Patents Examined by Roger Hernandez-Prewitt
  • Patent number: 9823113
    Abstract: Disclosed is detecting changes in pressure in a medium, with an optical fiber having a core diameter at an immersion surface contact of the fiber of less than 10 ?m; a layer of material deposited on said end of the fiber, the material being of a thickness of from about 2 nm to about 10 nm. Also disclosed is detecting pressure waves in a medium comprising: contacting the medium with a fiber optic, the fiber integrated with a light source and a detector, the fiber optic having a diameter of less than 10 ?m at an immersion surface contact of the fiber; providing a thin layer of material on the immersion surface contact, wherein said thin layer of material is of a thickness in a range of from about 2 nm to about 10 nm; and detecting Fresnel back reflections from the immersion end of the fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Drexel University
    Inventors: Afshin S Daryoush, Peter A Lewin, Rupa Gopinath Minasamudram, Mahmoud El-Sherif
  • Patent number: 9821846
    Abstract: A device for a motor vehicle having a torque sensor device for detecting a torque applied to a steering shaft of the motor vehicle and with a steering angle sensor device for detecting a current steering angle of the steering shaft is disclosed. The torque sensor device has a magnetic stator designed to conduct magnetic flux from a magnet to at least one flux conductor and through the same to at least one magnetic sensor of the torque sensor device, and two stator parts that are disposed so as to be displaced in the axial direction relative to each other, each of which comprises an annular edge element extending in the radial direction. The steering angle sensor device includes at least one rotation transmission element with a permanent magnet and a magnetic field detector for detecting a rotary motion of the rotation transmission element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: VALEO Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Roman Schoepe, Jens Thom, Ekkehart Froehlich, Dirk Rachui, Katalin Hadobas-Roessel
  • Patent number: 9804045
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an overheat or fire alarm detection system, comprises the steps of micromachining a pressure sensor and securing a sensor tube in fluid communication with the pressure sensor. The sensor tube may comprise a hollow tube containing a material that evolves gas upon heating. The micromachining step may comprise doping at least a portion of a first layer, forming a cavity at least partially within the doped portion and forming a deformable diaphragm over the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: KIDDE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Paul Rennie, Paul D. Smith
  • Patent number: 9778120
    Abstract: A load cell includes a flexure element having a Roberval mechanism in which the respective ends of a pair of top and bottom parallel beams including a thin section are integrated in a fixed portion and in a movable portion, and a stopper for preventing an overload disposed between the pair of the top and bottom parallel beams by being fixed to the fixed portion. The front portion of the stopper is disposed in a concave portion for engaging the stopper formed on the inner side surface of the movable portion and extending in the width direction, and the front portion of the stopper of which a width is larger than the movable portion projects outwardly in the width direction of the movable portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: A&D COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventor: Isao Sato
  • Patent number: 9772254
    Abstract: A shaker test system with a class D power amplifier having an analog to digital converter to receive an analog input signal and convert the analog input signal to a digital signal, pulse width modulation logic coupled to the analog to digital converter to provide a delay time to a delay line to control a transition time of a pulse width modulated signal responsive to an output of the analog to digital converter, and a class D power output stage coupled to the delay line and responsive to the pulse width modulated signal to provide an output of the class D power amplifier stage. The class D amplifier allows use of a low cost microcontroller to obtain very small pulse width increments using a low cost microcontroller to provide a low cost shaker test system incorporating the class D power amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Lus & Butts, LLC
    Inventor: Gary C. Butts
  • Patent number: 9772244
    Abstract: This disclosure provides example methods, devices, and systems for a sensor having thermal gradients. In one embodiment, a system may comprise a sensor assembly including a housing; a first header and a second header coupled to the housing; a first transducer coupled to the first header, wherein the first transducer is configured to measure a first pressure to generate a first pressure signal; a second transducer coupled to the second header, wherein the second transducer is configured to measure a second pressure to generate a second pressure signal; and wherein the first transducer and the second transducer are positioned in the housing such that a first temperature of the first transducer is about equivalent to a second temperature of the second transducer during operation of the sensor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Kulite Semiconductor Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Louis DeRosa, Robert Gardner, Richard Martin
  • Patent number: 9757995
    Abstract: A system includes a wheel, a hubcap coupled to the wheel and a tire pressure sensor coupled to the wheel. The system also includes a brake control unit (BCU) and an active hubcap circuit coupled to the hubcap. The active hubcap circuit is electrically coupled to the tire pressure sensor and the BCU and configured to receive an input signal from at least one of the tire pressure sensor or the BCU, generate an output signal by increasing a signal to noise ratio of the input signal and output the output signal to at least one of the BCU or the tire pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric Stein, Paul L. Summers
  • Patent number: 9759637
    Abstract: A trailer mounted soil sampler including one or more soil sampling assemblies mounted thereon. Each of the soil sampler assemblies being selectively pivotally movable between horizontally disposed and vertically disposed positions. Each of the soil sampling assemblies includes an elongated hollow soil probe which is driven into the ground to collect a soil sample therein. The soil sampler includes a soil cleaning and oiler mechanism. The soil sampler also includes a trash cleaner for cleaning trash from the area where the soil probe is to be driven into the ground. Further, the soil sampler includes a soil sample collection apparatus for collecting the soil samples in bags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: DUO LIFT MANUFACTURING CO., INC.
    Inventors: James A. Hellbusch, Todd Stachura
  • Patent number: 9752906
    Abstract: A base (41) includes a plurality of flow channels (33, 34) and detection sections (531, 541) for detecting the flow volumes of fluids flowing in the flow channels (33, 34). In the base (41), a blocking section (57) for blocking heat conduction between the flow channels (33, 34) is provided between the flow channels (33, 34). The blocking section (57) is configured of groove (58) formed in the base (41).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: AICHI TOKEI DENKI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hideyuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9739612
    Abstract: A MEMS type inertial sensor comprising a support structure having at least a first seismic body and a second seismic body connected thereto by resilient means in order to be movable in a suspension plane, transducers for maintaining the seismic bodies in vibration and for determining movements of the seismic bodies in the suspension plane, and a control unit connected to the transducers by electrical conductor means. The transducers comprise at least one electrode secured to the first seismic body and at least one electrode secured to the second seismic body, the two electrodes being arranged to enable relative movements of the seismic bodies relative to each other in the suspension plane to be measured directly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Safran Electronics & Defense
    Inventors: Alain Jeanroy, Philippe Onfroy
  • Patent number: 9739680
    Abstract: This disclosure provides example methods, devices and systems associated with flat covered leadless pressure sensor assemblies suitable for operation in extreme environments. In one embodiment, a system may comprise a semiconductor substrate having a first side and a second side; a diaphragm disposed on the first side of the semiconductor substrate; a first cover coupled to the first side of the semiconductor substrate such that it overlays at least the diaphragm, wherein a pressure applied at the first cover is transferred to the diaphragm; and a sensing element disposed on the second side of the semiconductor substrate, wherein the sensing element is used to measure the pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Kulite Semiconductor Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander A. Ned, Joseph R. VanDeWeert, Leo Geras
  • Patent number: 9733139
    Abstract: Pressure sensors having vertical diaphragms or membranes. A vertical diaphragm may be located in a first silicon wafer between a first and second cavity, where the first and second cavities are covered by a second silicon wafer. One or more active or passive devices or components may be located on a top of the vertical diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Silicon Microstructures, Inc.
    Inventor: Holger Doering
  • Patent number: 9726657
    Abstract: A pullout test system, having a pullout apparatus including a plurality of bracing rods connected to a first support plate at proximal end of the plurality of bracing rods and a second base plate connected at a distal end of the plurality of bracing rods. The apparatus also includes a reaction rod attached to the first base plate extending away from the plurality of bracing rods. The apparatus further includes a sample specimen mounting location disposed centrally on the second base plate and disposed between the first base plate and the second base plate and an anchor disposed through the second base plate and fixed within the sample specimen disposed centrally on the second base plate. The system includes a universal testing machine (UTM). The pullout apparatus is configured to be mounted within the UTM via the anchor and the reaction rod to apply tensile forces thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF DAMMAM
    Inventor: Muhammad Saleem
  • Patent number: 9719871
    Abstract: An example method includes detecting a signal that represents a strain of a frame of a wearable computing device and causing the wearable computing device to perform a function based on the detected signal. The method may also include generating a representation of the detected signal, comparing the representation of the signal to a threshold value, and causing the wearable computing device to perform a function based on the comparison to the threshold value. An example wearable computing device and an example non-transitory computer readable medium related to the example method are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Evan Blum, Joseph John Hebenstreit, Ali-Reza Bahmandar
  • Patent number: 9709450
    Abstract: A differential pressure transducer employing a coiled tube to eliminate varying pressure fluctuations is provided. In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving, at an inlet tube of a dampening chamber, a main pressure, wherein the main pressure includes a static pressure component and a dynamic pressure component; filtering, by the inlet tube, at least a portion of the dynamic pressure component of the main pressure; outputting, from the inlet tube, a first filtered main pressure; receiving, at a volume cavity of the dampening chamber, the first filtered main pressure, wherein the volume cavity is operatively coupled to the inlet tube; filtering, by the volume cavity, at least a portion of the dynamic pressure component of the first filtered main pressure; outputting, from the volume cavity, a second filtered main pressure; and wherein the dampening chamber is tuned to a predetermined resonance frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Kulite Semiconductor Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony D. Kurtz, Adam Kane, Richard Martin, Robert Gardner
  • Patent number: 9702798
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for measuring a fracture toughness using an instrumented indentation testing, which measures a load and an indentation depth in real time while applying a load to a specimen by an indenter having a flat punch shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: FRONTICS, INC.
    Inventors: Jun Yeong Kim, Dong Il Kwon, Kwang Ho Kim, Seung Won Jeon, Woo Joo Kim, Seung Hun Choi
  • Patent number: 9702249
    Abstract: A well testing device for conducting well test operations on an oil, gas, or water well including a production flowline. A conduit guides fluids from the production flowline to the well test device and then back to the flowline. The well test device may include, in various combinations, one or more of a flow measurement device, a sampling device, a sampling chamber to collect sampled fluids from the production flowline, a particle separator, a particle detector, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a controller or data storage module, a choke, and other components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: OneSubsea IP UK Limited
    Inventors: Alexandre Gordon, Graham Hall, John Reid
  • Patent number: 9694632
    Abstract: A device for monitoring tires for vehicle wheels, includes: an electronic unit adapted to detect at least one characteristic quantity of a tire and to transmit at least one corresponding parameter representative of said detected quantity; a connection element to keep the electronic unit constrained to an internal surface of the tire, the connection element including a first portion having a base surface adapted to be secured to the inner surface of the tire, and a cavity for housing the electronic unit wherein the first portion has at least one slot interposed between the electronic unit and the projection thereof on the base surface, the slot having a distal profile relative to the electronic unit which is entirely contained in the base surface. A tire for vehicle wheels provided with the monitoring device and a method for installing the electronic unit in the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: PIRELLI TYRE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Federico Mancosu, Massimo Brusarosco
  • Patent number: 9696156
    Abstract: An vibrating gyro device includes a base, drive vibrating arms extending from one end of the base, and detection vibrating arms extending from the other end of the base that faces away from the one end, and an adjustment film is provided on each of the drive vibrating arms in an area close to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Keiji Nakagawa, Ryuta Nishizawa
  • Patent number: 9689761
    Abstract: A torque sensor includes a first magnet fixed to a first shaft, a tubular magnetic yoke assembly in which a magnetic yoke core is molded with a resin member, and a first magnetic sensor that detects a magnetic flux from the first magnet induced by the magnetic yoke core. The torque sensor also includes a collar made of a ferromagnetic body that is fixed to an inner circumference of the magnetic yoke assembly and to which a second shaft is press-fitted and fixed, and a second magnet for an index sensor that is disposed on an outer circumference of the magnetic yoke assembly. At least a part of the collar is disposed between the magnetic yoke core and the second magnet with respect to an axial direction of the magnetic yoke assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke Matsui, Kensaku Hotta