Patents Examined by Roger Hernandez-Prewitt
-
Patent number: 8733163Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus and a system, as well as a method an article, may operate to move a borehole seal in space with respect to the wall of a borehole while monitoring borehole seal contact quality data, which may comprise borehole seal contact pressure data and acoustic data. Operations may further include adjusting the movement of the borehole seal based on the borehole seal contact quality data. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2010Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Michael T. Pelletier, Abbas Sami Eyuboglu, Calvin Kessler
-
Patent number: 8714033Abstract: A catcher pin assembly for attachment to a catcher link of an aircraft frame, the catcher pin assembly having an engine mounting element, a catcher pin, a compressible element, and a nut, which is lockable to the catcher pin, the compressible element being compressed between the pin and the mounting element and/or between the mounting element and the nut, in the assembled condition of the assembly, such that the compressible element applies a predetermined resistance to rotation of the catcher pin relative to the mounting element. The invention also relates to a method of testing a catcher pin assembly to determine if the catcher pin is carrying load from the catcher link, the method including applying a predetermined torque to the catcher pin sufficient to overcome the resistance to rotation of the catcher pin when it is unloaded, and determining whether the catcher pin rotates relative to the mounting element.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2011Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLCInventor: Lawrence D. Foster
-
Patent number: 8707783Abstract: A sensor housing cover and a method for manufacturing such a sensor housing cover are described. The sensor housing cover is made up of a base cover having at least one opening. The base cover is extrusion-coated with a first plastic in such a way that the first plastic constitutes at least one element of the sensor housing cover and is positively connected to the base cover via the at least one opening. In the manufacturing process, the base cover is provided and then enclosed by a mold. The first plastic is injected into the mold to manufacture the at least one element of the sensor housing cover.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2009Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Ronny Ludwig
-
Patent number: 8695406Abstract: A safety device for a machine having an action part for processing or moving an object includes: a posture obtainment unit configured to obtain a plurality of posture data indicating a posture of at least part of the lower body of a worker; and a preparatory movement determination unit configured to determine that a preparatory movement preceding a dangerous movement which brings at least part of the upper body of the worker closer to a working area of the action part is being performed in the case where a change in the posture indicated by the plurality of posture data shows that the worker is shifting a center of gravity of whole body of the worker in an orientation away from the working area of the action part without changing positions of both feet.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2012Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Yumiko Kato, Jun Ozawa
-
Patent number: 8695416Abstract: A method of examining a coin for determining the validity of its denomination, comprises the steps of moving a coin through a passageway, sensing said moving coin in said passageway with one or more sensors to interact with said moving coin and provide at least two values indicative of the said coin, calculating two or more coin features by using said at least two values, determining that said coin features values lie between predetermined minimum and maximum stored values, applying predetermined coefficients of weighted-error to each of said coin features, calculating weighted-error correlation coefficients using two or more of the said coin feature values, and determining validity when the said calculated weighted-error correlation coefficient is above predetermined minimum stored values, or when said coefficient is the maximum of all calculated coefficients.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2007Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: Coin Acceptors, Inc.Inventor: Eric S. Fortin
-
Patent number: 8683870Abstract: A sensor device includes at least one sensor device coupled to a substrate. A solder pad interface includes a plurality of steps, with at least a portion of the steps positioned at different planes, each of a step having a solder pad. A cable with a plurality of cable leads, is configured for each of a cable lead to be coupled to a solder pad.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2012Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Meggitt (Orange County), Inc.Inventor: James C. Letterneau
-
Patent number: 8684595Abstract: Systems and methods related to the determination of one or more mechanical characteristics of a structural element are generally described. In some embodiments, a mechanical characteristic (e.g., a crack, a deformation, an inclusion, etc.) can be determined based at least in part upon the determination of a temperature generated, for example, by passing a current through a network of structures within the structural element. For example, in some embodiments, the structural element can comprise a network of electrically conductive nanostructures and, in some cases, a primary structural material that is not substantially electrically conductive. An electrical current can be passed through the network of electrically conductive nanostructures (e.g., by passing current through an electrical circuit comprising the network of electrically conductive nanostructures). This may result in resistive heating (also known as Joule-effect heating) of the nanostructure network.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2010Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Brian L. Wardle, Roberto Guzman de Villoria, Antonio Miravete
-
Patent number: 8677802Abstract: A sensing module and method for monitoring various physical parameters, and particularly environmental parameters to which a living body may be subjected, for example, impacts and shock wave pulses. The module at least one energy storage device and at least one set of electromechanical sensing elements contained in a housing. The sensing elements are responsive to an external environmental input, and each sensing element defines an open electrical path when not subjected to the input, is operable to define a closed electrical path that produces an output in response to the input if the input exceeds a threshold of the sensing element. The module generates data corresponding to the outputs of the sensing elements and records the data.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2010Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: Evigia Systems, Inc.Inventors: Robert William Hower, Yafan Zhang, Navid Yazdi
-
Patent number: 8661895Abstract: Carrying cases for medical devices and components thereof are provided. Also provided are methods for carrying medical devices and for medical testing.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2010Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Inc.Inventors: Gary Ashley Stafford, Mark Kent Sloan, Johnny Chang, Jessica Ching, Mina Min Leung
-
Patent number: 8650931Abstract: Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for providing and using self-sealing fuel tank test fixtures. According to some embodiments disclosed herein, a self-sealing fuel tank test fixture includes a fuel cube configured for storing fuel. The fuel cube includes a front side configured to support a test sample for the test. The self-sealing fuel tank test fixtures also can include a knife valve selectively configurable from a first position in which the fuel in the fuel cube is separated from the front side and a second position in which the fuel in the fuel cube is allowed to contact the test sample.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2011Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Bradley Wayne Bogue, Charles Edward Hagar
-
Patent number: 8650951Abstract: A measuring utensil includes a handle portion and a measuring portion joined to the handle portion. The handle portion includes a main body, a male component and a female component. The main body has an upper surface and a lower surface and defines at least an outer perimeter of the handle portion. The male component is located within the outer perimeter of the main body and protrudes from the upper surface of the main body to a male engaging surface. The female component is located within the outer perimeter of the main body and is recessed from the lower surface of the main body in a direction towards the upper surface of the main body. The female component extends from the lower surface of the main body to a female engaging surface.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2011Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.Inventors: Elizabeth C. Kern, Paul H. C. Genberg, Rachel A. Jones
-
Patent number: 8650971Abstract: A simply-structured initial slippage detection mechanism. When a contact member comes in contact with a contact receiving member via a pressure-sensitive conductive sheet, it is confirmed, on the basis of a change in resistivity of the pressure-sensitive conductive sheet and in response to a detection signal transmitted from the pressure-sensitive conductive sheet, that initial slippage has occurred right before the occurrence of slippage displacement, at a time when a high-frequency waveform component generated right before the occurrence of the slippage displacement of the contact member exceeds a predetermined threshold value. Therefore, it is possible to realize a slippage detection device whose slippage detection section is smaller, more lightweight and thinner.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2010Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignees: The University of Electro-Communications, Inaba Rubber Co., Ltd.Inventors: Makoto Shimojo, Seiichi Teshigawara
-
Patent number: 8635906Abstract: A wheel monitoring system that includes a tracking filter apparatus for tracking a signal that has a varying main frequency. The tracking filter apparatus has an adjustable filter and a filter controller arranged to measure the amplitude of the filtered signal and to compare amplitude against a reference value. The filter controller adjusts the cut off frequency of the filter if the measured amplitude differs from the reference value by an amount that exceeds a threshold value. The filter controller adjusts the cut off frequency such that the main frequency lies within the roll off region of the filter's frequency response. The system may be used to track signals that are produced by shock sensors in a wheel mounted monitoring device.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2012Date of Patent: January 28, 2014Assignee: Schrader Electronics LimitedInventors: Samuel Strahan, Christopher Ainsworth
-
Patent number: 8631699Abstract: A sensor module includes a housing having a top and a bottom. A mounting surface is positioned proximate to the bottom of the housing. A sensor is positioned within the housing. A fixed component extends from the top of the housing. A moveable component is provided having a mounting surface. The moveable component is selectively coupled to the fixed component to variably position the mounting surface of the moveable component relative to the mounting surface of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2011Date of Patent: January 21, 2014Assignee: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: Christopher George Daily, Matthew Edward Mostoller, Osenaga Jerry Osagie
-
Patent number: 8627707Abstract: An improved test setup facility, referred to as a “Quick Development Cell” (QDC), which allows for rapid turnaround testing with valuable feedback to a design engineer. Because the QDC allows for quick and efficient testing at a sufficient frequency, QDC tests are compatible with production quality control. In addition to fostering improvement of the API's Section 2 type tests using stressed natural rock for benchmark experiments, the QDC tests allow for progress to be made towards the development of a flow-optimized shape charge and superior well performance.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2009Date of Patent: January 14, 2014Assignee: Geodynamics, Inc.Inventors: John Hardesty, Nathan G. Clark, Matt R. Bell
-
Patent number: 8621910Abstract: In one embodiment, a system comprises a magnetic head, a protective coating on a media-facing side of the head, and an indentation in the protective coating having a dimension that, when the protective coating wears, is indicative of an amount of wear of the protective coating. A method, in another embodiment, comprises creating an indentation in a protective coating of a magnetic head, the indentation having a dimension that, when the protective coating wears, is indicative of an amount of wear of the protective coating. In another embodiment, a method comprises visually inspecting indentations in a protective coating of a magnetic head, wherein at least two of the indentations have differing dimensions that, when the protective coating wears, are indicative of the amount of wear of the protective coating. The method also includes estimating an amount of wear of the protective coating based on the visual inspection.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2009Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Robert Glenn Biskeborn, W. Stanley Czarnecki, Jason Liang, Calvin Shyhjong Lo
-
Patent number: 8590372Abstract: A device for measuring adhesion of toner to carrier containing a magnetic component, the toner and the carrier being contained in a two-component developer, includes: a developer holding section including a first magnet for holding the two-component developer by a magnetic force; an airflow supply section for supplying airflow to the two-component developer held by the first magnet; a separated toner detecting section for detecting the number of toner separated from the carrier by the airflow; and an adhesion calculating section for calculating the adhesion of the toner to the carrier or an index of the adhesion, based on wind speed of the airflow and the detected number of the separated toner. Thus, the device can measure the adhesion of the toner to the carrier with high reproducibility and exactness.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2011Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kiyoshi Toizumi, Yasuhiro Shibai, Tadashi Nakamura
-
Patent number: 8584520Abstract: An apparatus for pedalling measurement is presented. The apparatus comprises a casing arranged to be attached to a crank of a cycle. The casing comprises a signal processing circuitry configured to process a measurement signal related to pedaling. The casing further comprises a protrusion arranged to be disposed at least partially into a hole of a spindle of a pedal, wherein the protrusion provides the apparatus with a mechanic support with respect to the spindle and an electric connection between the signal processing circuitry and a measurement circuitry comprised in the spindle. Furthermore, there is provided a cycling apparatus comprising the above-mentioned apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2011Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: Polar Electric OyInventors: Olli Kokkoneva, Visa Rauta
-
Patent number: 8584529Abstract: A crank arm (200) includes a mechanical ring amplifier (232), having a cavity and a connecting bridge (140), to amplify the radial strain exerted on the crank arm by a rider. Strain sensors (234, 235) are positioned to detect the amplified radial strain. The crank arm (200) may include further strain sensors (228, 229) adapted to detect tangential strain on the crank arm, allowing both the tangential and radial forces exerted by a bicycle rider to be measured. The crank arm (200) may also comprise means for adjusting the position of a pedal axle relative to the crank arm, via the loosening, rotation and retightening of a carrier disc held by the crank arm, where the carrier disc has an eccentrically mounted aperture for holding the pedal axle.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2008Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Inventors: Mark Fisher, Leslie James Wills
-
Patent number: 8573070Abstract: A robotic system comprises an end effector including an electromagnetic clamp, a force sensor attached to the end effector for measuring force exerted by the clamp against a work piece surface, and a plurality of normality sensors. The normality sensors are positioned about the force sensor to determine whether the clamp is normal to the surface before the force sensor makes contact with the surface.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2011Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Branko Sarh, James D. Gamboa, Chris J. Erickson