Patents by Inventor Philippe Prêtre

Philippe Prêtre 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: 6963809
    Abstract: A gas meter for determining a gas mixture consumption is revealed which determines sensor signal values proportional to a flow rate, this gas meter being calibrated as an energy measuring unit. The calibration is based on a basic gas mixture. During the measurement of the gas consumption, a measured energy consumption value is multiplied by a correction factor which takes account, at least approximately, of the calorific value of a supplied gas mixture, this calorific value being determined by an external unit. By this means, it is possible, using a simple and cost-efficient gas meter, to determine the effective supplied energy and to bill costs according to the supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Daniel Matter, Philippe Prêtre, Thomas Kleiner, Alexander Wenk
  • Patent number: 6644128
    Abstract: A photoacoustic effect is used in order to measure a flow rate of a flowing medium (M), in particular of natural gas. A light emitter (1) is used to produce in the medium (M) a sound wave (S) which is transmitted by the medium (M) and detected by a sound detector (2). The light emitter (1) is less exposed to the medium (M) than a diaphragm such as used in the ultrasonic method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Anthony Byatt, Thomas Kleiner, Daniel Matter, Philippe Prêtre
  • Patent number: 6405590
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a capacitive filling-level sensor, which is suitable in particular for filling-level determination in oil separator tanks. The capacitive sensor includes a measuring probe with at least one sensor electrode. According to the invention, the measuring probe is at least partially sheathed with at least one outer layer of a fluorinated plastic and at least one inner layer of a mica-filled plastic. Important exemplary embodiments concern an outer layer of perfluoroethylene-perfluoropropylene copolymer (FEP), an inner layer of mica-coated glass fiber tape impregnated with epoxy resin and possibly silanized and an incompressible, thermally adapted filling of the measuring-probe pipe with silicone oil and glass spheres or glass polyhedrons and/or an inner rod of AlMgSi-filled epoxy resin. The sheathing is electrically insulating, chemically inert, hydrophobic, oleophobic, waterproof, mechanically robust and easy to produce.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: John Anthony Byatt, Elias Jülke, Thomas Kleiner, Daniel Matter, Philippe Prêtre