Patents Examined by Stephanie Bloss
  • Patent number: 10222426
    Abstract: A method for dynamic characterization of an electrochemical system (such as a lithium-ion battery) is provided, comprising exciting an electrochemical system with a plurality of double-pulse sequences, each comprising a constant-current discharge pulse, a constant-current charge pulse having the same pulse width and pulse amplitude, and a zero-current period between the pulses; and calculating an impulse response, using a recursive or matrix-based method, to dynamically characterize the electrochemical system. A constant state-of-charge is maintained in the electrochemical system. Therefore the signal-to-noise ratio is high due to the repetition of the driving sequence. This method may be employed for on-line determination of the impedance spectrum of an electrochemical system, since the cycling profile can be easily integrated into charge/discharge profiles. Batteries (and other devices) can be diagnosed at high speed and with high accuracy. The double-pulse sequence is robust for fairly noisy systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Shuoqin Wang, Luan D. Vu
  • Patent number: 10180417
    Abstract: A system and method for augmenting or adding to the information used by an in-vitro diagnostic or other diagnostic device to generate results of a test is disclosed. A diagnostic device is capable of generating test results based on a sample, such as a sample provided by a patient, and is also capable of receiving additional information to enhance the results providable by the device. For example, an in-vitro diagnostic device is configured to read a lateral flow assay test, and is configured to receive additional diagnostic, network, test identification, or environmental information over a network. Using both the result of the diagnostic test and the additional information, the disclosed device provides more thorough, accurate, and reliable diagnostic information. The results generated by the device may be communicated to an appropriate remote device to enhance the results obtainable by such tests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Alverix, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephan Hengstler, Tong Xie
  • Patent number: 10156623
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging system (200, 300) acquires magnetic resonance data (242, 244). A processor (230) controls the magnetic resonance imaging system to execute instructions (250, 252, 254, 256, 258) which cause the processor to repeatedly: control (100) the magnetic resonance imaging system to acquire magnetic resonance data including magnetic resonance navigator data (244); create (102) a set of navigator vectors by extracting the navigator data from each portion of the magnetic resonance data; construct (104) a dissimilarity matrix (246, 400, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100, 1400, 1500) by calculating a metric between each of the set of navigator vectors; generate (106) a matrix classification (248) of the dissimilarity matrix using a classification algorithm; and control (108) the magnetic resonance imaging system to modify acquisition of the magnetic resonance data using the matrix classification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Tim Nielsen, Peter Börnert
  • Patent number: 10156440
    Abstract: A method of analysing blade tip displacements (dijk) derived from a rotor having an array of blades that rotate at a rotational speed (?). The blades are monitored by an array of stationary timing probes for at least two revolutions (j) of the rotor. Define asynchronous displacement (dijk_A) as a sum of a sinusoidal term (Va) and an offset per probe term (Oo). Define synchronous displacement (dijk_S) as a sum of a sinusoidal term (Vs) and a common offset term (Cc). Solve the asynchronous displacements (dijk_A) using the blade tip displacements (dijk) to give asynchronous amplitude (|a|), offset per probe (ok) and asynchronous residuals (rijk_A). Solve the synchronous displacements (dijk_S) using the blade tip displacements (dijk) to give synchronous amplitude (|s|), common offset (cj) and synchronous residuals (rijk_S).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: Olivier Y J P Jousselin
  • Patent number: 10151803
    Abstract: An electrical power diagnostic device and methods are disclosed. A power-supply-side connector is operable to couple to a power supply, and a load-side connector is operable to couple to a load. At least one conductive path for electricity to flow between the power-supply-side connector and the load-side connector, and a diagnostic monitor is operable to monitor and change electrical properties of the power-supply-side connector and the load-side connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Joshua M. Rutheiser
  • Patent number: 10132624
    Abstract: A normal detection method for measuring the distance to a measurement subject using one or a plurality of distance detectors, and obtaining a normal vector on the measured surface of the measurement subject from the obtained measurement result, wherein: within a three-dimensional space, the straight line linking a first measurement point measured at a first measurement position using a distance detector and a second measurement point measured at a second measurement position different from the first measurement position is set as a first vector; the straight line linking the first measurement point and a third measurement point measured at a third measurement position different from the first measurement position and the second measurement position as a second vector; and a normal vector on the measured surface is obtained by determining the vector product of the first vector and the second vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihito Fujita, Mikio Nakamura, Hirofumi Ienaga
  • Patent number: 10130743
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed for optimizing management of one or more implanted artificial heart pumps. An example method includes wirelessly retrieving, via one or more portable diagnostic devices, data regarding the one or more implanted artificial heart pumps. The example method further includes analyzing, by a server device, performance characteristics of the one or more implanted artificial heart pumps based on the retrieved data. The example method further includes causing rendering of the performance characteristics. Corresponding apparatuses and computer program products are contemplated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Inventor: Dale J. Yeatts
  • Patent number: 10120002
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer readable storage medium for causing a computer monitoring a power distribution system in which a first customer and a second customer are mixed to execute a process, the process including: acquiring first data measured with a first measurement device which is installed in the first customer and measures the first data at a first time interval; acquiring second data measured with a second measurement device which is installed in the second customer and measures the second data at a second time interval longer than the first time interval; estimating data of the first time interval about an electric power of the second customer by using the acquired first data and the acquired second data; and estimating a value about a voltage or a current for each customer by using the estimated data of the first time interval and the acquired first data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Yuta Teranishi, Hironobu Kitajima, Hideyuki Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 10094694
    Abstract: According to some embodiments of the present invention there are provided a method for calculating a volume of an individual falling drop of liquid by analyzing electromagnetic radiation (EMR) reception, the method comprising projecting electromagnetic radiation (EMR) from an EMR source, measuring the EMR using at least one EMR sensor when the EMR is partially interfered with by a drop falling between the EMR source and the EMR sensor, calculating a plurality of widths parallel to a vertical axis of the drop, each one of the plurality of widths is calculated according to a reception of a time correlated measured portion of the EMR, and calculating a volume of the drop by combining the plurality of widths and a velocity of the drop when the drop is falling between the EMR source and the EMR sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: ART Healthcare Ltd.
    Inventors: Liron Elia, Gavriel J. Iddan
  • Patent number: 10088442
    Abstract: Disclosed is a flow meter and method for measuring water cut and salinity of a multiphase mixture. The water-cut meter includes a conduit configured to receive the multiphase mixture, and a probe array configured to measure a cross-sectional area of the conduit. The probe array includes a plurality of coaxial probes connected in parallel. Optionally, the probe array is configured to operate at a single high frequency, for example, 1 to 3 GHz, to minimize conductivity loss relative to capacitance. The flow meter further includes a processor configured to transmit a signal to the probe array and to receive a reflected signal from the probe array using a single channel. The processor is further configured to calculate the water cut and the salinity of the multiphase mixture based on a single complex permittivity of the multiphase mixture calculated from the received reflected signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael John Black, Mohamed N. Noui-Mehidi
  • Patent number: 10078096
    Abstract: Aspects of this invention include new measures of hip-torso posture and strength of the legs. These new measures are made using new tools. Measurement of hip-torso posture can be made using simple tools. One such tool can be applied to the hips, and indicates relative angle of the spine. Photographic tools can be used to analyze posture relative to vertical references. Measurement of leg strength can be made using a device incorporating accelerometers and computer implemented instructions to quantify forward/backward, left/right, or rotational acceleration when the legs are challenged. Other aspects include devices with computer implemented instructions to quantify leg strength. Using the new devices and methods, one can objectively determine postures that are ergonomically appropriate for persons sitting and working at workstations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Inventors: John Fitzsimmons, Alexander Kouznetsov
  • Patent number: 10067090
    Abstract: A system and method using magnetic sensing to non-intrusively and non-destructively characterize ferromagnetic material within infrastructure. The system includes sensors for measuring magnetic field gradients from a standoff distance adjacent to ferromagnetic material. The method includes using the system to measure magnetic fields, determining magnetic field gradients measured by a sensor array, and comparing measured and modeled or historical magnetic field gradients at the same or similar positions to identify differences caused by a phenomenon in the ferromagnetic material, and, in a particular embodiment, to recognize defects and developing defects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian P. Timmons, Rami S. Mangoubi, Zachary R. Hoffman, Franklyn R. Webb
  • Patent number: 10054640
    Abstract: A motor driving device includes, a DB current calculation unit which calculates a DB current flowing through a DB circuit, based on the motor rotational speed and intrinsic parameters for a motor and the DB circuit, a Joule heat calculation unit which calculates a Joule heat resulting from a DB current, based on the DB current, a storage unit which stores a table defining the relationship between the DB current at the start of DB and the Joule heat resulting from an arc generated in a relay depending on the DB current, an integration unit which integrates the Joule heat resulting from an arc at the start of DB, the Joule heat resulting from a DB current, or the sum of these Joule heats, every time DB is performed, and a comparison unit which outputs the comparison result between the resultant integration value and a predetermined reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sou Saito, Tsutomu Shikagawa
  • Patent number: 10053981
    Abstract: Methods including producing a bulk fluid from a subterranean formation, the bulk fluid comprising at least water and a hydrocarbon, and having certain constituent parameters; sampling a portion of the bulk fluid, thereby forming at least one sampled fluid; determining constituent parameters of the sampled fluid using the hydrophilic-lipophilic deviation (HLD) model; and determining an optimal hydrate inhibitor surfactant (HIS) or HIS mixture to achieve a first oil-water separation morphological phase of the sampled fluid at temperatures above about 10° C. and a first water-in-oil morphological phase of the sampled fluid at temperatures below about 5° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Sanja Natali
  • Patent number: 10042741
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are described for determining a small subset of tests that provides substantially the same coverage as the set of tests. During operation, a system (e.g., a computer system) can determine a set of tests by, for each object in a set of objects, selecting up to a pre-determined number of tests that provide test coverage for the object. Next, the system can determine a subset of tests by iteratively performing a loop, which can comprise: selecting a test in the set of tests; removing, from the set of objects, one or more objects that are covered by the selected test; and optionally removing, from the set of tests, one or more tests that do not cover any objects in the remaining set of objects. The system can terminate the loop after a termination condition is met and report the selected tests as the subset of tests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: SYNOPSYS, INC.
    Inventor: Vernon A. Lee
  • Patent number: 10042818
    Abstract: Mechanisms for tracking an entity are provided. A time is determined by a sensor having a clock, the time being within a time slot in a series of time slots. First data of the time slot is provided and shared between a plurality of sensors. The sensor receives data from the movable entity. The sensor calculates identifying data from the received data for identifying the entity. Derivative identifying data is calculated by applying a modifying function using the provided first data for modifying the identifying data. The sensor calculates a hash value by taking the derivative identifying data as input. The sensor sends a message to a central server for determining the position of the entity, the message comprising the hash value and an identifier of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gherardo Albano, Dario De Judicibus
  • Patent number: 10036783
    Abstract: Systems and methods for testing a Device Under Test (DUT). A test condition is randomly selected from a plurality of test conditions to test the DUT. The DUT is controlled to attempt to output an output condition matching the randomly selected test condition and an operator is prompted to confirm that the output condition matches the randomly selected test condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: David N. Still
  • Patent number: 10031042
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a result of a benchmark leak detection test for a pressure system and determining whether the result indicates that a leak is present in the pressure system. In response to the result of the benchmark leak detection test indicating that a leak is not present in the pressure system, the method includes performing a subsequent leak detection test for the pressure system, comparing a result of the subsequent leak detection test to the result of the benchmark leak detection test, and determining, based on the comparison, whether the subsequent leak detection test indicates that a leak is not present in the pressure system. A time to determine whether a leak is not present based on the comparison is less than a time to determine whether a leak is not present based on the benchmark leak detection test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: INNOVATIVE PRESSURE TESTING, LLC
    Inventor: Charles M. Franklin
  • Patent number: 10025756
    Abstract: Methods and respective modules which reduce sample size and measurement duration of metrology parameters by selecting a relatively small subset of measured targets to represent a distribution of parameter measurements of a large number of targets. The subset is selected by sampling a substantially equal number of measurements from each of a selected number of quantiles of the distribution. The methods and modules allow identification of targets which represent correctly the whole target measurement distribution. The methods and modules optimize quantiles and sample size selections, using accuracy scores and estimations of the robustness of the selections. Sampling and selections may be carried out iteratively to reach specified criteria that match the results which can be derived when considering the whole distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Dana Klein, Sven Jug
  • Patent number: 10024752
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a result of a benchmark leak detection test for a pressure system and determining whether the result indicates that a leak is present in the pressure system. In response to the result of the benchmark leak detection test indicating that a leak is not present in the pressure system, the method includes performing a subsequent leak detection test for the pressure system, comparing a result of the subsequent leak detection test to the result of the benchmark leak detection test, and determining, based on the comparison, whether the subsequent leak detection test indicates that a leak is not present in the pressure system. A time to determine whether a leak is not present based on the comparison is less than a time to determine whether a leak is not present based on the benchmark leak detection test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: INNOVATIVE PRESSURE TESTING, LLC
    Inventor: Charles M. Franklin