Patents Examined by Mohammed E Keramet-Amircolai
  • Patent number: 10534012
    Abstract: A bidirectional flow switch includes a housing having a flow passage therethrough. A body is disposed moveably in the flow passage and biased towards a first position at zero flow. A magnetic sensor is proximate the housing. A magnet is disposed with respect to the body and the magnetic sensor so that when the body is at the first position, the magnetic sensor is at a first state and so that the magnetic sensor is at a second state when a flow rate through the flow passage is greater than a threshold flow rate that moves the body from the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Gems Sensors Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Glenn, Nathan H. Kulak
  • Patent number: 10534011
    Abstract: A bidirectional flow switch includes a housing having a flow passage therethrough. A body is disposed movably in the flow passage and biased towards a first position at zero flow. A magnetic sensor is disposed proximate the housing. A magnet is disposed with respect to the body and the magnetic sensor so that when the body is at the first position, the magnetic sensor is at a first state and so that the magnetic sensor is at a second state when a flow rate through the flow passage is greater than a threshold flow rate that moves the body from the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Gems Sensors Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Glenn, Nathan H. Kulak
  • Patent number: 10533680
    Abstract: The invention relates to valve system for controlling a process fluid within a liquid processing system. The valve system comprises a valve arrangement, a pneumatic control system, and a connector unit. When the valve arrangement is connected to the connector unit, two or more valves are formed, such that the pneumatic control system controls an open/close or pressure control mode of the valves. A pump diaphragm system is disclosed, as well as a system for purifying a biological material that comprises the valve system or the pump diaphragm system. Also discloses are methods of using the valve system or the pump diaphragm system in a process for the purification of a biological material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: GE HEALTHCARE BIO-SCIENCES AB
    Inventors: Klaus Heinrich Gebauer, Stefan Sjolander
  • Patent number: 10520399
    Abstract: The invention provides a liquid sampler for the automated sampling of liquids at dedicated pre-determined intervals. The liquid sampler includes a liquid inlet connectable to a liquid circuit containing a liquid to be sampled, a sampling reservoir for collecting a liquid sample, and a sampling pump connected to the liquid inlet, operable to extract a discrete amount of liquid from the liquid inlet and to discharge the discrete amount of liquid into the sampling reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Fluid Transfer Technology Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Luke William McInnes, John Raymond Bondi, Brian Mark Bondi
  • Patent number: 10514327
    Abstract: An autosampler includes a pressure release operation unit for performing, by controlling operation of a needle drive mechanism and a switching mechanism, before a tip end of a needle is pulled out from an injection port following a state where a sampling channel is disposed between a feeding device and an analytical column, a pressure release operation of switching the switching mechanism in such a way that the sampling channel is not disposed between the feeding device and the analytical column and a system including the sampling channel is made an open system, and of performing standby until a pressure inside the sampling channel is returned to atmospheric pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takafumi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10514387
    Abstract: The present invention lies in the field of automated analysis devices and relates to a method for monitoring the functionality of a wash station (1) for pipetting needles (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Products GmbH
    Inventors: Ayoub Bouteffah-Touiki, Thorsten Michels
  • Patent number: 10481140
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for calibrating a particulate matter measurement value. The method includes: when a current particulate matter measurement value is obtained, obtaining a current temperature-humidity parameter; obtaining a particulate matter measurement deviation value corresponding to the current temperature-humidity parameter from pre-stored particulate matter measurement deviation values under various temperature-humidity parameters according to the current temperature-humidity parameter; and calibrating the current particulate matter measurement value according to the particulate matter measurement deviation value corresponding to the current temperature-humidity parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yanan Meng, Tiejun Liu, Dongxu Liu
  • Patent number: 10480987
    Abstract: An electromechanical fill-level measuring device comprising at least one displacement element, which is connected by means of a measurement wire windably at least with a measurement drum, at least one measuring shaft, with which the measurement drum is mechanically fixedly connected, wherein the shaft is held rotatably in at least one rotary bearing, at least one weight measuring system, which ascertains the effective weight of the displacement element and the measurement wire, and at least one servomotor, which is coupled with the measuring shaft and which rotates the measuring shaft corresponding to an ascertained weight measurement, so that an ascertaining of the relative movement of the measurement drum produced by a change of the liquid level to be measured is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: ENDRESS+HAUSER SE+CO.KG
    Inventors: Masashi Sano, Andreas Kaiser, Yoichi Kamei
  • Patent number: 10416182
    Abstract: A sample processing apparatus includes a laser triangulation system that locates the position of a lower end of a pipette tip. When the laser triangulation system identifies a discrepancy between the actual position of the lower end and the proper position of the lower end, the sample processing apparatus may undergo a compensating action to compensate for the discrepancy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Protedyne Corporation
    Inventor: Victor Criswell
  • Patent number: 10401207
    Abstract: The present approach relates to establishing metrics for the computation of uncertainty boundaries for mean values for pressure and temperature drop error and mean values for mass flow error. Using such metric, sensor inaccuracies may be accounted for in the calibration and/or estimation processes of a virtual flow meter. For example, these values may be employed in the assessment of improvement in a calibration process of virtual flow meters, which will facilitate maintaining the accuracy of such virtual flow meters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas UK, Ltd.
    Inventors: Carlos Alberto Cavichioli Gonzaga, Luiz Felipe Willcox de Souza, Luiz Ricardo Douat, Rafael Horschutz Nemoto
  • Patent number: 10393712
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an aggregation circuit and a calibration circuit. The aggregation circuit is structured to interpret fuel data indicative of a fuel composition of a fuel provided by a fuel source from a plurality of gas quality sensors. Each gas quality sensor is associated with an individual engine system. Each engine system is positioned at a respective geographic location. The calibration circuit is structured to compare the fuel data received from each of the plurality of gas quality sensors that are located within a geographic area, determine a gas quality sensor miscalibration value for the plurality of gas quality sensors within the geographic area based on the fuel data received from each of the plurality of gas quality sensors within the geographic area, and remotely calibrate a miscalibrated gas quality sensor based on the gas quality sensor miscalibration value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventor: Shu Li
  • Patent number: 10393713
    Abstract: A method for operating a probe having a pumped reference cell. A pulse-width-modulated pump current is applied to the reference cell at a first point in time. In accordance with the first point in time, a first voltage characteristic value (representing the voltage applied to the reference cell) is determined within a first time frame. The pulse-width-modulated pump current applied to the reference cell is switched off at a second point in time. A third point in time is determined, at which a pulse-width-modulated pump current applied to the reference cell is switched off. In accordance with the third point in time, a second voltage characteristic value (representing the voltage applied to the reference cell) is determined within a second time frame. The first and second voltage characteristic values are used to determine a diagnostic characteristic value, which is representative of an error in determining the nitrogen oxide concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Bertrand Lemire, Johannes Bentner, Sabrina Kolbeck, Muammer Kilinc
  • Patent number: 10393921
    Abstract: A method for calibrating a distributed vibration sensing system includes applying a localized calibration event, such as a temperature change, to at least one location along an optical fiber cable. Backscattered light generated the optical fiber while the localized calibration event is applied includes phase information having low frequency components. The center of energy of the low frequency components can be identified in order to generate a reference point along the fiber that can be used to generate a channel-depth calibration scale that can be applied to vibration data acquired from the fiber when used in various applications, such as borehole seismic surveying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Theo Cuny, Alexis Constantinou, Paul Dickenson
  • Patent number: 10386399
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide an improved material structure for a human body model. The human body model comprises (1) a first layer comprising a first material, (2) a second layer, comprising a second material, underneath the first layer, and (3) a third layer, comprising a third material, underneath the second layer. The dielectric constant of the second material is less than a dielectric constant of the first material and less than a dielectric constant of the third material. According to an aspect, the thickness of the first and/or second layer may represent the thickness of human skin and fat, respectively. The thickness of one or more layers may vary based on a location on the human body model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: BOSE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Louis G. Chen
  • Patent number: 10373838
    Abstract: Systems and methods for automatic sampling of a sample for the determination of chemical element concentrations and control of semiconductor processes are described. A system embodiment includes a remote sampling system configured to collect a sample of phosphoric acid at a first location, the remote sampling system including a remote valve having a holding loop coupled thereto; and an analysis system configured for positioning at a second location remote from the first location, the analysis system coupled to the remote valve via a transfer line, the analysis system including an analysis device configured to determine a concentration of one or more components of the sample of phosphoric acid and including a sample pump at the second location configured to introduce the sample from the holding loop into the transfer line for analysis by the analysis device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: ELEMENTAL SCIENTIFIC, INC.
    Inventors: Kyle W. Uhlmeyer, Jae Seok Lee, Daniel R. Wiederin, Patrick Sullivan
  • Patent number: 10329989
    Abstract: A method of quantifying a particulate matter in an exhaust stream includes the steps of accumulating a particulate matter on a sensor. The sensor provides a signal that varies based upon an amount of the particulate on the sensor. The sensor includes a measurement cycle that includes a deadband zone, followed by an active zone, which is followed by a regeneration zone. The particulate matter is calculated after an end of the deadband zone is reached and prior to an end of the measurement cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES IP LIMITED
    Inventors: Gerard W. Malaczynski, Gregory T. Roth
  • Patent number: 10323340
    Abstract: A process for calibrating the loading force of a breaker element of a bale opener on a bale group includes: (a) setting a force sensor used to measure the loading force at no load; (b) lowering the breaker element onto the bale group until reaching a loading force that is at least twice as high as an upper loading force at which the breaker element receives a lift command during normal breaking operation; (c) relieving the load on the breaker element; (d) setting the loading force at a negative value which includes signal distortion influences; and (e) lowering the breaker element until the loading force measured by the load sensor reaches at least the level of the upper loading force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Rieter AG
    Inventor: Gerhard Gschliesser
  • Patent number: 10323583
    Abstract: Embodiments for determining oxygen concentration using an oxygen sensor are provided. In one example, a method for determining oxygen concentration O2 in a gas flow of an internal combustion engine which is equipped with an engine controller and an oxygen sensor comprises determining the oxygen concentration O2,sens of the gas flow in a ceramic measurement cell of the sensor by current ISens which is detected by measurement and which flows when a constant voltage USens is applied and maintained, and correcting the oxygen concentration based on a pressure pSens at the measurement cell. In this way, the measured oxygen concentration may be corrected based on the pressure of the air at the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christian Winge Vigild, Daniel Roettger, Andreas Kuske
  • Patent number: 10317384
    Abstract: A liquid monitoring system includes a remote measurement device located at a location of the fire hydrant that is in contact with water provided by a water main. The remote measurement device has sensors that measure characteristics of the water and a communication interface that transmits measured information to a communication network device that may be located elsewhere on the fire hydrant. The communication network device communicates with a communication network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: AMI Investments, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Brian Morrow, Mike Vore, Charles Kitowski, Daniel Copeland, Leon G. McCullough
  • Patent number: 10309219
    Abstract: In order to determine characteristics of a gas-oil transition zone in a gas capped oil reservoir, samples of a reservoir fluid from a gas and an oil part of the reservoir are taken. To configure an equation of state of hydrocarbon mixtures, reservoir temperature and pressure are measured in places where the samples of the reservoir fluid are taken and densities and compositions of the samples are determined. Porosity, water saturation and total hydrogen content of a saturated rock are measured along the wellbore and a volume and a hydrogen content of hydrocarbon phases are determined. Using the equation of state, density and composition of the hydrocarbon phases are computed and a specific hydrogen content in gas and oil along the wellbore is determined. Gas and oil saturation distribution along the wellbore is determined from the determined specific hydrogen content, determined hydrogen content of the hydrocarbon phases and the measured porosity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Oleg Yurievich Dinariev, Nikolay Vyacheslavovich Evseev, Evgey Nikolaevich Ivanov