Patents Examined by Peter J. Macchiarolo
  • Patent number: 12209893
    Abstract: A magnetic-inductive flow meter for determining a flow velocity-dependent measurement variable induced in a flowable medium is provided, said flow meter comprising: a measuring tube for conducting the flowable medium in a flow direction, the measuring tube comprising a carrier body, the measuring tube comprising an inlet region in which the carrier body has a first recess located on an inner side of the carrier body, the first recess extending continuously in the flow direction, the measuring tube comprising a support body for stabilizing a liner, the support body being located between the carrier body and the liner, the support body extending into the first recess and thus being interlockingly connected to the carrier body; a device located on the measuring tube for generating a magnetic field that penetrates the measuring tube; and —two measuring electrodes for tapping a measuring voltage induced in the flowable medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Frank Voigt, Steffen Ziegler, Werner Wohlgemuth
  • Patent number: 12208381
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method, a computer program and a system for operating a hand-held, computer-controlled piston-stroke pipette as well as a corresponding piston-stroke pipette as well a data processing device cooperating with that, wherein a precise pipetting of liquid with a vapor pressure higher than that of water is rendered possible by means of a sequence of prewettings of the pipette tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: EPPENDORF SE
    Inventors: Benjamin Förthmann, Philipp Cloer, Jens Kleemann, Torsten Krauss
  • Patent number: 12209932
    Abstract: An improved pipeline leak detecting pig apparatus configured to locate leaks in the wall of a pipeline as the apparatus is pushed by pressurized fluid through the pipeline. The apparatus is configured with or without absolute pressure sensors and a flow meter configured to detect fluid flow through a controlled volume on the pig passing a leak in the pipeline and pressurized fluid in the controlled volume escapes through the leak. Pressure sensors, when provided, provide a secondary confirmation of the presence of a leak and the degree of severity when an absolute pressure drop in the controlled volume occurs. Onboard microcontrollers record continuous odometer pulses, apparatus diagnostic information and pressure and flow measurements for later analysis, quantification and determination of leak location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: INLINE SERVICES, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Johnston, Justin Scruggs
  • Patent number: 12209898
    Abstract: A flow measurement system for performing an adjustable concurrent recalibration during a measurement operation, a computer program product which simulates operational behavior of the flow measurement system and a method for calibrating the flow measurement system that is mounted on a tube that encloses a medium, wherein the flow measurement system is provided in an active operating state and the flow measurement system includes a first flow rate sensor, where an ultrasound pulse is emitted into the tube wall via a first or second ultrasonic head of the first flow rate sensor, an ultrasound echo is received via the second ultrasonic head, the signal propagation time of the ultrasound pulse and echo are determined, a tube wall thickness is determined based on the determined signal propagation time, and a calibration parameter of the first flow rate sensor is set, where the calibration parameter includes at least the tube wall thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jürgen Kiefer, Wilko Wilkening
  • Patent number: 12203789
    Abstract: A water management system having an integrated independent power supply that is configured to be operably coupled to a water meter wherein the invention is operable to provide continuous monitoring of water flow into a structure by measuring magnetic field data generated by a water meter. The invention includes a first sensor assembly and a second sensor assembly that are configured to be operably coupled to a water meter. The second sensor assembly facilitates the ability to capture data from single or compound water meter. The first sensor assembly includes a magnetometer operable to measure a magnetic field produced by a rotating magnet in the water meter. The magnetic field data is converted into a square wave which is wirelessly transmitted to an external computing device. The second sensor assembly functions identically as the first sensor assembly wherein the data therefrom is transmitted to the first sensor assembly for transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Connected Sensors LLC
    Inventors: Johann Van Niekerk, Simon Brunet
  • Patent number: 12203244
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and systems of monitoring the condition of a wear component, including a sensor system for monitoring the condition of a wear component comprising: an outer casing bottom portion having a closed bottom end; at least one battery situated inside the outer casing bottom portion; at least one cushioning element interposed between the at least one battery and at least one sensor component; at least one metal disc antenna positioned at a distance above the at least one sensor component; at least one metal connector element configured to join the metal disc antenna to the sensor component; and an outer casing top portion adapted to fit over at least the metal disc antenna, wherein the outer casing top portion is adapted to substantially connect with the outer casing bottom portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: ACTIVE CORE TECHNOLOGY PTY LTD
    Inventor: Ian Hugh Hamilton
  • Patent number: 12203894
    Abstract: Aspects of the technology described herein relate to built-in self-testing (BIST) of circuitry (e.g., a pulser or receive circuitry) and/or transducers in an ultrasound device. A BIST circuit may include a transconductance amplifier coupled between a pulser and receive circuitry, a capacitor network coupled between a pulser and receive circuitry, and/or a current source couplable to the input terminal of receive circuitry to which a transducer is also couplable. The collapse voltages of transducers may be characterized using BIST circuitry, and a bias voltage may be applied to the membranes of the transducers based at least in part on their collapse voltages. The capacitances of transducers may also be measured using BIST circuitry and a notification may be generated based on the sets of measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: BFLY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Chao Chen, Youn-Jae Kook, Jihee Lee, Kailiang Chen, Leung Kin Chiu, Joseph Lutsky, Nevada J. Sanchez, Sebastian Schaetz, Hamid Soleimani
  • Patent number: 12203865
    Abstract: Embodiments for local and safe testing of injection fluids by drawing a sample of injection fluid into a local test chamber while drawing fluid to be tested into a syringe assembly and testing the sample of the injection fluid are disclosed. A fluid test device can include a syringe assembly, a plunger assembly, and a test module. The test module can determine information about fluid in a syringe assembly when the fluid enters a test chamber in the test module. Fluid may enter the test chamber through a one-way valve while a plunger in the plunger assembly is moved in a suction stroke to draw fluid into an interior of the syringe assembly. Fluid may not enter or be expelled from the test chamber when the plunger does not move or is moved in a compression stroke to expel fluid from the syringe assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Next Phase Development, LLC
    Inventor: Reid Tamisiea
  • Patent number: 12203817
    Abstract: A pressure sensor has a convexly curved surface shape and includes: a capacitive sensor electrode layer including a plurality of sensing parts; a first reference electrode layer having elasticity and facing a first surface of the sensor electrode layer; a second reference electrode layer having elasticity and facing a second surface of the sensor electrode layer; an elastic layer having elasticity and provided between the first reference electrode layer and the sensor electrode layer; and a gap layer having elasticity and provided between the second reference electrode layer and the sensor electrode layer. The sensor electrode layer includes: a curved part; and a plurality of extension parts extending from a concavely curved side of the curved part. The extension parts include the sensing parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoko Katsuhara, Hiroki Kaneko
  • Patent number: 12196637
    Abstract: In accordance the present invention, a method, apparatus and computer program for monitoring air pressure change are provided that may include receiving a user input selecting a pressure monitoring application, receiving a user input initiating monitoring of an ambient air pressure by the pressure monitoring application, determining a first barometric pressure of the ambient air pressure at a first time, determining a second barometric pressure of the ambient air pressure at a second time, wherein the second time is a predetermined time interval from the first time, comparing the first barometric pressure with the second barometric pressure to determine a first absolute rate of change of the ambient air pressure over the predetermined time interval, and providing an indication to employ protective measures when the first absolute rate of change of the ambient air pressure is equal to or a exceeds a threshold rate of change likely to cause barotrauma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: CIRRUS HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Jeremiah J. Lembcke, Grant A. O'Connell
  • Patent number: 12196575
    Abstract: Devices and methods for automatic calibration of rate gyroscope bias are described. One example method includes receiving, while the device is in motion, a plurality of measurements from one or more sensors, including a gyroscope, in the device. In this example, the plurality of measurements is acquired over a time period. The method also includes identifying one or more time segments, within the time period, having a low motion activity of the device by comparing a computed value associated with a motion of the device to a predetermined threshold. The method further includes determining, based on one or more measurements acquired over the one or more time segments, a degree of motion metric for at least one of the one or more sensors, and determining, based on the degree of motion metric for the at least one of one or more sensors, an estimate of a bias of the gyroscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: CloudNav Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Charles Royer, Erik E. Anderson
  • Patent number: 12188918
    Abstract: Disclosed is an intelligent monitoring method for soil moisture status based on remote sensing technology, including the following steps: dividing a monitoring region into a plurality of sub-regions by a processing end, acquiring image data of various sub-regions on the basis of remote sensing satellites, acquiring multi-source data related to soil moisture status of the monitoring region on the basis of sensor devices, and pre-processing the image data and the multi-source data; comprehensively analyzing the image data and the multi-source data, and assessing soil moisture status of the various sub-regions; and comprehensively analyzing overall soil moisture status of the monitoring region according to the soil moisture status of the various sub-regions. The soil moisture status of the monitoring region is assessed after the multi-source data is comprehensively analyzed by the monitoring method, bringing about a more comprehensive and accurate analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: INSTITUTE OF FARMLAND IRRIGATION OF CAAS
    Inventors: Chunya Ma, Fuyi Duan, Yongshen Fan, Yun Gao, Zhen Chen, Peng Li, Xiulu Sun, Hua Cao, Wei Zhan, Yinbo Cao, Wanna Fu
  • Patent number: 12188799
    Abstract: Provided is a physical quantity detection device that can improve physical quantity measurement accuracy over a conventional device. A physical quantity detection device 20 includes a detector including a flow rate detection unit 205, a circuit board 207, a housing 201, and a cover 202. The detector detects a physical quantity and is mounted on the circuit board 207. The housing 201 houses the circuit board 207. The cover 202 is fixed to the housing 201 and defines an auxiliary passage 234 in which the flow rate detection unit 205 is disposed. The housing 201 and the cover 202 include a positioning portion P that includes a pin P1 extending in a thickness direction Dt of the circuit board 207 and a fitting portion P2 into which an end portion P11 of the pin P1 is fitted for positioning between the housing 201 and the cover 202.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Saito, Akira Uenodan, Nobuaki Gorai
  • Patent number: 12184103
    Abstract: The electronics comprises a load circuit, a power supply circuit having a rechargeable electrical energy storer, and a protection circuit. An input of the power supply circuit is adapted to be electrically connected with an external energy supply. Both the power supply circuit and the protection circuit have at least two operating modes. Additionally, the protection circuit is adapted in the first operating mode to monitor the cell voltage applied on the circuit input to determine whether its voltage level has exceeded a predetermined maximum value and, in given cases, automatically to deactivate the operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Mihai Vitanescu, André Schaubhut, Frantz Bindler
  • Patent number: 12181358
    Abstract: A media-isolated pressure and force sensor is provided utilizing a deformable solid as a coupling mechanism for transmitting a received external pressure to the surface of a pressure sensing diaphragm. An example media-isolated pressure and force sensor may include a pressure sensing diaphragm that is coupled to a substrate of the media-isolated pressure sensor and a deformable solid. The deformable solid may be configured to deform so as to substantially cover a sensing surface of the pressure sensing diaphragm to create a barrier between the pressure sensing diaphragm and a measured media. In addition, the deformable solid may fluidly couple the measured media to the pressure sensing diaphragm such that in an instance in which a force is applied to the deformable solid by the measured media the force is transmitted to the pressure sensing diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: Richard Andrew Wade
  • Patent number: 12181401
    Abstract: One variation of a method includes, during execution of a tracer test: triggering release of a tracer load into air in an aerosol zone by a dispenser transiently arranged in the aerosol zone, the tracer load including a concentration of aerosol tracers; and recording a timeseries of aerosol data via a sensor unit transiently arranged in the aerosol zone, the timeseries of aerosol data representing concentrations of aerosol particles present in air. The method further includes: based on the timeseries of aerosol data and the concentration, deriving a tracer concentration curve representing change in concentration of aerosol tracer particles; based on characteristics of the tracer concentration curve, deriving an airflow value representing removal of aerosol particles from the aerosol zone during the tracer test; and interpreting an outcome for the tracer test based on a difference between the airflow value and a target airflow value defined for the aerosol zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Poppy Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Kalyan Kottapalli, Sam Molyneux, Konrad Swic, Elizabeth Caley, Aaron Botham
  • Patent number: 12181361
    Abstract: A pressure sensor module includes a pressure sensor configured to periodically measure an internal air pressure within an enclosure and generate a sensor signal having plurality of sensor values; a signal processing chain for conditioning the sensor signal to generate a plurality of conditioned sensor values; a memory configured to store each of the plurality of conditioned sensor values; and a processing circuit coupled to the pressure sensor via the signal processing chain for receiving a current conditioned sensor value and coupled to the memory for receiving a previous conditioned sensor value. The processing circuit is configured monitor for a fault, including calculating a delta pressure value between the current and previous conditioned sensor values, comparing the delta pressure value to a pressure threshold value, and triggering a diagnostic of the signal processing chain if the delta pressure value is greater than the pressure threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Radu Mihaescu, Dan-Alexandru Mocanu, Ilie-Ionut Cristea
  • Patent number: 12181366
    Abstract: A thermal conductivity gauge measures gas pressure within a chamber. A sensor wire and a resistor form a circuit coupled between a power input and ground, where the sensor wire extends into the chamber and connects to the resistor via a terminal. A controller adjusts the power input, as a function of a voltage at the terminal and a voltage at the power input, to bring the sensor wire to a target temperature. Based on the adjusted power input, the controller can determine a measure of the gas pressure within the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2024
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: MKS INSTRUMENTS, INC.
    Inventors: Gerardo A. Brucker, Timothy C. Swinney
  • Patent number: 12181272
    Abstract: A gear inspection system comprises a spindle that receives a gear for inspection. The spindle includes an arbor with a central tapered structure, an annular substrate coupled to securements, each securement having a post and a ball. The arbor includes a bias member (which could be the posts of the securements) to bias the securements toward the central tapered structure such that the securements maintain contact with the central tapered structure regardless of a location of the annular substrate. The gear inspection system also includes a fixing mechanism that positions the gear on the spindle, a laser that emits a signal at a point of interest of the gear creating a reflected signal, and a receiver that receives the reflected signal. A processor transforms inputs from a user interface into adjustment instructions wherein an adjustment in a certain orientation is independent of an adjustment in other orientations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Slone Gear International, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian W. Slone
  • Patent number: 12181373
    Abstract: Shut-off device for a duct, in which a measuring device comprising a transmitter is housed, the shut-off device comprising: a connecting ring formed of a peripheral wall and an inner rim, which is at least present on one section of the periphery of the peripheral wall and defines a housing for accommodating at least part of the transmitter; a cover configured to close the duct and clip onto the connecting ring and thus rigidly connect the transmitter of the measuring device to the shut-off device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: A. RAYMOND ET CIE
    Inventors: Matthieu David, Olivier Bizzini