Patents Examined by Reena Aurora
  • Patent number: 10481217
    Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes a magnetic detection element that includes a magnetic material causing a magnetic impedance effect and a bias coil applying a bias magnetic field to the magnetic material, a high-frequency oscillation circuit that supplies a high-frequency current to the magnetic material, an AC bias circuit that supplies an AC bias current to the bias coil, and a detection circuit that sets a reference point corresponding to an extreme impedance position in a characteristic of the magnetic detection element in the state of no application of an external magnetic field and outputs an electric signal changing in response to an impedance change amount from the reference point. The detection circuit includes an amplitude detection circuit which detects an amplitude of the electric signal at a timing of each vertex in which at least a voltage change direction of the electric signal changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Junya Tanigawa, Hiroki Sugiyama, Makoto Ishii
  • Patent number: 10478090
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system can include a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner, having a plurality of radio frequency (RF) receivers, and a processor. The MRI scanner can perform a full field of view (fFOV) scan on an anatomy area including an implant to acquire first multi-spectral MRI data associated with a plurality of frequency bins. The processor can generate, for each pair of a single RF receiver and a single frequency bin, a respective spectral sensitivity map using at least a portion of the fFOV multi-spectral MRI data. The MRI scanner can perform a reduced FOV (rFOV) scan to acquire second multi-spectral MRI data associated with the plurality of frequency bins. The processor can reconstruct one or more MRI images according to the rFOV using the rFOV multi-spectral MRI data and the spectral sensitivity maps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Medical College of Wisconsin
    Inventors: Kevin Matthew Koch, Andrew Scott Nencka
  • Patent number: 10473678
    Abstract: Wireless transmission of wheel rotation direction is disclosed. A disclosed apparatus includes a tone ring exhibiting a rotational asymmetry and a detector to measure a rotational direction of a wheel of a vehicle based on the rotational asymmetry and to measure a rotational speed of the wheel, where the detector or the tone ring is operatively coupled to the wheel. The disclosed apparatus also includes a wireless transmitter to transmit the rotational direction and the rotational speed to a receiver proximate or within an engine compartment of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hans Gangwar, William Falconer
  • Patent number: 10473486
    Abstract: In one aspect, an integrated circuit (IC) includes a magnetic field sensor to detect speed and direction of angular rotation of a rotating magnetic structure. The magnetic field sensor includes at least two magnetic field sensing elements configured to sense changes in a magnetic field caused by rotation of the magnetic structure. The IC also includes an output port configured to provide an output signal of the magnetic field sensor. A duty cycle percentage of the output signal indicates the speed and the direction or indicates a fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Michael C. Doogue, P. Karl Scheller
  • Patent number: 10466186
    Abstract: A method for testing an unconventional core sample is provided. The method involves loading the unconventional core sample into a sample holder and introducing fluid into the sample holder at an elevated pressure such that fluid is injected into the internal pore space of the unconventional core sample in order to resaturate the unconventional core sample with the fluid, wherein the fluid is selected from the group including a hydrocarbon fluid and a water-based formation fluid. An apparatus and a system used in combination with the method are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ravinath Kausik Kadayam Viswanathan, Kamilla Fellah, Erik Rylander, Philip M. Singer, Richard E. Lewis
  • Patent number: 10466290
    Abstract: An automated circuit test system includes a magnetic sensor array configured to measure, at a plurality of locations, a magnetic field induced by a circuit under test. A circuit drive module can energize the circuit under test to induce the magnetic field. Optionally, the circuit drive module detects an electrical response from the circuit under test. Optionally, magnetic field data is combined with electrical response data prior to outputting the test result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: INNOVAURA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alan B. Corwin, Keith Mullins, Ronald J. Schoenberg, C. MacGill Lynde, David B. Goodson, Christopher A. Wiklof
  • Patent number: 10451658
    Abstract: A dead front connector including an electrical coupling, a voltage tap, a voltage testing circuit. The electrical coupling is configured to electrically connect a power cable to a device. The voltage tap is configured to allow testing for the presence of a voltage between the power cable and the device. The voltage testing circuit is placed within the voltage tap. The voltage testing circuit includes an indicator configured to provide an indication when the voltage is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Xingniu Huo, William Frederick Tyrrell, III, Bastiaan Hubertus Van Besouw, Jeffrey Joseph Kester, Peter James Swales
  • Patent number: 10451440
    Abstract: A device for detecting a position of a position indicator includes an electrical magnetic field source, a sensor and an evaluator. The electrical magnetic field source is configured to generate a magnetic field when an electrical current flows through the electrical magnetic field source. The sensor is configured to detect the magnetic field and provide sensor signals based on the magnetic field detected, the sensor having at least two sensors each of which is configured to detect a spatial direction component of the magnetic field and output a signal corresponding to the spatial direction component. The evaluator is configured to receive the sensor signals and determine the position of a position indicator based on the sensor signals when the magnetic field in the surroundings of the electrical magnetic field source is influenced by the position indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Michael Hackner, Hans-Peter Hohe
  • Patent number: 10451443
    Abstract: An inductive detector for measuring the position of a first body relative to a second body along a measurement path comprises: a first body which comprises a substantially planar surface and a passive electromagnetic target; a second body which comprises a substantially planar surface facing the planar surface of the first body and an arrangement of laminar windings; said first and second body being configured such that the electromagnetic influence of the first body on the second body varies according to the position of the first body relative to the second body along the measurement path; wherein said passive electro-magnetic target comprises a first portion incorporating said planar surface and a second portion with a lower thickness than said first portion; whereby the second portion incorporates an insulating aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: ZETTLEX (UK) LIMITED
    Inventors: Mark Anthony Howard, Darran Kreit
  • Patent number: 10444302
    Abstract: A foreign matter detecting device comprises a first yoke portion and a second yoke portion which adjoin a permanent magnet respectively. The both yoke portions are arranged while interposing a reference space therebetween. Further, a detour yoke portion is arranged. A magnetic resistance of the first detour space being smaller than a magnetic resistance of the predetermined reference space, and magnetic resistances of the second detour space and the first detour space being larger than the magnetic resistance of the predetermined reference space. A detection signal in relation to the foreign matter is outputted on the basis of a magnetic flux density provided in at least any one of spaces of the reference space and the first detour space, corresponding to an amount of retention of the foreign matter in a retaining portion which is provided so that the foreign matter is retained in the second detour space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshinobu Moriyuki
  • Patent number: 10444395
    Abstract: A method and system for detecting a subsurface tunnel includes propelling an instrumented pipeline pig through a horizontal detection conduit, acquiring and analyzing magnetometer measurements and VLF EM resistivity measurements to detect distortions and/or anomalies in the Earth's magnetic field and/or VLF electromagnetic field, respectively, and correlating the data with position data of the pipeline pig to compute a parameter of a tunnel such as, for example, location, size and depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Vinegar Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Harold Vinegar
  • Patent number: 10444036
    Abstract: An encoder scale S includes a substrate 10 that rotates about a rotation axis AX and has an optical pattern along a rotation direction D on a first surface 10a crossing the rotation axis AX, of the substrate 10. The scale S also includes a first magnet M1 that is disposed on a second surface 10b of the substrate 10 different from the first surface 10a and has different magnetic poles (N-pole M1n, S-pole M1s) set therein with the rotation axis AX therebetween and a second magnet M2 that is disposed on the first surface 10a and generates magnetic fields with the N-pole M1n and S-pole M1s of the first magnet M1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuichi Mitsuhashi
  • Patent number: 10429436
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a device for measuring an electrical characteristic of a substrate comprising a support made of a dielectric material having a bearing surface, the support comprising an electrical test structure having a contact surface flush with the bearing surface of the support, the bearing surface of the support and the contact surface of the electrical test structure being suitable for coming into close contact with a substrate. The measurement device also comprises at least one connection bump contact formed on another surface of the support and electrically linked to the electrical test structure. This disclosure also relates to a system for characterizing a substrate and a method for measuring a characteristic of a substrate employing the measurement device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Soitec
    Inventors: Cédric Malaquin, Jean-Pierre Raskin, Eric Desbonnets
  • Patent number: 10422913
    Abstract: An electromagnetic field measuring device utilizes metamaterials to manipulate electromagnetic fields. Such a device is useful in a variety of applications including, for example, downhole gradiometric ranging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Ahmed E. Fouda, Burkay Donderici
  • Patent number: 10422845
    Abstract: Systems and methods for accelerating magnetic resonance fingerprinting (“MRF”) acquisitions are described. The method includes controlling the MRI system to acquire magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) data from the subject by performing a gradient-echo pulse sequence. The pulse sequence includes maintaining residual transverse magnetization through a delay period performed between successive cycles of the pulse sequence. The delay period is selected to allow spins of different tissue types within the subject to evolve differently as a function of tissue parameters within the different tissue types during the delay period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventor: Ouri Cohen
  • Patent number: 10416332
    Abstract: One or more embodiments are directed to conductor tracing instruments that include a receiver for detecting an energized conductor and methods for detecting an energized conductor. The receiver includes a plurality of sensors configured to sense magnetic fields produced by the energized conductor and a feedback mechanism configured to communicate information to a user regarding the magnetic fields being sensed. At least two of the sensors are configured to sense magnetic fields having directions of magnetic force that are different from each other. In one embodiment, the sensors are positioned so as to sense magnetic fields having directions of magnetic force that are perpendicular to each other. A change in information provided by the feedback mechanism communicates a change in direction of the energized conductor being detected by the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventor: Sidney Siang Lin
  • Patent number: 10408962
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods of characterizing kerogen and its hydrocarbon generation potential using NMR as the primary analytical tool, and using such data to derive the kinetics of hydrocarbon generation and alteration, thus predicting the hydrocarbon potential of source rock in geological setting, which can then be used in petroleum exploration and production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventor: Yishu Song
  • Patent number: 10408899
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to a present embodiment includes a gradient magnetic field coil and a gradient magnetic field power supply. The gradient magnetic field coil applies gradient magnetic field to an object, the gradient magnetic field coil including a plurality of channels. The gradient magnetic field power supply calculates a required power for each channel, and distributes maximum power to a channel requiring higher power than the required power of other channels with priority to the other channels, the maximum power being a limit value of total power to be supplied to the channels as a whole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Motohiro Miura, Masashi Hori, Sho Kawajiri
  • Patent number: 10408889
    Abstract: A system for magnetic detection of an external magnetic field is disclosed. The system includes a nitrogen vacancy (NV) diamond material comprising a plurality of NV centers, a magnetic field generator that generates a magnetic field, a radio frequency (RF) excitation source that provides RF excitation, an optical excitation source that provides optical excitation, an optical detector that receives an optical signal emitted by the NV diamond material, and a controller. The controller is configured to calculate a control magnetic field, control the magnetic field generator to generate the control magnetic field, receive a light detection signal from the optical detector based on the optical signal due to the sum of the generated control magnetic field and the external magnetic field, store measurement data based on the received light detection signal, and calculate a vector of the external magnetic field based on the stored measurement data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peter G. Kaup, Arul Manickam
  • Patent number: 10408041
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a down hole tool housing attached to a ranging electromagnetic field strength sensor. The ranging electromagnetic field strength sensor is to measure electromagnetic field strength components associated with an electromagnetic field originating at a first well, via at least one of direct transmission and backscatter transmission, when the down hole tool housing is disposed in a second well, to provide ranging measurements to calculate an approximate range between the first well and the second well. The apparatus includes a reference electromagnetic field strength sensor to provide a closed loop current path around the down hole tool housing, to provide distorting field strength measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Hsu-Hsiang Wu, Burkay Donderici