Patents Examined by O. Davis
  • Patent number: 7296463
    Abstract: A measuring apparatus for measuring of positions or movements of two objects relative to one another with a force and/or moment sensor and a conversion spring element, with the force and/or moment sensor being elastically connected with one of the objects at least via the conversion spring element. A force and/or moment sensor with the measuring apparatus. A joystick with the measuring apparatus or the force and/or moment sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: 3DConnexion GmbH
    Inventor: Bernd Gombert
  • Patent number: 7284446
    Abstract: A testing apparatus for a joint includes a support structure for engaging a first part a joint, an adapter for engaging a second part of the joint, a load assembly coupled with the adapter for applying a load onto the adapter and a drive assembly coupled with the adapter. Operation of the drive assembly causes angulation and rotation of the adapter relative to the support structure, which in turn causes angulation and rotation of the first and second parts of the joint relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: SpineCore, Inc.
    Inventors: Rafail Zubok, Joseph P. Errico, Michael W. Dudasik
  • Patent number: 7263896
    Abstract: A high precision force and displacement measuring device adapted to operate in at least two directions, including signal multiplexing scheme providing multiple signal channels to be transmitted through a single pick-up plate and sense amplifier, while maintaining high isolation between the channels, as well as identical electrical response characteristics of all channels. The device may be used in conjunction with a movable stage (such as on an optical microscope) to perform mechanical measurements on Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Inventor: Wayne Bonin
  • Patent number: 7263897
    Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a three-axis motion table capable of ensuring smooth rotations around three rotation axes orthogonal to each other and decreasing an overall weight. The three-axis motion table according to the present invention has an outside frame (3), an (e.g., approximately square) intermediate frame (5), and an (e.g., approximately square) inside frame (7). The outside frame (3) is rotatably mounted around a first rotation axis (2) by means of a pair of both-end supporting legs (1, 1). The intermediate frame (5) is rotatably mounted around a second rotation axis (4) by means of the outside frame (3). The inside frame (7) is rotatably mounted around a third rotation axis (6) by means of the intermediate frame (5). The inside frame (7) has a holding mechanism for a tested model (J). One of the both-end supporting legs (1, 1) is provided with a first motor (M1) to rotate the outside frame (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Nihon University
    Inventors: Yuzo Shimada, Kenji Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 7258023
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for measuring the transfer resistance of a cosmetic product, such as a foundation, comprising: i) depositing an amount of the cosmetic product onto a first face of a support; ii) applying the first face of the support onto a sheet, under given pressure and given duration conditions; iii) while maintaining a pressure, effecting a relative translational motion between the sheet and the support, parallel to the plane of the sheet and at a substantially constant speed; and iv) determining a transfer index for the product as a function of the amount of residual product on the first face, or in the event of a residual amount that is greater than zero and less than the said given amount, as a function of the length of a trail formed by the product transferred onto the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: L'Oreal S.A.
    Inventor: Franck Giron
  • Patent number: 7258022
    Abstract: A micro-tensile testing system providing a stand-alone test platform for testing and reporting physical or engineering properties of test samples of materials having thicknesses of approximately between 0.002 inch and 0.030 inch, including, for example, LiGA engineered materials. The testing system is able to perform a variety of static, dynamic, and cyclic tests. The testing system includes a rigid frame and adjustable gripping supports to minimize measurement errors due to deflection or bending under load; serrated grips for securing the extremely small test sample; high-speed laser scan micrometers for obtaining accurate results; and test software for controlling the testing procedure and reporting results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies
    Inventor: Edward G. Wenski
  • Patent number: 7255011
    Abstract: Switches SW1 to SW4 and variable resistors are formed so as to overlap each other at positions corresponding to the X-axial positive direction, the X-axial negative direction, the Y-axial positive direction, and the Y-axial negative direction, respectively. When at least one of the switches SW1 to SW4 is off, no Z-axial output is activated and only X- and Y-axial outputs are activated. On the other hand, when any of the switches SW1 to SW4 is on, no X- and Y-axial outputs are activated and only a Z-axial output is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Nitta Corporation
    Inventor: Hideo Morimoto
  • Patent number: 7255000
    Abstract: In paper and board machines the position of a rolling device relative to another rolling device and/or the force exerted by the rolling device on the other rolling device or any variable acting on these is measured, and the value of the measured variable is compared with the set value of said variable in order to obtain the difference value of the variable, and the position of the rolling device and/or the force it exerts on the other rolling device is controlled on the basis of the difference value. The fluid pressure of the hydraulic means (5) and/or the flow velocity of the fluid to the hydraulic means is changed in order to alter the difference value of the variable by opening and/or closing at least one digital valve in a digital valve pack (7) functionally connected to the hydraulic means (S).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Tatu Pitkänen, Petteri Lannes, Marko Tiilikainen
  • Patent number: 7255014
    Abstract: A wheel bearing apparatus has a wheel speed detecting apparatus which can prevent ingress of foreign matter into the wheel speed detecting portion of the wheel bearing apparatus. The wheel bearing apparatus has an encoder (19) mounted on the outer circumferential surface of an inner ring (6). A sensor holder (15) is arranged on the end of the outer member (4) opposite to the encoder (19). The sensor holder (15) includes an annular fitting member (16) and a holding portion (17). The holding portion (17) is formed by synthetic resin molded integrally with the annular fitting member (16). A wheel speed detecting sensor (20) is embedded in the resin and is positioned opposite to the encoder (19), via a predetermined gap between the two. A seal (11) is arranged at the inboard side of the encoder (19). The seal (11) includes a first sealing plate (21) and a second sealing plate (22) fit, respectively, on the sensor holder (15) and the inner ring (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Syougo Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7249521
    Abstract: The present invention is based on the recognition that some materials contain a magnetically susceptible or magnetic component. That is, they exhibit ferromagnetic, paramagnetic, diamagnetic or magnetic properties. According to the invention, it is possible to determine the presence of a magnetically susceptible or magnetic component in a sample of a material by obtaining a sample of the material, positioning the sample at a predetermined distance from a magnet and then measuring the magnetic force on the sample by the magnet. The force is measured using a force transducer. To obtain the magnetic force per unit gravitational force, the gravitational force on the sample is measured out of the presence of the magnet and the measured magnetic force is then divided by the gravitational force exerted on the sample. A sample thickness adjustment is necessary if comparing samples of different thicknesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Inventor: Peter Frasca
  • Patent number: 7234360
    Abstract: A sensor for measuring mechanical changes in length, in particular a compressive and/or tensile stress sensor, includes a sandwich system with two flat and superposed electrodes separated from each other by a tunnel element (tunnel barrier), in particular an oxide barrier, a current being set up between the electrodes and through the tunnel barrier, one electrode consisting of a magnetostrictive layer 3 which responds to elongation, and wherein the contributions of the anisotropies caused by mechanical tension are larger than those from the intrinsic anisotropies, relative changes in system resistance ?R/R larger than 10% at room temperature being attained during elongation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignees: Stifting Caesar, Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Eckhard Quandt, Markus Lohndorf, Alfred Ludwig, Manfred Ruhrig, Joachim Wecker
  • Patent number: 7231817
    Abstract: An inspection system formed at least from a viewing tube for inspecting aspects of a turbine engine during operation of the turbine engine. An outer housing of the viewing tube may be positioned within a turbine engine using at least one bearing configured to fit into an indentation of a support housing to form a ball and socket joint enabling the viewing tube to move during operation as a result of vibrations and other movements. The viewing tube may also include one or more lenses positioned within the viewing tube for viewing the turbine components. The lenses may be kept free of contamination by maintaining a higher pressure in the viewing tube than a pressure outside of the viewing tube and enabling gases to pass through an aperture in a cap at a viewing end of the viewing tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Power Generation, Inc.
    Inventors: Jan P. Smed, Dennis H. Lemieux, James P. Williams
  • Patent number: 7228723
    Abstract: Standardized bumper testing includes a barrier adapted for testing vehicle bumper impact strength and engagement. The present improvement includes first and/or second thermoformed components attached to the barrier to replicate a profile and crush characteristics of a “generic” vehicle bumper. The first face component is an energy absorbing component with crush boxes for impact absorption, and replicates an energy absorber. The second component covers the first component and replicates a fascia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: NetShape Energy Management LLC
    Inventors: Darin Evans, Wayne C. Graves
  • Patent number: 7222545
    Abstract: A seat belt tension sensor assembly is adapted to be secured to the seat belt assembly of a vehicle. The assembly includes a housing for a seat belt anchor adapted for movement relative to the housing into an overload position where a portion of the anchor is abutted against a portion of the housing to limit and arrest the movement of the anchor relative to the housing and transfer the load from the anchor to the housing and then to an interior structure of the vehicle. In one embodiment, the housing forms a collar and the anchor includes an interior wall defining an aperture through which the collar extends when the anchor is mounted to the housing. Movement of the anchor relative to the housing is limited as a result of the contact between the interior anchor wall and the collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: CTS Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick B. Blakesley, Robert R. Rainey, Murray Kaijala
  • Patent number: 7219561
    Abstract: Forces and moments are detected in a distinguishing manner by a simple structure. A supporting member (20) is positioned below a force receiving member (10), which receives forces to be detected, and between these components, four columnar force transmitting members (11 to 14) are connected. Connecting members, having flexibility, are interposed at the upper and lower ends of each of the columnar force transmitting members (11 to 14) so that the columnar force transmitting members (11 to 14) can become inclined when the force receiving member (10) becomes displaced upon receiving a force. Sensors (21 to 24), each equipped with capacitance elements, are positioned at the connections parts of the respective columnar force transmitting members (11 to 14) and the supporting member (20) to detect forces that are transmitted from the respective columnar force transmitting members (11 to 14) to the supporting member (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Wacoh Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Okada
  • Patent number: 7219531
    Abstract: A testing apparatus and method for determining the impact an/or vibration absorbent characteristics of an impact and/or vibration absorbent material. The apparatus includes a base having upwardly extending vertical guide rods. A sample plate is maintained in a position above the base by one or more springs of known spring rate. A weight is adapted to move vertically along the guide rods and to impact the sample plate and a sample of impact and/or vibration absorbent material when dropped from a raised position. The impact of the weight causes a downward vertical displacement of the sample plate, which displacement is measured by a moveable indicator. This displacement can be used, along with the total spring rate provided by the spring(s), to calculate a pass-through impact force. The pass-through impact force can then be subtracted from the impact force generated by the falling weight to determine the amount of impact force absorbed by the impact and/or vibration absorbent material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gary Hammons, Roger W. Kramer, Charles Marks, Kevin Porter, Robert Bogard, Traci Skahill, Mark Smith
  • Patent number: 7216551
    Abstract: A sensor device 2 has a magnetostrictive sensor 8 provided on a fixed-side raceway member 3 for detecting a gap between the sensor and a rotation-side raceway member 4, and means for processing the output of the magnetostrictive sensor 8. The processing means comprises a rotation detecting unit for determining the speed of rotation of the rotation-side raceway member 4 from the number of repetitions of a variation in the output of the magnetostrictive sensor 8, a unit for averaging output values of the magnetostrictive sensor 8 and a load calculating unit for determining the load acting on an antifriction bearing from the output averaged by the averaging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Katsura Koyagi, Masahiro Inoue
  • Patent number: 7213450
    Abstract: A sealing valve 28 that controls a communication state between a fuel tank 10 and a canister 26 is provided. During stop of an internal combustion engine, the sealing valve 28 is generally closed, and the canister 26 is opened to the atmosphere. The sealing valve 28 is opened when the internal combustion engine is stopped, and differential pressure exceeding a valve opening determination value is generated between tank internal pressure and atmospheric pressure. A change in the tank internal pressure generated between before and after the sealing valve 28 is opened is detected. When the change in the tank internal pressure is below a predetermined determination value, closing failure of the sealing valve is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuji Matsubara, Toru Kidokoro, Yoshihiko Hyodo
  • Patent number: 7204160
    Abstract: A testing apparatus having four-bar linkages pivotable to sleeves on opposite vertices with the sleeves of each vertex rotationally attached to each other. Links of each linkage are pivotally attached to loading plate assemblies securing a test specimen. During loading, the assemblies move toward or away from each other; thereby, applying compression or tension to the specimen. A pressure system fluidly impacts opposite faces of a piston of the assembly such that one of the faces is pressurized and impacts arms of the assembly for a sliding motion to move toward or away from the longitudinal axis of the apparatus thereby, applying a compression or tensile load on the specimen or augmenting the loads applied by the movement of the loading plate assemblies. The pressure system includes a controller connected to a reservoir, a pressurized source, a plurality of shutoff valves and pressure-adjustable check valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Ali M. Sadegh, Paul V. Cavallaro, Claudia J. Quigley
  • Patent number: 7191641
    Abstract: A rotary position sensing assembly for an internal combustion engine includes a mounting socket rigidly attached to a structural support of a rotating component and a position sensor slidably engaged with the socket. A slidably engageable retainer maintains the sensor within the socket at a predetermined distance from the rotating component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dale Mathew Mayol, John Paul Vivier