Patents Examined by Paul West
  • Patent number: 10214716
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining fluid flow (e.g., sterile media flow, filtrate flow, etc.) through tubing is provided. The apparatus includes an air source, a flow valve, a first sensor, a second sensor, and a media tubing section extending between the first sensor and the second sensor. In operation, air from the air source is introduced by the flow valve into a fluid flow to create a lead line of fluid immediately following the introduced air. As the lead line of fluid passes each sensor, the sensors are used to determine a time between when the lead line passes the first sensor and the second sensor and that determined elapsed time is used, along with a determined volume of the media tubing section to determine the rate of flow of the fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Flownamics Analytical Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Biksacky
  • Patent number: 10215673
    Abstract: A system and method for concurrently and uniformly removing thermal energy from clustered specimen samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Cool Lab, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Schryver, Scott Ganaja
  • Patent number: 10209105
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a retractable assembly for immersion, flow and attachment measuring systems in analytical process technology that includes an essentially hollow cylindrically shaped housing having a service chamber formed in its interior, where the housing includes an encircling groove open to its interior, where the groove includes an expansion space expanding the groove, where the expansion space is arranged on the side of the groove facing away from the interior, and where the housing includes a leakage path, which connects the expansion space with the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Conducta GmbH+Co. KG
    Inventors: Felix Schneider, Thomas Pfauch
  • Patent number: 10197467
    Abstract: A calibration rotor for a horizontal balancer, configured to be driven by a driver. The calibration rotor includes a main barrel that has a longitudinal axis and the periphery of which includes points for attaching balance weights that are evenly distributed in an axial and angular manner about the axis. A rotation guide is arranged at each end of the main barrel. The rotor is modular, and the rotation guide includes adapters (40, 42) which are capable of being configured to be attached to the ends of the barrel. The guide is of a first type, suitable for rotatably guiding the barrel on rollers, or of a second type, suitable for rotatably guiding the half-shell barrel. Each type of adapter has the same predetermined moment of inertia and is interchangeable on the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Alain Roland Luinaud, Alain Decocq, Christophe Guengant
  • Patent number: 10194250
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided wherein a sensor which comprises at least two electrodes and a movable part is alternately biased with at least two different voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Christoph Bernhard Wurzinger, Jose Luis Ceballos
  • Patent number: 10191078
    Abstract: An acceleration sensor includes a detection device, an opposed electrode, and a top lid. The detection device includes an active layer, a base layer, an oxide layer disposed between the active layer and the base layer, a first insulating layer, a contact portion, and a self-check electrode. The first insulating layer is disposed on the active layer at a side opposite to the oxide layer and provided with a first opening. The contact portion is disposed on a part of the first insulating layer at a side opposite to the active layer and includes a first metal layer connected to the active layer through the first opening. The opposed electrode is disposed at a location opposing the self-check electrode, and the top lid supports the opposed electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro Fujii, Takashi Imanaka, Yuichi Miyoshi, Hiroyuki Aizawa
  • Patent number: 10184870
    Abstract: A vibratory sensor (5) includes a vibratory element (104) configured to generate a vibration signal and a meter electronics (20) coupled to the vibratory element (104) and receiving the vibration signal, with the meter electronics (20) including a gain stage (150) coupled to the vibratory element (104) and receiving the vibration signal, with the gain stage (150) amplifying the vibration signal by a predetermined gain to generate a saturated vibration signal, and a signal processor (156) coupled to the gain stage (150), with a first input (161) of the signal processor (156) receiving the saturated vibration signal and determining a vibration signal frequency from the saturated vibration signal and with a second input (162) of the signal processor (156) receiving the vibration signal and determining a vibration signal amplitude from the vibration signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew S. Kravitz, Craig B McAnally
  • Patent number: 10183237
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for equilibrating a chromatography column including the steps of (i) providing a mobile phase; and (ii) passing the mobile phase through a packed chromatography column; wherein the mobile phase includes two liquids, the proportions of which change as it is passed through the column. Also discussed are automated aspects of the method, as well as a system capable of performing such method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: BIOTAGE AB
    Inventors: Sunil Rana, Steve Jordan, Geoff Davies
  • Patent number: 10168264
    Abstract: A method (600) of generating a drive signal for a vibratory sensor (5) is provided. The method (600) includes vibrating a vibratory element (104, 510) configured to provide a vibration signal, receiving the vibration signal from the vibratory element (104, 510) with a receiver circuit (134), generating a drive signal that vibrates the vibratory element (104, 510) with a driver circuit (138) coupled to the receiver circuit (134) and the vibratory element (104, 510), and comparing a phase of the generated drive signal with a phase of the vibration signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig B McAnally, Andrew S. Kravitz
  • Patent number: 10168239
    Abstract: A gas sensing device is provided including an enclosure having an internal chamber operable to receive and contain at least one test gas, a photonic heat source positioned to deliver photonic energy into the internal chamber, and a pressure sensor functionally coupled to the internal chamber and operable to detect a pressure change within the internal chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Kadhair Al-Hemyari
  • Patent number: 10161922
    Abstract: A molybdenum disulfide sensor includes a flexible substrate, a patterned circuit layer and at least a molybdenum disulfide sheet. The flexible substrate has a gas flow channel. The patterned circuit layer is formed on the flexible substrate, and the patterned circuit layer includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The second electrode is faced toward the first electrode, and a gap is formed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The molybdenum disulfide sheet is located in the gap and is connected with the first electrode and the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: NATIONAL TSING HUA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Chien-Chong Hong, Chung-Hsuan Wu, Shih-Pang Wang
  • Patent number: 10156445
    Abstract: An inertial measurement device comprising a housing, a plate connected to the housing via a first stage of suspension, an inertial measurement unit comprising vibrating sensors having predetermined first resonant modes of vibration and mounted on the plate via a second stage of suspension; the first stage has a resonant frequency lower than a bandwidth of the inertial measurement unit, and the second stage has a resonant frequency higher than a resonant frequency of the first stage and lower than the first resonant modes of the vibrating sensors, the first stage having four resilient suspension elements and a center of stiffness corresponding substantially to the center of gravity of the assembly formed by the plate, the second stage, and the inertial measurement unit; the second stage having one to three resilient suspension elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: SAFRAN ELECTRONICS & DEFENSE
    Inventors: Yannick Foloppe, Guillaume Giboury
  • Patent number: 10154808
    Abstract: A blood separation device that is adapted to receive a multi-component blood sample is disclosed. After collecting the blood sample, the blood separation device is able to separate a plasma portion from a cellular portion. After separation, the blood separation device is able to transfer the plasma portion of the blood sample to a point-of-care testing device. The blood separation device also provides a closed sampling and transfer system that reduces the exposure of a blood sample and provides fast mixing of a blood sample with a sample stabilizer. The blood separation device is engageable with a blood testing device for closed transfer of a portion of the plasma portion from the blood separation device to the blood testing device. The blood testing device is adapted to receive the plasma portion to analyze the blood sample and obtain test results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Gary D. Fletcher, Daniel J. Marchiarullo, Jamieson W. Crawford
  • Patent number: 10156534
    Abstract: Gas sensor. The sensor is a single crystalline SnO disk and circuitry for measuring electrical resistance of the disk is provided. A change in resistance in the disk indicates adsorption of a gas on the disk's surface. The sensor is particularly adapted for detecting NO2 with high sensitivity and selectivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Harry L. Tuller, Pedro Henrique Suman, Anderson Andre Felix, Jose Arana Varela, Marcelo Ornaghi Orlandi
  • Patent number: 10156464
    Abstract: A fluid sensor includes a core defining a fluid flow path, a confinement member located externally of the core, and a patch antenna located between the fluid flow path and the confinement member. The confinement member is configured to confine an electromagnetic field which extends into the fluid flow path. The patch antenna is configured to couple an electrical signal to and/or from the electromagnetic field. The fluid sensor may be configured for measuring the composition and/or flow rate of a fluid and, in particular but not exclusively, for measuring the composition and/or flow rate of mixtures of oil, water and gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: M-Flow Technologies Ltd
    Inventors: Giles Edward, Alan Parker, Petr Hajek
  • Patent number: 10151618
    Abstract: An ultrasonic probe having ultrasonic sensors (e.g., piezoelectric crystals) for measuring the level of liquid within a sealed container and having features that make the probe more reliable and enable more precise liquid level readings as the container nears an empty state. Embodiments include spacing the ultrasonic sensors more closely at the lower end of the probe, offsetting the sensors to enable tighter vertical spacing, matched pairs of sensors for redundancy, and a downward facing sensor located at the lower end of the probe to decrease the minimum liquid level that can be accurately measured by the probe. A sump may also be provided to further decrease the minimum liquid level that can be accurately measured by the probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Versum Materials US, LLC
    Inventors: Charles Michael Birtcher, Thomas Andrew Steidl
  • Patent number: 10150119
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sampling valve and to a device equipped with such a valve notably allowing haematology measurements to be taken from a blood sample. The valve comprise two external parts, one internal part clamped between said external parts, and means for regulating the relative angular position of these parts about an axis of rotation. The internal part has opposite surfaces pressing in a sealed and sliding manner against adjacent surfaces of the external parts. The external parts comprise orifices, loops and ducts, said loops and said ducts being arranged in such a way as to communicate selectively with orifices passing through the internal part. The valve parts have no aliquot return groove or recess or labyrinth, thereby eliminating regions of turbulence. The valve is characterized in that two of the parts are able to rotate about the axis of rotation with respect to one of the said parts which is stationary, the rotary parts preferably being the external parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: HORIBA ABX SAS
    Inventors: Nathalie Henon, Florent Beauducel
  • Patent number: 10139428
    Abstract: There are included a standard deviation calculation unit that receives a plurality of acceleration data and calculates a standard deviation of the plurality of acceleration data for each specified time period, an average calculation unit that receives the plurality of acceleration data and calculates an average value of the acceleration data for each specified time period, a phase estimation unit that estimates a phase of the average value in a space having a first coordinate axis and a second coordinate axis by using the average value when the standard deviation is smaller than a specified threshold, and a phase correction unit that performs phase correction of the average value by using the estimated phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kichung Kim, Masaharu Matsudaira
  • Patent number: 10139316
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a bottom sampler comprising, a cable connecting plate, an outer fixing plate disposed at a lower side of the cable connecting plate, a sample barrel guide extending downwards from the outer fixing plate, and a sample barrel configured to have a sediment permeation prevention plate mounted at an outer peripheral end, and provided with a valve at opposite ends, the valve connected to a guide rod pivotally coupled to a first end of a lever operating arm, wherein the valve is closed depending on the pivoting of the lever operating arm when a seabed sample is introduced into the sample barrel to seal an inner part thereof. Accordingly, seabed samples such as gas-filled sediments can be collected and analyzed without pressure leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources
    Inventors: Jong-Hwa Chun, Yu-Ri Kim, Young-Sang Eo, Joo-Yong Lee
  • Patent number: 10132768
    Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing a gas sensor according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention including: a) forming a pair of photoresist electrodes spaced apart from each other and a photoresist wire connecting upper portions of the pair of photoresist electrodes to each other by exposing and developing a first photoresist coated on a substrate; b) forming a pair of carbon electrodes and a carbon wire that are connected to be integrated with each other, by pyrolyzing the pair of photoresist electrodes and the photoresist wire; and c) forming metal oxide nanowires on a surface of the carbon wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignees: SK INNOVATION CO., LTD., UNIST (ULSAN NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY)
    Inventors: Heung-Joo Shin, Yeong Jin Lim, Jeong Il Heo