Patents Examined by Tran M Tran
  • Patent number: 11874185
    Abstract: Described herein is a force attenuator for a force sensor. The force attenuator can linearly attenuate the force applied on the force sensor and therefore significantly extend the maximum sensing range of the force sensor. The area ratio of the force attenuator to the force sensor determines the maximum load available in a linear fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: NextInput, Inc.
    Inventors: Julius Minglin Tsai, Dan Benjamin
  • Patent number: 11867578
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a high-precision and miniaturized on-orbit calibration device for a six-dimensional force sensor of a space station manipulator and a calibration method thereof, which include an inverted ? shape fixing bracket, three force applying devices, and a cubic stress block. Each force applying device includes a force applying head, a single axis force sensor, a force source part and a fastening part. The force source part includes an upper support plate, a second electrode plate, piezoelectric ceramic plates, a first electrode plate and a lower support plate, which are coaxially arranged sequentially from top to bottom. The single axis force sensor is mounted on the top of the upper support plate, and the hemispherical force applying head is mounted on the top of the single axis force sensor. The cubic stress block is mounted on the top of the six-dimensional force sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: SOUTHEAST UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Aiguo Song, Shuyan Yang, Baoguo Xu, Yonghui Zhou, Qimeng Tan, Changchun Liang, Ming Wei, Chunhui Wang, Fan Li, Suinan Zhang
  • Patent number: 11852561
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a thin, light, and portable system for measuring one or more parameters of a contact patch between a tire and a surface. The system may be configured with an array of sensors capable of being removable fixed to the surface. The array of sensors may measure the one or more parameters of the contact patch between the tire and the surface. Moreover, the system may include a scanner configured to interpret the measurements from the array of sensors as data and store the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Tekscan, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Podoloff, Camilo Aladro, Michael Harty, Christopher George, Arnon Ofaim, Gary Loomis, Gabor Papp
  • Patent number: 11846551
    Abstract: A press sensor that includes a board, an adhesive material, and a sensor unit on a first main surface of the board with the adhesive material interposed therebetween. When an elastic modulus of the board is E1, an elastic modulus of the adhesive material is EA, and an elastic modulus of the sensor unit is ES, EA<ES and EA<E1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kenichi Mori
  • Patent number: 11847311
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a pressure sensor and a processor. The pressure sensor is disposed within an interior volume of the electronic device and configured to generate a time-dependent sequence of measurements related to a force applied to the electronic device. The processor is configured to characterize, using at least the time-dependent sequence of measurements, a venting state of the interior volume. In some embodiments, the electronic device may also include a capacitive force sensor disposed to detect distortion of the interior volume. A second time-dependent sequence of measurements related to the force may be generated by the capacitive force sensor, and used by the processor to characterize the venting state of the interior volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Hojjat Seyed Mousavi, Yonathan Morin
  • Patent number: 11835403
    Abstract: A strain inducing body includes a strain inducing portion including a movable portion that deforms in response to force or moment in a predetermined axial direction and a non-movable portion that does not deform in response to the force or moment, and an input transmitter that is connected to the non-movable portion and does not deform in response to the force or moment, wherein the input transmitter includes, a first frame portion, a plurality of first beam structures each of which has one end thereof connected to the first frame portion and extends from the first frame portion to an inside of the first frame portion, a first coupling portion that connects other ends of the first beam structures, an accommodating portion that is provided inside the first coupling portion and that is capable of housing a sensor chip to detect the force or the moment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: MINEBEA MITSUMI Inc.
    Inventor: Masayuki Suganumata
  • Patent number: 11828663
    Abstract: There is a strap tension detector for detecting tension in a strap. A housing has an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion and lower portion are adapted to receive the strap. A strain beam is mounted to one of the upper portion and the lower portion. The strain beam is arranged at an angle to the strap to extend across the width of the strap when the strap is placed between the upper portion and the lower portion and extending through the first and second strap-receiving openings so that the strap bears on the strain beam when taut. A strain gauge is operatively connected to detect strain across the strain beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Intelligent Secure Strap Inc.
    Inventors: Blair Wenzel, Tanner DeLorey, Dwayne Parenteau
  • Patent number: 11821800
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a sensor for measuring cam and tappet contact force of an engine and a measuring method. The sensor comprises a force carrying element, a force transmission element, a piezoelectric element, a force bearing element, a tappet head and a guide woodruff key. Meanwhile, the present disclosure also provides a measuring method by using the sensor. The sensor is simple in mechanism and convenient to use and can realize the measurement of the cam tappet contact force in the normal direction, the tangential direction and the axial direction of the contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Harbin Engineering University
    Inventors: Jie Guo, Shengwei Zhou, Guoan Jiang, Xinyu Zhang
  • Patent number: 11821799
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tire comprising an apparatus, wherein the apparatus comprises a first, second, third, fourth and fifth layer, the third layer being optional, characterized in that: a) the first layer comprises a first electrode material, b) the second layer comprises a first intermediate material, c) the third layer comprises an insulation material, d) the fourth layer comprises a second intermediate material, and e) the fifth layer comprises a second electrode material, wherein the first intermediate material of the second layer and the second intermediate material of the fourth layer are different, the five layers are arranged one above the other according to the above sequence, and the surface of the second or fourth layer layers has a surface roughness Ra in the range from 0.1 ?m to 500 ?m, measured in accordance with DIN EN ISO 4288:1998. The invention relates to the uses of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Continental Reifen Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Sebastian Finger, Jorge Lacayo-Pineda, Amit Das, Tamil Selvan Natarajan
  • Patent number: 11815418
    Abstract: A stress detection system includes a flexible two-dimensional structure, at least one electrically conductive textile filament, and an apparatus for generating and detecting an electric signal. The filament extends over a predetermined length in a portion of the flexible structure and has at least two points rigidly constrained to the structure. The apparatus is connected to the ends of the filament. The deformability of the filament is substantially equal to or greater than the deformability of the portion of the structure to which the filament is constrained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: KOYRE S.r.l.
    Inventors: Marco Caglieris, Alberto Fusco, Luca Formentini, Mirko Bargolini, Alberto Cantamesse
  • Patent number: 11815411
    Abstract: A tactile sensor includes a base portion, a displacement portion, a displacement portion support body that supports the displacement portion in a displaceable manner in a first direction with respect to the base portion, a hair in a straight line arranged along a second direction, a hair fixing portion to which a base end of the hair is fixed, a hair fixing portion support body that turnably supports the hair fixing portion with respect to the displacement portion, a displacement detector that detects a displacement of the displacement portion with respect to the base portion, and a turn detector that detects a turn of the hair fixing portion with respect to the displacement portion. The sensations specific to the hairy skin, such as perception of a liquid surface and static electricity, can be detected from a shearing force and a moment acting on the hair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: National University Corporation Kagawa University
    Inventor: Hidekuni Takao
  • Patent number: 11796425
    Abstract: Disclosed is a pullout force measurement test device based on an anchor group effect of a marine pipeline, and a measurement method. The test device includes a support frame, a winch, a lifting plate, an upper hanging rope, a force measuring mechanism mounted on the upper hanging rope, two anchor plate mechanisms, and two lower hanging ropes, where each pair of the lower hanging ropes and the anchor plate mechanisms are located on both sides of the upper hanging rope; each anchor plate mechanism includes a model box, a soil sample filled in the model box, an anchor plate embedded in the soil sample, and a pulley assembly used for adjusting a pullout angle of the anchor plate; one end of each lower hanging rope is connected to the lifting plate, and the other end thereof is connected to the anchor plate of the corresponding anchor plate mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Zhejiang University City College
    Inventors: Chengbao Hu, Bing Li, Gang Wei, Jiqing Jiang, Xi Wu, Zhi Ding, Bin Chen, Jianying Yu, Shuming Su
  • Patent number: 11796401
    Abstract: A pressure distribution mapping system includes a flexible M×N textile-based pressure sensor array. with first and second electrode textile layers and a piezoresistive fabric layer with a sheet resistance of at least 60 k-ohm/square positioned between the first and second electrode textile layers. Individual pressure sensors are formed by an intersection between a row electrically-conductive path and a column electrically-conductive path along with the portion of the piezoresistive layer positioned at the intersection. A measurement system measures the resistance of each pressure sensor of the pressure sensor array. The measurement system includes a reading module with first op-amps connected to each row and second op-amps connected to each column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Nano and Advanced Materials Institute Limited
    Inventors: Yam Chong, Tao Xu, Li Fu, Chenmin Liu
  • Patent number: 11781925
    Abstract: A force sensor including an array layer that includes array substrates arranged on an identical plane such that end portions thereof are adjacent to each other, the force sensor includes the array layer having a first surface on which array electrodes are disposed and a second surface opposite to the first surface; a conductive layer layered on the first surface of the array layer; a protection layer layered on the conductive layer; and a counter electrode interposed between the conductive layer and the protection layer, wherein a bonding member which bonds the adjacent array substrates and covers a joint between the adjacent array substrates is provided on the second surface of the array layer, the conductive layer is composed of a single member layered across each of the array substrates, and a sealing portion having a frame shape is provided on an outer circumference side of the conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroumi Kinjo
  • Patent number: 11763109
    Abstract: A monitor configured to be removably coupled to a strut that forms part of a temporary support structure. The monitor may include an electronic monitoring device that includes a load cell. The monitor may be configured to be position in-line with strut and subject to the same forces exerted upon the strut. Further the monitor may be configured to wirelessly communicate the sensor information to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Paratech, Incorporated
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Nielsen, William O. Teach
  • Patent number: 11761837
    Abstract: A multi-axial tactile sensor for detecting forces in directions of three axes and a moment about at least one axis includes at least four sensor elements including at least three shearing force detecting elements having beam structures provided with a first resistive layer and a second resistive layer at specific portions, and at least one pressing force detecting element having a beam structure provided with a third resistive layer and a fourth resistive layer at specific portions, the beam structures of the four sensor elements being arranged on a sensor substrate so that their respective longitudinal directions are radially arranged, and the moment about at least one axis is detected based on outputs of two or more sensor elements being arranged at positions of rotational symmetry around the center of the radial arrangement of the plurality of sensor elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: The University of Tokyo
    Inventors: Isao Shimoyama, Akihito Nakai
  • Patent number: 11754456
    Abstract: A pressure monitoring system for a wet barrel hydrant includes an outer housing defining a sidewall shell and a cap coupled to the sidewall shell; a sensor housing defining a connector, a housing cavity, and an opening formed through the sensor housing and allowing access to the housing cavity, the connector configured to couple the pressure monitoring system to a wet barrel hydrant; and a base assembly coupled to the sidewall shell and defining a central support and a cylindrical wall, the cylindrical wall extending from the central support towards the cap, the sensor housing coupled to the central support opposite the cylindrical wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Mueller International, LLC
    Inventors: Carlos Stephen Moreno, Timofey Sitnikov, Paul S. Gifford, Daryl Lee Gibson, Diego Aguilera
  • Patent number: 11747223
    Abstract: A strain inducing body includes a strain inducing portion. The strain inducing portion includes a movable portion configured to receive a force in a predetermined axial direction or a moment about the predetermined axial direction and to deform in accordance with the received force or moment. The strain inducing portion includes a non-movable portion configured to receive the force or moment and to not deform in accordance with the received force or moment. The strain inducing body includes an input transmitter coupled to the non-movable portion and including an accommodating portion for accommodating a sensor chip detects the force or moment. The input transmitter receives the force or moment and to not deform in accordance with the received force or moment. The input transmitter transmits deformation of the strain inducing portion to the sensor chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: MINEBEA MITSUMI Inc.
    Inventor: Shinya Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 11740147
    Abstract: A triaxial force sensor 1 includes nine first electrodes 11 to 19, and nine second electrodes 21 to 29 attached to an electrode support 10 in such a manner that the electrode support 10 is interposed between the nine first electrodes 11 to 19 and the nine second electrodes 21 to 29. A pair of first electrodes 14 and 16 are arranged such that a straight line connecting the two is orthogonal to a straight line connecting a pair of first electrodes 12 and 18, and the second electrodes 22, 24, 26, and 28 are arranged such that the respective halves overlap the first electrodes 12, 14, 16, and 18 in plan view. The sensor has a number of components and size, thereby allowing a reduction in manufacturing cost, in the case of detecting forces in orthogonal triaxial directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignees: Honda Motir Co., Ltd., The University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Ryusuke Ishizaki, Mirza Saquib Sarwar, John D. W. Madden
  • Patent number: 11740143
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a flexible pressure sensor array and method for fabricating the same. The pressure sensor array comprises a pressure-sensing substrate, top electrodes and bottom electrodes. The pressure-sensing substrate comprises a piezoresistive material, a fabric and pressure-sensing columns. The top electrodes and the bottom electrodes are attached to the pressure-sensing columns. The pressure sensor array is ultra-flexible and conforms to 3-dimensional surface for pressure monitoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Nano and Advanced Materials Institute Limited
    Inventors: Li Fu, Tao Xu, Yam Chong