Patents Examined by Rodney Frank
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Patent number: 7210341Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 25, 2005Date of Patent: May 1, 2007Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Toru Fuse
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Patent number: 7207219Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 11, 2005Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Tecan Trading AGInventors: Heribert Eglauer, Gerhard Schlager, Uwe Kolb, Ulrich Schubert
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Patent number: 7204122Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 9, 2006Date of Patent: April 17, 2007Assignee: Ocusense, Inc.Inventors: Benjamin Sullivan, Eric Donsky
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Patent number: 7178382Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 23, 2004Date of Patent: February 20, 2007Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Hirofumi Noda, Takashi Kojima
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Patent number: 7174236Abstract: (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: GrantFiled: August 14, 2002Date of Patent: February 6, 2007Assignee: RikenInventors: Hitoshi Ohmori, Masahiro Anzai, Kiwamu Kase, Hideo Tashiro, Akitake Makinouchi
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Patent number: 7168310Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 26, 2004Date of Patent: January 30, 2007Assignee: Saudi AramcoInventor: Saleh Al-Ruwaili
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Patent number: 7168315Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 15, 2005Date of Patent: January 30, 2007Assignee: Vega Grieshaber KGInventors: Gerd Ohmayer, Holger Gruhler, Joern Jacob
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Patent number: 7165442Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 7, 2004Date of Patent: January 23, 2007Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: 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
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Patent number: 7162918Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 29, 2005Date of Patent: January 16, 2007Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Rocco DiFoggio, Arnold Walkow, Paul Bergren, Peter W. Reittinger
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Patent number: 7159458Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 6, 2001Date of Patent: January 9, 2007Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co.Inventors: Ralf Reimelt, Herbert Schroth, Armin Wendler
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Patent number: 7150180Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 22, 2004Date of Patent: December 19, 2006Assignee: Accusense System LimitedInventor: Thomas Werner
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Patent number: 7150190Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 21, 2005Date of Patent: December 19, 2006Assignee: Dade Behring Inc.Inventors: Frank S. Krufka, Joson Kunnumpuram Joseph, Arnold Lloyd Lewis
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Patent number: 7146857Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 16, 2004Date of Patent: December 12, 2006Assignee: Hok Instrument ABInventor: Bertil John Waldemarsson Hök
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Patent number: 7143660Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 18, 2004Date of Patent: December 5, 2006Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventor: Steven K. Mayes
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Patent number: 7143638Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 28, 2005Date of Patent: December 5, 2006Assignee: Phase Dynamics, Inc.Inventor: Bentley N. Scott
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Patent number: 7140247Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 3, 2005Date of Patent: November 28, 2006Assignee: TI Group Automotive Systems, LLCInventors: John R. Forgue, Daniel A Gilmour
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Patent number: 7140230Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 30, 2005Date of Patent: November 28, 2006Assignee: Shimadzu CorporationInventors: Jun-ichi Kita, Kunihiko Ohkubo
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Patent number: 7140237Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 20, 2004Date of Patent: November 28, 2006Assignee: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.Inventors: Manabu Dohi, Toshiki Shirahata, Takayuki Kondo
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Patent number: 7134330Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 7, 2004Date of Patent: November 14, 2006Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KGInventors: Armin Wernet, Clemens Heilig
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Patent number: 7134332Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 11, 2005Date of Patent: November 14, 2006Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Takeo Eguchi, Kazuyasu Takenaka, Takumi Namekawa