Patents Examined by Peter J. Macchiarolo
  • Patent number: 11788881
    Abstract: A detection sensor according to an aspect of the invention includes a vibratable film constituted by a piezoelectric film, a case accommodating the vibratable film, and a circuit board. The vibratable film is configured to be irradiated with infrared rays and thereby generate first electric signals through a pyroelectric effect, and configured to be vibrated by sound waves and thereby generate second electric signals through a piezoelectric effect. The case includes a transmissive part. The transmissive part is configured to transmit at least infrared rays and disposed on one side in a first direction relative to the vibratable film to face the vibratable film. The first direction is a thickness direction of the vibratable film. The circuit board is fixed to the case and disposed on the other side in the first direction relative to the vibratable film. The circuit board has a sound hole to input therethrough sound waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: HOSIDEN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsutomu Matsushita, Hiroyuki Harano, Ryuji Awamura, Hidenori Motonaga, Kensuke Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 11788932
    Abstract: A device for nondestructive viscoelastic characterization of materials, comprising: a tubular shell, having inside a through-recess provided with at least a first and a second shrinkage; a first rod, provided with a base of ferromagnetic material (8), sliding inside said shell between a first position, in which said ferrule does not project to the lower base of said shell, and a second position, in which said ferrule projects to said lower base; a first spring configured to push said ferrule outwards; a displacement sensor configured to read the displacement of said first rod; a button, sliding-between a stroke greater than the one of said first rod, and integral to a second rod provided with a magnet and coaxial to said first rod; a second spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Inventors: Francesco Timpone, Aleksandr Sakhnevych, Flavio Farroni
  • Patent number: 11781860
    Abstract: A mobile system and method of calibrating an ADAS sensor of a vehicle by aligning a target with the sensor, where a transport vehicle is equipped with a target adjustment stand for transporting to the vehicle, which is initially nominally positioned in front of the target adjustment stand that includes a movable target mount configured to support a target, with the target adjustment stand including one or more actuators for adjusting the position of the target mount. A computer system is used to determine an orientation of the vehicle relative to the target adjustment stand, with the position of the target mount being adjusted based on the determined orientation of the vehicle relative to the target adjustment stand. Upon properly orienting the target mount, and the target supported thereon, a calibration routine is performed whereby the sensor is calibrated using the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: BPG SALES AND TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENTS, LLC
    Inventors: Jon D. Lawrence, David M. DeBoer, Ryan M. Jefferies, Nicholas R. Nelson
  • Patent number: 11781899
    Abstract: A verification of a pipette results in a release or a warning message. A liquid measuring container (110) receives the pipette liquid volume (VP) to be verified. A loading cell (120) is connected to the liquid measuring container in a force-transmitting manner. The loading cell outputs a measurement signal (ms) corresponding to the weight force (FG) acting thereon. A processing unit (130) detects and processes the measurement signal (ms), determines a first weight force (Gt1) at time point (t1) and determines a second weight force (Gt2) at time point (t2). The pipette liquid volume is calculated and the calculated value is assigned to a pipette volume class (Ki) having a defined class nominal value (VKi). The processing unit tests whether or not an absolute value of the volume difference (?V) is within a predetermined tolerance value (T) for the assigned pipette volume class. The processing unit outputs the test result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Reber, Christoph Lang
  • Patent number: 11774422
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a selective multi-gas sensor device that detects when a high concentration level of a particular gas, such as methane, carbon monoxide, and/or ethanol, is present. The selective multi-gas sensor device detects and identifies a particular gas based on a ratio between a sensitivity of a gas sensitive material at a first temperature and a sensitivity of the gas sensitive material at a second temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics PTE LTD
    Inventors: Fangxing Yuan, Ravi Shankar, Olivier Le Neel
  • Patent number: 11767218
    Abstract: According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a MEMS pressure sensor, comprising: a sensor portion comprising a deformable membrane and a first volume, and a valve portion comprising a first output to a first side of the pressure sensor and a second output to a second side of the pressure sensor. The valve portion is operable to close the second output and open the first output to equalize pressure in the first volume with pressure at the first side of the pressure sensor for calibrating the sensor; and close the first output and open the second output to equalize pressure in the first volume with pressure at the second side of the pressure sensor for pressure measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Teknologian tutkimuskeskus VTT Oy
    Inventors: Tapio Pernu, Jukka Kyynäräinen, Jaakko Saarilahti
  • Patent number: 11761836
    Abstract: A system and a method for evaluating atomization efficiency of a wind-driven atomizer. The system for evaluating atomization efficiency of a wind-driven atomizer comprises a detection platform, a wind tunnel mechanism and a traction measurement mechanism are arranged above the detection platform, the traction measurement mechanism is disposed beside the wind outlet end of the wind tunnel mechanism, an atomizer mechanism and an atomization measurement mechanism are sequentially disposed on the detection platform along the direction of a wind field provided by the wind tunnel mechanism, and the atomizer mechanism is connected with the traction measurement mechanism. The system and the method may effectively evaluate the atomization efficiency and provide quantitative evaluation indicators for the detection of working performance of the wind-driven atomizer, and has the advantages of convenient operation, accurate detection, precise measurement results, and high reliability of evaluation indicators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: BEIJING RESEARCH CENTER OF INTELLIGENT EQUIPMENT FOR AGRICULTURE
    Inventors: Ruirui Zhang, Liping Chen, Longlong Li, Gang Xu, Yao Wen, Tongchuan Yi
  • Patent number: 11754455
    Abstract: A pressure measuring device includes a ceramic pressure sensor and a process connection, the pressure sensor including a measuring membrane. The pressure measuring device further includes a carrier made of titanium and having a free-standing tubular carrier region running parallel to the surface normal onto the measuring membrane and having an end region adjacent the process connection connected to the process connection and an end region opposite the process connection to which the pressure sensor is fastened by a jointing that connects an outer edge of a front face of the pressure sensor to the end region of the carrier opposite the process connection and carries the pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser SE+Co. KG
    Inventors: Nils Ponath, Andreas Rossberg, Elke Schmidt
  • Patent number: 11754461
    Abstract: A device is produced as a small sphere with neutral buoyancy, within which there is, at least, one hydrophone that is connected to a signal processor, which stores the information on a memory card and that is powered by at least one battery. This signal processor has a clock module, through which the sailing time elapsed for each audio signal received by the hydrophone is recorded in the memory. Therefore, based on the sailing time, the exact position of the detected anomalies or leaks can be ascertained. The device is complemented by a series of external synchronisation systems, laid out every certain distance, by which the position error that could be accumulated by the device is neutralised. Thus, a simple device is attained, which is cheap, solid, durable and highly effective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: AGANOVA S.L.
    Inventor: Agustin Ramirez Garcia
  • Patent number: 11747192
    Abstract: An acoustic sensor assembly includes a non-directional acoustic sensor having a first directional pattern, a plurality of directional acoustic sensors surrounding the non-directional acoustic sensor and including a plurality of resonators having different resonance frequencies from each other, each of the plurality of directional acoustic sensors having a second directional pattern, and a processor configured to obtain output signals from the non-directional acoustic sensor and the plurality of directional acoustic sensors. The processor is further configured to calculate an acoustic signal having directivity by selecting any one or any combination of the obtained output signals or selectively combining the obtained output signals, and obtain sound around the acoustic sensor assembly, using the calculated acoustic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyunwook Kang, Cheheung Kim, Daehyuk Son, Hyeokki Hong
  • Patent number: 11739601
    Abstract: The flow of well mud being pumped by a drilling rig pump into a wellbore is sensed by monitoring at least one signal from at least one sensor of drilling mud, determining a total well drilling pump mud output rate, and determining an apparent annular mud rate based on the at least one signal and the total pump drilling rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Inventor: H. Udo Zeidler
  • Patent number: 11735486
    Abstract: Embodiments include process monitoring devices and methods of using such process monitoring devices. In one embodiment, the process monitoring device includes a substrate. The process monitoring device may also include a plurality of sensors formed on a support surface of the substrate. According to an embodiment, each sensor is capable of producing an output signal that corresponds to a processing condition. Furthermore, embodiments include a process monitoring device that includes a network interface device that is formed on the substrate. According to an embodiment each of the plurality of sensors is communicatively coupled to the network interface device. The network interface device allows for the output signals obtained from the sensors to be wirelessly transmitted to an external computer during processing operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard Tedeschi, Kartik Ramaswamy
  • Patent number: 11726009
    Abstract: A device determines an oxygen content of a headspace gas in a liquid-filled container. The device contains a piercer, a sampling tube, a piercing head on which the piercer and the sampling tube are disposed, a pump, a ring line, and a sensor unit disposed within the ring line and used to determine the oxygen content and/or an oxygen partial pressure of the headspace gas of the liquid-filled container. The ring line is configured such that the headspace gas of the liquid-filled container can be sampled via the piercer or the piercing head by use of the pump and can be returned into the headspace of the liquid-filled container via the sampling tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Anton Paar GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Germann, Elisabeth Gangl, Christof Umfer
  • Patent number: 11714040
    Abstract: Techniques including methods, apparatus and computer program products are disclosed. These techniques include computer instructions that are encoded on computer storage media for determining wettability. The techniques use a numerical aging computation process to provide a representation of a wettability alteration of a physical rock sample in the presence of at least two fluids is disclosed. The techniques include retrieving a representation of a physical rock sample, the representation including pore space and grain space data corresponding to the physical rock sample, calculating local curvature for each surface in the pore space, determining from the calculated local curvature whether water-film breakage will occur, and classifying the wettability of the physical rock based on the determination of water-film breakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Dassault Systemes Simulia Corp.
    Inventors: Bernd Crouse, David M. Freed, Ashraful Islam
  • Patent number: 11710640
    Abstract: Systems and methods for automatic sampling of a sample for the determination of chemical element concentrations and control of semiconductor processes are described. A system embodiment includes a remote sampling system configured to collect a sample of phosphoric acid at a first location, the remote sampling system including a remote valve having a holding loop coupled thereto; and an analysis system configured for positioning at a second location remote from the first location, the analysis system coupled to the remote valve via a transfer line, the analysis system including an analysis device configured to determine a concentration of one or more components of the sample of phosphoric acid and including a sample pump at the second location configured to introduce the sample from the holding loop into the transfer line for analysis by the analysis device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: ELEMENTAL SCIENTIFIC, INC.
    Inventors: Kyle W. Uhlmeyer, Jae Seok Lee, Daniel R. Wiederin, Patrick Sullivan
  • Patent number: 11698365
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting an alcohol component of a driver's breath includes an inlet that absorbs a driver's exhalation and a passenger's exhalation, respectively, a sensor that detects an alcohol component in the driver's exhalation or the passenger's exhalation, a driver valve controlled to be opened or closed to allow the driver's exhalation to be introduced into the sensor and a passenger valve controlled to be opened or closed to allow the passenger's exhalation to be introduced into the sensor, and a controller that determines whether a passenger is on board a vehicle and controls the driver valve and the passenger valve to be open or closed based on a determination result. Therefore, the driver's breath is distinguished from the passenger's breath and the influence of the passenger is removed to detect the alcohol component in the driver's breath, thereby accurately determining the driver's drinking state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Sang Kyung Seo, Eung Hwan Kim, Gyun Ha Kim, Dae Yun An
  • Patent number: 11691165
    Abstract: A system and method for tagging, tracking, locating and identifying people and vehicles transporting people using Perfluorocarbon tracers. An on-going problem faced by military as well as law enforcement personnel is that of friendly fire incidents. To prevent possible friendly-fire incidents, troops would separate the two layers of the uniform patch, thereby releasing a controlled release of the Perfluorocarbon vapors. Other “friendly” troops, equipped with sensors tuned to the specific perfluorocarbon characteristics would thus be able to literally view a plume around the tagged person or object. The system may conversely be used to tag enemies. Formulations of mixed perfluorocarbons may be used to provide coding of emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: CoPilot Ventures Fund III LLC
    Inventor: Jay Fraser
  • Patent number: 11680932
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a multi-gas sensor are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method includes providing at least one calibration input comprising sensor design data of the multi-gas sensor, which varies dependent on production process parameters, and/or sensor production process parameter data of the multi-gas sensor, and/or measurement results of the multi-gas sensor captured when the multi-gas sensor is exposed to one of the gases or a gas mixture to be detected and/or sensed by the multi-gas sensor; providing a trained neural network including an input layer with K input nodes, an output layer with L output nodes and at least one hidden layer; storing each calibration input as a fixed input to a corresponding input node of the trained neural network; and providing a multi-gas sensor output for at least a part of the gases to be detected and/or sensed by the multi-gas sensor dependent on the trained neural network and actual measured sensor values from the sensor elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Matthias Koenig
  • Patent number: 11662438
    Abstract: An apparatus in the field of optics technology, can include a reflector, a reflector substrate, and an extinction component. The reflector can be mounted on the reflector substrate. The extinction component can be arranged on a front surface of the reflector substrate. The reflector can be configured to reflect incident light signals. The extinction component can be configured to reduce the scattered light produced by the incident light signal on the reflector substrate. An optical scanning device (for example, lidar) having such features may greatly reduce the scattered light inside the lidar, reduce the detection blind area caused by the stray light, and greatly improve the receiving and detecting capabilities of the lidar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Inventors: Ji Wang, Bin Tan, Wei Wei
  • Patent number: 11656208
    Abstract: A chromatography system includes a gradient delay volume defined as an overall fluid volume between where gradient is proportioned until an inlet of a chromatography column, a pump pumping a flow of gradient; and at least one valve located downstream from the pump, the at least one valve having a plurality of ports including an inlet port that receives the flow of gradient from the pump and an outlet port through which the flow of gradient exits the at least one valve, the at least one valve having at least two positions. A first position of the at least two positions of the at least one valve increases the gradient delay volume of the chromatography system relative to when the at least one valve is in a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: WATERS TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sylvain Cormier, Richard W. Andrews, Peyton C. Beals