Patents Examined by Philip Cotey
  • Patent number: 9733172
    Abstract: Provided are universal grip systems and method of using universal grip systems to test coupons. According to various examples, a universal grip system includes two grips and two guide posts for supporting the two grips and allowing the two grips to move with respect to each other. Each grip may include one or two wedges. The wedges are used to engage the coupons during testing and provide anti-buckling support and/or anti-rotation support. The wedges are slidably coupled within corresponding grips, which allows the universal grip system to engage and disengage the coupons by moving one grip with respect to another. The grips may be constructed from thermally neutral materials, such as invar 36. The grips may thermally isolated from the guide posts by, for example, a set of spacers disposed between the grips and linear bearing slidably coupled to the guide posts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Max U. Kismarton
  • Patent number: 9733158
    Abstract: A system can include a sampler assembly configured to collect a viscous sample at a first location. In implementations, the viscous sample includes concentrated sulfuric acid (e.g., greater than about 75% H2SO4). The system can also include a valve coupled with the sampler assembly for receiving the viscous sample. The valve is configured to couple with a source of a diluent and a sample transfer line. The system further includes a pump coupled with the valve for injecting the diluent into the sample transfer line along with the viscous sample to dilute the viscous sample and transport the diluted sample to a second location remote from the first location via the sample transfer line. In implementations, the sample transfer line is at least approximately two meters in length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Elemental Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Wiederin, Austin Schultz
  • Patent number: 9726587
    Abstract: A tensile stress measurement device is to be attached to an object to be measured. The tensile stress measurement device may include an IC having a semiconductor substrate and tensile stress detection circuitry, the semiconductor substrate having opposing first and second attachment areas. The tensile stress measurement device may include a first attachment plate coupled to the first attachment area and extending outwardly to be attached to the object to be measured, and a second attachment plate coupled to the second attachment area and extending outwardly to be attached to the object to be measured. The tensile stress detection circuitry may be configured to detect a tensile stress imparted on the first and second attachment plates when attached to the object to be measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Alberto Pagani, Bruno Murari, Federico Giovanni Ziglioli
  • Patent number: 9706962
    Abstract: A wearable device has user movement sensors and core contraction sensors. Signals from the sensors are transmitted to a processor which analyzes the movement signals and determines when a qualifying movement is performed which benefits from core contraction. Signals from the core contraction sensors are also transmitted to the processor and are used to determine if the core is contracted during the qualifying movement. If the core is contracted during the qualifying movement, the movement is a protected qualifying movement. However, if the core is not contracted during the qualifying movement the movement is an unprotected qualifying movement. The system can inform the user when unprotected qualifying movements are performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Alert Core, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory Takeo Uehara
  • Patent number: 9700258
    Abstract: Apparatus (2) for sensing and measuring and/or shear components of a force at an interface between two surfaces, which apparatus (2) comprises: (i) at least one flexible means (4) for receiving the pressure and/or shear components of the force; and (ii) transducer means (6) for producing electrical signals consequent upon movement of the flexible means (4) in response to the pressure and/or shear components of the force, and the apparatus (2) being such that: (iii) the flexible means (4) comprises first and second electrode parts (18, 20) which are spaced apart by the flexible means (12); (iv) the first and second electrode parts (18, 20) move solely towards each other as a result of the pressure component of the force being applied to the flexible means (4); and (v) the first and second electrode parts (18, 20) move towards and parallel to each other as a result of the shear component of the force being applied to the flexible means (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: University of Southampton
    Inventor: Liudi Jiang
  • Patent number: 9705069
    Abstract: A sensor device includes a charge output element including a plurality of piezoelectric bodies and an internal electrode formed between the piezoelectric bodies, a package that houses the charge output element, first conductive paste electrically connected to a plurality of the internal electrodes, and second conductive paste that electrically connects the first conductive paste and an output terminal and has a modulus of elasticity lower than a modulus of elasticity of the first conductive paste. A Young's modulus of the first conductive paste is equal to or higher than 3.4 GPa and equal to or lower than 5.0 GPa and a Young's modulus of the second conductive paste is equal to or higher than 0.1 GPa and equal to or lower than 0.2 GPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Matsuzawa, Toshiyuki Kamiya, Hiroki Kawai
  • Patent number: 9696284
    Abstract: Described are extraction columns and systems that include extraction columns. The extraction column includes a column body that has a reservoir portion, an extraction media portion, and a collar portion. The reservoir portion includes an inlet and a reservoir. The extraction media portion includes an elongated sleeve having an inner surface defining a cavity. The extraction media portion has an inlet end in fluid communication with the reservoir and an outlet end. An extraction medium is disposed in the cavity of the elongated sleeve. The collar portion extends axially in a common direction with the elongated sleeve. The collar portion has a terminal end which is spaced apart from the outlet end of the elongated sleeve and which extends axially at least to a plane defined by the outlet end of the elongated sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Thermo Fisher Scientific Oy
    Inventors: Joni Rannisto, Kelly Flook, Leena Valmu, Ville Saarainen, Suvi Ravela, Johan Finell
  • Patent number: 9677944
    Abstract: A method of in-situ temperature measurement for a wafer treatment reactor such as a chemical vapor deposition reactor desirably includes the steps of heating the reactor until the reactor reaches a wafer treatment temperature and rotating a wafer support element within the reactor about a rotational axis. The method desirably further includes, while the wafer support element is rotating about the rotational axis, obtaining first operating temperature measurements using a first operating pyrometer that receives radiation from a first portion of the wafer support element, and obtaining first wafer temperature measurements using a wafer temperature measurement device that receives radiation from at least one wafer, the wafer temperature measurement device located at a first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Veeco Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander I. Gurary, Mikhail Belousov, Guray Tas
  • Patent number: 9678025
    Abstract: A test apparatus for thermal energy measurement of disk-shaped test specimens has a cold mass assembly locatable within a sealable chamber with a guard vessel having a guard chamber to receive a liquid fluid and a bottom surface to contact a cold side of a test specimen, and a test vessel having a test chamber to receive a liquid fluid and encompassed on one side by a center portion of the bottom surface shared with the guard vessel. A lateral wall assembly of the test vessel is closed by a vessel top, the lateral wall assembly comprising an outer wall and an inner wall having opposing surfaces that define a thermal break including a condensable vapor pocket to inhibit heat transfer through the lateral wall from the guard vessel to the test vessel. A warm boundary temperature surface is in thermal communication with a lower surface of the test specimen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: James E. Fesmire, Wesley L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 9676098
    Abstract: Using various embodiments, methods, systems, and apparatuses are disclosed for capturing the behavior of living subjects, where the data can be processed by a machine-learning algorithm to control an autonomous robot. In one embodiment, using the data captured by a user performing everyday operations, the autonomous robot can behave in a substantially similar manner as the living subject did in the environment where the behavior capture sessions of the living subject were carried out. Further, once the autonomous robot is provided with the processed data, the actions of the robot can iteratively be stored and processed by the machine learning algorithm to further refine the robot's movements performing the everyday operations. In another embodiment, behavior recorded from the living subject can be processed such that the autonomous robot is able to speak and understand spoken speech similar to that which occurred most frequently in the behavior capture sessions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Inventor: Heinz Hemken
  • Patent number: 9677968
    Abstract: Within examples, remotely controlled and thermally managed systems for actuation of components in a wind tunnel model are described. A wind tunnel test environment may provide ambient to cryogenic temperature conditions to reproduce aerodynamic flight Reynolds number conditions. Example systems comprise a modular test assembly mounted on a test component, and the test component includes at least one movable surface and is configured for placement in the wind tunnel. An actuator is included within the modular test assembly and coupled to the at least one movable surface of the test component, and a temperature sensor is included to provide temperature of an exterior of the modular test assembly. In addition, a controller is in communication with the actuator and the temperature sensor, and is configured to remotely cause the actuator to move the at least one movable surface through a range of motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Robert C. Griffiths, James Henry Mabe, Stefan Bieniawski, Frederick Calkins, Jonathan K. Brown, Ordie Dean Butterfield, Frank Bruce Irvine
  • Patent number: 9671319
    Abstract: A fats, oils, and grease waste materials water sampling apparatus includes a housing having an inlet, an outlet, a floor to accommodate a sampling jar below the inlet and an open top. The floor in the housing includes a recessed bottom, the recessed bottom extending between the inlet and the outlet to facilitate receipt of a sample jar for fats, oils, and grease waste materials sampling. Systems and methods for the invention are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Thermaco, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Batten, Bruce W. Kyles
  • Patent number: 9671255
    Abstract: A sensor probe comprises a tube, a sensor element and an absorber mass. The tube is for placement in a process fluid flow within a fluid conduit and comprises a first end for coupling to the fluid conduit and a second end for insertion into the process fluid flow. The sensor element is in communication with the tube. The absorber mass is coupled to the tube and is configured to dampen vibration of the tube when inserted in the process fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Rosemount Inc.
    Inventor: David Eugene Wiklund
  • Patent number: 9671320
    Abstract: A semi-dry type electrostatic cyclone sampler includes a cyclone body, an insulate element, a discharge electrode, an air tube, an air introducing means, a discharging means and a flushing means. The insulate element is disposed at a top of the cyclone body and co-defines a cyclone chamber with the cyclone body. The discharging electrode is disposed on the insulate element. The air tube is disposed at a bottom of the cyclone body. The air introducing means is for introducing a particulate-containing air stream into the cyclone chamber. The discharging means is for charging the particulates so that the particulates can attach to an inside of the cyclone body. The flushing means is for flushing the inside of the cyclone body and collecting part of the particulates. When the discharging means activates, the air introducing means activates simultaneously. When the flushing means activates, the discharging means is deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Jusun Instruments Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jonathan Yang, Chuen-Jinn Tsai
  • Patent number: 9673074
    Abstract: Disclosed are method and apparatus for treating a substrate. The apparatus is a dual-function process chamber that may perform both a material process and a thermal process on a substrate. The chamber has an annular radiant source disposed between a processing location and a transportation location of the chamber. Lift pins have length sufficient to maintain the substrate at the processing location while the substrate support is lowered below the radiant source plane to afford radiant heating of the substrate. One or more lift pins has a light pipe disposed therein to collect radiation emitted or transmitted by the substrate when the lift pin contacts the substrate surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Hanbing Wu, Anantha K. Subramani, Wei W. Wang, Aaron Muir Hunter
  • Patent number: 9664571
    Abstract: An integrated temperature sensor device has a temperature sensor providing an analog signal corresponding to an ambient temperature, an analog-to-digital converter coupled to the sensor conditioning circuit and receiving the analog temperature signal, and a timer and control circuit which is operable to be configured to control the temperature sensor device to perform a sequence of temperature measurements and shut-down time periods, wherein multiple temperature measurements are taken during the measurement period, wherein the timer and control circuit is further operable to be programmed to set the number of temperature measurements and the length of the shut-down period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Ezana Aberra, Patrick Richards
  • Patent number: 9664575
    Abstract: A variable resistance flexure sensor, and a system and method of controlling an appliance using a variable resistance flexure sensor are provided. The sensor can include a substrate having a flexible portion and a non-flexible portion. A plurality of electrically resistive elements, such as a first resistive element and a second resistive element, can be disposed on the substrate where at least one resistive element is exclusively within the non-flexible portion of the substrate and at least one resistive element is within the flexible portion of the substrate. The resistive element within the non-flexible portion of the substrate can act as a reference resistance for the flexure sensor and can be used as, or as part of, a biasing network for the electrically resistive element within the flexible portion of the substrate. The flexure sensor can be used within an appliance to detect various conditions such as temperature, moisture, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Haier US Appliances Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: James Carter Bach
  • Patent number: 9658092
    Abstract: An air mass flow meter, includes a housing made of plastic having an electrically insulating effect. A flow channel is formed in the housing. The air mass flow motion also includes a sensor element which is arranged in the housing and detects the air mass flowing in the flow channel. Conductive paths are arranged in the housing and connect the sensor element to connection pins. In order to provide a mass air flow meter which is cost-effective to produce and allows precise measurement of a mass air flow, the entire housing is made of plastic and at least one part of the flow channel has electrostatically dissipative properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Frauenholz, Stephen Setescak
  • Patent number: 9658088
    Abstract: A flow measuring device having a line section serving for guiding a flowable medium, wherein the line section is formed at least partially by a cavity in a circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Thomas Sulzer, Patrick Oudoire
  • Patent number: 9658146
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery is externally heated to induce thermal runaway, and material expelled from the battery is analyzed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Nels A. Olson, David C. Shangraw, Douglas D. Maben, Frederick B. McGalliard, James D. Kinder, John D. Jaquish, Jean-Philippe Belieres, Nikolay I. Shtanukhin, Noel L. Spurlock, Richard P. Lorenz, Steven L. Baughcum