Patents by Inventor Patrick Couture

Patrick Couture has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11415451
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for interacting instrumentation with high and/or low energy systems are disclosed. In some illustrative embodiments, a sensor assembly for level measurement of high and/or low energy systems may comprise an instrumentation head to determine a level of media in a tank; a coupler including a body having a mounting end for connection to equipment of a high or low energy system and a receiving end for receiving connection of the instrumentation head, a coaxial hardline extending between the mounting and receiving ends and including a conduction tip arranged near the mounting end; and a sealing system including a first seal section disposed between the conduction tip and the receiving end of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Yvan Mimeault, Patrick Couture, Simon Lamarre
  • Patent number: 11079473
    Abstract: In at least one illustrative embodiment, a guided wave radar (GWR) level transmitter may comprise a timing circuit including a first oscillator circuit and a second oscillator circuit, a coincidence circuit configured to generate a coincidence signal indicative of phase shifts created by a difference between first and second frequencies of the first and second oscillator circuits, and a microcontroller configured to (i) determine a stretching factor based on the coincidence signal and at least one of the oscillator signals, (ii) calculate, when the stretching factor is within a first range, a distance to a media surface using the stretching factor, and (iii) adjust, when the stretching factor is outside of a second range, at least one of the first and second oscillator circuits to adjust the difference between the first and second frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Yvan Mimeault, Patrick Couture
  • Publication number: 20200309586
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for interacting instrumentation with high and/or low energy systems are disclosed. In some illustrative embodiments, a sensor assembly for level measurement of high and/or low energy systems may comprise an instrumentation head to determine a level of media in a tank; a coupler including a body having a mounting end for connection to equipment of a high or low energy system and a receiving end for receiving connection of the instrumentation head, a coaxial hardline extending between the mounting and receiving ends and including a conduction tip arranged near the mounting end; and a sealing system including a first seal section disposed between the conduction tip and the receiving end of the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Yvan Mimeault, Patrick Couture, Simon Lamarre
  • Publication number: 20200309901
    Abstract: In at least one illustrative embodiment, a guided wave radar (GWR) level transmitter may comprise a timing circuit including a first oscillator circuit and a second oscillator circuit, a coincidence circuit configured to generate a coincidence signal indicative of phase shifts created by a difference between first and second frequencies of the first and second oscillator circuits, and a microcontroller configured to (i) determine a stretching factor based on the coincidence signal and at least one of the oscillator signals, (ii) calculate, when the stretching factor is within a first range, a distance to a media surface using the stretching factor, and (iii) adjust, when the stretching factor is outside of a second range, at least one of the first and second oscillator circuits to adjust the difference between the first and second frequencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Yvan Mimeault, Patrick Couture
  • Publication number: 20190101625
    Abstract: A distance transmitter for industrial process control systems is provided. The distance transmitter has a laser emitter that outputs laser pulses that strike a target. The laser pulses are reflected back by the target and are received by a light detector. The distance of the target from the sensor is determined by the time it takes for the laser pulses to return to the light detector. The distance transmitter may be mounted to an industrial structure with a flange. The laser emitter and light detector may output and receive laser light through an opening in the flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: Sylvio Laplante, Patrick Gilbert, Patrick Couture, Vincent Marceau, Yvan Mimeault
  • Patent number: 9714910
    Abstract: An apparatus to detect and measure suspended particles in a molten metal where the suspended particles have an associated noise frequency range has in addition to the electrically non-conductive barrier for immersion in the molten-metal, a device to move the molten metal through an orifice in the barrier and electrodes, a time varying excitation source that generates an AC current at a predetermined range of excitation frequency that is out of the predominant noise frequency range to generate an AC signal that is representative of the measure of the suspended particles. A detector detects and quantifies from the measurement AC signal the suspended particles. The detector can be a synchronous detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Inc.
    Inventors: Réal Ouellet, Jacques Marcotte, Patrick Couture, Sylvio Laplante, Bruno Simard
  • Publication number: 20150253267
    Abstract: An apparatus to detect and measure suspended particles in a molten metal where the suspended particles have an associated noise frequency range has in addition to the electrically non-conductive barrier for immersion in the molten-metal, a device to move the molten metal through an orifice in the barrier and electrodes, a time varying excitation source that generates an AC current at a predetermined range of excitation frequency that is out of the predominant noise frequency range to generate an AC signal that is representative of the measure of the suspended particles. A detector detects and quantifies from the measurement AC signal the suspended particles. The detector can be a synchronous detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: Réal Quellet, Jacques Marcotte, Patrick Couture, Sylvio Laplante, Bruno Simard