Patents Examined by Xin Y Zhong
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Patent number: 10852218Abstract: A sample introduction device includes a tube holding unit 10, a tube heating unit 20, and a movement mechanism 30. The tube holding unit 10 holds a sample tube 1. The tube heating unit 20 comes into contact with the sample tube 1 held in the tube holding unit 10 and heats the sample tube 1 to desorb sample components in the sample tube 1. The tube holding unit 10 and the tube heating unit 20 are attached to the movement mechanism 30 so as to be able to move separately. The movement mechanism 30 includes a nut 32 which can be attached to and detached from the tube holding unit 10 and the tube heating unit 20, and a support shaft 31 which supports the nut 32 such that the nut 32 can move.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2015Date of Patent: December 1, 2020Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATIONInventors: Akira Aono, Isao Sawamura
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Patent number: 10830788Abstract: An acceleration sensor (sensor device) includes a substrate that includes a recessed portion (second recessed portion), a fixed electrode, and a dummy electrode juxtaposed with an insulating portion, and a movable body that is supported to be rockable by the substrate, in which the movable body includes a first region facing the fixed electrode, a second region facing a part of the dummy electrode, and a connecting portion connecting the first region and the second region to each other, the fixed electrode is provided with an extension electrode portion extending to a position facing the connecting portion, in a plan view of the movable body, at least a part of the extension electrode portion faces the connecting portion, and the insulating portion between the extension electrode portion and the dummy electrode faces the connecting portion inside the recessed portion.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2017Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Yoshiyuki Matsuura
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Patent number: 10830661Abstract: A scour monitoring system may provide a housing that is separated into multiple segments that are fluidically isolated from each other. The scour monitoring system may be position adjacent to a structure to be monitored for bridge scouring. Each of the segments may provide a water-swellable material positioned near or in contact with a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) cable. If water penetrates a segment, the water-swellable material may expand to deform the FBG cable. The wavelength of the FBG cable may be monitored periodically for changes, thereby providing moisture detection when a change in wavelength is detected.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2016Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEMInventors: Gangbing Song, Xuan Kong, Siu Chun Michael Ho
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Patent number: 10825359Abstract: A method includes receiving data including 3-dimensional scans of a plurality of torsos, dividing each scan into a plurality of cross-sections, calculating an area for each cross-section, and calculating a torso volume based on the calculated areas. The method may include fitting a curve defined by parameters to each cross-section. The area for each cross-section may be an area enclosed by the curve. The method may include receiving a desired torso volume percentile, and determining values for the parameters of the curves corresponding to the desired percentile.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2017Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Srinivasan Sundararajan, Parakrama Valentine Weerappuli, Kevin Michael Pline, Raed Essa El-Jawahri
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Patent number: 10816433Abstract: A leakage inspection method and leakage inspection device for container to be inspected are provided. When a container to be inspected having a deformable flexible part is to be inspected for leakage, the container to be inspected is filled with an inspection gas containing helium, the container to be inspected, which has been filled with the inspection gas, is disposed in an inspection chamber partitioned from the outside, and an upward flow of a carrier gas is formed from the lower part to the upper part of the container to be inspected. A leakage of the inspection gas filled in the container to be inspected is then detected on the basis of the result of measuring the concentration of helium in the carrier gas collected at a position higher than a position where the carrier gas is fed into the inspection chamber.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2017Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: JGC JAPAN CORPORATIONInventors: Masahiro Kawano, Takeshi Kojima, Yasubumi Kato, Megumi Tazawa, Yimeng Xu
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Patent number: 10807860Abstract: A micromechanical component for a pressure sensor device, including a diaphragm that is stretched on a substrate and that is warpable via a pressure difference between a first side of the substrate and a second side of the substrate, and a rocker structure that is connected to the diaphragm in such a way that the rocker structure is movable about a first rotational axis via warping of the diaphragm. The rocker structure is connected to the diaphragm via a lever structure in such a way that the warping of the diaphragm triggers a rotational movement of the lever structure about a second rotational axis oriented in parallel to the first rotational axis and spaced apart from same, and the rotational movement of the lever structure about the second rotational axis triggers a further rotational movement of the rocker structure about the first rotational axis.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2017Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Jochen Reinmuth
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Patent number: 10788356Abstract: A method according to an aspect includes a first step of connecting a reference device to the other end of a connecting pipe, a second step of supplying a gas from one flow controller into piping, a third step of acquiring measured values of a first pressure gauge and a first thermometer, a fourth step of supplying a portion of the gas in piping into a tank, a fifth step of acquiring measured values of the first pressure gauge and the first thermometer or measured values of a second pressure gauge and a second thermometer, and a sixth step of using a Boyle-Charles' law to calculate a volume of the piping on the basis of the measured values acquired in the third step, the measured values acquired in the fifth step, and a volume of a closed space including a space in the tank when the third valve is closed.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2017Date of Patent: September 29, 2020Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventors: Norihiko Amikura, Risako Miyoshi
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Patent number: 10775254Abstract: A force sensing device comprises: a membrane (120), which is configured to deform upon receiving a force; a first Mach Zehnder-type interferometer device (110); a second Mach Zehnder-type interferometer device (130), wherein a first measurement propagation path (114) of the first Mach Zehnder-type interferometer device (110) and a second measurement propagation path (134) of the second Mach Zehnder-type interferometer device (130) are arranged on or in the membrane (120), and wherein the first measurement propagation path (114) and the second measurement propagation path (134) are differently sensitive to applied force on the membrane (120).Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2018Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: IMEC VZWInventors: Roelof Jansen, Xavier Rottenberg, Veronique Rochus
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Patent number: 10768198Abstract: An acceleration sensor includes a base substrate provided with a first recess part, and a sensor part located on the first recess part and swingably supported in a depth direction of the first recess part by a support part, wherein the sensor part is sectioned into a first part and a second part by the support part, includes a movable electrode part in the first part and the second part, a through hole is provided at least at an end side in the second part larger in mass than the first part, and the base substrate includes a fixed electrode part in a position opposed to the movable electrode part in the first recessed part, and a second recess part deeper than the first recess part is provided in a position opposed to the end side of the sensor part.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2019Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Mitsuhiro Yoda
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Patent number: 10753954Abstract: An apparatus for a vacuum-driven microfluidic probe includes a body with an apex and a processing surface, at an end of the body. The apparatus also includes a partially open cavity formed as a recess on the processing surface and a set of apertures in the cavity, where the set of apertures include a sample outlet aperture intersected by a vertical axis of the cavity. The apparatus also includes aspiration apertures radially distributed around said vertical axis, wherein the apex is further configured to generate a pressure in the cavity upon aspirating an external liquid through the aspiration apertures that causes to aspirate a liquid sample from the sample outlet aperture, so as to eject the aspirated liquid sample from the probe.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2017Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Govind Kaigala, Seyed Ali Kazemi Oskooei
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Patent number: 10727787Abstract: A transmitter generates programmable upstream and downstream signal pulses for transmission through a fluid whose flow rate is being measured. A receiver receives the upstream and downstream signal pulses and stores digital representations of the pulses. A multiple pass algorithm such as a time domain windowing function and/or an algorithm that equalizes amplitude operates on the stored digital representations prior to demodulation. A quadrature demodulator generates in-phase and quadrature components of the digital representations and an arctangent function using the in-phase and quadrature components determines angles associated with the upstream and downstream signal pulses. The difference between the upstream and downstream angles, from which a difference in time of flight between the upstream and downstream signal pulses can be derived, is used to determine flow rate.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2017Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.Inventor: John M. Khoury
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Patent number: 10716510Abstract: This invention is smart clothing with stretch and/or bend sensors for measuring changes in a person's body configuration. This smart clothing has an elastic nonconductive layer onto which helical converging/diverging conductive pathways are printed using ink which is a mixture of elastic nonconductive material and conductive material. Changes in the transmission of electromagnetic energy through the pathway are analyzed to measure changes in the configuration of the person's body.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2017Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: MediboticsInventor: Robert A. Connor
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Patent number: 10718745Abstract: A system for analyzing a sample includes a chromatographic device, an electrospray source, and a mass resolving device. The chromatographic device is configured to separate components of the sample as a function of retention time within a chromatographic column. The electrospray source is configured to direct a first portion of a flow from the chromatographic device via a waste outlet to a pressurized waste reservoir, direct a second portion of the flow to an electrospray ionization outlet to form a spray, and charge and desolvate the spray to form ions of the components of the sample. A flow rate of the second portion of the liquid flow is substantially determined by a pressure of the pressurized waste reservoir. The mass resolving device configured to receive the ions and characterize the mass-to-charge ratio of the ions.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2015Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: Thermo Finnigan LLCInventors: Gary A. Schultz, R. Paul Atherton, Eloy R. Wouters
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Patent number: 10712241Abstract: An air sampler mechanism by which the entirety of the petri plate assembly of the air sampler may be easily removed without tools is described. The mechanism employs at least one magnet which is preferably disposed within the top plate assembly of the air sampler instrument. The magnets of the mechanism are configured to maintain the top plate assembly firmly in position during use while facilitating easy removal by an operator or manager. Indexing features are preferably present, which ensure proper alignment and positioning of the top plate assembly when reattached for use.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2017Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: LIGHTHOUSE WORLDWIDE SOLUTIONS, INC.Inventor: Shawn Smith
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Patent number: 10713554Abstract: A grommet (20, 30) as part of a fastening element for a building envelope essentially comprises a head (21), a tip (22) and a sleeve (23) therebetween, wherein the head (21) is essentially constructed as an extensive washer (24), the central hole of which is adjoined by the tubular sleeve (23). The tip (22) narrows essentially in a conical or tapered manner to a smaller diameter. The grommet (20, 30) has a sensor arrangement (25), with at least one RFID transponder with antenna and a sensor operatively connected to the transponder.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2018Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: SFS intec Holding AGInventors: Daniel Gasser, Kurt Blum
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Patent number: 10711917Abstract: A method and apparatus for valve position state estimation within a conduit or conduit network, comprising: acoustically coupling a plurality of acoustic sensors to a fluid disposed within the conduit or conduit network, wherein one of the plurality of acoustic sensors is disposed upstream of a valve under test and one of the plurality of acoustic sensors is disposed downstream of the valve under test; transmitting a structured acoustic signal from a transmitting acoustic sensor to a receiving acoustic sensor, wherein the structured acoustic signal passes through the valve under test between the transmitting acoustic sensor and the receiving acoustic sensor; at the transmitting acoustic sensor, receiving a reflected structured acoustic signal after the structured acoustic signal is reflected from the valve under test; and, using a two-port analysis, characterizing a flow state of the valve under test based on the structured acoustic signal received at the receiving acoustic sensor and the reflected structuredType: GrantFiled: August 22, 2014Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: INFOSENSE, INC.Inventor: Ivan Howitt
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Patent number: 10704901Abstract: Systems, methods and computer storage mediums accurately measure wall thickness in a region of interest included in complex curved structures. Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to generating a wall thickness loss distribution map of a region of interest that provides an accurate representation of wall thickness for the region of interest included in a complex curved structure. The wall thickness loss distribution map is generated from a two-dimensional model of the wall thickness loss distribution of the region of interest. The two-dimensional model is converted from a three-dimensional representation of the wall thickness loss distribution of the region of interest. The three-dimensional representation of the wall thickness is generated by ultrasonic waves generated by a transducer system that propagated through the region of interest.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2017Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignees: University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati NDE, Ltd.Inventors: Geir Instanes, Peter B. Nagy, Francesco Simonetti, Carson L. Willey
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Patent number: 10690580Abstract: A sensor for detecting particles, in particular, soot particles, is described. The sensor includes a sensor element having at least two measuring electrodes, which are situated on a carrier substrate, and a protective tube assembly having at least one outer protective tube and one inner protective tube. The sensor element is situated in the inner protective tube in a longitudinal extension direction. The outer protective tube and the inner protective tube are designed to permit the particles to access the sensor element in a direction deviating from the longitudinal extension direction.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2015Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Andy Tiefenbach, Christopher Holzknecht, Enno Baars, Frank Freikamp, Michael Bessen
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Patent number: 10691084Abstract: A spray rig monitoring system having a plurality of sensors that detect and transmit operational parameters to a computer. The operational parameters are processed to determine if a spray rig and its crew are operating within preset parameters.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2017Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Inventors: Aaron Auberg, Matthew R. Hugg
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Patent number: 10692421Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an additional module for a processing and/or automation field device, at least including a module housing, an optical receiving unit which is arranged at least partly within the module housing, an electronic module unit, and a display/transmission unit. The optical receiving unit is designed to wirelessly receive at least one first optical signal from the field device and to convert the at least one first optical signal into at least one first electric signal, and the electronic module unit is electrically connected to the receiving unit and to the display/transmission unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2015Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: Endress+Hauser SE+Co. KGInventors: Benjamin Monse, Kaj Uppenkamp, Wolfgang Brutschin, Izabella Sandor