Patents Examined by Roger Hernandez-Prewitt
  • Patent number: 8398302
    Abstract: A protruding length L1 that is a distance between an inner circumference of a flow path through which fluid flows on an axis of a temperature sensor disposed in the flow path and the center of said temperature sensitive device is 50 mm or more. A protruding location that is a distance between an inner circumferential surface of the flow path and the center of said temperature sensitive device on a cross section extending perpendicular to the axis of said flow path through the center of said temperature sensitive device is defined as L1?. A flow path width that is a distance between intersections of the axis of the temperature sensor with the inner circumferential surface of said flow path when the temperature sensor is projected onto said cross section is defined as D1. A relation of L1?/D1 is specified as a function of the value of D1, thereby reducing heat transfer in an exhaust temperature sensor and enabling the temperature to be measured accurately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Tsunenobu Hori
  • Patent number: 8387454
    Abstract: The present invention provides a hybrid fluid flow meter pressure vessel assembly (1) that includes an interior housing (11) fabricated from plastic, and an exterior ring structure (26) fabricated from metal. Interior housing (11) has sidewalls (14) and an internal chamber (17). The sidewalls (14) of the interior housing (11) have first and second apertures (20, 23) that are each in fluid communication with the internal chamber (17). The exterior ring structure (26) encompasses at least a portion of an exterior (29) of the sidewalls (14) of the interior housing (11), and includes outwardly extending first and second conduits (38, 41) that are in respective fluid communication with the first and second apertures (20, 23) of the interior housing (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Arad Ltd.
    Inventors: Shaul Margalit, Nitzan Cohen, Yoel Ben Moshe, Jerry Potter
  • Patent number: 8381569
    Abstract: A method for determining the amount of laundry in a laundry treating appliance comprises a drum defining a treating chamber for receiving the laundry and a motor for rotating the drum that may be operated to simulate a spring to oscillate the drum relative to a predetermined rotational position. The angular decay of the drum relative to the predetermined position may be determined and used to determine the amount of laundry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Dietmar E. Lilie, Rodrigo S. Teixeira
  • Patent number: 8381586
    Abstract: A metering apparatus for measuring the flow of water or other fluid through a conduit. The meter comprises a measuring chamber, in which is disposed a nutating ball and disc. A unitary biaxial member, comprising a drive shaft and a spindle having a longitudinal axis offset from that of the drive shaft, couples the ball and disc to a rotating magnet. The unitary biaxial member both controls the offset of the ball and disc from horizontal, such that it nutates in response to water flow through the meter, and translates this nutation to rotation of the magnet, allowing for measurement of water volume flowing through the measuring chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Neptune Technology Group, Inc.
    Inventor: John Raymond Scarborough, III
  • Patent number: 8348505
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a calibration circuit, computer program product, and method of calibrating a junction temperature measurement of a semiconductor element, wherein respective forward voltages at junctions of the semiconductor element and a reference temperature sensor are measured, and an absolute ambient temperature is determined by using the reference temperature sensor, and the junction temperature of the semiconductor element is predicted based on the absolute ambient temperature and the measured forward voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Viet Nguyen Hoang, Pascal Bancken, Radu Surdeanu, Benoit Bataillou, David van Steenwinckel
  • Patent number: 8342032
    Abstract: This invention relates to a tribology device for assessing mouthfeel-related tribological properties of a food sample, comprising a measuring surface composed of a thermoplastic polymer as an integral part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Cargill, Incorporated
    Inventors: Stéphane Jules Jérôme Debon, Jozef Guido Roza Vanhemelrijck, Stefan K. Baier, Brian D. Guthrie
  • Patent number: 8336378
    Abstract: A method for estimating the moment of inertia of a rotating unit of a washing or washing-and-drying machine comprising the steps of: establishing one or more linear parameters; rotating the drum of the rotating unit in such a way as to reach a set of speeds of a pre-set value; once each speed of a pre-set value is reached, detecting the value of the torque provided to the rotating unit; and finally estimating the moment of inertia of the rotating unit through a linear combination of the torques detected and by means of the linear parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V.
    Inventors: Fabio Altinier, Terenzio Girotto, Marco Giovagnoni
  • Patent number: 8297836
    Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the temperature of a nozzle having fluid material injected from an injection molding machine through a flow channel in a heated manifold that is coupled to a nozzle that is coupled to the cavity of a mold, the apparatus comprising: a heating device comprising a controllably heatable thermally conductive heating element; the heating element of the heating device being mounted on or around the outer surface of the tube of the nozzle at an end point; a temperature monitor comprising a temperature sensor mounted on or around the nozzle at a selected position along the axis of the bore of the nozzle; and, a thermal insulator disposed along the axis of the nozzle separating the end point of the heating element and the temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Synventive Molding Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: John Peter Kuntz, Sebastiaan Hubertus Franciscus Smits, Michael Lewis Vasapoli, Christian Götz, Vito Galati
  • Patent number: 8287183
    Abstract: A method of thermal inspection of a component defining at least one internal passageway. The method includes receiving a continuous sequence of thermal images of at least an exit hole defined by the at least one internal passageway at a surface of the component. The method also includes delivering a pressurized airflow pulse into the at least one internal passageway, receiving a temperature response signal as function of time based on the received thermal images, determining a first derivative of the temperature response signal, and determining a level of blockage of the at least one internal passageway based on the first derivative of the temperature response signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Thermal Wave Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Shepard, James R. Lhota, Tasdiq Ahmed, Bharat B. Chaudhry
  • Patent number: 8272266
    Abstract: Gyroscopes using surface electrodes are provided. In this regard, a representative microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) gyroscope, among others, includes a top substrate and a bottom substrate. The top substrate includes an outermost structure that is open and enclosed and a first driving structure that is disposed within the outermost structure and includes first driving electrodes disposed on a bottom surface. The bottom substrate is disposed below the top substrate and includes second driving electrodes disposed on a top surface of the bottom substrate. The second driving electrodes are substantially aligned below the first driving electrodes such that a force can be applied to the first driving structure by an electrostatic force generated between the first and second driving electrodes. The first and second driving electrodes are also configured to provide a capacitance signal based on the movement of the first driving structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Wenhua Zhang, Peter George Hartwell, Lennie K Kiyama, Robert G Walmsley
  • Patent number: 8266956
    Abstract: A method for demonstrating the comparative break-though strengths of at least two tissue products is disclosed. The steps include: a) providing a break-through test apparatus b) providing the tissue products; c) observing a first condition of each tissue product; d) disposing a first of the tissue products between a lower platen and an upper platen in a face-to-face-to-face relationship between coextensive apertures disposed within the lower and upper platen; e) providing a simulated mucous composition; f) directing a first portion of the simulated mucous composition toward the first tissue product; g) observing a second condition of the first tissue product; h) disposing a second tissue product between the coextensive apertures; i) directing a second portion of the simulated mucous composition toward the second tissue product; j) observing a second condition of the second tissue product; and, k) comparing the second condition of the first tissue product and the second condition of the second tissue product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gregg Thomas Weaver, Michael Scott Prodoehl, LaTisha Evette Salaam, Joseph Jay Bullock, Elizabeth Ann Kreider
  • Patent number: 8266963
    Abstract: A method for generating electrical power from an acceleration of an object is provided. The method including: vibrating a mass-spring unit upon an acceleration of an object; transmitting a force resulting from the acceleration from the mass-spring unit to the one or more piezoelectric elements; converting the vibration of the mass-spring unit to an electrical energy; and calculating at least one of the force and acceleration based on an output of the one or more piezoelectric elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Omnitek Partners LLC
    Inventors: Jahangir S. Rastegar, Thomas Spinelli
  • Patent number: 8261601
    Abstract: The described invention relates to a method for determining corrosion in wet gas pipelines comprising: a) using a portion of the liquid phase from a wet gas pipeline; b) placing said portion in a high pressure, high temperature autoclave to prepare a saturated vapor phase; c) transferring the saturated vapor to a corrosion test unit, said unit having a specimen holder section having external, temperature adjustable means, and specimens being arranged in one or more positions within the specimen holder; d) chilling said specimen holder section so as to cause condensation onto said corrosion testing specimens; and, e) calculating a value selected from the group consisting of corrosions rate, pitting of the specimen, weight loss of the specimen, and any combination thereof. The invention process can be practiced in a separate laboratory apparatus designed to accomplish the above method, or in a similar online apparatus set up in a semi-batch mode or continuous mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Joseph W. Stolle, Dylan V. Pugh, David A. Norman, Wei Sun
  • Patent number: 8256290
    Abstract: Angular rate sensor for detecting rotation about first, second and third mutually perpendicular input axes having a plurality of generally planar proof masses coupled together for linear drive-mode oscillation along multi-directional drive axes in a plane formed by the first and second input axes. The masses are mounted on a generally planar sense frame for linear movements relative to the sense frame in drive-mode and for rotation together with the sense frame in sense modes. The sense frame is mounted for rotation with the masses in sense modes about the first, second, and third input axes independent of each other, in response to Coriolis forces produced by rotation of the masses about the first, second, and third input axes respectively. And capacitance sensors responsive to the rotational movements of the masses and the sense frame in sense modes are employed for monitoring rate of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Inventor: Minyao Mao
  • Patent number: 8250910
    Abstract: A method for incrementally ascertaining a rotation angle of a shaft, in particular of a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, the shaft being connected to a sensor wheel having teeth and tooth gaps, and at least one sensor being associated with the sensor wheel, the sensor generating a square-wave signal as an output signal which may assume a first value or a second value, and a signal edge being associated with a tooth edge, and the position in time of a counteredge with respect to the edge encoding a direction of rotation, an assignment of a direction of rotation reversal point to a tooth of the sensor wheel or a tooth gap of the sensor wheel being encoded by the position in time of the counteredge with respect to the edge, the rotation angle being ascertained by adding an increment for each signal edge to a counter, after a direction of rotation reversal while a tooth passes the sensor, a half-increment, having a sign of the direction of rotation after the direction of rotation reversal, being incre
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Eduard Rolew, Uwe Kassner
  • Patent number: 8240200
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method for characterizing an impact in a fabric. The system may include a sensing element woven in the fabric wherein a parameter of the sensing element depends on a strain in the sensing element; a transducer coupled to the sensing element wherein the transducer is configured to generate an output based on the parameter of the sensing element; and a controller coupled to the transducer, the controller configured to receive the output of the transducer, to determine a strain in the sensing element based, at least in part, on a change in the output of the transducer, and to characterize the impact in the fabric based on the strain in the sensing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Isaias S. Chocron, Arthur E. Nicholls, Charles E. Anderson, Jr., James D. Walker
  • Patent number: 8230747
    Abstract: An apparatus for a burst safe pressure-neutral high pressure cylinder in pVT and condensate cells is described. The dimensions of an outer cylinder are such as to prevent plastic flow of the inner cylinder wall caused by elevated inside pressure and/or temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Sinvent AS
    Inventor: Erik Gøsta Bruno Lindeberg
  • Patent number: 8230718
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus that precisely measures the bearings in a rotor pitch link. The apparatus permits measurements to within a thousandths of an inch to be taken in multiple perpendicular orientations. Namely, measurements can be taken in the axial direction, in the longitudinal radial direction, and in the transverse radial direction. All of these measurements can be taken without having to reorient the pitch link. By using the apparatus of the present invention, a user can detect unacceptable levels of wear within the pitch link bearings to thereby permit timely replacement and/or repair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Walin Tool, LLC
    Inventors: Linda K. Swadling, Bryan Hinman, Dan Oliverius
  • Patent number: 8225667
    Abstract: A self propelled scanning device is disclosed. The device includes a self propelled chassis that is locomotive across a surface to be scanned, a translator attached to the chassis, and a carriage attached to the translator and adapted to receive a scanner. The translator selectively moves the carriage in at least one dimension across the surface to be scanned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Veracity Technology Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Jay Hanan, Walter Matulewicz
  • Patent number: 8225655
    Abstract: An altitude sensor includes a support frame and a sensor unit mounted in the support frame. The support frame has an upper shield and a lower shield. The sensor unit includes a beam and a damper. The damper is configured to move up and down in response to the air flow, which drives the beam to move up and down accordingly. Distances from the damper to the upper shield and the lower shield are less than those from the beam to upper shield and the lower shield. The altitude sensor possesses super specific properties such as unlimited sensitivity to flying height because of no size constraints and unchanged sensitivity under a changing environment, a selfprotective mechanism to resist deformation in case of an accident, easy manufacture process as well as low production cost. The present invention also discloses an altitude sensor for use in a disk drive device and a disk drive device with the altitude sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.
    Inventor: MingGao Yao