Patents Examined by Richard A. Moller
  • Patent number: 6698293
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drive tester and transmission tester, preferably for carrying out acoustic, oscillation and functional tests, comprising a clamping device for clamping a specimen to be tested, preferably a transmission (90), a drive component or a driven component, e.g. an electric drive, a drive/transmission-integral solution or a transmission component, a driving device (44), at least one driven device (26), and a framework. The transmission tester according to the invention is wherein the framework is provided as frame modules independent of each other, wherein clamping device, driving device (44) and driven device (26) are each allocated to a frame module (20) for configuring a function module (central body module (18), driving module (12), driven module (14)).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: teamtechnik Maschinen und Anlagen GmbH
    Inventors: Hubert Reinisch, Karl Baur
  • Patent number: 6694817
    Abstract: The cantilever of a probe-based metrology instrument such as an AFM is deflected by directing a beam of ultrasonic energy at the cantilever to apply ultrasonically generated acoustic radiation pressure to the cantilever. The energy is generated by an ultrasonic actuator such as a ZnO transducer driven by a power source such an RF signal generator. The transmitted beam preferably is shaped by focusing, collimation, or the like so that it impinges at least primarily on a region of interest of the cantilever such as the free end. The ultrasonic actuator produces a much better controlled force on the cantilever than can be achieved through the use of a traditional piezoelectric actuator and, accordingly, produces a response free of spurious effects (at least when the cantilever is operating in liquid). It also has a frequency bandwidth in the MHz range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: F. Levent Degertekin, Abidin Guclu Onaran, Babur B. Hadimioglu
  • Patent number: 6691573
    Abstract: A mobile testing environment is adapted for detecting drive line system imbalances in an automotive vehicle and includes an enclosed trailer for providing insulation from ambient weather, temperature and noise. The trailer also has a hitch for attachment to a towing vehicle for transport. An angular position and speed sensor is adapted to generate a signal responsive to speed and angular position of a drive shaft. Vibration sensors are adapted to detect drive line vibration and generate a signal responsive thereto. A signal analyzer is adapted to receive signals generated by the angular position and speed sensor and the vibration sensors to calculate any imbalance in the drive line system and present counterbalance weight and position parameters for correcting any system imbalance. The angular sensor comprises a pair of perceptron cameras adapted to send a pair of signals to the signal analyzer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Silvagi, Jeffrey Peters, Robert Shiloff
  • Patent number: 6691571
    Abstract: An rate-of-rotation sensor having a Coriolis element, which is arranged over a surface of a substrate, is described. The Coriolis element is induced to oscillate in parallel to a first axis. In response to a Coriolis force, the Coriolis element is deflected in a second axis, which is perpendicular to the first axis. A proof element is provided to prove the deflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Willig, Andreas Thomae, Burkhard Kuhlmann, Joerg Hauer, Udo-Martin Gomez, Siegbert Goetz, Christian Doering, Michael Fehrenbach, Wolfram Bauer, Udo Bischof, Reinhard Neul, Karsten Funk, Markus Lutz, Gerhard Wucher, Jochen Franz
  • Patent number: 6684684
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products determine the porosity or effective air void content of a compacted material sample of pavement or construction materials undergoing analysis corresponding to different measurements of field or lab formed material samples. The effective air void content represents a subset of the total air void content of the material sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: InstroTek, Inc.
    Inventors: Ali Regimand, Lawrence James
  • Patent number: 6684701
    Abstract: The invention provides for ultrasonically measuring the porosity in a sample composite material by accessing only one side of the sample composite material and includes the steps of measuring a sample ultrasonic signal from the sample composite material, normalizing the sample ultrasonic signal relative to the surface echo of the sample composite material, and isolating a sample back-wall echo signal from the sample ultrasonic signal. A sample frequency spectrum of the sample back-wall ultrasonic signal is then determined. Next, the method and system include the steps of measuring a reference ultrasonic signal from a reference composite material, normalizing the reference ultrasonic signal relative to the surface echo of the reference composite material; and isolating a reference back-wall echo signal from the sample ultrasonic signal. A reference frequency spectrum of the reference back-wall ultrasonic signal is then determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Marc Dubois, John B. Deaton, Jr., Peter W. Lorraine, Thomas E. Drake, Jr., Robert J. Filkins
  • Patent number: 6681631
    Abstract: A piezoelectric sensor includes a carrier, a piezoelectric measurement sensing element arranged on the carrier, a covering layer covering the measurement sensing element and an electronic evaluation unit. The measurement sensing element is formed by a piezoelectric layer. The carrier has a first contact layer electrically connected to the piezoelectric layer and the covering layer has a second contact layer electrically connected to the piezoelectric layer. The electronic evaluation unit is able to determine a mechanical loading of the piezoelectric layer by evaluating the difference of electrical potential between the first contact layer and the second contact layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Inventor: Peter Apel
  • Patent number: 6679121
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for testing vibration in a bladed disk includes a motor-driven rotor upon which the bladed disk can be attached. At least one nozzle coupled with a liquid source is positioned to direct liquid from the liquid source to a position where it would impact at least one blade of the rotating bladed disk. The stress state and/or position of a rotating blade, so impacted, can be monitored to test its vibration characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Test Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: H. Eric Sonnichsen, Paul H. Wawrzonek, Richard B. Connell, Borislav D. Milatovic
  • Patent number: 6679118
    Abstract: An object is to provide an accelerometer or a spherical sensor-type measurement device, able to control by means of an active restraining control system a spherical mass part or a spherical sensor part. The accelerometer or spherical sensor-type measurement device has a spherical mass part, which is levitated by electrostatic supporting forces, and electrodes positioned so as to surround the spherical mass part and which have spherical inner surfaces; the above electrodes include a plurality of electrostatic supporting electrodes, positioned symmetrically with respect to the spherical mass part, and a displacement detection electrode, positioned between the electrostatic supporting electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignees: Tokimec Inc., Ball Semiconductor Limited
    Inventors: Masayoshi Esashi, Takao Murakoshi, Shigeru Nakamura, Nobuo Takeda
  • Patent number: 6675651
    Abstract: A vibration gyro has a vibrator composed of three tines (first, second, and third tines) which are aligned in a single line at prescribed intervals in one direction on a base and extend in a direction perpendicular to an aligning direction. A central second tine and an adjacent first tine on a left are driven by oscillator. Further, Coriolis force generated on the second tine and the third tine on a right is detected by a detector. In this vibration gyro, the dimensions of the parts are determined so as to cause the third tine to substantially stand still when the first and second tines are driven by the oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tohru Yanagisawa, Izumi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6675645
    Abstract: A device for measuring thin films and bulks is disclosed using slow-wave structures in electrodynamic elements to allow a decrease in frequency, an increase in sensitivity to electromagnetic parameters and accuracy of their monitoring. A method is also disclosed for monitoring of materials which includes placing an electrodynamic element near a monitored material and exciting an alternating electromagnetic field at an appropriate frequency to penetrate the monitored material concentrating in a small volume. Electromagnetic field parameters are then measured which are caused by the material parameters variation and said variations are converted to electromagnetic field parameters, the element being excited by an electromagnetic field in the form of at least one slowed electromagnetic wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: MTS Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Yuriy N. Pchelnikov
  • Patent number: 6675630
    Abstract: A micro-gyroscope having electronic alignment by performing an electronic coordinate transformation on control voltages (VTX, VTy) through an attenuator network thereby canceling first and second harmonic signals from the output (Vthx, Vthy). The micro-gyroscope is tuned by automatic electronic compensation based on quadrature error that is applied to correct for variations in the gyroscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: A. Dorian Challoner, Roman C. Gutierrez
  • Patent number: 6672178
    Abstract: An adjustable gauge mounting cup with interchangeable mounting pedestals that provide a maximum number of mounting locations within a vehicle. The gauge mounting cup allows the operator to easily adjust the viewing angle of the gauge after the cup is mounted in the vehicle. The cup can also have replaceable mounts that have various types of mounting footprints and sizes. The gauge mounting cup mounts on a ball and socket or other adjustable mounting means. This allows the cup to be swiveled on three axes after the base pedestal is mounted and also allows the cup to be moved forward and backward on the pedistal mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Inventor: Mike Durnen
  • Patent number: 6672159
    Abstract: A method is described for balancing the phase-locked loop of an electronic analyzing device which analyzes the output signal of a sensor device, a yaw rate sensor in particular using the Coriolis effect having an oscillating mass which undergoes a deflection under the effect of an external yaw rate on the sensor device and the output signal representing a yaw rate signal, the electronic analyzing device having in addition to the phase-locked loop, a control loop, a quadrature control loop in particular, and the control loop is provided with a controller having an input and an output as well as with a modulator or mixer having an input which has a first electrical connection with the output of the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Schmid, Jens Mohaupt, Wolfram Bauer
  • Patent number: 6668649
    Abstract: In order to provide a vibrating gyroscope in which variations in the angular-velocity detection sensitivity are not likely to occur even when sharp temperature changes occur, a vibrator for a vibrating gyroscope includes, on one main surface, a first detection electrode and a second detection electrode, which output a signal containing an angular-velocity signal, wherein a groove having a predetermined depth is provided between the first detection electrode and the second detection electrode. As for a vibrator for a vibrating gyroscope of the present invention, since the difference between the resonance frequency and the anti-resonance frequency in a bending vibration mode in the driving direction becomes closer to the difference between the resonance frequency and the anti-resonance frequency in a bending vibration mode in the detection direction, variations in the angular-velocity detection sensitivity are not likely to occur even when sharp temperature changes are given.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Ishitoko, Masato Koike
  • Patent number: 6668647
    Abstract: Water-resistant preformed resilient bags are applied to a porous material specimen having a coarse external surface to provide for more consistent measurement results in water displacement tests. The preformed bag is configured to collapse and substantially conform to the material specimen's external surface and to provide planar collapsed portions extending away from the specimen. The preformed bags are precision manufactured and each applied to a respective specimen in a manner in which the bag consistently displaces the same volume of water when used in water displacement tests over many specimens. The volume of the bag can be accounted for when obtaining the volume of the specimen. The method of sealing the specimen includes inserting the specimen into a preformed bag and collapsing and sealing the bag such that is conformal to the external surface of the specimen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: InstroTek, Inc.
    Inventors: Ali Regimand, Lawrence H. James
  • Patent number: 6668648
    Abstract: An acceleration-detecting type gyro apparatus of an electrostatic supporting type, in which displacements of a gyro rotor are actively made zero is proposed. The acceleration-detecting type gyro apparatus includes: a gyro case; a gyro rotor which is supported within the gyro case by electrostatic supporting forces such that the gyro rotor is not in contact with the gyro case; electrostatic supporting electrodes for generating the electrostatic supporting forces; a rotor drive system for rotating the gyro rotor around the spin axis at high speed; a displacement-detection system for detecting displacements of the gyro rotor; and a restraining system having a feedback loop for correcting control voltages applied to the electrostatic supporting electrodes so that displacements of the gyro rotor become zero, the gyro rotor is annular-shaped, and the electrostatic supporting electrodes are disposed in a manner of surrounding the gyro rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Tokimec Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Karasawa, Takao Murakoshi, Keisuke Fukatsu
  • Patent number: 6668614
    Abstract: A control signal generator transmits a first signal to a movable electrode and a fixed electrode to detect a change in a capacitance formed between the movable electrode and the fixed electrode during a normal physical quantity detection timing interval. Also, the control signal generator transmits a second signal to the movable electrode and the fixed electrode instead of the first signal to move the movable electrode for diagnosing a malfunction of each of a plurality of physical quantity detection portions during a self diagnosis timing interval. The control signal generator transmits the second signal to the movable electrode and the fixed electrode of each physical quantity detection portion during a different timing intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Toshikazu Itakura
  • Patent number: 6666090
    Abstract: A vibrating gyroscope includes a vibrator having a driving electrode and a sensor electrode, a driving circuit for applying a driving voltage to the driving electrode, a detection circuit which receives, from the sensor electrode, a signal corresponding to a bending displacement of the vibrator, a signal processing circuit for processing a signal input from the detection circuit to detect an angular velocity, a power supply circuit, and a diagnostic circuit for examining whether or not the detection circuit, the driving circuit, the signal processing circuit, and the power supply circuit are all functioning normally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Mori, Akira Kumada, Kazuhiro Ebara
  • Patent number: 6662659
    Abstract: A microminiature and thin semiconductor acceleration sensor with high sensitivity is provided. The acceleration sensor has a mass portion formed in a center part of a silicon semiconductor substrate, a frame formed at a perimeter portion of the substrate, thin elastic support arms, which are provided at upper part of the mass portion and the frame and connect the mass portion and the frame, and a plurality of pairs of piezoresistors disposed on top surface sides of the elastic support arms. At least one of the mass portion and the thick frame has a cross section vertical to a respective top surface, spreading in width from the respective top surface toward a respective bottom surface. Since a side length of the mass portion and/or a width of the frame at a site, where the elastic support arms each is connected, are made short, the elastic support arm is made long, hereby the sensitivity of the sensor is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Hitachi Metals, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masakatsu Saitoh