Patents Examined by Son Le
  • Patent number: 10126760
    Abstract: A system for delivering pulses of a desired mass of gas to a tool, comprising: a mass flow controller including flow sensor, a control valve and a dedicated controller configured and arranged to receive a recipe of a sequence of steps for opening and closing the control valve so as to deliver as sequence of gas pulses as a function of the recipe. The mass flow controller is configured and arranged so as to operate in either one of at least two modes: as a traditional mass flow controller (MFC) mode or in a pulse gas delivery (PGD) mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Junhua Ding, Michael L'Bassi, Tseng-Chung Lee
  • Patent number: 10126344
    Abstract: A method for measuring the isolation resistance between a chassis and a battery terminal in an electric vehicle. The method can include measuring an open voltage (VP(open)) of the positive terminal; measuring an open voltage (VN(open)) of the negative terminal; measuring a voltage (VN(S1 closed)) between the negative terminal and the chassis with switch S1 closed; measuring a voltage (VP(S1 closed)) between the positive terminal and the chassis with switch S1 closed; calculating the ratio (VP(open)/VN(closed)) of the voltages VP(open) and VN(closed); calculating the open ratio of the open voltages (VP(open)/VN(open)); calculating the difference between the ratio (VP(S1 closed)/VN(S1 closed)) and the open ratio (VP(open)/VN(open)); and multiplying the value of the test resistor (R0) by the difference between the ratio (VP(S1 closed)/(VN(S1 closed)) and the open ratio (VP(S2 open)/VN(S1 open)) to obtain the isolation resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: FARADAY&FUTURE INC.
    Inventor: Steven E. Schulz
  • Patent number: 10119929
    Abstract: A method for identifying and measuring volume fraction constituents of a fluid using time domain analysis and frequency domain analysis to identify individual volume fraction constituents within a pipe on a real time basis and to measure the volume of the individual volume fraction constituents flowing through the pipe on a real time basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Mohr and Associates
    Inventors: Charles L. Mohr, Brandt C. Mohr, Benno Mohr, Michael Stordahl, James Van Corbach, Erik Von Reis, Christopher Mulkey, Ryan Sams, David Hurley, Gordon Anderson, Daniel Kenney, William Rausch, Edgar Gilbert
  • Patent number: 10113212
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an electromagnetic sensor (400) for detecting a microstructure of a metal target, comprising: a magnetic device (410, 420) for providing an excitation magnetic field; a magnetometer (430) for detecting a resultant magnetic field induced in a metal target; and a calibration circuit (450, 551, 552, 553, 554) for generating a calibration magnetic field for calibrating the electromagnetic sensor, wherein the calibration reference magnetic field is generated by an electrical current induced in the calibration circuit by the excitation magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER
    Inventors: Anthony Joseph Peyton, Wuliang Yin, Stephen John Dickinson
  • Patent number: 10114084
    Abstract: A Hall plate excitation system provides reduced offset and temperature dependence. The Hall plate excitation system includes a current source, a switching network, and a controller. The current source is configured to provide an excitation current to a Hall plate. The switching network is configured to switchably connect the current source to each of a plurality of terminals of the Hall plate. The controller is configured to adjust the excitation current no more than once during each spinning cycle; and to sequentially switch the excitation current to each of the plurality of terminals of the Hall plate during each spinning cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Caspar Petrus Laurentius van Vroonhoven
  • Patent number: 10114323
    Abstract: A sheet size detector to detect a sheet size of a recording medium includes a movable member to move in a sheet size detection direction to a position corresponding to the sheet size, a magnetic flux detector including a coil disposed on a board face parallel to the sheet size detection direction to generate a magnetic flux in a direction perpendicular to the board face, and a target to oppose the board face and including a material to affect the magnetic flux. The target is different in configuration in the sheet size detection direction to change the magnetic flux in the direction perpendicular to the board face as the movable member moves. The magnetic flux detector outputs a signal corresponding to changes in magnetic flux in the direction perpendicular to the board face, and the signal corresponds to the position of the movable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuro Hirota, Yu Wakabayashi, Shintaroh Yamada, Shun Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10114059
    Abstract: In the present invention, the connection between an external power supply and a unit for detecting welding of a relay is disestablished at least when a short circuit is detected, thereby preventing the short circuit from being falsely detected in the event that the short circuit and the welding of the relay can both be detected. A device for detecting welding of a relay detects welding of a relay provided to a path via which a cell is charged by an external power supply. Welding of a power-supply-side relay or a ground-side relay is detected on the basis of a current flowing disproportionately more toward the external power supply than the power-supply-side relay or ground-side relay when a control unit has deactivated the power-supply-side relay or ground-side relay during an interrupting in charging. A disconnecting switch establishes or disestablishes the connection between the external power supply and a weld-detection switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kento Mochizuki, Shintaro Tazaki
  • Patent number: 10113855
    Abstract: A system for measuring a thickness of a layer of rubber material of a tire includes a sensor. The layer includes a joined face, which is joined to an adjacent metal reinforcement, and a free face, which is in contact with air. The sensor, which measures a distance d between the joined face and the free face, includes a source of a static magnetic field and a sensitive element whose output signal is a function of a level of a local magnetic field. The sensor is positioned in such a way that a magnetic field strength measured by the sensitive element varies when the distance d decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin
    Inventors: Thomas Ledoux, Denis Martin, Patrick Meneroud, Grégory Michaud
  • Patent number: 10113936
    Abstract: According to one aspect, a system for testing an engine includes a dynamometer coupled to the engine. The dynamometer is responsive to a control signal. The system further includes a controller that derives the control signal from an engine operation parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas J. Ronan, Fred Steinhoff, Edward Tatnall
  • Patent number: 10115537
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a switch position includes a first circuit node and a second circuit node configured to connect the apparatus to an AC electric voltage. The apparatus further includes a switch connected between the first circuit node and a third circuit node, and a resistor connected between the first circuit node and the third circuit node. The apparatus also includes a microcomputer device, and a switched-mode power supply apparatus connected between the second circuit node and the third circuit node. The switched-mode power supply apparatus is configured to provide a supply voltage to the microcomputer device at the third circuit node. The microcomputer device is configured to calculate a position of the switch from an electric detection voltage dropped between the third circuit node and the second circuit node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Kamil Pogorzelski, Jacek Wiszniewski, Zoltan Cer
  • Patent number: 10114007
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting and separating specific compounds in breath gas mixtures for halitosis analysis consisting of a line (1) for delivering a pressure-controlled neutral gas; a removable connected sample chamber (2) of specific volume for receiving the gas mixture to be evaluated; an electronically controlled valve (8) for injecting the gas sample into the line (1); a temperature-controlled micro-fabricated separation capillary column (4) arranged to receive the gas sample injected into the line (1); a gas sensor (5) at the outlet of the capillary column (4) and a control interface (6) for managing the measurement and evaluating the obtained data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: SUNSTAR SUISSE SA
    Inventors: Alain Grisel, Ulrike Lehmann
  • Patent number: 10107732
    Abstract: The present invention provides a polymer indentation method and tester that includes measuring the time taken by a polymeric material to recover a set portion of an initial deformation and use this duration as a material degradation indicator. The recovery time was found to be more sensitive to cable degradation than the specific compressive stillness (or indenter modulus) measured during the indentation phase, and this high sensitivity was achieved for both thermally aged and irradiated polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: ATOMIC ENERGY OF CANADA LIMITED
    Inventors: Fabrice Guerout, Ladji Cisse, Richard Boor
  • Patent number: 10105063
    Abstract: A flash lamp 32 excites a laser rod 31. A Q switch 35 which changes the loss of the optical resonator according to the voltage applied is inserted on the optical path of a pair of mirrors 33 and 34 forming the optical resonator. An optical path shutter 39 is provided on the optical path of laser emission light. In a first operation mode in which laser emission is performed, the optical path shutter 39 is opened and the voltage applied to the Q switch 35 is changed from a high voltage to, for example, 0 V to emit pulsed laser light after the flash lamp 32 excites the laser rod 31. In a second operation mode in which the laser emission is interrupted and waited for, the optical path shutter 39 is closed and the voltage applied to the Q switch 35 is, for example, 0 V.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Hirota, Tadashi Kasamatsu
  • Patent number: 10107847
    Abstract: A diagnostic method for contact resistance failure includes estimating electrical contact surface resistance of at least one contactor, determining a faulted status of the at least one contactor and indicating the faulted status of the at least one contactor if the at least one contactor is in the faulted status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Xiaoguang Chang, Chuan He, Xu Wang, Richard Dyche Anderson
  • Patent number: 10107710
    Abstract: A sensor unit to detect fluid movement and/or leakage from a pipe may be attached to a mounting device that is attached to a pipe by a clamp. The mounting device may be configured to transmit vibrations from the pipe and clamp to the sensor. The sensor unit may be attached to the mount in a manner that may be performed rapidly and without tools, and which results in a connection that is not so tight as to damage the sensor, or so loose as to provide inadequate support. The sensor may be attached by connecting at least a portion of the sensor to at least a portion of the mount, using rotation of a key in a track and a latch to securely hold the sensor in the mounting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Itron, Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn Showcatally, Thomas Breitenfeldt
  • Patent number: 10107872
    Abstract: A self-calibrating magnetic field monitor is disclosed. In one embodiment, a magnetic field sensor repeatedly generates an electronic signal related to the magnetic field. In addition, a calibration module generates a relative baseline signal based on an average value of the electronic signals for a given time period. A comparator compares the electronic signal with the relative baseline signal and generating an output signal if a difference in the comparing is greater than or equal to a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: MIS SECURITY, LLC
    Inventor: Cory J. Stephanson
  • Patent number: 10101413
    Abstract: A magnetic field detection device includes: a first magnetic field generating part, including a first magnetic field generating conductor; a first magnetic field detection part, including a first magnetic field detection element and a first differential operation part, wherein a first output of the first magnetic field detection element corresponding to the environment magnetic field is inputted into the first differential operation part, and a first feedback current flows into the first magnetic field generating conductor, and thus the first magnetic field generating part provides the first magnetic field detection element with a first feedback current magnetic field, with a direction opposite to the environment magnetic field; a second magnetic field generating part, including a second magnetic field generating conductor, in which a second current corresponding to the first feedback current flows; and a second magnetic field detection part, including a second magnetic field detection element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tamon Kasajima, Kei Tanabe, Akihiro Ogawa
  • Patent number: 10101300
    Abstract: A device for inspecting a surface of an electrically conductive part, the device having a plurality of eddy current probes arranged on a convex surface of the device together with an applicator for applying the probes against the surface to be inspected into which the device is inserted, wherein the probes are fastened on flexible strips extending beside one another in a longitudinal direction of the device, the applicator including a deformable material, that, on being compressed along the longitudinal direction, gives rise to expansion transversely to the longitudinal direction, the expansion deforming the strips so as to apply the probes against the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Safran Aircraft Engines
    Inventor: Luc Henri Chatenet
  • Patent number: 10101381
    Abstract: A test system includes a test printed circuit board (PCB), a flip chip package mounted on the PCB, one or more test probes coupled to the flip chip package and a first integrated circuit (IC) coupled to the test probes to enable testing of the first IC using electrical circuitry of the flip chip package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Erkan Acar, Pooya Tadayon, Armen Y. Balian, Ethan Caughey
  • Patent number: 10101314
    Abstract: When machining a workpiece by a machine tool by cutting, a cutting fluid is sprayed to a workpiece machining region. Above a surface of the cutting fluid in a cutting fluid tank, an odor sensor for detecting the odor emitted by the cutting fluid is disposed in the space defined the surface of the cutting fluid in the cutting fluid tank and a cover. Based on the odor detected by the odor sensor, deterioration of the cutting fluid is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takahiro Endou