capacity is converted into a remaining capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Woo Sung Kim, Do Sung Hwang, Il Cho
  • Patent number: 8589087
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems, methods, and apparatus for monitoring corrosion or corrosive contaminants associated with liquid fuel. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for monitoring and predicting corrosion. The method can include monitoring corrosion or corrosive contaminants associated with liquid fuel in a fuel supply system of a gas turbine, predicting, based at least in part on the monitoring, a cumulative level of corrosion of one or more components associated with a gas turbine, and outputting information associated with the monitoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Paul Joseph Martin
  • Patent number: 8571824
    Abstract: A door closing-inspection apparatus for a vehicle includes a first lightening and light-receiving device which strides over a transferring conveyer in a finished vehicle inspection line which inspects a finished vehicle while being transferred; a pair of door-closing devices arranged at positions on a downstream side of the first lightening and light-receiving device and on symmetrically both sides of a length of the transferring conveyer; a second lightening and light-receiving device arranged on a downstream side of the door-closing devices which strides over the transferring conveyer; a pair of door distance-measuring sensors arranged at positions on a downstream side of the second lightening and light-receiving device is on symmetrically both sides of the length of the transferring conveyer; and a controller which is connected to the first and second lightening and light-receiving devices, the door-closing devices, the sensors, and a driving source controller of the transferring conveyer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Okumura, Ryo Taniguchi, Kuniaki Nishimura, Koji Fujiwara, Takanobu Fujii, Kazuhiko Sumida
  • Patent number: 8538707
    Abstract: An apparatus, a closed-loop system and method for measuring the resistance of inhalation systems and/or devices are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: MannKind Corporation
    Inventors: Benoit Adamo, Scott McLean, Chad C. Smutney, John M. Polidoro, Carl R. Sahi
  • Patent number: 8521454
    Abstract: A circuit interrupter apparatus includes circuit interrupter and a device. The circuit interrupter includes separable contacts, an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts, and a trip mechanism cooperating with the operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts. The trip mechanism includes a zone selective interlocking input and a zone selective interlocking output. The device includes a first input electrically interconnected with the zone selective interlocking input, a second input electrically interconnected with the zone selective interlocking output, and an indicator circuit structured to indicate that the zone selective interlocking input occurred at the first input or that the zone selective interlocking output occurred at the second input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: James L. Lagree
  • Patent number: 8447547
    Abstract: In a particular embodiment, a method is disclosed that estimates a total static noise margin of a bit cell of a memory. The method includes determining a correlation coefficient of a left static noise margin of the bit cell as compared to a right static noise margin of the bit cell and estimating a total static noise margin of the bit cell by evaluating an analytical function based on the correlation coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Seong-Ook Jung, Seung-Chul Song, Hyunkook Park
  • Patent number: 8447548
    Abstract: The disclosure provides for a method for identifying and measuring a signal pulse induced in a microcircuit due to ionizing radiation. The method comprises locating an ionizing radiation induced pulse across a microcircuit using a plurality of sensors on the microcircuit. The method further comprises radiating a radiation through the microcircuit to produce a pulse width. The method further comprises using a time to digital converter (TDC) to measure a duration of the pulse width to create a measured pulse width. The method further comprises using the TDC to convert the measured pulse width into a digital signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Anthony L. McKay, Jeremy Popp
  • Patent number: 8341984
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating velocity in a subsurface region. Seismic data for a subsurface region may be received. One or more attributes for the seismic data may be calculated. A posterior distribution may be generated. The posterior distribution may represent one or more probabilities of one or more velocities for the attributes. A velocity with uncertainty may be determined for the subsurface region based on the posterior distribution. A pore pressure with uncertainty may be determined based on the velocity with uncertainty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventors: Ran Bachrach, Konstantin Osypov, Colin Michael Sayers
  • Patent number: 8326564
    Abstract: A detected data processing apparatus includes a selecting unit that calculates mutual correlation between a plurality of groups of detected data acquired from a detecting unit that detects an operational state of a circuit board, and then selects as analysis data the detected data of a group whose value indicating correlation with other groups is smaller than a threshold value set up in advance; and a first calculating unit that calculates a first Mahalanobis distance on a basis of a first Mahalanobis space generated by using the analysis data selected by the selecting unit from the detected data obtained when a normal circuit board is operated and on a basis of the detected data obtained when a circuit board of diagnosis target is operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Tetsuichi Satonaga, Koji Adachi, Kaoru Yasukawa, Norikazu Yamada, Koki Uwatoko, Shigehiro Furukawa
  • Patent number: 8321158
    Abstract: A method for monitoring fuel freshness in a vehicle includes the steps of determining a measure of time that the fuel has been in the vehicle and initiating a remedy if the measure of time is greater than a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: David T. Proefke, Clark E. McCall, William A. Biondo
  • Patent number: 8280653
    Abstract: A circuit interrupter apparatus includes circuit interrupter and a device. The circuit interrupter includes separable contacts, an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts, and a trip mechanism cooperating with the operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts. The trip mechanism includes a zone selective interlocking input and a zone selective interlocking output. The device includes a first input electrically interconnected with the zone selective interlocking input, a second input electrically interconnected with the zone selective interlocking output, and an indicator circuit structured to indicate that the zone selective interlocking input occurred at the first input or that the zone selective interlocking output occurred at the second input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: James L. Lagree
  • Patent number: 8275565
    Abstract: A disclosed radio communication apparatus includes a unit receiving a broadcast channel including a system frame number (SFN), a control channel including a process number (Proc) and a new data identification, and a user data channel including a sequence number; a unit detecting whether a received first packet includes an error and reporting the detection result indicating ACK or NACK to a transmitter side; a unit detecting whether the control channel has not been correctly received in the past based on the process number and the new packet identification information of a second packet transmitted after the first packet; and a unit reporting an indicator including the SFN at which the second packet is transmitted to the transmitter side, so that a packet is re-transmitted, the packet being transmitted to the radio communication apparatus by a preceding SFN that precedes an SFN at which the second packet is transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: NTT DoCoMo, Inc.
    Inventors: Anil Umesh, Takehiro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8229687
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention may incorporate a physics based approach (hereinafter “model”) to determine the level of the liquid. The model may incorporate the physical properties of the fluids within the container, and measurements of the fluid under consideration. The model may also incorporate data from measuring devices, such as, but not limiting of, a delta-pressure (DP) transmitter. The model may then calculate, within a reasonable level of accuracy, the level of the fluid within the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William F. Seely, Jonathan C. Thatcher, Steve W. Backman
  • Patent number: 8209126
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for processing data includes accepting a first collection of traces corresponding to signals received over time due to reflection of seismic waves from subsurface structures. A Radon transform is defined with respect to a set of wavefront parameters of the seismic waves. The transform defines a summation of amplitudes of the seismic waves over trajectories defined by the wavefront parameters. The Radon transform is applied to the first collection of traces, so as to convert the first collection into a multidimensional data array that is defined as a function of at least two of the wavefront parameters. The multidimensional data array is processed to produce a second collection of traces having an improved imaging quality with respect to the first collection. The second collection of traces is processed to generate a seismic image of the subsurface structures at the improved imaging quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Geo{umlaut over (m)}age (2003) Ltd.
    Inventors: Alexander Berkovitch, Igor Belfer, Roman Kazinnik