Patents Examined by Stanley J Pruchnic
-
Patent number: 6767129Abstract: A microwave power sensor and a method for manufacturing the same. The microwave power sensor includes a semiconductor substrate with a nitride or oxide film formed thereon. A membrane which is a portion of the nitride or oxide film is floated by removing a portion of the semiconductor substrate. First and second thermocouple groups are formed to be symmetrically spaced apart from each other on the membrane. An RF input end is formed on the nitride or oxide film. A heating resistor is formed on the membrane to be connected with the RF input end. First and second ground plates are formed on the nitride or oxide film at both sides of the RF input end. A third ground plate is formed on the nitride or oxide film to be connected with the heating resistor and electrically connected with the first and second ground plates. The first and second output terminals are formed on the semiconductor substrate to be connected with the first and second thermocouple groups, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2002Date of Patent: July 27, 2004Assignee: Korea Electronics Technology InstituteInventors: Dae Sung Lee, Kyung Il Lee, Hak In Hwang
-
Patent number: 6750446Abstract: An ultrasonic-welding apparatus, which can automatically achieve measurement of the face-deflection the work piece after welding and during the welding of work pieces, such as a reel for a magnetic tape. The ultrasonic-welding apparatus includes: a cradle, onto which two types of work pieces to be welded are mounted in piles, and which can rotate around an axis vertical to the welding surface of a workpiece to be welded; a welding horn, which carries out welding using ultrasonic vibration wherein the two work pieces are sandwiched by the cradle; and a transmission-type laser sensor which measures the fixed part of the work pieces, after welding, by the irradiation of laser light which runs parallel to the welding surface, wherein the workpieces are rotating on the cradle and the welding horn is apart from the work pieces.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2002Date of Patent: June 15, 2004Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kouta Kitamura, Tadashi Takahara, Kenji Ishikawa, Novuo Takahashi
-
Patent number: 6732582Abstract: To measure the flow rate of coolant through a cooling hole of a film-cooled part, a transient thermal response of an external surface temperature of the film-cooled part is measured and the transient thermal response is characterized mathematically. From the mathematical characterization, the flow rate through the film hole is determined.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2002Date of Patent: May 11, 2004Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ronald Scott Bunker, Nirm Velumylum Nirmalan
-
Patent number: 6729756Abstract: A method for calibrating a total-power microwave radiometer for a satellite uses a cold calibration source, a hot calibration source and a receiver. The method has the steps of measuring with the receiver the brightness temperatures of the hot calibration source having a temperature of Thot1, the hot calibration source having a temperature of Thot2 where Thot1 and Thot2 are different temperatures, and the cold calibration source, calculating for these measured values the standard deviation &Dgr;Thot1, &Dgr;Thot2 and &Dgr;Tcold, and calibrating the total-power microwave radiometer for a satellite by defining the brightness temperature of the cold calibration source as: Tcold=[(&Dgr;Thot1−&Dgr;Tcold)Thot2−(&Dgr;Thot2−&Dgr;Tcold)Thot1]/(&Dgr;Thot1−&Dgr;Thot2). The method makes it possible to calibrate the colder part of the total-power microwave radiometer for a satellite frequently and accurately.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2003Date of Patent: May 4, 2004Assignee: Japan Aerospace Exploration AgencyInventor: Toshihiro Sezai
-
Patent number: 6725553Abstract: The disclosed invention is an improvement on the traditional Measuring Wheel. When the odometry information is combined with two direction sensors and an on-board computer, the instrument is able to perform useful measurements to allow the calculation of an area or the description of a non-linear contour, as well as the traditional distance measurements.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2001Date of Patent: April 27, 2004Inventors: Donald R. Airey, Herman Servatius
-
Patent number: 6722781Abstract: A simple method and apparatus for contactless rapid and inexpensive motion checking of flat objects, preferably of currency papers. The objects need not be identical in size, thickness, surface appearance, configuration nor deterioration. The checking is carried out by detecting of airflow oscillation under unexpected stoppage of testing object or air movement around the object especially on its front and back edges.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2002Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Cashcode Company Inc.Inventors: Mykhaylo Bazhenov, Dmytro Baydin, Oleksandr Lukonin, Bogdan Mishunin
-
Patent number: 6712502Abstract: The invention is a synchronized electronic shutter system (SESS) and method for same side and through transmission thermal analysis and inspection of a material for finding defects, corrosion, disbond defects, integrity of a weld and determination of paint thickness. The system comprises an infrared detector that acquires background images of the sample. A shutter then covers the detector and lamps rapidly heat the sample above ambient temperature. Shutters cover all lamps at the same time the shutter over the infrared detector is opened. The infrared detector acquires a series of temperature images over time radiated from the sample as the sample cools down. After collecting a series of temperature images taken by the SESS, a processed image is developed using one of the group comprising time derivative calculation, temperature normalization data reduction routine, thermal diffusivity curve fitting and averaging the series of temperature images.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2002Date of Patent: March 30, 2004Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Joseph N. Zalameda, William P. Winfree
-
Patent number: 6712507Abstract: A temperature sensor device for use in a clean room has a housing, a covering tube extending from the housing, a lead wire protecting tube extending from the housing within the covering tube, and a generally cylindrical temperature sensor also disposed within the covering tube. A fixing end of the temperature sensor is detachably coupled to a distal end of the lead wire protecting tube. A plurality of lead wires protrude from the fixing end and extend through the lead wire protecting tube and into the housing. The temperature sensor includes a temperature sensor element at a free end thereof. The covering tube has at least one hole by which the temperature sensor element is exposed to the atmosphere. Accordingly, the temperature sensor is highly responsive to changes in temperature, and can be repaired, maintained or replaced with ease.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2002Date of Patent: March 30, 2004Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jae Chan Park, Deck Gyu Park, Jong Han Kim, Byung Chan Lee
-
Patent number: 6709155Abstract: A device for determining the temperature in the interior of a vehicle includes a temperature sensor for arrangement behind a wall adjacent the interior, and a processing unit receiving the measuring signal from the temperature sensor and outputting an output signal representing the temperature in the interior of the vehicle, and a thermal conductor for sensing the temperature of the air in the interior in the region close to the wall, the thermal conductor being in thermally conductive contact with the temperature sensor and being provided to extend up to or close to the wall or through an opening in the wall.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2001Date of Patent: March 23, 2004Assignee: Behr-Hella Thermocontrol GmbHInventors: Otto Knittel, Hans-Dieter Roehling, Bernd Stich
-
Patent number: 6695473Abstract: A diagnostic system for a motor vehicle comprises a component installed within motor vehicle. The system further includes an identifier device mechanically coupled to the component. The identifier device comprises an identifying portion which identifies the component, and the identifier device also comprises a sensor which senses the physical environment in which the identifier device is located. A diagnostic method for a motor vehicle comprises mounting a component within the motor vehicle. The method further includes mechanically coupling an identifier device to the component, the identifier device comprising an identifying portion which identifies the component and the identifier device also including a sensor. The method also comprises confirming, with data provided by the identifying portion, that the identifying portion correctly corresponds to the component. Further, the method includes confirming, with data provided by the sensor, that the identifier device is properly coupled to the component.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2002Date of Patent: February 24, 2004Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Anders Unger, Peter Claes Alleving
-
Patent number: 6695471Abstract: A temperature meter for measuring temperature of a measurement target object to which a temperature sensor cannot be fixed directly is formed by a temperature sensor configured to measure an observed temperature in a vicinity of the measurement target object; a timer configured to measure a temperature observation time; and a calculation processor configured to calculate the temperature of the measurement target object according to the observed temperature and the temperature observation time by carrying out a prescribed calculation processing.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2002Date of Patent: February 24, 2004Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone CorporationInventors: Etsu Hashimoto, Yoshitada Katagiri, Tetsuo Abe, Yoshio Suzuki
-
Patent number: 6695475Abstract: A method and circuit are disclosed for measuring temperature. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a first oscillator circuit that generates a first signal having a frequency that is dependent upon a sensed temperature. Difference circuitry determines a difference in frequency between the first signal and the second signal having a frequency that is substantially independent of temperature, and generates a difference signal having a number of pulses thereon based upon the difference. A counter circuit is responsive to the difference circuitry for offsetting a predetermined temperature level based upon the pulses appearing on the difference signal, to obtain an output signal indicative of the sensed temperature.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2001Date of Patent: February 24, 2004Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.Inventor: Rong Yin
-
Patent number: 6674185Abstract: A temperature sensor circuit includes a temperature detecting circuit, a preset value storing circuit, and a current supplying circuit. The temperature detecting circuit is configured to generate a first temperature voltage in accordance with an ambient temperature and a current. The preset value storing circuit stores a second temperature voltage preset for a predetermined ambient temperature as a digital value. The current supplying circuit supplies the current to the temperature detecting circuit. The current supplying circuit supplies the current such that the first temperature voltage generated by the temperature detecting circuit at the predetermined ambient temperature is equal to the second temperature voltage.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2002Date of Patent: January 6, 2004Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventor: Masaru Mizuta
-
Patent number: 6672759Abstract: The present invention is a method to eliminate the influence of clamp dimensional changes on the displacement measurement during the measurement of the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of samples in tension. In a first embodiment clamp dimensional changes can be eliminated by making clamps from a material with near zero CTEs. In another embodiment clamp dimensional changes can be reduced by minimizing the CTE of the clamp material. Finally clamp dimensional changes are taken into account. This is achieved directly by subtracting a prerecorded baseline from the measurements; or by determining the CTE measurement for various sample lengths and obtaining the slope of a straight line through the points on a MD (measured displacement)/DT (temperature range of displacement measurement) versus sample length plot. The slope is the corrected CTE.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 1998Date of Patent: January 6, 2004Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Claudius Feger
-
Patent number: 6669362Abstract: A two-way display infrared thermometer comprises a main body. An infrared wave-collecting device is disposed at the front end in the main body. A sensor is disposed at the bottom of the infrared wave-collecting device. A liquid crystal display is disposed on the surface of the main body to display the temperature. A direction detection device is disposed in the main body to detect the horizontal state of the main body so as to control the display direction of the liquid crystal display. A mount is disposed on the main body so that the main body can be supported and adjust the angle of measurement. A direction-switching device is disposed on the main body for manually switching the display direction of the liquid crystal display. Thereby, the infrared thermometer can straightly display the measured temperature for quick reading of the temperature value regardless of standing upright or upside down.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2002Date of Patent: December 30, 2003Assignee: Radiant Innovation Inc.Inventors: Kevin Lin, Simon Tsao, Chu Chung Yin, Vincent Weng
-
Patent number: 6666577Abstract: A test wafer for use in wafer temperature prediction is prepared. The test wafer includes: first semiconductor layer formed in a crystalline state; second semiconductor layer formed in an amorphous state on the first semiconductor layer; and light absorption film formed over the second semiconductor layer. Next, the test wafer is loaded into a lamp heating system and then irradiating the test wafer with a light emitted from the lamp, thereby heating the second semiconductor layer through the light absorption film. Thereafter, a recovery rate, at which a part of the second semiconductor layer recovers from the amorphous state to the crystalline state at the interface with the first semiconductor layer, is calculated. Then, a temperature of the test wafer that has been irradiated with the light is measured according to a relationship between the recovery rate and a temperature corresponding to the recovery rate.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2001Date of Patent: December 23, 2003Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Satoshi Shibata, Yuko Nambu
-
Patent number: 6659638Abstract: An accelerated weathering test apparatus for concentrating solar radiation upon at least one test specimen including a target board, a reflector device, an air circulation device, a feedback device, an input device and a controller. Ambient air is circulated over the target board to cool the test specimens. The controller continuously sets a dynamic set point based on the reference signal from the input device which is representative of a complex temperature cycle of a material end-use application and adjusts the rate of air circulation based on a test signal from the feedback device.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2002Date of Patent: December 9, 2003Assignee: Atlas Material Testing Technology, L.L.C.Inventor: Henry K. Hardcastel, III
-
Patent number: 6648505Abstract: This invention relates to an improved structure for the vehicular temperature, pressure and vacuum meters with characteristics on that the hand rod is an integrally formed design joined to the dial plate and Bourdon tube without using any bolts or screws, so it is convenient for fast assembly. The Bourdon tube and the hand rod are designed to be suitable for application of any size of the dial plate, so the Bourdon tube, the hand rod and the dial plate can be manufactured and assembled in mass production and tested beforehand to assure the required sensitivity and accuracy as long as the retaining recess on the dial plate can be fitted and locked firmly in place with the retaining protruding point on the meter housing.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2002Date of Patent: November 18, 2003Assignee: Equus Inc.Inventor: Duke Chen
-
Patent number: 6648504Abstract: A system and method for obtaining the contact thermal resistance for a sample and pan without a priori knowledge of the properties of either sample, by measuring the reversing heat capacity of a sample and its pan (or an empty pan on the reference side of the DSC) at a long period and a short period during a quasi-isothermal MDSC experiment and then finding the value of contact thermal resistance that makes the short and long period heat capacities match. Several different methods may be used to find the contact thermal resistance using quasi-isothermal MDSC with a long and a short period. Two methods are direct calculation methods that use the results from an MDSC experiment used with model equations to calculate the contact thermal resistance. A third method is another direct calculation method, based upon the phase angle between the heat flow and temperature signals. A fourth and fifth method use curve fitting of the apparent heat capacity for multiple values of pan contact thermal resistance.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2002Date of Patent: November 18, 2003Assignee: Waters Investment LimitedInventor: Robert L. Danley
-
Patent number: 6644850Abstract: A temperature sensing device for an internal-combustion engine includes a carrier structure, a first sensor element accommodated on the carrier structure, a second sensor element also accommodated on the carrier structure, an engine air guiding device for feeding an engine intake air flow to the first sensor element, and a radiator air guiding device for feeding a radiator air flow passed through an engine radiator to the second sensor element. By way of a compact constructional unit, which can be preassembled, it is possible to centrally sense the temperatures of the two air flows. The obtained measuring signals can be coupled into a cable tree system provided on the vehicle side while the cabling expenditures are reduced.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2002Date of Patent: November 11, 2003Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AktiengesellschaftInventors: Joachim Kuhn, Robert Albiez, Dirk Jeschke