Patents Examined by Nguyen Q Ha
  • Patent number: 11499882
    Abstract: A pressure sensor includes a sensor chip. The sensor chip has two diaphragms, recessed portions that serve as first pressure inlet chambers disposed so as to respectively adjoin top surfaces of the diaphragms, and recessed portions that serve as second pressure inlet chambers disposed so as to respectively adjoin bottom surfaces of the diaphragms. A cavity is provided in the sensor chip such that, when a difference between pressures respectively applied to a top surface and bottom surface of the diaphragm is zero, an output voltage of a Wheatstone bridge circuit made up of strain gauges provided in the diaphragm is zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: AZBIL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hirofumi Tojo
  • Patent number: 11493424
    Abstract: A filter monitoring system for a filter in a vehicle air conditioner includes a first temperature sensor to detect an air temperature of intake air drawn into an air conditioner case through the filter, a second temperature sensor to detect an evaporator temperature of the evaporator, and a processor coupled to the first and second temperature sensors and coupled to a memory. The processor is configured to calculate an actual change-rate of the evaporator temperature while a compressor is in operation, calculate an expected change-rate of the evaporator temperature based on the air temperature and operation levels of a blower and the compressor by using predetermined data with a properly functioning filter, calculate a degradation degree of the filter by comparing the actual change-rate to the expected change-rate, and output a signal indicating degradation of the filter upon determining that the degradation degree is out of an acceptable range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Minoru Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11486843
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a small-sized dryness/wetness responsive sensor that detects a galvanic current with a high sensitivity as a principle of operation. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a dryness/wetness responsive sensor comprises a thin wire made of a first metal and a thin wire made of a second metal, the second metal is different from the first metal, the thin wire of the first metal and the thin wire of the second metal are disposed in juxtaposition with each other on an insulating substrate, and a surface state of a part between the thin wire of the first metal and the thin wire of the second metal is hydrophilic or hydrophobic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR MATERIALS SCIENCE
    Inventors: Jin Kawakita, Akihiko Ohi, Tomoko Ohki, Naoki Ikeda, Toshihide Nabatame, Toyohiro Chikyo
  • Patent number: 11480908
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a post-processing apparatus includes a stapling unit which includes a cartridge for containing a staple used for stapling processing, a moving unit configured to move the stapling unit between a first stapling position, a second stapling position and a replacement position, a detection unit configured to detect presence or absence of a staple in the cartridge, and a control unit configured to make the stapling unit stand ready at the second stapling position in a case where the presence of a staple in the cartridge is detected by the detection unit, and to make the moving unit move the stapling unit to the replacement position in a case where the absence of a staple in the cartridge is detected by the detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Seiji Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 11479230
    Abstract: A system comprises a plurality of handheld devices including a plurality of transceivers. A control unit may be coupled to a handheld device of the plurality of handheld devices. The system may further include a plurality of end-of-train air devices coupled to a plurality of air brakes. An air manifold may be coupled to the plurality of air brakes. The system may include a controller coupled to the control unit and to the air manifold. A processor may be coupled to the controller and the control unit, and a non-transitory computer readable medium may be coupled to the processor. The non-transitory computer readable medium may include instructions executable to receive information from the control unit corresponding to an air brake test performed on the plurality of end-of-train air devices, determine a status of the air brake test, and generate an inspection form based on the received information and the determined status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Inventors: Klaus Buchberger, Steven Novak
  • Patent number: 11478732
    Abstract: Systems and methods determine a filter efficiency of a fluid filter. A characteristic of fluid flow of a fluid is monitored at a first point and at a second point on a flow path of a fluid filter. A particle absorption level of the fluid filter is determined that is a difference in the characteristic of the fluid flow at the first point and the second point. The particle absorption level of the fluid filter is at a particle absorption saturation level based on the difference in the characteristic of the fluid flow at the first point and the second point. The particle absorption saturation level is an indicator that the particles retained by the fluid filter is decreased and replacement of the fluid filter is required to increase the particles retained by the fluid filter to be above the particle absorption saturation level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: IoT Diagnostics
    Inventors: Rex Wetherill, Jeremy Drury, Jon Prescott
  • Patent number: 11480511
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for analyzing diffusion coefficients of solvent molecules in polymer materials by applying a diffusion coefficient analysis model using 4 descriptors related to solvent properties. The present invention can provide optimum solvents when it is necessary to screen solvents suitable for drying procedure in the preparation of polymer films using a solvent process or it is necessary to analyze the permeability of polymer materials used in the final products by effectively analyzing the diffusion coefficients of solvent molecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Inventors: Seungha Kim, In Hye Kwon, Kyoung Hoon Kim
  • Patent number: 11467080
    Abstract: Methods of estimating permeability of reservoir rocks using mercury injection capillary pressure can include: receiving mercury injection capillary pressure test data and porosity data for a core sample; determining a fractal dimension (D) for the core sample based on the received mercury injection capillary pressure test data for the core sample; determining a pore throat radius (Rd) for the core sample; determining a composite parameter (?) for the core sample where ? = ? ? R d ( D - 2 ) ; and estimating permeability (K) of the core sample based on a relationship of ln(K) as a function of ln(?) determined by performing a regression analysis data from other core samples from the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Hongwen Zhao, Yufeng Cui, Ming Zhang, Peng Lu
  • Patent number: 11460392
    Abstract: A non-contact fiber permeability measurement system includes a mold device, a fluid supplying device, a capacitance detecting device and a permeability converting device. The mold device includes an upper plate, a lower plate and a fluid inlet. The lower plate is parallel to and disposed below the upper plate for forming an accommodating space disposing a measured fibrous fabric insulated against the upper plate and the lower plate. The fluid inlet is disposed through the upper plate. The fluid supplying device is connected to the mold device and for providing a fluid perfused from the fluid inlet into the accommodating space. The capacitance detecting device is electrically connected to the upper plate and the lower plate. The permeability converting device is electrically connected to the capacitance detecting device and for receiving the capacitance detected via the capacitance detecting device to convert the capacitance to a permeability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: NATIONAL TSING HUA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yuan Yao, Cheng-Yi Yang
  • Patent number: 11454352
    Abstract: The document relates to a sensor arrangement for underwater detection of a leak in fluid carrying body, comprising a sensor support structure mountable to a carrier for enabling the sensor support structure to be suitably positioned or moved. A plurality of thermal sensors is distributed on the sensor support structure forming a sensor array. The sensors are provided by optical fibers connectable to an interrogator via optical signal connectors. Each fiber comprises intrinsic fiber optic sensors at respective locations within the fiber, forming the thermal sensors. The fibers are arranged on the support structure such that the intrinsic fiber optic sensors is distributed across the support structure to span a detection area. The document further relates to a method of performing leak detection as well as for discovering natural occurring leaks (sources).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: FUGRO TECHNOLOGY B.V.
    Inventors: Devrez Mehmet Karabacak, Anthony Charles Farn, Darren Paul Walley, Erik Paardekam
  • Patent number: 11453904
    Abstract: There is provided an evaluation method for permeability of a porous membrane that separates a first flow channel and a second flow channel, the evaluation method including supplying a pressure to a liquid inside the first flow channel and acquiring a change that occurs in a liquid accommodated in the second flow channel as an evaluation indicator of permeability of the porous membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hayato Miyoshi, Takahiro Oba, Keisuke Oku
  • Patent number: 11448582
    Abstract: A method is provided for non-intrusively determining deposits of a fluidic channel. The method includes creating a pressure pulse in a fluidic channel. The method also includes sensing, by one or more sensors, reflections of the pressure pulse; and obtaining, from the one or more sensors, a measured pressure profile based on the sensed reflections of the pressure pulse. A processor then can determine one or more properties of the deposit in the fluidic channel based on the measured pressure profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: David B. Bennett, Oluwatosin Ogundare, Claudio Olmi
  • Patent number: 11441994
    Abstract: A system and method for testing of skin electroporation using simulations of human skin has been described. The system is using a simulation protocol to provide an in-silico design of skin's upper layer stratum-corneum (SC) at molecular level. This model is then further used to design the skin electroporation strategy. An external electric field was applied across the lipid bilayer to form a pore in the lipid bilayer. The pore size and pore growth rate was calculated depending on the applied external electric field. The generated pore was then stabilized by varying the external electric field. Further, on removing the external electric field, the reformation of lipid bilayer and self-healing of human skin was also achieved. In another embodiment, the system is also configured to perform the virtual testing of a drug permeation through skin in presence of external electric field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES LIMITED
    Inventors: Rakesh Gupta, Beena Rai
  • Patent number: 11441740
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a method of simulating a leak in a pipeline. The method includes: receiving a fluid stream from a fluid supply; and outputting the received fluid stream through an outlet such that the received fluid stream hits an outer surface of the pipeline at a location opposite the outlet such that a vibration is caused in the pipeline. Some other embodiments provide a corresponding system for simulating a leak in a pipeline, and a corresponding outlet for coupling a conduit to a pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Hifi Engineering Inc.
    Inventors: John Hull, Seyed Ehsan Jalilian, Oleksiy Pletnyov
  • Patent number: 11435256
    Abstract: A method for detecting an irregularity within a fluidic channel, the method including inducing a pressure pulse within a fluidic channel, the pressure pulse resulting in a pressure fluctuation; detecting the pressure fluctuation at a predetermined location within the fluidic channel; determining a measured pressure profile based on the detected pressure fluctuation; providing a baseline pressure profile relating to a pressure within an unaltered fluidic channel; applying an algorithm to the baseline pressure profile and the measured pressure profile; and outputting an irregularity location and an irregularity effect based on the algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Srinivasan Jagannathan
  • Patent number: 11428620
    Abstract: A high-temperature and high-pressure microscopic visual flowing device and an experimental method are provided by the present disclosure, comprising a seepage simulation system, a micro-displacement and metering system connected to the seepage simulation system, and an image acquisition and analysis system; the seepage simulation system consists of a visual high-temperature and high-pressure kettle, a microscopic core model placed in the visual high-temperature and high-pressure kettle, and glass carriers arranged above and below the microscopic core model; the glass carriers are provided with sealing rubber sleeves, and the visual high-temperature and high-pressure kettle is provided with an annular heating jacket; an outlet of the microscopic core model is provided with a microflow channel which is connected to the micro-displacement and metering system through a pipe, effectively reducing the metering error caused by the dead volume of the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Southwest Petroleum University
    Inventors: Wenlian Xiao, Yubin Yang, Jitian Ren, Wanfen Pu, Shuaishuai Liu, Xiao Guo, Yongming Li, Kun Wang, Lingli Zheng, Jinzhou Zhao, Yijian Chen, Quantang Fang
  • Patent number: 11428597
    Abstract: A method for diagnosing a combustion machine, wherein the combustion machine comprises at least one internal combustion engine and one intake air line via which fresh air can be fed to the internal combustion engine. In addition, at least one intake air compressor and, upstream from the intake air compressor, a control flap are integrated into the intake air line. In one operating state of the combustion machine, the control flap is closed so far that a negative pressure relative to the ambient pressure is produced by means of the running internal combustion engine in the portion of the intake air line that lies between the control flap and the internal combustion engine, with an actual value that is associated with this negative pressure being compared with a target value and the presence or absence of leakage in this portion of the intake air line being deduced from any difference that might exist between the actual value and the target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Mathias Hauptvogel, Fabian Berski
  • Patent number: 11422083
    Abstract: Method of identifying a valid flow path includes: performing fluid analysis of a porous body, which is ought to have inflow surface and outflow surface, based on structure data representing a 3-dimentional structure of the porous body to generate data indicating at least a pressure distribution of a fluid in a flow path in the porous body; and identifying a valid flow path that allows the fluid to flow from the inflow surface to the outflow surface based on a gradient of pressure values along a flow direction of the fluid in the flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shingo Sokawa, Yuki Oka
  • Patent number: 11422082
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for demonstrating the cleansing efficacy of a personal care product or a component thereof, the method comprising: (i) selecting a first portion of a porous article capable of allowing a gas to pass through its pores, wherein the porous article is connected to a source of said gas and immersed in a liquid while the source releases said gas which flows out of said pores to generate gas bubbles; (ii) treating the first portion of the porous article with contaminants; (iii) treating the first portion of the porous article with the personal care product or the component thereof, wherein a second portion of the porous article is selected in step (i); the second portion is also treated with contaminants in step (ii); and the second portion is treated with a comparative or placebo product in step (iii); and wherein following step (iii) the method comprises a step (iv) of assessing a change of the treated first portion relative to untreated article and/or relative to the treated second portion,
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Paul Maguire, Joseca Santos Alincastre
  • Patent number: 11415919
    Abstract: A printing device may include a first print engine to print a first image in a first area of a web substrate and leave blank a second area of the web substrate, a second print engine in series with the first print engine to print a second image on the second area of the web substrate in simplex. The printing device may also include an optical sensor to identify a number of alignment indicators on the web substrate, and a controller to engage the second print engine with the web substrate based on the identification of the alignment indicators by the optical sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Yaron Cohen, Noam Zorero, Ofer Eluk