Patents Examined by Sean Curtis
  • Patent number: 11171400
    Abstract: Improved loop-gap resonators applicable to Electron-Spin Resonance spectroscopy and to quantum computing employ interdigitated capacitor structures to dramatically increase the capacitance of the resonator, along with corresponding decreases in loop size to enable measurements of small-volume samples or individual quantum bits (qubits). The interdigitated-capacitor structures are designed to minimize parasitic inductance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Amherst College
    Inventor: Jonathan R. Friedman
  • Patent number: 11169207
    Abstract: A device includes a test pad on a chip. A first microbump has a first surface area that is less than a surface area of the test pad. A first conductive path couples the test pad to the first microbump. A second microbump has a second surface area that is less than the surface area of the test pad. A second conductive path couples the test pad to the second microbump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei-Cheng Wu, Hsien-Pin Hu, Shang-Yun Hou, Shin-Puu Jeng, Chen-Hua Yu, Chao-Hsiang Yang
  • Patent number: 11149581
    Abstract: A component for use in a gas turbine engine includes a component body, and a damage-indicative coating. The damage-indicative coating is configured to change from an intact state in which the damage-indicative coating has a first appearance to a damaged state in which the damage-indicative coating has a second appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Anthony G. Razzell, Stephen I. Harris
  • Patent number: 11150286
    Abstract: A wireless passive probe solves problems such as the measurement accuracy of the field strength detecting device in the prior art is affected by the communication device and the system structure is complicated, which includes a probe for collecting data in the field to be measured; wherein the wireless passive probe further comprises: a wireless transmission module, an antenna module, sensors, and a microprocessor. The wireless passive probe of the present invention transmits position temperature, field strength, moisture, air pressure probe serial numbers and the coordinate signals of the probe in real time through the wireless transmission module, and provides the power supply to the communication module through detecting or receiving microwave signals through the antenna, thereby avoiding inaccurate wireless measurement of the probe field caused by the field to be tested which is not tightly sealed and the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Sichuan University
    Inventors: Kama Huang, Yang Yang, Huacheng Zhu, Xing Chen, Changjun Liu
  • Patent number: 11150374
    Abstract: A method and system for identifying a deformation. The method may comprise disposing an electromagnetic logging tool in a pipe string, performing a logging operation with the electromagnetic logging tool, transmitting an electromagnetic field from a transmitter, energizing the casing string with the electromagnetic field to produce an eddy current, measuring the eddy current with at least one receiver, processing the measurements of the eddy current to find a point-wise eccentricity between the casing string and the pipe string, identifying a zone with the deformation based at least in part on the point-wise eccentricity, determining at least one characteristic of the deformation, and making a wellbore decision related to an integrity of the casing string based on the at least one characteristic of the deformation or the point-wise eccentricity. The system may comprise an electromagnetic logging tool which may comprise a transmitter and at least one receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Ilker R. Capoglu, Ahmed Elsayed Fouda, Freeman Lee Hill, III
  • Patent number: 11153960
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to systems and methods detecting a change in pressure, wall shear flow, or both. The method includes generating DC plasma having an electrical field based on an input DC voltage and a DC current, detecting changes to the electrical field, and identifying a change in wall shear flow, pressure, or both based on the change in the electrical field when the DC plasma is disposed in a flow field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Innoveering, LLC
    Inventors: George Papadopoulos, Daniel Bivolaru, Nicholas Tiliakos
  • Patent number: 11143527
    Abstract: A position sensor system comprising: a magnetic field generator movable relative to two sensor devices or vice versa. The system has at least one processor adapted with a special algorithm for determining a position of the magnetic field generator in a manner which is highly robust against a disturbance field. A method for determining the position of the magnetic field generator based on a set of equations, in particular a set of linear equations which allows to completely eliminate the external disturbance field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES SA
    Inventor: Javier Bilbao De Mendizabal
  • Patent number: 11125831
    Abstract: A testing device for testing a wireless power transmitter device having at least one transmitter coil comprises at least one wireless power receiver coil and is in operative communication with a processing means with associated memory. The testing device is configured to receive a power signal applied by the wireless power transmitter device, transmit a first packet, being a signal strength packet, to the wireless power transmitter device in response to receiving said power signal, and transmit a second packet to the wireless power transmitter device if the wireless power transmitter device continues to transmit the power signal to the testing device in response to receiving the signal strength packet. The processing means stores the signal strength packet or signal strength value(s) thereof in the memory when the second packet is completely transmitted and, if not completely transmitted, disregards the signal strength packet or signal strength value(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: ELECTDIS AB
    Inventors: Laurens Swaans, Kristoffer Dahl, Hayder Al-Ali
  • Patent number: 11125707
    Abstract: Described methods and systems are used for in-situ impedance spectroscopy analysis of battery cells in multi-cell battery packs. Specifically, the cell impedances are determined while the pack continues to operate, such as being charged or discharged. For example, the pack voltage/power output remains unchanged while this analysis is initiated, performed, and ended. Cell impedance is determined based on the cell's response to the signal applied to the cell. For example, a current through the cell is charged while monitoring cells' voltage response. Although the power output of the changes during this testing, but the operation of the pack is not impacted due to the power compensation provided by one or more other cells in the pack thereby ensuring uninterrupted operation of the pack. This in situ testing is provided by the unique architecture of the pack, comprising multiple nodes and individual node controllers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Element Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Rainer Johannes Fasching, Georgy Zerkalov, Arnaud Devie, Seth Marshall Kahn, Anthony John Stratakos, Corrado Cammi, Anderson Rennie John, Yoosok Saw
  • Patent number: 11125454
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) controller, a method of detecting multiplexed input signals and an HVAC system employing the controller or the method. In one embodiment, the HVAC controller includes: (1) a signal conditioner configured to convert received alternating current (AC) input signals into corresponding square wave signals of a digital logic voltage, (2) a multiplexer coupled to the signal conditioner and configured to select one of the square wave signals and (3) a sample analyzer coupled to the multiplexer and configured to evaluate multiple samples of the selected one of the square wave signals to derive a binary state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Darko Hadzidedic, Sakthi Narayan Kumar Murugesan, Anitha Rajappan
  • Patent number: 11112349
    Abstract: A method for identifying metal wall loss in an insulated metal structure is provided. The method includes receiving thermograms of the outer surface of the structure using an infrared camera, applying filters to the thermograms using a first machine learning (ML) system, determining wall loss classifications based on outputs from the filters, validating the wall loss classifications by inspecting the structure, and training the first ML system using the validation results. Outputs of the first ML system and additional structural and environmental data are input to a second ML system that incorporates information from earlier states into current states. The second ML system is trained to estimate wall loss according to changes in the outputs of the first ML system and the additional data over time until a wall loss classification accuracy is reached. The metal wall loss is thereafter estimated using the first and second ML systems in coordination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Ayman Amer, Ali Al Shehri, Vincent Cunningham
  • Patent number: 11105847
    Abstract: An opener assembly for a data storage component testing system is disclosed. The opener assembly includes an actuator assembly with a first opener actuator and a body having a distal end, a proximal end, a first arm, and a second arm. The first and second arms extend between the proximal end and the distal end and define a spacing at the distal end. The first opener actuator is operatively coupled to the first and second arms and configured to actuate the actuator assembly between a closed position and an opened position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Brett R. Herdendorf, Ronald E. Anderson
  • Patent number: 11099222
    Abstract: A near-field capacitive data communication system that uses a variable capacitive device such as a PIN diode to change the capacitance of a conductive plate in response to either a high or low data signal. A detector attached to a second conductive plate that is in proximity to the first conductive plate measures the capacitance of the first conductive plate and outputs a corresponding data signal. The technique is wireless, since the two conductive plates are not in electrical contact with one-another, but rather share their static electric fields. A microcontroller can act as a detector by baselining the capacitance of the first conductive plate when its capacitance is in the low capacitance state. The technique is ideal for communication between a pair of toys that can be brought in close proximity to one-another. Since no radio frequencies are used, no special testing or governmental electromagnetic compatibility rules apply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Inventors: Christopher T. Baumgartner, Ro Annis
  • Patent number: 11099292
    Abstract: New methods for determining the volumetric composition and saturation of methane and NGLs (natural gas liquids: ethane, propane, butane, and pentane) in a petroleum reservoir combining NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) logging and NMR core analysis and for determining the mean pore-size and tortuosity of the light hydrocarbon-filled porosity in a petroleum reservoir using NMR core analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Vinegar Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Harold J. Vinegar, Philip M. Singer, George J. Hirasaki, Zeliang Chen, Xinglin Wang
  • Patent number: 11061058
    Abstract: The present invention provides a radio field intensity measurement device having a display portion with improved visibility, in the case of measuring a weak radiowave from a long distance. In the radio field intensity measurement device, a battery is provided as a power source for power supply and the battery is charged by a received radiowave. When a potential of a signal obtained from the received radiowave is higher than an output potential of the battery, the power is stored in the battery. On the other hand, when the potential of the signal obtained from the received radiowave is lower than the output potential of the battery, power produced by the battery is used as power to drive the radio field intensity measurement device. As an element to display the radio field intensity, a thermochromic element or an electrochromic element is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Dembo, Atsushi Miyaguchi
  • Patent number: 11054539
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods for locating deposits of mineral resources below the Earth's crust. A period of resonance of 14-day gravitational tides is predicted based on known information about a location. During the period of resonance, element vapor emissions and/or other data are recorded using gas analyzers and/or other devices, which are spread in an array over the location. The vapors and/or other data are recorded for a period of about 3-4 days. The recorded data is analyzed to determine when and where any anomalies exist. By comparing anomalies to control data, the changes can be further extrapolated to obtain more accurate data. After anomalies are detected and analyzed, the locations of deposits comprising mineral resources can be determined and maps of the locations correlating to the surface are generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Inventor: Vadim Kukharev
  • Patent number: 11054476
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a status of a battery, wherein a battery current (I) is detected during a measurement cycle and the amount of charge (?Q) supplied to the battery and/or removed from the battery is determined as a function of the detected battery current (I). Furthermore, an estimated value (CS, CS0, CS1, CS2, CSn) for a capacity (C) of the battery before a certain relaxation time of the battery has elapsed, during which the battery is in the unloaded state after a load phase during which power is supplied to the battery and/or power is removed from the battery, is determined as a function of the determined amount of charge (?Q) and, as a function of the estimated value (CS, CS0, CS1, CS2, CSn), it is determined for the capacity (C) whether the capacity (C) of the battery is above a specifiable limit value (G).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Christoph Gass
  • Patent number: 11041889
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method for estimating a load current of a power supply, and a USB-type converter. The method includes steps described below. After an input port of a USB connection line is connected to the power supply and an output port of the USB connection line is connected to a load, the power supply supplies power to the load through the USB connection line to obtain an initial load current value; an actual voltage value of the input port is detected, when the actual voltage value of the input port is less than a preset voltage value, the initial load current value is adjusted until the actual voltage value of the input port corresponding to an adjusted load current value is not less than the preset voltage value, and the adjusted load current value is output as a load current value of the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: SHENZHEN LEGENDARY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventor: Xiaoling Liu
  • Patent number: 11035918
    Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus for reducing artifacts in an image dataset reconstructed from MR raw data that were acquired by radial sampling using different coil elements, for each of at least some of the coil elements, exclusion information is determined that identify MR data from that coil element that are responsible for at least one artifact, by a comparison of a sensitivity map, which defines a spatial reception capability of that coil element, with at least one comparison dataset obtained from at least a portion of the MR data from that coil element. At least the MR data identified from the exclusion information are excluded from the reconstruction of the image dataset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Kartaeusch, Dominik Paul
  • Patent number: 11015914
    Abstract: A capacitive image sensing device and a capacitive image sensing method are provided. The capacitive image sensing device includes a sensor array, a first charge amplifier, a second charge amplifier, a differential amplifier and a first switching circuit. The sensor array includes a plurality of sensing electrodes and a first reference sensing electrode. An input terminal of the first charge amplifier is coupled to one of the sensing electrodes. A first input terminal of the differential amplifier is selectively coupled to an output terminal of the first charge amplifier. A second input terminal of the differential amplifier is coupled to an output terminal of the second charge amplifier. The first switching circuit is configured to selectively electrically connect and disconnect the first reference sensing electrode and the input terminal of the second charge amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Novatek Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Chen-Tsung Wu, Ji-Ting Chen