Patents Examined by Rodney Frank
  • Patent number: 7210341
    Abstract: A device for calculating a quantity of fuel in a fuel tank for a fuel cell vehicle is provided. The device includes a first quantity determining system that provides a first quantity value representing said quantity of fuel in said fuel tank based on a physical condition associated with said fuel in said fuel tank, a second quantity determining system that provides a second quantity value representing said quantity of fuel in said fuel tank, and an error correction system that generates an error value based upon the first quantity value and the second quantity value. A method for calculating a quantity of fuel in a fuel tank for a fuel cell vehicle is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toru Fuse
  • Patent number: 7207219
    Abstract: A metal rod-shaped element for a liquid detecting device is essentially cylindrical and has first and second ends. In at least one length, starting from the second end, the element has an isolating coating and an electrode strip is provided which extends along a longitudinal axis of the element. The electrode strip is not electrically connected to the element and the strip comprises a high impedance material. Two flattened sections are provided where the metal of the element lies openly. In a cross sectional view the electrode strip is situated between the two flattened sections. A first contact mechanism is provided in order to establish, in the range of the first end, an electrical contact to the rod-shaped element, and a second contact mechanism is provided in order to establish, within the range of the first end, an electrical contact to the electrode strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Tecan Trading AG
    Inventors: Heribert Eglauer, Gerhard Schlager, Uwe Kolb, Ulrich Schubert
  • Patent number: 7204122
    Abstract: An osmolarity measuring system comprising microscale electrode arrays is configured to account for variations and defects in the arrays using a tiered approach comprising several calibration methods. One method accounts for the intrinsic conductivity of the electrodes and subtracts out the intrinsic conductivity on a pair-wise basis, when determining osmolarity of a sample fluid. Other methods in the tiered approach use standards to determine calibration factors for the electrodes that can then be used to adjust subsequent osmolarity measurements for a sample fluid. The use of a standard can also be combined with a washing step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Ocusense, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Sullivan, Eric Donsky
  • Patent number: 7178382
    Abstract: An improved structure of a gas sensor designed to withstand physical impact which may result in damage such as cracks to a sensor element built in the gas sensor. Specifically, the gas sensor includes a buffer provided by a clearance between an air cover a porcelain insulator. The clearance is in a range of 1 to 2.5 mm at a minimum. The gas sensor may alternatively have a harder portion in the air cover which has a Vickers hardness of 200 to 400. The gas sensor may alternatively have a rigidity enhancer in the air cover which works to provides an increased rigidity to the air cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hirofumi Noda, Takashi Kojima
  • Patent number: 7174236
    Abstract: (A) V-CAD data of an object (1) is prepared. (B) A processed surface shape after NC processing is predicted by simulation using the V-CAD data. (C) The object is subjected to NC processing by a predetermined NC program, and a processed surface shape after NC processing is measured, and (D) processing correction data is obtained from a difference between the processed surface shapes acquired by simulation and measurement, and the NC program is corrected based on the processing correction data. As a result, the ultra-precise processing is enabled even if a workpiece or a tool has low rigidity and an inconstant quantity of deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Riken
    Inventors: Hitoshi Ohmori, Masahiro Anzai, Kiwamu Kase, Hideo Tashiro, Akitake Makinouchi
  • Patent number: 7168310
    Abstract: A novel process and methodology in deterministic formation evaluation is provided. The formation evaluation results can accurately quantify formation attributes, such as clay-volume, clay-bound-water, effective-porosity and water saturation in shaly sands. Total-porosity is determined using porosity-logs, such as density, neutron and sonic logs. After clay-volume and total-porosity are determined, sand volume (quartz, feldspar, mica . . . ) is the remaining part in the bulk formation evaluated, see FIG. 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Saudi Aramco
    Inventor: Saleh Al-Ruwaili
  • Patent number: 7168315
    Abstract: The invention relates to a level meter (1) with an outer oscillating body (3) and an inner oscillating body (4), which bodies are coaxially positioned relative to a longitudinal axis (X), with a drive and reception device (7) for exciting an oscillation in the oscillating bodies or for detecting an oscillation in the oscillating bodies, with a diaphragm (61) for elastically coupling one of the oscillating bodies (3), and with a clamping device (8) for clamping the drive and/or reception device (7) against the oscillating bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Vega Grieshaber KG
    Inventors: Gerd Ohmayer, Holger Gruhler, Joern Jacob
  • Patent number: 7165442
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for detecting a water leak in a locomotive engine cooling system comprising numerous components, each being a potential source of leakage of water. The method typically comprises performing at least one inspection providing an indication of a water leak from an engine cooling system of the locomotive. The step of performing at least one inspection may comprise at least one of several steps including performing a visual inspection to determine if water is leaking from a portion of the cooling system external to the engine; performing a visual inspection of exhaust of the engine to detect an indication of water vapor in the exhaust; performing a visual inspection to detect an indication of water leaking into an intake air manifold 30 of the engine; performing an engine oil analysis to detect water in the engine lubricant; reviewing a fault log history for the locomotive; and checking a level of a cooling system sight glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Douglas Cryer, Thomas Charle Sonney, Manoj P. Kumar, William Joseph Ruprecht, III, Charles Joseph Waugaman, Matthew Lee Swedberg, Dennis William McAndrew, John Albert Mayle
  • Patent number: 7162918
    Abstract: The present invention provides a downhole method and apparatus using a flexural mechanical resonator, for example, a tuning fork to provide real-time direct measurements and estimates of the viscosity, density and dielectric constant of formation fluid or filtrate in a hydrocarbon producing well. The present invention additionally provides a method and apparatus for monitoring cleanup from a leveling off of viscosity or density over time, measuring or estimating bubble point for formation fluid, measuring or estimating dew point for formation fluid, and determining the onset of asphaltene precipitation. The present invention also provides for intercalibration of plural pressure gauges used to determine a pressure differential downhole. A hard or inorganic coating is placed on the flexural mechanical resonator (such as a tuning fork) to reduce the effects of abrasion from sand particles suspended in the flowing fluid in which the flexural mechanical resonator is immersed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Rocco DiFoggio, Arnold Walkow, Paul Bergren, Peter W. Reittinger
  • Patent number: 7159458
    Abstract: A measuring device for determining the filling level of a product or the position of the interface between two media or phases in a container by means of high-frequency measuring signals which are guided along a waveguide. The waveguide comprises a wire cable with a plurality of individual wires of a predetermined diameter which are twisted together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co.
    Inventors: Ralf Reimelt, Herbert Schroth, Armin Wendler
  • Patent number: 7150180
    Abstract: A method for detection of leaks in a plate pack heat exchanger having respective discrete first and second flow paths in mutual thermal contract comprises connecting a helium detector probe at one end of the first flow path and an air compressor means at the other end of the first flow path, introducing helium to the second flow path, allowing air to pass through the first flow path under the influence of the compressor means and detecting any helium present therein by the helium detector probe, the pressure of the second flow path being higher than that of the first flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Accusense System Limited
    Inventor: Thomas Werner
  • Patent number: 7150190
    Abstract: A liquid level sensor confirms actual physical contact between a probe and a liquid by verifying that any change in capacitance of the sensor is constant over a given time period and thereby is not caused by spurious electrical disturbances or other measuring irregularities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Dade Behring Inc.
    Inventors: Frank S. Krufka, Joson Kunnumpuram Joseph, Arnold Lloyd Lewis
  • Patent number: 7146857
    Abstract: The invention is concerned with a method and apparatus for real time analysis of gas mixtures, e g determination of air quality, including at least one resonator (1, 11), means for gas transportation to and from the resonator (1, 11), e g by diffusion or transit flow via openings (5) means for activation (2) and detection (3) of an acoustic signal within the resonator (1, 11), at least one means (7) for measurement of the temperature within the resonator (1, 11), and at least one means (4) for the determination of both the resonance frequency and the quality factor of the resonator (1,11) in real time. These entities are related to the average molecular mass and viscosity or thermal conductivity, respectively, of the gas mixture. The resonator (1, 11 may include a compliant element, e g a constricted volume (6) and an inertial element, e g ist opening (5) or may support standing acoustic waves, in which the sound wavelength is related to a physical dimension of the resonator (1, 11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Hok Instrument AB
    Inventor: Bertil John Waldemarsson Hök
  • Patent number: 7143660
    Abstract: A method for processing semiconductor wafers includes processing a semiconductor wafer in a processing chamber having upper and lower chambers, decoupling the upper chamber from the lower chamber, cleaning the upper chamber, determining, while decoupled, that a leak rate and a particle count for the upper chamber meets predetermined criteria, and coupling the upper chamber to the lower chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Steven K. Mayes
  • Patent number: 7143638
    Abstract: A system and method for measuring an amount of constituent elements in a wet gas mixture, particularly of a wet gas containing petrol. As the wet gas is passed through a two stage measurement system, the total permittivity of the mixture and the amount of water in the mixture are determined. These data, combined with some assumptions about the system, permit calculation of the amount of petrol in the mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Phase Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventor: Bentley N. Scott
  • Patent number: 7140247
    Abstract: An in-tank fuel module apparatus arranged to provide an electrostatic discharge path from a conductive component to the ground plane. A conductive float arm is connected to a conductive support through an element in contact with the float arm and the conductive support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: TI Group Automotive Systems, LLC
    Inventors: John R. Forgue, Daniel A Gilmour
  • Patent number: 7140230
    Abstract: The present invention provides an odor measuring apparatus capable of assuredly detecting and evaluating such odors that cannot be detected by a measurement apparatus using conventional odor sensors. In an embodiment of the present invention, a gas sample to be measured is introduced into the column 10 of a gas chromatograph 1 to temporally separate it into odor components, which are then introduced into a mass spectrometer (MS) 2 and an odor discriminator 3 in parallel. The data processor 51 creates a chromatogram and/or a mass spectrum from the detection signals generated by the detector 24 of the MS 2, and also calculates the similarity of each odor component to standard odors and/or the degree of contribution from the detection signals generated by the detection circuit 33 of the odor discriminator 3. The processor 51 displays a similarity radar chart or similar graphic information on the display 53, where each peak present on the chromatogram is associated with the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Jun-ichi Kita, Kunihiko Ohkubo
  • Patent number: 7140237
    Abstract: An oil-filled transformer monitoring system is provided which calculates an oil temperature of an oil-filled transformer with high precision from a current of the transformer and an ambient temperature. The oil-filled transformer monitoring system of this invention has an oil temperature calculation device to calculate a transformer oil temperature using measurements from a transformer current measuring device and an ambient temperature measuring device. The transformer monitoring system also has an oil temperature measuring device and compares an output value from the oil temperature calculation device with an output value from the oil temperature measuring device to detect any anomaly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Manabu Dohi, Toshiki Shirahata, Takayuki Kondo
  • Patent number: 7134330
    Abstract: An apparatus for capacitive determination and/or monitoring of the fill level of a medium in a container, having at least one fill level probe, and having at least one electronic field device which communicates with the fill level probe. The at least one electronic fill device generates a voltage trigger signal (sig1) for triggering the fill level probe, and receives and evaluates a measurement current (I2) of the fill level probe. At least one microprocessor is provided in the electronic field device, which microprocessor generates the voltage trigger signal (sig1), and/or which microprocessor evaluates at least the measurement current (I2) and/or a measured variable proportional to it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Armin Wernet, Clemens Heilig
  • Patent number: 7134332
    Abstract: A liquid-amount detecting apparatus detects the amount of a liquid in containers. The liquid-amount detecting apparatus includes a liquid detecting circuit and a determining unit. The liquid detecting circuit includes electrode units disposed so as to be in contact with the liquid in the containers, which becomes electrically conductive when in contact with the liquid, an impedance, and an AC-signal source. An AC signal not containing a DC component is input from the AC-signal source to the electrode units through the source impedance, and a signal representing the status of electric connection of the electrode units is output. Furthermore, based on the output signal, a binary signal representing the presence or absence of electrical connection of the electrode units is output. The determining unit determines the presence or absence of the liquid at the electrode units based on the binary signal output from the liquid detecting circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takeo Eguchi, Kazuyasu Takenaka, Takumi Namekawa