Patents Examined by Minh N. Tang
  • Patent number: 10274573
    Abstract: A monitoring system including a plurality of monitoring devices (20) and a server (10) is provided. When new device data including a feature amount of a new electrical device different form existing electrical devices is extracted from measurement data (current consumption or the like), the monitoring device (20) calibrates the feature amount of the new electrical device using calibration data generated based on calibration data of the exiting electrical device, and transmits the new device data to the server (10) in association with identification information of the new electrical device. When the calibrated new device data of the new electrical device is received from the plurality of monitoring devices (20), the server (10) generates and registers training data of the new electrical device based on the plurality of pieces of calibrated new device data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Toizumi, Eisuke Saneyoshi, Katsuya Suzuki, Kosuke Homma, Ryo Hashimoto, Koji Kudo
  • Patent number: 10267847
    Abstract: A probe head and methods of testing a device using a probe head are provided. The probe head includes a first end connected to a first substrate. The first substrate is configured to be connected to a test head. The probe head also includes second end having a first inner recess surrounded by a first protrusion and a first plurality of probe needles connected to the first protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming-Cheng Hsu, Mill-Jer Wang
  • Patent number: 10261155
    Abstract: Systems and methods for accelerating magnetic resonance fingerprinting (“MRF”} acquisitions are described. Acquisition parameters can be optimized to reduce the number of acquisitions necessary while maximizing the discrimination between the physical parameters to be estimated. The systems and methods may also include implementing pulse sequences that rapidly acquire large volumes of k-space data, including echo-planar imaging (“EPI”} and segmented EPI sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventor: Ouri Cohen
  • Patent number: 10261208
    Abstract: Obscured feature detectors and methods of detecting obscured features are disclosed. An obscured feature detector can include a plurality of sensor plates. Each of the sensor plates can have an equivalent primary sensing field zone and a capacitance that varies based on the dielectric constant of the materials that compose the surrounding objects and the proximity of those objects. A sensing circuit is coupled to the sensor plates to measure the capacitances of the sensor plates. A controller is coupled to the sensing circuit to analyze the capacitances measured by the sensing circuit. One or a plurality of indicators are coupled to the controller, and can be selectively set to identify a location of an obscured feature behind a surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Inventor: David M. Dorrough
  • Patent number: 10254316
    Abstract: An apparatus and method measures and analyzes DC current passing through a substantially insulating member or dielectric material that is electrically connected to, or otherwise conductive, between an energized DC electrical transmission line and an Earth potential or ground. An apparatus may utilize a DC current measuring device, a DC voltage level selection switch, a DC display, a graphical display of momentary leakage current, and an audio speaker. A process may entail extending a substantially insulating member or dielectric material between an energized DC electrical transmission line and an Earth potential, detecting a DC momentary leakage current, using a DC momentary leakage current meter to measure DC current through the member or material, and a computer to analyze and compare the DC current, and deliver results or a warning that the DC current has reached a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Quanta Associates, L.P.
    Inventors: David James Ball, Donald William McLennan
  • Patent number: 10254310
    Abstract: An electrical probe includes a main body, a probe head and a plurality of pins. The probe head is disposed on the main body, and the probe head has a surface and a plurality of openings on the surface. Each pin includes a contacting portion and an inserting portion connected to each other. Each pin has an obtuse angle between the contacting portion and the inserting portion, and the inserting portions of the pins respectively inserted into the openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: CHROMA ATE INC.
    Inventors: Mao-Sheng Liu, Hsiu-Wei Kuo
  • Patent number: 10243514
    Abstract: A solar panel monitoring system for a photovoltaic system includes: a soil monitoring panel including a plurality of arranged photovoltaic cells; a reference cell panel located in proximity to the soil monitoring panel, the reference cell panel including one or more photovoltaic cells; an automated cleaning system located on the reference cell panel for protecting a surface of the reference cell panel, the automated cleaning system including a cleaning system controller; and a measurement unit in electrical communication with one or more of the photovoltaic cells of the soil monitoring panel and one or more photovoltaic cells of the reference cell panel for measuring a short circuit current of the one or more photovoltaic cells of the soil monitoring panel and the one or more photovoltaic cells of the reference cell panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Inventor: Ryan Bower Jones
  • Patent number: 10241147
    Abstract: A method and circuit for measuring impedance of a sense-only capacitive sensor operated in loading mode. The method carried out by the circuit includes the steps of: combining a plurality of synchronized output signals; applying low-pass filtering to the summed output signals to generate a sinusoidal test signal; applying the sinusoidal test signal to a sensor signal voltage divider circuit and to a reference voltage divider circuit; determining amplitude and relative phase, with respect to the sinusoidal test signal, of a sensor voltage signal and a reference voltage signal; obtaining a difference voltage signal by subtracting the reference voltage signal from the sensor voltage signal; and feeding the difference voltage signal to a vector demodulator unit for obtaining a real part and an imaginary part of the complex impedance of the capacitive sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: IEE International Electronics & Engineering S.A.
    Inventor: Laurent Lamesch
  • Patent number: 10234509
    Abstract: The controller is equipped with a detection signal acquiring unit adapted to acquire a detection signal from a sensor that detects a physical quantity caused by vibrations generated at a detected location due to rotation of an electric motor, a phase information acquiring unit adapted to acquire phase information of the electric motor, a time width determining unit adapted to determine a time width, which coincides with a period of a phenomena occurring at the detected location due to rotation of the electric motor, on the basis of the phase information, a signal dividing unit adapted to divide the detection signal based on the determined time width, and an adding and averaging unit adapted to add and average a plurality of divided signals divided by the time width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshifumi Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 10234527
    Abstract: For the purpose of obtaining a spectrum suitable for acquiring information on a CEST effect, an MR apparatus comprises a Z-spectrum generating unit 91 for generating a Z-spectrum containing a CEST component representing a signal component affected by CEST and a baseline component representing a signal component unaffected by CEST based on data acquired by a plurality of sequences; a spectrum transforming unit 92 for transforming the Z-spectrum into a CPE spectrum; and first fitting unit 95 for calculating values of a plurality of coefficients included in a CEST term in an approximate expression of the CPE spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Mitsuharu Miyoshi
  • Patent number: 10222241
    Abstract: A capacitance measurement circuit for determining a capacitance of a guard-sense capacitive sensor includes a microcontroller that uses a combination of several synchronized PWM outputs for generating a low distortion sine wave. The sine wave is used as a guard voltage for the guard electrode of the capacitive sensor. The capacitance value of an unknown capacitor is measured by impinging the guard voltage on the sense electrode of the capacitive sensor by a modified sigma-delta modulator unit. The digital output of the sigma-delta modulator unit is first multiplied by an XOR gate before being routed into a decimator/low pass filter. The second input of the XOR gate is driven by a square wave from a square wave generator with the same frequency as the guard voltage, but with a substantially 90° phase shift. The output of the decimator/low pass filter is indicative of the capacitance value of the unknown capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: IEE International Electronics & Engineering S.A.
    Inventor: Laurent Lamesch
  • Patent number: 10222502
    Abstract: A content detection device is provided. The content detection device includes a first sensor and a controller. The first sensor is disposed near a space. The controller is coupled to the first sensor and detects a state of the first sensor. The controller performs a determination operation to determine whether an object is disposed in the space according to the detected state of the first sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: QUANTA COMPUTER INC.
    Inventors: Mao-Sung Lin, Jia-Chen Liaw, Chi-Li Li, Chun-Hao Lien
  • Patent number: 10215813
    Abstract: In a state monitoring of a storage battery, accuracy of estimation of the remaining service life of the storage battery can be improved by monitoring the state of the storage battery and distinguishing an initial failure and an accidental failure from degradation over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ichiro Mukaitani, Takeo Sakamoto, Yoshiaki Itoh
  • Patent number: 10209292
    Abstract: A partial discharge determination method and apparatus, and a partial discharge determination system capable of indicating how much margin is left before dielectric breakdown, in a lighting impulse withstand voltage test, and a power device for which whether partial discharge is caused is determined by them, and a method for manufacturing a power device including the partial discharge determination method. A low-pass filter receives an acoustic signal resulting from application of an impulse voltage and acquired by an acoustic emission sensor, and removes an electromagnetic noise superimposed on the acoustic signal. A mechanical oscillation removal unit removes a mechanical oscillation component of a device under test, from the acoustic signal resulting from application of the impulse voltage which is a high voltage, based on the mechanical oscillation component acquired in advance and included in the acoustic signal resulting from application of the impulse voltage which is a low voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Umemoto, Soichiro Kainaga, Manabu Yoshimura, Kazuaki Aono
  • Patent number: 10211809
    Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to semiconductor devices, and more particularly to a device configured as one or both of a spin wave generator or a spin wave detector. In one aspect, the device includes a magnetostrictive film and a deformation film physically connected to the magnetorestrictive film. The device also includes an acoustic isolation surrounding the magnetostrictive film and the deformation film to form an acoustic resonator. When the device is configured as the spin wave generator, the deformation film is configured to undergo a change physical dimensions in response to an actuation, where the change in the physical dimensions of the deformation film induces a mechanical stress in the magnetostrictive film to cause a change in the magnetization of the magnetostrictive film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: IMEC vzw
    Inventors: Xavier Rottenberg, Christoph Adelmann
  • Patent number: 10191309
    Abstract: Provided is a set of techniques for measuring different properties or parameters of liquid crystal mixtures by applying a driving waveform and measuring the response current and/or the optical response. This may be done by using specific liquid crystal test cells. Also provided are the optimized test cell parameters that are used in the algorithms for calculating the properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Inventors: Henry Zhong Zou, Lianhua Ji
  • Patent number: 10190999
    Abstract: Provided in some embodiments are systems and methods for determining characteristics of a hydrocarbon reservoir. Embodiments include conducting a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) logging operation of a targeted reservoir section of a wellbore extending into a hydrocarbon reservoir to generate a NMR log of the targeted reservoir section, conducting a resistivity logging of the targeted reservoir section to generate an uninvaded water saturation (Sw) log of the targeted reservoir section, determining for each of a plurality of depths in the section, a T2 cutoff point based on values of the NMR and Sw logs, identifying a subset of the T2 cutoff points that exhibit a hyperbolic trend, determining a theoretical cutoff curve corresponding to the subset of the T2 cutoff points, determining a free water level (FWL) of the reservoir based on the theoretical cutoff curve, and determining a rock type of the reservoir based on the theoretical cutoff curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Gabor Hursan, Shouxiang Ma
  • Patent number: 10184989
    Abstract: A load bank for testing power sources includes a load resistor assembly having a plurality of resistors which can be switched between wye and delta configurations for testing a variety of voltages and power sources requiring various load applications. First and second power connections are connected with primary and redundant power sources and a relay alternately connects the first and second power connections with the load resistor assembly for alternately testing the primary and redundant power sources while maintaining the sources electrically isolated. A damper is arranged adjacent the load resistor assembly and is operable between an open position which permits cold air to be delivered to the load resistor assembly to cool the assembly when the load bank is operating and a closed position which prevents hot air from being recirculated when the load bank is not operating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Comrent International, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Morin, Brian Kelleher, Lowell Seal, Brett Gidge, Todd Locker, Graham Thompson
  • Patent number: 10184991
    Abstract: A fluxgate device that includes a first magnetic core and a second magnetic core. The first magnetic core has a first magnetized direction that deviates from a first sense direction by more than 0 degree and less than 90 degrees. The second magnetic core is arranged orthogonally to the first magnetic core. The second magnetic core has a second magnetized direction that deviates from a second sense direction by more than 0 degree and less than 90 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Dok Won Lee, William David French, Ricky Alan Jackson, Ann Margaret Gabrys
  • Patent number: 10180462
    Abstract: An AC component ?I addition unit of a diagnostic device superimposes an alternating current on an output current of a fuel cell. A Zn calculation unit calculates a cell impedance with respect to the alternating current with regard to any of a plurality of cells. A diagnosis unit diagnoses that any cell is subjected to hydrogen deficiency when an absolute value of the cell impedance exceeds (absolute value of a reference impedance+a predetermined value ?). It is diagnosed that any cell is subjected to oxygen deficiency when the absolute value of the cell impedance is smaller than (absolute value of the reference impedance?a predetermined value ?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuji Ishikawa, Takashi Yamamoto, Shigeki Hasegawa, Syuya Kawahara