Patents by Inventor Timo Varpula

Timo Varpula 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: 11166662
    Abstract: A mobile device for measuring at least one electrical biosignal. The device comprises a first input and a second input, a measuring circuit part for providing an output signal indicating the electrical biosignal to be measured, the measuring circuit part comprising a first input and a second input, and a charging circuit part for charging a rechargeable battery inserted in the device, the charging circuit part comprising a first input and a second input. The first input of the measuring circuit part and the first input of the charging circuit part are connected to the first input of the mobile device and the second input of the measuring circuit part and the second input of the charging circuit part are connected to the second input of the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: VITALSIGNUM OY
    Inventors: Timo Varpula, Panu Helistö
  • Publication number: 20190082987
    Abstract: A mobile device for measuring at least one electrical biosignal. The device comprises a first input and a second input, a measuring circuit part for providing an output signal indicating the electrical biosignal to be measured, the measuring circuit part comprising a first input and a second input, and a charging circuit part for charging a rechargeable battery inserted in the device, the charging circuit part comprising a first input and a second input. The first input of the measuring circuit part and the first input of the charging circuit part are connected to the first input of the mobile device and the second input of the measuring circuit part and the second input of the charging circuit part are connected to the second input of the mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: Timo VARPULA, Panu HELISTÖ
  • Patent number: 9476975
    Abstract: Described herein is a passive wireless resonating non-linear sensor that is typically based on a ferroelectric varactor. The sensor replies its data at an intermodulation frequency when a reader device illuminates it at two closely-located frequencies. Furthermore, described herein is a general intermodulation read-out principle for passive wireless sensors. A sensor utilizes a mixing element, such as a varactor and it can be equipped with a capacitive, inductive, or resistive sensor element. When the sensor is illuminated with signals with two frequencies it replies the sensor data at an intermodulation frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Teknologian Tutkimuskeskus VTT
    Inventors: Ville Viikari, Heikki Seppä, Tomi Mattila, Ari Alastalo, Mark Allen, Timo Varpula
  • Patent number: 9043992
    Abstract: This document describes a method and system for object localization. In accordance with the method an object (1) is illuminated by at least one first type of signal, and response of the signal is detected. In accordance with the invention the object (1) equipped with a transponder (2, 3) backscattering the first type of signal, the transponder (2, 3) is illuminated also by a second type of signal affecting to the backscattering frequency of the transponder (2, 3), and the backscattered signal from the transponder (2, 3) is detected in order to localize the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Teknologian Tutkimuskeskus VTT
    Inventors: Ville Viikari, Heikki Seppä, Kaj Nummila, Timo Varpula
  • Patent number: 8525647
    Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring system for detecting radio-frequency tags, a measuring method, and a new use for a leaky waveguide. The measuring system comprises a reading device and an antenna, which is connected to reading device for connecting to the tags. According to the invention, the antenna is a microstrip-type leaky waveguide having a length which is several times the operating wavelength of the tags. The invention permits reliable and precise RFID detection, for example, for a results service for sports events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Valtion Teknillinen Tutkimiskeskus
    Inventors: Timo Varpula, Kaj Nummila, Kaarle Jaakkola, Pentti Lajunen
  • Publication number: 20120306683
    Abstract: This document describes a method and system for object localization. In accordance with the method an object (1) is illuminated by at least one first type of signal, and response of the signal is detected. In accordance with the invention the object (1) equipped with a transponder (2, 3) backscattering the first type of signal, the transponder (2, 3) is illuminated also by a second type of signal affecting to the backscattering frequency of the transponder (2, 3), and the backscattered signal from the transponder (2, 3) is detected in order to localize the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: TEKNOLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS VTT
    Inventors: Ville Viikari, Heikki Seppä, Kaj Nummila, Timo Varpula
  • Publication number: 20120235847
    Abstract: Described herein is a passive wireless resonating non-linear sensor that is typically based on a ferroelectric varactor. The sensor replies its data at an intermodulation frequency when a reader device illuminates it at two closely-located frequencies. Furthermore, described herein is a general intermodulation read-out principle for passive wireless sensors. A sensor utilizes a mixing element, such as a varactor and it can be equipped with a capacitive, inductive, or resistive sensor element. When the sensor is illuminated with signals with two frequencies it replies the sensor data at an intermodulation frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: Teknologian tutkimuskeskus VTT
    Inventors: Ville Viikari, Heikki Seppä, Tomi Mattila, Ari Alastalo, Mark Allen, Timo Varpula
  • Publication number: 20120046571
    Abstract: The present publication discloses a method for detecting ethanol, in which method the ethanol content of a person is measured. According to the invention, the ethanol content is measured from the person's skin, using a capacitive measurement method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: Teknologian tutkimuskeskus VTT
    Inventors: Timo Varpula, Aarne Oja, Heikki Seppa, Mika Suhonen
  • Patent number: 7770443
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a power feeding arrangement for electric loads (R) positioned in tires (20) of vehicles. According to the invention the arrangement comprises at least one feed coil (Lf) arranged in the vehicle (10), at least one receiver coil (Lr) arranged in the tire (20), and at least one load (R) electrically coupled to the receiver coil (Lr).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Valtion Teknillinen Tutkimuskeskus
    Inventors: Timo Varpula, Kaarle Jaakkola
  • Patent number: 7714593
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement for a sensor arrangement remotely readable by radio frequencies. The sensor arrangement includes an LC resonator that includes a capacitor and a coil, and a sensor element coupled to the LC resonator whose properties change as a function of a measurable quantity. A sensor element according to the invention does not form a direct galvanic contact with the LC resonator, rather the coupling is implemented capacitively or inductively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: UPM-Kymmene Corporation
    Inventors: Timo Varpula, Heikki Seppä, Juha-Matti Saari
  • Publication number: 20090160612
    Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring system for detecting radio-frequency tags, a measuring method, and a new use for a leaky waveguide. The measuring system comprises a reading device and an antenna, which is connected to reading device for connecting to the tags. According to the invention, the antenna is a microstrip-type leaky waveguide having a length which is several times the operating wavelength of the tags. The invention permits reliable and precise RFID detection, for example, for a results service for sports events.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: Valtion Teknillinen Tutkimuskeskus
    Inventors: Timo Varpula, Kaj Nummila, Kaarle Jaakkola, Pentti Lajunen
  • Publication number: 20090058603
    Abstract: This publication discloses an RFDD reading apparatus (1) and a method for the reading apparatus. The RFID reading apparatus comprises a transmitter (3), which is arranged to feed power to at least one RFED tag (2) in the vicinity of the RFID reading apparatus (1), and a receiver (4) operating on the frequency of the transmitter (3), so that the transmitter (3) and the receiver (4) are in operation simultaneously and the receiver (4) is arranged to receiver through a radio channel (7) a reflected signal of at least one RFDD tag (2) in the vicinity of the reading device. In accordance with the invention, the RFDD reading apparatus (1) comprises additionally means (Z2, 12, 13, 14, 20) for separating the payload signal arriving from the RFDD tag (2) from signals other than those arriving from the RFDD tag (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: Valtion Teknillinen Tutkimuskeskus
    Inventors: Heikki Seppa, Timo Varpula, Pekka Pursula, Mikko Kiviranta
  • Publication number: 20070241762
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement for a sensor arrangement remotely readable by radio frequencies. The sensor arrangement includes an LC resonator that includes a capacitor and a coil, and a sensor element coupled to the LC resonator whose properties change as a function of a measurable quantity. A sensor element according to the invention does not form a direct galvanic contact with the LC resonator, rather the coupling is implemented capacitively or inductively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Applicant: UPMKYMMENE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timo Varpula, Heikki Seppa, Juha-Matti Saari
  • Patent number: 7259555
    Abstract: This publication discloses a method and arrangement for determining the hardening depth of steel or other ferromagnetic substances without breaking the object being measured. According to the invention, a varying magnetic field, which causes magnetic Barkhausen noise (MBN), is created in the measurement object with the aid of a magnetization coil 13. The varying magnetic field is regulated in such a way that the maximum force of the magnetic field does not exceed the coercitive force of the unhardened part of the measurement object. The MBN caused is measured with the aid of an MBN sensor. The measured signal is filtered and Fourier transformed. The signal in the frequency range is integrated over a suitable frequency band, in order to determine the value depicting the energy of the MBN. This value correlates with the hardening depth and on the basis of this value it is thus possible to determine the hardening depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Stresstech Oy
    Inventors: Kaj Nummila, Heikki Seppä, Timo Varpula
  • Publication number: 20070119636
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a power feeding arrangement for electric loads (R) positioned in tires (20) of vehicles. According to the invention the arrangement comprises at least one feed coil (Lf) arranged in the vehicle (10), at least one receiver coil (Lr) arranged in the tire (20), and at least one load (R) electrically coupled to the receiver coil (Lr).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Publication date: May 31, 2007
    Applicant: VALTION TEKNILLINEN TUTKIMUSKESKUS
    Inventors: Timo Varpula, Kaarle Jaakkola
  • Publication number: 20050242803
    Abstract: This publication discloses a method and arrangement for determining the hardening depth of steel or other ferromagnetic substances without breaking the object being measured. According to the invention, a varying magnetic field, which causes magnetic Barkhausen noise (MBN), is created in the measurement object with the aid of a magnetization coil 13. The varying magnetic field is regulated in such a way that the maximum force of the magnetic field does not exceed the coercitive force of the unhardened part of the measurement object. The MBN caused is measured with the aid of an MBN sensor. The measured signal is filtered and Fourier transformed. The signal in the frequency range is integrated over a suitable frequency band, in order to determine the value depicting the energy of the MBN. This value correlates with the hardening depth and on the basis of this value it is thus possible to determine the hardening depth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2003
    Publication date: November 3, 2005
    Inventors: Kaj Nummila, Heikki Seppa, Timo Varpula
  • Publication number: 20040246102
    Abstract: The present publication discloses a method for implementing a remote identification device (RFID). According to the method, a reader device sends a modulated carrier to a remote identification device or a remote sensor (20). According to the invention, a reply signal synchronized with the modulation of the carrier signal received by the remote identification device or remote sensor (20) is generated using the energy of the incident carrier signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventors: Olli Jaakkola, Timo Varpula
  • Patent number: 6049211
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determination of orientation of fibers in a material such as a paper or paperboard web comprised of elongated fibers of high moisture content. The material is subjected to an alternating electric field (E) of the RF or microwave frequency range lying in the plane of the material and the change caused by the presence of the material in the alternating electric field (E) is measured. The direction of the alternating electric field (E) is altered during the measurement, whereby the material need not be rotated with respect to the resonator for the measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Valmet Automation
    Inventors: Timo Varpula, Heikki Seppa
  • Patent number: 5824914
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and arrangement for measuring using magnetic flow measurement, the flow velocity of a liquid, particularly water. In the solution according to the invention, a component that is in the same phase with the magnetic field is measured from the sinusoidal voltage induced in the electrodes. The solution according to the invention can be utilized, for example, in measuring the flow velocity of water flowing in a water pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Oras Oy
    Inventors: Heikki Seppa, Timo Varpula, Arto Sakari Sunila, Janne-Yrjo Antola