Patents Examined by Samir M. Shah
  • Patent number: 9244340
    Abstract: A method for operating a sensor system that includes a rotation rate sensor and an electronic component includes generating, by the rotation rate sensor, a sensor signal as a function of a rotation rate measured about a rotational axis, comparing the sensor signal to at least one first threshold value, and, for controlling the electronic component, outputting an interrupt signal to the electronic component as a function of the comparison of the sensor signal and the at least one first threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Oliver Kohn
  • Patent number: 9234913
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical device includes: a supporting structure; two sensing masses, movable with respect to the supporting structure according to a first axis and a respective second axis; a driving device for maintaining the sensing masses in oscillation along the first axis in phase opposition; sensing units for supplying sensing signals indicative of displacements respectively of the sensing masses according to the respective second axis; processing components for combining the sensing signals so as to: in a first sensing mode, amplify effects on the sensing signals of concordant displacements and attenuate effects of discordant displacements of the sensing masses; and in a second sensing mode, amplify effects on the sensing signals of discordant displacements and attenuate effects of concordant displacements of the sensing masses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Barbara Simoni, Carlo Valzasina
  • Patent number: 9217663
    Abstract: A sound velocity sensor is defined by a hermetic multi-chambered enclosure for containing flowing gases and mixtures of gases. The contained flowing gases are acoustically excited and the acoustic energy is measured over a fixed distance between a first sending end of the enclosure and a receiving end. The speed of sound of the gases are determined by comparing the energy transmitted through the flowing gases at various frequencies so as to precisely determine the resonant frequency of the gases flowing through the enclosure. In accordance with the present design, the chambers of the enclosure include internal transition shapes therebetween for optimizing the transmission of acoustic energy through the flowing gases and also enhancing one or more additional resonant modes at higher useful frequencies. The transition shapes used in connection with the sensor can be at least one of parabolic, hyperbolic, linear and exponential in nature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Inficon, Inc.
    Inventor: Abdul Wajid
  • Patent number: 9217641
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical gyroscope that includes a first mass oscillatable according to a first axis; an inertial sensor, including a second mass, drawn along by the first mass and constrained so as to oscillate according to a second axis, in response to a rotation of the gyroscope; a driving device coupled to the first mass so as to form a feedback control loop and configured to maintain the first mass in oscillation at a resonance frequency; and an open-loop reading device coupled to the inertial sensor for detecting displacements of the second mass according to the second axis. The driving device includes a read signal generator for supplying to the inertial sensor at least one read signal having the form of a square-wave signal of amplitude that sinusoidally varies with the resonance frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Carlo Caminada, Luciano Prandi, Ernesto Lasalandra
  • Patent number: 9212938
    Abstract: A sensor device for detecting at least one flow property of a fluid medium. The sensor device includes at least one sensor housing, in which at least one electronic module having at least one flow sensor for detecting the flow property is accommodated. The electronic module is at least partially accommodated in at least one electronic space. Furthermore, at least one pressure sensor and at least one humidity sensor are accommodated inside the sensor housing. The pressure sensor and also the humidity sensor are at least partially accommodated in at least one sensor space, which is designed separately from the electronic space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Kurt Etherington, Norbert Schneider, Andreas Kaufmann, Hans Beyrich, Michael Rittmann, Wolfgang Dann, Uwe Konzelmann, Andreas Roehler, Frank Ullrich
  • Patent number: 9207080
    Abstract: Method of angular measurement by a resonator associated with a vibration setting device and with a vibration detector, which are linked to a processing circuit through which there travel control signals and measurement signals, the method comprising the steps of digitizing the measurement signals and of deducing an angular measurement from the measurement signals. The method comprises the steps of performing a spectral analysis of the digitized measurement signals so as to detect harmonic distortions therein and correcting at least some of the signals travelling through the processing circuit so as to attenuate the non-linearities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: SAGEM DEFENSE SECURITE
    Inventor: Vincent Ragot
  • Patent number: 9200979
    Abstract: The present invention is directed an ultrasonic frequencies fault detecting apparatus. The present invention uses high frequency ultrasonic energy signals to analyze bearings and determine the presence of faults therein. The ultrasonic return signals are heterodyned (by amplitude demodulation) into the audio spectrum for purposes of audio detection. In addition, a FFT spectrum of the signal is displayed on a monitor for more accurate results. According to the present invention software is used to automatically analyze the FFT spectrum by comparing the current spectrum with stored spectrums of known bearing conditions as modified based on the rotary speed of the bearing and the number of balls. Once a defect in a bearing has been located in this manner using automated FFT analysis, an operator can then use a device, such as a calibrated lubricant dispenser, to effectuate maintenance and/or repair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: U.E. SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Mark A. Goodman, William Bishop, Gary Mohr
  • Patent number: 9200977
    Abstract: Systems, devices and methods according to these exemplary embodiments provide couplings or interfaces usable, for example, in the high speed balance testing of rotors are provided. A coupling includes a main body portion having an extended thin portion therein which is configured to fit a shaft of the balancing machine and an extended insert portion which is configured to fit an opening in the rotor. A plurality of connection elements is disposed in holes in the main body portion of the coupling and a ring is disposed over the extended insert and proximate exits of the holes in the main body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone S.P.A.
    Inventors: Stefano Casadio, Sergio Palomba, Giovanni Ballerini, Adriano Grossi
  • Patent number: 9170107
    Abstract: A gyroscope comprises a substrate and a guided mass system. The guided mass system comprises proof masses and guiding arms disposed in a plane parallel to the substrate. The proof masses are coupled to the guiding arm by springs. The guiding arm is coupled to the substrate by springs. At least one of the proof-masses is directly coupled to the substrate by at least one anchor via a spring system. The gyroscope also comprises an actuator for vibrating one of the proof-masses in the first direction, which causes another proof mass to rotate in the plane. Finally, the gyroscope also includes transducers for sensing motion of the guided mass system in response to angular velocities about a single axis or multiple input axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: INVENSENSE, INC.
    Inventors: Ozan Anac, Joseph Seeger
  • Patent number: 9157926
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an angular velocity sensor including: first and second mass bodies; a first frame provided at an outer side of the first and second mass bodies; a first flexible part respectively connecting the first and second mass bodies to the first frame; a second flexible part respectively connecting the first and second mass bodies to the first frame; a second frame provided at an outer side of the first frame; a third flexible part connecting the first and second frames to each other; and a fourth flexible part connecting the first and second frames to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong Woon Kim, Yu Heon Yi, Jae Sang Lee, Won Kyu Jeung
  • Patent number: 9151691
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for detecting machine tool window airtightness includes an airtight state detector, having a sensor detecting the pressure in a space of the window, and a judging section for determining appropriateness of the airtight state of the space based on a pressure value from the pressure sensor and outputting a judgment result. Pressure in the window space, which initially may be pressurized or pressure-reduced, is detected intermittently by the pressure sensor, and the judging section determines appropriateness of the airtight state of the window on the basis of a variation state of the detected pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Mori Seiki Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Ono, Norio Sato, Kimiyuki Nishimura
  • Patent number: 9151612
    Abstract: A vibratory gyro which is provided with a ring-shaped vibrating body, leg portions flexibly supporting the ring-shaped vibrating body, a plurality of electrodes formed by having a piezoelectric film sandwiched between an upper-layer metallic film and a lower-layer metallic film in the thickness direction, and a fixed potential electrode. The plurality of electrodes include a bank of driving electrodes for exciting primary vibration, detection electrodes for detecting secondary vibration, and suppression electrodes for suppressing the secondary vibration on the basis of a voltage signal from the detection electrodes. The driving electrodes, the detection electrodes and the suppression electrodes are disposed in the region from an outer peripheral edge of the ring-shaped vibrating body to a vicinity of the outer peripheral edge and/or a region from an inner peripheral edge thereof to a vicinity of the inner peripheral edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: SUMITOMO PRECISION PRODUCTS Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryuta Araki, Takashi Ikeda, Hiroshi Nishida, Takafumi Moriguchi, Yasuyuki Hirata
  • Patent number: 9135795
    Abstract: A sensor for an intrusion detection fence of a taut wires type and a method implemented in its operation, wherein the sensor is a multi-axes accelerometer that is installed on the sensors' pole of the fence while inclined relative to the fence taut wire unto which it is connected, and the sensor is connected to fence taut wire via a movement converting means such that from an instant of loading the taut wire as happens when an intrusion attempt through it occurs, the movement converting means converts the movement of the taut wire unto a rotational movement of the sensor that is amenable to be sensed in at least two axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Magal Security Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Yehonatan Ben-Hamozeg, Avraham Saar, Avi Shaham
  • Patent number: 9128565
    Abstract: An ultrasonic wave transmitter device includes an ultrasonic wave driving circuit that modulates an ultrasonic wave based on a pseudorandom signal to generate an ultrasonic wave driving signal, and an ultrasonic wave transmitter driven by the ultrasonic wave driving signal to send out an ultrasonic wave signal of a frequency higher than a fundamental frequency of the ultrasonic wave driving signal. The ultrasonic wave transmitter includes a cylindrically-shaped piezoelectric or magnetostrictive element sending out the ultrasonic wave signal and an ultrasonic wave absorber that covers part of a base member holding the piezoelectric or magnetostrictive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kajitani, Junichi Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 9097524
    Abstract: A system and method in accordance with an embodiment reduces the cross-axis sensitivity of a gyroscope. This is achieved by building a gyroscope using a mechanical transducer that comprises a spring system that is less sensitive to fabrication imperfection and optimized to minimize the response to the rotations other than the intended input rotation axis. The longitudinal axes of the first and second flexible elements are parallel to each other and parallel to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: INVENSENSE, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Seeger, Ozan Anac
  • Patent number: 9097609
    Abstract: The present invention is a versatile hermetic seal leak detection apparatus for testing hermetically sealed containers and devices for leaks without the need to create a custom or specially manufactured testing chamber conforming to the dimensions of the specific object under test. The size of the testing chamber may be mechanically adjusted by the novel use of bellows to reduce and optimize the amount of gas space in a test chamber which surrounds the hermetically sealed object under test. The present invention allows the size of the test chamber to be selectively adjusted during testing to provide an optimum test chamber gas space. The present invention may be further adapted to isolate and test specific portions of the hermetically sealed object under test for leaks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Anthony R. Kelley
  • Patent number: 9091610
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a first joint unit and a second joint unit are disposed with space on a heat radiation substrate. A joint area of the second joint unit is larger than that of the first joint unit. An insulated substrate is disposed on the first joint unit and the second joint unit. A corner region of the insulated substrate contacts the first joint unit. A first sensor to measure an acceleration of vibration applied to the insulated substrate is disposed thereon. The first sensor is more adjacent to the first joint unit than the second joint unit. A response spectrum of the acceleration is calculated. An extension status of joint failure of the first joint unit is decided by comparing a frequency of a maximum peak of the response spectrum with a reference frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yousuke Hisakuni, Takahiro Omori, Kenji Hirohata
  • Patent number: 9074985
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for analysing the microporosities of a given material including at least two phases, one of which is a fluid phase, including: multiple sensors (100) incorporated in the given material (M), where each of the sensors includes one or more cMUT acoustic and capacitive transducers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignees: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES, LABORATOIRE CENTRAL DES PONTS ET CHAUSSEES, ECOLE NATIONALE DES PONTS ET CHAUSSEES
    Inventors: Berengere Lebental, Elisabeth Delevoye, Anne Ghis
  • Patent number: 9074960
    Abstract: Described is a method for checking syringe bodies of the type comprising a hollow body, a seal for closing the hollow body and a dose of a liquid product enclosed by the hollow body and by the seal, the method comprising the steps of applying a pneumatic negative pressure to the syringe body and moving a stop body towards the syringe body in such a way that, during at least a part of the step of applying the pneumatic negative pressure, the stop body obstructs withdrawal of the seal towards a rear end of the syringe body opposite the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: BONFIGLIOLI ENGINGEERING S.R.L.
    Inventor: Giuseppe Bonfiglioli
  • Patent number: 9069005
    Abstract: A capacitance-to-frequency converter is configured to convert a difference between first and second capacitances produced of a teeter-totter capacitive transducer as a result of a rotational force being applied to the teeter-totter capacitive transducer to a first signal having a first frequency that is a function of the rotational force, and to convert a sum of the first and second capacitances produced as a result of an acceleration force to a second signal having a second frequency that is a function of the acceleration force. The capacitance-to-frequency converter includes a first oscillator having a first oscillator frequency that changes in response to a change in the first capacitance; a second oscillator having a second oscillator frequency that changes in response to a change in the second capacitance; and a mixer having first and second mixer inputs connected outputs of the first and second oscillators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Richard C. Ruby