Patents Examined by Nigel Plumb
  • Patent number: 9419546
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an energy harvester device comprising a plurality of elongate resonator beams. The resonator beams include a piezoelectric material extending between first and second ends. One or more bases are connected to the first end of each of the resonator beams, with the second end of the resonator beams being freely extending from the one or more bases as a cantilever. A mass is attached to each of the second ends of the resonator beams. Each of the resonator beams is tuned to a resonant frequency offset relative to each of the other resonator beams by 0.1/W to 0.9/W, wherein W is a temporal width between a first impulse and a second impulse which excite motion of the resonator beams. Also disclosed is a system comprising an apparatus and the energy harvester device, as well as methods of using and designing the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: MicroGen Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: David Trauernicht
  • Patent number: 9417221
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for calculating a food additive. A first method includes identifying chemical compounds of an averse food ingredient, identifying chemical compounds of a flavorful food ingredient and calculating a set of chemical compounds for the food additive such that an olfactory perception of a mixture of the averse food ingredient, the flavorful food ingredient and the food additive is the same as an olfactory perception of only the flavorful food ingredient. A first device includes a database storing information identifying chemical compounds of an averse food ingredient and identifying chemical compounds of a flavorful food ingredient, and a processor for calculating a food additive such that an olfactory perception of flavors of a mixture of the averse food ingredient, the flavorful food ingredient and the food additive is the same as an olfactory perception of only the flavorful food ingredient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kush R. Varshney, Lav R. Varshney
  • Patent number: 9417141
    Abstract: A force sensitive touch sensor (100) is provided. The sensor (100) comprises an insulating support layer (101) and an electrically conductive sensor structure (102). The electrically conductive sensor structure (102) comprises a piezoresistive material and is configured to provide a resistance varying in response to a force being applied to the insulating support layer (101). The piezoresistive material comprises graphene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Mobile Communications Inc.
    Inventors: Peter â„«berg, Gunnar Klinghult
  • Patent number: 9410861
    Abstract: A pressure sensor may include an input for receiving an input pressure and a sense die having a sense diaphragm that is exposed to the input pressure and is configured to deflect in response to the input pressure. A diaphragm stop may be positioned adjacent to a first side of the sense diaphragm to limit deflection of the sense diaphragm towards the diaphragm stop. The diaphragm stop include a plurality of defined projections to help prevent stiction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Wade
  • Patent number: 9409451
    Abstract: A tire information obtaining device provided in a tire cavity region for obtaining tire information related to a condition of a tire includes: a sensor that detects the state of gas in the tire cavity region as the tire information; a valve; and a housing having an internal space for containing the sensor in a state of being compartmentalized from the tire cavity region, a ventilation hole for allowing communication between the internal space and the tire cavity region, and a communication hole connected to a cavity region side opening part of the valve at an end portion on the tire cavity region side and allowing communication between the cavity region side opening part and the tire cavity region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Daisuke Kanenari
  • Patent number: 9404936
    Abstract: A pitot tube system having a pitot tube containing a porous hydrophobic fabric that blocks water and contaminants from reaching a pressure sensor. The distance in the pitot tube between the fabric and a front orifice of the tube is less than 2.4 times the height of the orifice, and preferably less than or equal to 0.38 times the height. The section of the tube through which the fabric extends defines an opening characterized by a minimum dimension greater than 0.15 inches, and preferably being at least 0.21 inches. The tube is a removable structure that attaches to a mount that forms a passage for communicating the pressure in the tube. That passage contains a second porous hydrophobic fabric that also blocks water and contaminants from reaching a pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: AeroVironment Inc.
    Inventor: Charles F Ashton
  • Patent number: 9404842
    Abstract: Damage to conductive material that serves as bridging connections between conductive structures within an electronic device may result in deficiencies in radio-frequency (RF) and other wireless communications. A test system for testing device structures under test is provided. Device structures under test may include substrates and a conductive material between the substrates. The test system may include a test fixture for increasing tensile or compressive stress on the device structures under test to evaluate the resilience of the conductive material. The test system may also include a test unit for transmitting RF test signals and receiving test data from the device structures under test. The received test data may include scattered parameter measurements from the device structures under test that may be used to determine if the device structures under test meet desired RF performance criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua G. Nickel, Chun-Lung Chen, Tseng-Mau Yang, Nicholas G. Merz, Robert W. Schlub, Boon W. Shiu, Erica J. Tong
  • Patent number: 9404816
    Abstract: A multifunctional load test device includes a drive, a motor to be tested, a load motor and an inverter. The drive is electrically connected to civil power. The motor to be tested is electrically connected to the drive and powered by the drive and controllably drivable by the drive. The load motor is drivable by the motor to be tested to produce counter electromotive force. The inverter is electrically connected to the load motor to rectify the counter electromotive force into power identical to civil power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: HIWIN MIKROSYSTEM CORP.
    Inventors: Chi-Yuan Cheng, Wei-Cheng Wang, Tzu-Hsiang Hung
  • Patent number: 9389213
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tablet test station, including at least one receptacle for the transfer of tablets from an outlet of a feed device and at least one test means for inspecting, testing and/or measuring the tablets. A lifting device (20) is provided for moving the receptacle (15) relative to the feed device (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: PHARMATRON AG
    Inventors: Thomas Boss, Holger Herrmann
  • Patent number: 9383285
    Abstract: A resonant MEMS pressure sensor in which the resonator mass of the MEMS resonator is anchored both to the fixed base beneath the resonator cavity as well as to the top membrane over the resonator cavity. This provides a more robust fixing of the resonator mass and offers a dependence of resonant frequency on the pressure outside the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: AMS INTERNATIONAL AG
    Inventors: Kim Phan Le, Willem Frederik Adrianus Besling
  • Patent number: 9383270
    Abstract: The various technologies presented herein relate to a sensor for measurement of high forces and/or high load shock rate(s), whereby the sensor utilizes silicon as the sensing element. A plate of Si can have a thinned region formed therein on which can be formed a number of traces operating as a Wheatstone bridge. The brittle Si can be incorporated into a layered structure comprising ductile and/or compliant materials. The sensor can have a washer-like configuration which can be incorporated into a nut and bolt configuration, whereby tightening of the nut and bolt can facilitate application of a compressive preload upon the sensor. Upon application of an impact load on the bolt, the compressive load on the sensor can be reduced (e.g., moves towards zero-load), however the magnitude of the preload can be such that the load on the sensor does not translate to tensile stress being applied to the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Paul C. Galambos, Thomas B. Crenshaw, Erik E. Nishida, Damon J. Burnett, Jeffrey W. Lantz
  • Patent number: 9383284
    Abstract: A pressure gauge includes a first sensor for detecting a pressure in a first range, a second sensor for detecting a pressure in a second range, and a processing unit for determining a pressure value based on outputs from the first sensor and the second sensor. The first and the second ranges have an overlapping range, an upper limit of the second range is higher than that of the first range, the processing unit determines a correction value based on outputs from the first sensor and the second sensor when a pressure falls within the overlapping range, and the processing unit determines a pressure value based on an output from the second sensor and the correction value, when measuring, by using the second sensor, a pressure in the second range, higher than that of the first pressure range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: CANON ANELVA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Haruzo Miyashita
  • Patent number: 9377424
    Abstract: Methods for identifying chemical contrasts on a common surface are generally provided. The presence of a stain on a surface can be detected by applying a testing vapor, such as water, onto the surface and monitoring the surface with an infrared camera that detects wavelengths of about 700 nm to about 1 mm and/or a microbolometer that detects wavelengths of about 7.5 ?m to about 14 ?m. The surface may be at room temperature or preheated during the detection method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: University of South Carolina
    Inventors: Michael Myrick, Wayne O'Brien, Stephen L. Morgan, Briana Marie Cassidy, Raymond Gerard Belliveau, III, Zhenyu Lu
  • Patent number: 9370864
    Abstract: A compliant micro device transfer head and head array are disclosed. In an embodiment a micro device transfer head includes a spring portion that is deflectable into a space between a base substrate and the spring portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Bibl, John A. Higginson, Hsin-Hua Hu
  • Patent number: 9372125
    Abstract: A load detecting device for attachment to a structure under load comprises a carrier unit and a plurality of strain gages. The carrier unit comprises a first and a second mounting section arranged along a longitudinal axis and connected by a sensing section, wherein the plurality of strain gages are arranged at the sensing section of the carrier unit. The sensing section includes two connecting elements extending along the longitudinal axis between the first mounting section and the second mounting section, each of the connecting elements being curved and having a convex side, the convex sides of the two connecting elements facing each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Vishay Advanced Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventor: Chaim Geldman
  • Patent number: 9372662
    Abstract: A fluid meter (27) comprising a housing (28) defining at least one crankcase (29) and two cylinders (25, 26), a crankshaft (11) disposed in the crankcase (29), two pistons (3, 4) respectively mounted in the cylinders (25, 26) for reciprocal movement, a first connecting rod (12) connected to one of the pistons (3) and to the crankshaft (11) for rotating the crankshaft (11) in response to the movement of the one piston (3), and a second connecting rod (13) connected to the other piston (4) and to the crankshaft (11) for rotating the crankshaft (11) in response to the movement of the other piston (4), wherein the first and second connecting rods (12, 13) have yoke slots (16, 17) with a circumferential periphery (62) for receiving a crank pin (19) radially offset from the crankshaft (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Wayne Fueling Systems Sweden AB
    Inventors: Marie Hakansson, Bengt Ingemar Larsson
  • Patent number: 9372138
    Abstract: Described are various exemplary embodiments of a cable track monitoring system and method. In one embodiment, a monitoring system for a cable track is operatively mounted between an anchoring unit and a mobile unit in designating a deployable cabling path therebetween as the mobile unit travels relative to the anchoring unit. The system comprises a monitoring cable to be run within the cable track along the cabling path; and a sensor fixedly mountable relative to one of the anchoring unit and the mobile unit and operatively coupleable to the monitoring cable in sensing a tension variation therein as the mobile unit travels relative to the anchoring unit. The sensor is operable to monitor the tension variation during operation of the cable track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mike Riddall
  • Patent number: 9366554
    Abstract: A number of variations may include a method that may include providing a first part that may include a snap ring, a second part, and a retention check tool that may include an accelerometer. The method may further include assembling the first part and the second part such that the snap ring abuts the second part thereby producing vibration. The method may further include detecting the vibration of the snap ring and generating a corresponding first signal representing the vibration of the snap ring. The method may further include measuring a difference between the first signal and a predetermined baseline signal via the controller to determine a pass or fail status of the first signal. The method may further include generating a second signal representing the pass or fail status of the first signal and indicating the pass or fail status of the first signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Paul D. Hindson
  • Patent number: 9360359
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid meter (27) comprising a housing (28) defining at least one crankcase (29) and two cylinders (25, 26), a crankshaft (11) disposed in the crankcase (29), two pistons (3, 4) respectively mounted in the cylinders (25, 26) for reciprocal movement, a first connecting rod (12) connected to one of the pistons (3) and to the crankshaft (11) for rotating the crankshaft (11) in response to the movement of the one piston (3), and a second connecting rod (13) connected to the other piston (4) and to the crankshaft (11) for rotating the crankshaft (11) in response to the movement of the other piston (4), wherein the first and second connecting rods (12, 13) have yoke slots (16, 17) for receiving a crank pin (19) radially offset from the crankshaft (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Wayne Fueling Systems Sweden AB
    Inventors: Marie Hakansson, Bengt I. Larsson
  • Patent number: 9347763
    Abstract: A hydraulic cylinder stroke operation diagnosis assisting device includes: movable portions that are sequentially supported by a vehicle body in a rotatable manner; a hydraulic cylinder between the vehicle body and each movable portion or between the movable portions to support the movable portions in a rotatable manner; a stroke sensor in the hydraulic cylinder to measure a stroke length of the hydraulic cylinder; a reset sensor measuring a reference reset point in which a value of the stroke length measured by the stroke sensor is reset; a stroke end detection unit detecting a stroke end position of the hydraulic cylinder; a calibration unit calibrating the measured value of the stroke length when the reference reset point and/or the stroke end position are detected; and a monitor displaying at least the measured value of the stroke length and a calibration state by the calibration unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Ikegami, Yoshiki Kami, Yuki Shimano, Yukinori Maeda