Patents Examined by Nigel H Plumb
  • Patent number: 12027343
    Abstract: System and methods are described for directly measuring mechanical properties of a sample while concurrently imaging the sample using a scanning beam microscope (e.g., a scanning electron microscope (SEM)).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: University of Connecticut
    Inventors: Joseph Favata, SIna Shahbazmohamadi, Valery Ray, Ali Hadjikhani
  • Patent number: 12025591
    Abstract: Provided are a material testing machine that can improve the responsiveness and the stability and perform a feedback control for a test condition, and a method for controlling a material testing machine. A monitor amount conversion unit (23) calculates an estimation testing force by multiplying an elongation amount measured by an elongation amount measurement unit (22) by a control stiffness of a test piece (TP). A material test control unit (24) determines an operation amount for a servo motor (43) for reducing a deviation between an actual testing force applied to the test piece (TP) and a target testing force according to a test condition based on an estimation testing force, and executes a tensile test for the test piece (TP).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tohru Matsuura
  • Patent number: 12018993
    Abstract: Disclosed example pressure transducers include: an absolute pressure sensor comprising a fluid input and a sensor housing configured to contain a reference pressure, and configured to output a signal representative of a pressure sensed at the fluid input; an outer insulation housing around the sensor housing of the absolute pressure sensor, wherein a volume between the outer insulation housing and the sensor housing comprises a vacuum pressure, wherein the outer insulation housing has a pinch tube configured to allow establishing of the vacuum pressure in the volume when the outer insulation housing is assembled to form the volume, and to seal the vacuum pressure in the volume when the pinch tube is sealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Shawn S. Cable
  • Patent number: 12018991
    Abstract: A pipeline for conveying concrete determines a pressure in and/or a wall thickness of the pipeline, wherein a first length portion of the pipeline has a first wall thickness and a second length portion of the pipeline has a second wall thickness greater than the first wall thickness. The determination is made using a first strain gauge on an outer side of the first length portion and a second strain gauge on an outer side of the second length portion, wherein the strain gauges are each fixedly applied to the outer side of the length portions. A strain gauge and/or the second longitudinal section of the pipeline are/is at a spacing from at least one end of the pipeline, which spacing corresponds to at least an internal diameter of the pipeline. By comparing strain gauge measurements, the wall thickness is determinable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Putzmeister Engineering GmbH
    Inventors: Tobias Huth, Knut Kasten, Ansgar Mueller
  • Patent number: 12013276
    Abstract: A sensor assembly for determining the level of oil in a filter pan may include a load cell for sensing the amount of oil in the filter pan. The filter pan may be pivotable about a first end of the filter pan within a frame. The assembly may also include a lever pivotable about a fulcrum. A first end of the lever may support a second end of the filter pan. A second end of the lever may press against the load cell based upon downward pressure from the filter pan against the first end of the lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Giles Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary Griggs, Lance Covert, James Ward
  • Patent number: 12007318
    Abstract: A device and a method for in situ penetration measurement of gas transport parameters in an unsaturated soil layer. The device mainly consists of a gas supply system, a gas concentration display recorder, a gas pressure display recorder, a sleeve, a gas concentration sensor, a gas pressure sensor, a porous gas-permeable tube and a conical penetration head. The gas diffusion coefficient and permeability coefficient of the unsaturated soil can be obtained by only measuring the gas pressure value, the gas concentration value and the corresponding gas flow value of an unsaturated soil layer at a depth required to be tested, and substituting same into calculation formulae of the gas diffusion coefficient and permeability coefficient. The testing process of the method is simple and fast, and is low in cost, simple in operation and convenient in calculation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Liangtong Zhan, Tao Wu, Song Feng, Yunmin Chen
  • Patent number: 12000817
    Abstract: A milking system includes a milking device, a milk line for carrying milk, and a sampling unit arranged to take a sample from the milk line and test the sample for the presence or concentration of at least one substance. The sampling unit is provided with a housing. The housing includes a supply reel with a tape that carries reagent, and a sample supplier. The sampling unit includes a tape displacer displacing the tape, a sample analyser, and a used tape collector device collecting tape with reagent to which a sample has been supplied. The supply reel at a surface thereof includes a desiccant, or is completely made of a desiccant material. This provides such a large volume of desiccant that the correspondingly high moisture absorption capacity ensures an uninterrupted useful life of the sampling unit, and thus of the milking system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: LELY PATENT N.V.
    Inventors: Peter Michael Gavin, Abram Christiaan Knip
  • Patent number: 12000974
    Abstract: A mobile plant for orienting a tool with respect to a hole is provided. The plant includes an arm assembly for supporting a tool wherein the tool is adapted to be lowered into the hole. The plant also includes a primary sensor for sensing the geographical location of the tool, and a secondary sensor for sensing the location and/or orientation of the hole. In use, the plant adjusts the position of the tool supported by the arm assembly based on the geographical location sensed by the primary sensor and the location and/or orientation sensed by the secondary sensor, in order to align the tool supported by the arm assembly with the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: KINETIC LOGGING SERVICES PTY LTD
    Inventors: Peter John Bloomfield, Pierre Pouchol, Brenton Armitage
  • Patent number: 12000729
    Abstract: Distributed fiber optic sensing (DFOS) systems, methods and structures for determining the proximity of vibration sources located perpendicular to a sensor fiber that is part of the DFOS system that may potentially threaten/damage or otherwise compromise the sensor fiber itself. Systems, methods, and structures according to aspects of the present disclosure employ Artificial Intelligence (AI) methodology(ies) that use as input a fundamental physical understanding of wave propagation and attenuation in the ground along with Bayesian inference and Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) techniques for estimating/determining the proximity of potentially damaging vibration sources to the optical sensor fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Shaobo Han, Ming-Fang Huang, Yuheng Chen, Milad Salemi
  • Patent number: 12000095
    Abstract: A system for pavement slab analysis based on data regarding transfer of force through a sensing volume responsive to exertion of weight on the sensing volume by passing objects including a precast pavement slab defining the sensing volume and having a top surface, a plurality of strain gauges embedded in the pavement slab within the sensing volume, and load-transferring connector(s) attaching the pavement slab to an adjacent slab. The strain gauges are distributed across an XY coordinate plane parallel to the top surface. The system also includes a processing element and computer-readable instructions for receipt of electrical signals from the strain gauges and to analysis of the electrical signals to determine one or more of the following: (A) risk of a structural defect in the pavement slab, (B) risk of a problem with underlying sub-grade beneath the pavement slab, and (C) movement of the passing objects across the top surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Integrated Roadways, LLC
    Inventor: Tim Sylvester
  • Patent number: 11988569
    Abstract: Provided is a pressure detection device including a pressure detection unit and a channel unit. The channel unit has a contact part arranged in contact with the pressure detection unit, the contact part has a protective film arranged in contact with a pressure detection surface and configured to block contact between the pressure detection surface and a liquid and a body forming an opening arranged at an end of the channel, the protective film and the body are formed of a thermoplastic fluorine resin, and the protective film is arranged so as to close the opening of the body and welded to the body in an annular region extending circumferentially about the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Surpass Industry Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Hiroshi Imai
  • Patent number: 11981066
    Abstract: Rheological measurement systems for use with systems including pressurized polymer melts and/or other viscous materials are described. In one embodiment, a rheometer is connected to an associated system with a bent, curved, or bendable tube to permit the rheometer to measure rheological properties in locations where the rheometer could not otherwise be located due to the presence of obstructions. Embodiments including rigid straight tubes for connecting a rheometer to an associated system are also described. In another embodiment, a flow-through rheometer is connected to an industry standard ½-20 thermowell aperture that is typically used for attaching temperature and pressure probes to a vessel containing a viscous material such as an extruder or injection molding system. The rheological measurement systems described can have improved tube resistance and thermal strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Dynisco Instruments LLC
    Inventors: John A. Czazasty, John R. Biagioni, Kevin Craig, Matthew Lockwood, Michael P. Leonardi
  • Patent number: 11982593
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining Container Closure Integrity (CCI) in a container system comprising a container, an elastomeric stopper, and a retainer for retaining the stopper in place are disclosed. The systems and methods involve disposing, within a seal assembly, a component configured to sense a degree of compression of the elastomeric stopper. In a first implementation, the elastomeric stopper comprises an embedded positioning component embedded within the elastomeric material. The position of the positioning component is sensed using a detection system and the integrity of the closure is determined based on the position of the embedded component. In a second implementation, a force sensitive resistor is disposed within the seal stack to measure the compression of the elastomeric stopper. The compression of the elastomeric stopper is correlated to the integrity of the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Christian Eichhorn, Sindhuja Kuchibhatla, Michael Sullivan, Kevin Gribowicz
  • Patent number: 11977010
    Abstract: A tissue core sample in a metal core collector or stylet is touched to a substrate channel filled with as special liquid such as a hydrogel to which the tissue core sample is attracted to thereby transfer the tissue sample to the channel while preserving the integrity of the sample, speeding up the transfer and preserving the sample orientation so it can be unambiguously associated with its anatomical origin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: URO-1, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip Jack Snoke, Sharon Collins Presnell, Philip Morrison Allred, III, Ted Belleza
  • Patent number: 11980043
    Abstract: A metal mask and an inspecting method thereof are provided for improving quality standard detection. The metal mask has a first and a second long side and plural pattern regions. The method includes the followings steps Based on the pattern regions adjacent to the first and second long sides, a first and a second reference straight line adjacent to the first and second long sides respectively are defined. Then, a first maximum offset length between the pattern regions and the first reference straight line is measured. A second maximum offset length between the pattern regions and the second reference straight line is measured. When a difference between the first and second maximum offset lengths is less than or equal to 20 ?m, the metal mask is determined to meet an inspecting standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: DARWIN PRECISIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yun-Pei Yang, Mei-Lun Li, Wen-Yi Lin
  • Patent number: 11976941
    Abstract: A method and system for measuring a physical parameter, such as speed and/or distance travelled by a bicycle, includes a permanent magnet disposed on a front fork and a measuring circuit with a magnetic sensor disposed on a rim of the wheel at the same distance from the wheel axis of rotation as the magnet. The sensor passes in front of the magnet to generate an induced voltage pulse at each passage. The induced voltage is rectified and stored on a capacitor. Energy recovery during the sensor passing in front of the magnet allows powering of the measuring circuit. The parameter is calculated in the calculation unit clocked by an oscillator based on the received induced voltage pulses by knowing the bicycle wheel diameter. Measurements performed from the measuring circuit are transmitted to a portable device carried by the user or mounted on the bicycle to be displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventor: Arnaud Casagrande
  • Patent number: 11976994
    Abstract: A sensor for detecting pressure, filling level, density, temperature, mass and/or flow rate, wherein at least one central sensor component is coupled to a further component by nanowires and wherein the sensor component is stiffened, fixed and/or electrically contacted this way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: WIKA ALEXANDER WIEGAND SE & CO. KG
    Inventor: Alexander Wiegand
  • Patent number: 11976995
    Abstract: A micromechanical component for a capacitive sensor or switch device, having a substrate having a substrate surface, a diaphragm mounted on the substrate surface having a self-supporting region, at least one lever element and at least one first electrode connected to the at least one lever element. The at least one lever element is connected to the diaphragm in such a way that when there is a warping of the self-supporting region of the diaphragm the at least one lever element is set into a rotational movement, whereby the at least one connected first electrode is set into a first adjustment movement oriented at an angle to the substrate surface. The at least one lever element and the at least one first electrode connected to the at least one lever element are situated between the substrate surface and the diaphragm inner side of the self-supporting region of the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Jochen Reinmuth
  • Patent number: 11964270
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a suction device (1) to be used together with a pipette, in particular a Pasteur pipette. The suction device comprises a base element (2) with the bore (2a) for the insertion of a pipette (5), and a body connected to the base element, wherein the interior of the body is hollow, wherein at least the body is made of a flexible material, so that the inner volume of the body (3) is variable. Herein, the base element is formed in a polygonal or elliptic shape, so that the shape of the base element is not round and hence prevents a rolling of the suction device over a lab bench or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: HILGENBERG GmbH
    Inventor: Ingo Hilgenberg
  • Patent number: 11959747
    Abstract: A system having a micromechanical clocking system component a clocking system component. The system includes a micromechanical oscillation element, which is able to be induced to an oscillation with a natural frequency, and a first circuit, which generates from the natural frequency of the oscillation element a clock frequency which is pre-calibrated to a predefined setpoint clock frequency; a memory for the remaining deviation of the clock frequency from the setpoint clock frequency, the deviation having been individually determined for the clocking system component; and a processing unit which generates a reference time basis for at least a part of the system on the basis of the generated clock frequency and the stored deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Gerhard Lammel, Timo Giesselmann