Patents Examined by Nguyen Ha
  • Patent number: 9518888
    Abstract: In a method for ascertaining an offset of an output signal of an evaluation circuit integrated in a sensor, the output signal is supplied to a control unit which analyzes the output signal, and a reset of the evaluation circuit for the adjustment of the output signal to a base level is performed prior to each measuring operation of the sensor, and the control unit ascertains the offset of the output signal of the evaluation circuit upon an occurrence of a start signal output by the evaluation circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Harald Ryll
  • Patent number: 9514891
    Abstract: A capacitor containing a solid electrolytic capacitor element including a sintered porous anode body, a first anode lead, and a second anode lead is provided. The first anode lead has a thickness that is larger than a thickness of the second anode lead. A portion of the first anode lead is embedded in the porous anode body, and a second portion of the first anode lead extends from a surface thereof in a longitudinal direction. Meanwhile, the second anode lead is electrically connected to the anode body for connection to an anode termination. In one embodiment, the second anode lead can be directly connected to a surface of the anode body. In another embodiment, the second anode lead can be indirectly connected to the anode body such as via attachment at an end of the second portion of the first anode lead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: AVX Corporation
    Inventors: Lotfi Djebara, Stanislav Zednicek, Ivan Horacek, Jan Petrzilek
  • Patent number: 9513588
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a curved conveyance path being formed by an outer guide and an inner guide, and a control unit configured to control a first conveyance unit disposed on upstream of the conveyance path and a second conveyance unit disposed on downstream of the conveyance path such that a conveyance speed of the first conveyance unit is set greater than a conveyance speed of the second conveyance unit, in a case where an image surface of the recording material on which an image is formed faces the inner guide, and perform control of the first and the second conveyance units in such a manner that the conveyance speed of the first conveyance unit is set less than the conveyance speed of the second conveyance unit, in a case where the image surface of the recording material on which the image is formed faces the outer guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoichi Furuyama
  • Patent number: 9507307
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form a toner image on a sheet, a fixing unit configured to fix the toner image on the sheet, a double-sided conveyance path along which the sheet is conveyed for double-sided printing, and a control unit configured to control conveyance of the sheet, allowing the sheet to be stopped at a first standby position which is more downstream than the fixing unit in a sheet conveyance direction on the double-sided conveyance path and a second standby position which is more downstream than the first standby position, and changing stopping time for which the sheet is stopped at the first standby position and stopping time for which the sheet is stopped at the second standby position according to a material of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shotaro Ishihara
  • Patent number: 9506780
    Abstract: A sensor bearing assembly having a rolling element bearing and at least one sensor is provided. The rolling element bearing includes an inner ring, an outer ring, and rolling elements arranged between the inner ring and the outer ring. The at least one sensor is arranged to convert one or more physical magnitudes to electrical sensor signals. The sensor is attached directly or indirectly to the rolling element bearing. The assembly further comprises a converter unit. The converter unit is arranged to convert the electrical sensor signals to output signals, the output signals are different to in type, form and/or amplitude in relation to the electrical sensor signals. The converter unit is also disposed in a separate enclosure that does not share the same enclosure with the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Klemens Schmidt, Jan Doornenbal
  • Patent number: 9506829
    Abstract: Pressure sensor package that includes: a pressure sensor support attached to an interconnect housing which is attached to a compensation support; wherein: (a) a pressure sensor device is attached to the pressure sensor support and is electrically connected to pads disposed on the pressure sensor support; (b) compensation circuitry is attached to the compensation support and is electrically connected to pads disposed on the compensation support; (c) connectors disposed in through holes in a wall of the interconnect housing are electrically connected to the pads on the pressure sensor support and to the pads on the compensation support; and (d) a pressure port is disposed in the pressure sensor support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: DUNAN SENSING LLC
    Inventors: Tom T. Nguyen, Cuong D. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9505098
    Abstract: A device for orientating a sensor probe relative to the local normal vector of a work surface, the device comprising: a frame, a moving support element linked to the frame and able to slide in a predetermined direction, a sensor probe able to pivot on an axis of rotation not parallel to the predetermined direction relative to a point of articulation of the support element, pressure means able to move and generate a force on the moving support element in predetermined direction so as to press the sensor probe against the work surface, in which the sensor probe comprising a single convex external sensing surface suitable for being placed in contact with the work surface, the sensing surface having a single equilibrium contact point, the equilibrium contact point being the point on the sensing surface closest to the point of articulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Gaztransport Et Technigaz
    Inventors: Georges Menard, Pierre Lecourtois, Nicolas Laurain, Bruno Deletre
  • Patent number: 9502177
    Abstract: A multilayer ceramic capacitor may include: a ceramic body including dielectric layers and having first and second main surfaces opposing each other, first and second side surfaces opposing each other, and first and second end surfaces opposing each other; an active layer configured to form capacitance by including first and second internal electrodes disposed to face each other with the dielectric layer interposed therebetween and alternately exposed to the first or second side surface; and a first external electrode disposed on the first side surface and electrically connected to the first internal electrodes and a second external electrode disposed on the second side surface and electrically connected to the second internal electrodes. When length of the ceramic body is L and length of the first and second external electrodes in the length direction of the ceramic body is L1, 0.2?L1/L?0.96 is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyo Kwang Lee, Sang Soo Park, Young Ghyu Ahn, Byoung Hwa Lee
  • Patent number: 9496086
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a case capable of receiving a plurality of capacitive elements, each capacitor element having at least two capacitors, and each capacitor having a capacitive value. The apparatus also includes a cover assembly with a peripheral edge secured to the case. The cover assembly includes, for each of the plurality of capacitive elements, a cover terminal that extends upwardly from the cover assembly generally at a central region of the cover assembly. Each cover terminal is connected to one of the at least two capacitors of the respective one of the plurality of capacitive elements. The cover assembly also includes, for each of the plurality of capacitive elements, a cover terminal that extends upwardly from the cover assembly at a position spaced apart from the cover terminal generally at the central region of the cover assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: American Radionic Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Stockman, Richard W. Stockman, Michael B. Tricano, Jonathan Charles
  • Patent number: 9488933
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes: a curved conveyance path; and a pair of downstream side rollers that lies on the downstream side with respect to the curved conveyance path, and catches the sheet conveyed from the upstream side with respect to the curved conveyance path and reaching the curved conveyance path, wherein the curved conveyance path includes a movable guide movable between a first position and a second position, at the first position, the movable guide forms an outer circumferential wall of the curved conveyance path, and guides a tip of the sheet in such a direction that the sheet conveyed to the curved conveyance path travels toward the pair of downstream side rollers, and at the second position, a summit portion of a curve of the outer circumferential wall is retracted toward the outside in a radial direction of the curve with respect to the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Kenji Sawada, Sho Karakama
  • Patent number: 9483962
    Abstract: A receipt and label roll comprises a core and a web having a longitudinally-extending axis and wound on the core along the axis. The web includes (i) a substrate having a front side and a back side opposite the front side, (ii) a thermally-sensitive coating disposed on the front side of the substrate, (iii) adhesive disposed on a portion of the back side of the substrate along the web axis, and (iv) a release coating disposed on the front side of the substrate along the web axis to prevent the adhesive from sticking to the front side of the substrate when the web is wound on the core. The web further includes (v) a longitudinal weakened structure extending along a direction parallel to the web axis and dividing the web into a first web portion on which the adhesive is disposed and a second web portion which is substantially devoid of adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Iconex LLC
    Inventors: Steven Harold Nahm, Robert McDaniel
  • Patent number: 9482553
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for calibrating a gyroscope without rotating the instrument. In one example, a calibration method includes operating the gyroscope in a self-oscillation loop to generate x-axis and y-axis drive signals, adding forcing signals to the x-axis and y-axis drive signals to produce pick-off x-axis and y-axis signals, measuring the pick-off x-axis and y-axis signals to produce measurement data, determining a relative phase between the pick-off x-axis and y-axis signals, based on the measurement data and the relative phase, estimating parameters of the gyroscope, based on the measurement data and the estimated parameters, calculating estimated position signals to calibrate the gyroscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: THE CHARLES STARK DRAPER LABORATORY, INC.
    Inventors: Marc S. Weinberg, Eugene H. Cook, Stephen L. Finberg, Murali V. Chaparala, Thayne R. Henry, Thomas A. Campbell
  • Patent number: 9464927
    Abstract: A magnetic flowmeter flowtube assembly includes a conduit having an inside diameter, a fluoropolymer liner disposed within and extending through the conduit, and a pair of electrodes mounted relative to the liner to measure a voltage induced within a process fluid flowing through the liner. A venting assembly provides a process fluid vent path from the inside diameter of the conduit to an exterior of the flowtube assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffry D. Foster
  • Patent number: 9465325
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a method of controlling an image forming apparatus, and a non-transitory recording medium storing a program for controlling an image forming apparatus are provided. Each of the image forming apparatus, the method, and the program obtains and stores image identifiers, obtains and stores a passing image identifier for identifying an image to be output to a recording medium to which failure has occurred, transfers a developer image to the recording medium, holds the developer image, presses the recording medium against the holding member, generates and obtains a trigger signal used for determining timing at which a developer image reaches a transfer unit, detects an error in conveyance of the recording medium, and creates a gap between a holding member and a pressing member disposed opposite the holding member when an error is detected in conveyance of the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Asano
  • Patent number: 9467586
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus which can control to turn on/off a light emitting element depending on a sheet state on a manual sheet tray is provided. The image forming apparatus includes the manual feed tray on which the sheet is placed. The image forming apparatus is configured to be switchable between normal power mode and power saving mode. In the normal power mode, normal power is supplied. In the power saving mode, less power is consumed as compared to the power consumed in the normal power mode. The image forming apparatus includes a manual sheet feeding sensor which detects presence/absence of the sheet on the manual feed tray. The image forming apparatus includes a sheet length sensor S and a sheet length sensor L which include the light emitting element and a light receiving element to detect approximate sheet length of sheet placed on the manual feed tray in a conveying direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yousuke Hata, Toshifumi Kakutani, Takeyuki Suda, Hirohisa Nakajima, Shinya Suzuki, Manabu Koseki, Toshiyuki Abe, Takayuki Iikura, Kazunori Miyake, Shuji Obata, Mitsuhiro Sugeta, Kazumi Sato
  • Patent number: 9457591
    Abstract: Provided is a printing apparatus that includes: a sheet path for moving a print substrate; a decurling station positioned along the sheet path and the decurling station. The decurling station includes an indenting roller mounted for rotation around a first longitudinal axis thereof and on a first side of the sheet path, and an elastomeric roller mounted for rotation around a second longitudinal axis thereof and on a second side of the sheet path. The indenting roller includes an indenter shaft and a an anti-contamination coating disposed on the indenter shaft, wherein a drop of aqueous ink exhibits a sliding angle of less than about 30° and a contact angle of greater than about 40° with a surface of the anti-contamination coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jason Matthew LeFevre, Santokh Badesha, David VanKouwenberg, Varun Sambhy, Eric Dudek
  • Patent number: 9455094
    Abstract: Provided are methods of making graphene-carbon nanotube hybrid materials. Such methods generally include: (1) associating a graphene film with a substrate; (2) applying a catalyst and a carbon source to the graphene film; and (3) growing carbon nanotubes on the graphene film. The grown carbon nanotubes become covalently linked to the graphene film through carbon-carbon bonds that are located at one or more junctions between the carbon nanotubes and the graphene film. In addition, the grown carbon nanotubes are in ohmic contact with the graphene film through the carbon-carbon bonds at the one or more junctions. The one or more junctions may include seven-membered carbon rings. Also provided are the formed graphene-carbon nanotube hybrid materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: James M. Tour, Yu Zhu, Lei Li, Zheng Yan, Jian Lin
  • Patent number: 9454120
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus for driving a cassette pickup roller (17) and a registration roller (18) by using the same driving source, in which a conveyance control portion (221) starts conveyance speed control for a subsequent sheet, which is fed from a sheet feeding position subsequently to a preceding sheet fed therefrom earlier, when it is determined that a trailing edge of the preceding sheet has passed through the registration roller (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Kanno, Tadashi Fukumuro
  • Patent number: 9455092
    Abstract: An electric conductive polymer suspension is produced by performing chemical oxidative polymerization of a monomer for providing an electric conductive polymer by using an oxidant in a solvent containing an organic acid or a salt thereof as a dopant to form an electric conductive polymer, recovering the electric conductive polymer, allowing an oxidant to act on the electric conductive polymer in an aqueous solvent containing a polyacid, and further mixing a dispersant with a branched structure and then pulverizing the electric conductive polymer. According to the electric conductive polymer suspension, an organic material high in conductivity, and excellent in adhesiveness to a substrate and water resistance, and a method for producing the material, as well as an electrolytic capacitor and a method for producing the capacitor can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: NEC Tokin Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Sugawara, Tomoki Nobuta, Satoshi Suzuki, Yasuhiro Tomioka
  • Patent number: 9449760
    Abstract: A multilayer ceramic capacitor includes a multilayer unit, thickness-direction first and second outer layer sections, and length-direction first and second outer layer sections. A dimension of the thickness-direction second outer layer section is greater than a dimension of the thickness-direction first outer layer section. The thickness-direction second outer layer section includes an inner portion and an outer portion. A composition ratio of Si to Ti in a ceramic dielectric layer included in the outer portion is higher than that in the inner portion. A Si content ratio is higher in a boundary portion between the outer portion and the inner portion. A relationship expressed by T1/(L0?L1)?5.98 is satisfied when a minimum dimension in the length direction of the body is denoted by L0, a minimum dimension in the thickness direction of the multilayer unit is denoted by T1, and a minimum dimension in the length direction of the multilayer unit is denoted by L1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shota Kitano, Takanobu Katsuyama, Hiroaki Sugita