Patents Issued in July 28, 2011
  • Publication number: 20110179839
    Abstract: A latch assembly is described. The latch assembly includes a casing. The latch assembly provides for the transfer of rotational force to translation plates. The rotational force drives translation plates and extends the translation plates from the latch assembly. A first translation plate is mechanically engaged to the casing. A second translation plate is mechanically engaged to the casing. The latch assembly includes a key assembly including a rotatable cam. A toggle cam is pivotally engaged to the casing via a pivot axle, and rotating the cam contacts the toggle cam to extend or retract both the first translation plate and the second translation plate from the casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: AUSTIN HARDWARE & SUPPLY, INC.
    Inventor: Mark Steven Jeffries
  • Publication number: 20110179840
    Abstract: A key for use in a cylinder lock with a rotatable key plug having an elongated key blade with a relatively wide lower portion and a relatively narrow upper portion. A step-like transition region between the wider lower portion and the narrow upper portion. The key blade includes a longitudinal profile groove located adjacent to the step-like transition region that extends along at least a portion of the length of the blade. An inner wall of groove is substantially parallel to a side surface of the lower portion of the key blade. The longitudinal profile groove includes an undercut portion adjacent to and inside a ridge portion of the key blade. The outside of ridge portion forms a part of the side surface of the blade in the relatively wide lower portion up to the step-like transition region and the inside of ridge portion facing inner wall of the groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventor: Bo Widen
  • Publication number: 20110179841
    Abstract: The present invention addresses methods and equipments for a high-rate production and improvement of the quality of composts from organic wastes, by processes including Screening, Mechanical Pretreatment, Physical-Chemical Pretreatment, High-Rate Stabilization Process, High-Rate Activation Process, and Product Refining Processes, and adding seven types of chemical agents including: Wetting Agents, Debonding Agents, Organic Stabilization Agents, Inorganic Stabilization Agents, Fluffing Agents, Activation Agents, and Nutrient Agents in order to enhance six major properties which activated characteristics of composts: (a) moisture absorption and holding capability, (b) nutrients adsorption and holding capability, (c) soil particles holding and conserving capability, (d) soil air ventilation capability, (e) soil water transmission capability, and (f) soil thermal insulation capability, as well as other minor quality improvements such as complete sterilization of pathogens and parasites, detoxification of many haz
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventor: James Cheng-Shyong Lu
  • Publication number: 20110179842
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for cold roll forming profiles having variable cross-sections, with several roll stands arranged in a row, each containing a pair of rollers, between which a sheet-metal strip (2) is guided along its length (X), wherein the roll stands are moved translationally transversely to the length of the sheet-metal strip and rotationally about an axis of the roll stand during cold roll forming. According to the invention, a re-forming device (8, 10, 12) is arranged behind at least one of the roll stands and has at least one drive for generating a movement of the re-forming device in a plane transversely to the length (X) of the sheet-metal strip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: DATA M SHEET METAL SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Freitag, Albert Sedlmaier, Andre Abee, Bernard Poks
  • Publication number: 20110179843
    Abstract: A method for hardening a surface of a component in a wind turbine is disclosed. The component to be hardened includes a surface and the surface is applied with a blasting material by ultrasound waves. The component is a part of a drive or a drive housing, a bearing surface, a gear wheel or a pinion. The ultrasound waves are emitted with the aid of a piezo electric transducer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventor: Klaus Ventzke
  • Publication number: 20110179844
    Abstract: For surface strengthening of blisk blades, a blade area of the blisk is completely inserted into a water bath (13), and a multitude of high-pressure water jets are injected into the water bath which are directed bilaterally and essentially vertically—and opposite to each other—to both blade sides. Cavitation bubbles imploding near the blade surface that are generated in the water bath on the periphery of the high-pressure water jets to produce micro jets upon imploding, exerting an effect on the blade surface, creating plastically formed depressions without sharp edges. An apparatus for performing the method includes a container (3), a jetting unit (6) having parallel spaced apart water-jet tubes (4) with nozzle openings connected to a high-pressure water conduit (5) to produce the high-pressure water jets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE DEUTSCHLAND LTD & CO KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang HENNIG, Goetz G. FELDMANN
  • Publication number: 20110179845
    Abstract: A method of producing a flat tube T by bending a band-like material M to be worked, wherein the material M to be worked is pre-bent to form a pre-formed groove Md in the material M along the longitudinal center axis thereof. Thereafter, the material M to be worked is gradually moved so that both edge portions of the material M to be worked in the lengthwise direction thereof gradually approach each other with the pre-formed groove Md as a center to form a tubular shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro MITSUKAWA, Shigenari TAKIGIRI, Shigenobu FURUKAWA
  • Publication number: 20110179846
    Abstract: A method of forming a part that has areas of high strain and predicted areas of low strain from a blank and method of designing a die for forming such a part. Predicted areas of low strain are identified that are adjacent to predicted areas of high strain. A pre-forming die is designed to form the blank to provide a donor pocket in an intermediate part in a predicted low strain area that is adjacent to the predicted high strain area. The donor pocket of the intermediate part is drawn into the predicted high strain area while forming the intermediate part into the part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Sergey Fedorovich Golovashchenko
  • Publication number: 20110179847
    Abstract: A known tool for forming a container bottom, in particular the bottom of a beverage can is provided with an ejector 23 which is of sleeve-like shape and arranged between a downholder 14 and a dome 12. The ejector 23 is biased by a spring means 26 against the activating direction of a punch 3 with a pre-tensioning force which is substantially lower than the counter force of the downholder. The spring means 26 can be formed by compression springs 27, 28 which are arranged in axial cavities formed in the front face of the ejector 23. The ejector force can be changed by changing the compression springs or the number of compression springs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventors: Gerhard Pick, Martin Gaebges
  • Publication number: 20110179848
    Abstract: Commercially pure titanium having UFG structure and enhanced mechanical and biomedical characteristics has nanocrystalline alpha-phase grains with a hexagonal close-packed lattice, in which the share of grains with a size of 0.1 . . . 0.5 ?m and a grain shape coefficient of no more than 2 in the mutually perpendicular planes makes no less than 90%, over 60% of the grains having high-angle boundaries disoriented in relation to the adjacent grains by the angles from 15 to 90°. The method for making a rod of the material provides for equal-channel angular pressing of a billet at T?450° C. with the total accumulated true strain e?4 to effect severe plastic deformation of the billet and subsequent thermomechanical treatment with a gradual decrease of the temperature in the range of 450 . . . 350° C. and the strain rate of 10?2 . . . 10?4 s?1 with the strain degree from 40 to 80% to effect additional plastic deformation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventors: Ruslan Zufarovich Valiev, Irina Petrovna Semenova, Evgeniya Borisovna Yakushina, Gul'naz Khalifovna Salimgareeva
  • Publication number: 20110179849
    Abstract: Multi-layered pipes, machines for forming multi-layered pipes, and methods of forming multi-layered pipes, such as for use in the hydrocarbon industry as may form high-pressure pipelines including forming an inner metal tube from a first metal stock, and while forming the inner metal tube, forming at least a second metal tube around the inner tube from at least a second metal stock. In some methods, sheet metal is bent to form tubes having seams, which are welded while the tubes are being formed. Some methods are performed proximate to an installation site for the multi-layered pipe, such as a hydrocarbon extraction or transportation site. Some methods are performed on a vehicle and proximate to an installation site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventor: Robert D. Kaminsky
  • Publication number: 20110179850
    Abstract: A calibration method is provided for a motion sensor, in particular a pedometer, a first acceleration signal being measured as a function of an acceleration parallel to a first direction in a first calibration step, a second acceleration signal being measured as a function of an acceleration parallel to a second direction in a second calibration step, and an acceleration vector being ascertained from the angle between the first and the second acceleration signal in a third calibration step, and a phase angle between the acceleration vector and the first direction being determined in a fourth calibration step for determining a calibration signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventors: Roland KLINNERT, Thorsten SOHNKE
  • Publication number: 20110179851
    Abstract: A method for producing a mouth guard having an encapsulated sensor module. The method includes vacuum forming a first sheet of thermoplastic material using a mold to produce a first mouth guard layer, attaching a sensor module to the first mouth guard layer with a hot melt adhesive, vacuum forming a second sheet of thermoplastic material over the sensor module to produce a second mouth guard layer, storing a default threshold level in the sensor module, and calibrating the sensor module to account for sensor alignment. In an example embodiment, the first and second layers are formed such that they define an open area that allows a user's tongue to touch their upper palate after the mouth guard has been inserted and such that the layers define a channel for accepting a plurality of teeth, including the incisors of a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: X2IMPACT, INC.
    Inventors: Christoph Mack, Jed McCann, Christopher B. Doughty, Robert Snook, Zachary Williams
  • Publication number: 20110179852
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices, chromatography devices and integrated circuits for detecting one or more molecules and methods for forming a semiconductor device for detecting one or more molecules are presented. For example, a semiconductor device for detecting one or more molecules includes a channel formed within a semiconductor structure, and at least one detector formed within the semiconductor structure. The at least one detector detects the one or more molecules in the channel The semiconductor device may optionally comprise one or more additional channels formed within the semiconductor structure. The semiconductor device may, for example, be operative to detect a single molecule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stanislav Polonsky, Frank Suits
  • Publication number: 20110179853
    Abstract: An apparatus in one example comprises an airflow manipulating device, a portable control device, and an air pressure sensor. The airflow manipulating device is disposed between a source of compressed air and an air brake line of a train consist. The portable control device is in wireless communication with the airflow manipulating device. The portable control device is transportable by a user along the train consist during inspection of the air brake line. The portable control device is adapted to transmit a control signal over a wireless communication channel to move a valve in the airflow manipulating device to a position that causes an increase or decrease of air pressure in the air brake line. The air pressure sensor measures an air pressure level in the air brake line for wireless transmission to the portable control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventors: Robert V. Fugiel, Robert C. Fletcher, SR., Robert C. Fletcher, JR.
  • Publication number: 20110179854
    Abstract: The disclosed portable apparatus for determining leaks in air ducts includes a wheeled cabinet having hand-graspable handles for transport. A front, covered equipment readout includes displays for air duct flow, air duct pressure, blower speed, and smoke generator operation. An on-board variable speed blower control knob also is included on the front panel. Housed within the cart is a variable speed blower, a silencer, a smoke generator, power supply, and multiple venturis of different diameter for different sized air ducts to be tested.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: United McGill Corporation
    Inventor: Patrick J. Brooks
  • Publication number: 20110179855
    Abstract: Provided are methods for determining the amount of vitamin C in a sample using mass spectrometry. The methods generally involve ionizing vitamin C in a sample and detecting and quantifying the amount of the ion to determine the amount of vitamin C in the sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventors: Qibo Jiang, Richard Reitz, Sum Chan
  • Publication number: 20110179856
    Abstract: A liquid chromatography device includes a column containing a filler, an injection valve capable of introducing a sample into the column and also capable of introducing a liquid mobile phase into the column, and a mobile phase feeder for feeding the liquid mobile phase from a mobile phase container containing the liquid mobile phase to the column via the injection valve. Between the mobile phase container and the injection valve is provided a storage chamber for temporarily storing the liquid mobile phase sent from the mobile phase container. The device further includes a liquid level detection sensor for detecting the liquid level of the liquid mobile phase in the storage chamber. This structure allows the liquid for use in analysis to be used completely without being wasted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: ARKRAY, INC.
    Inventors: Takafumi Aono, Takeshi Takagi
  • Publication number: 20110179857
    Abstract: An apparatus for conducting demonstrations of the softness properties of consumer products and other materials, plus a method for conducting such demonstrations, is provided. A sample of paper towels, toilet tissue, or facial tissue, or other consumer products is placed in the apparatus. The apparatus drops an egg or other fragile object onto the sample, or the egg may be dropped from an operator's hand into the apparatus and onto the sample. By displaying the egg or fragile object as it either lands safely on a sample or is destroyed on impact, the operator can visually demonstrate to an average consumer either the softness properties of the sample, or the lack thereof. A method of preparing samples in a consistent manner is also provided to ensure that results are as fair, uniform and repeatable as possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventors: Courtney Lynn Wargo, Jeffrey Glen Sheehan, Christopher Clayton Dixon, Mark Phillip Wiley
  • Publication number: 20110179858
    Abstract: A sensor system for determining at least one parameter of a fluid medium which flows in a main flow direction, e.g., an intake air mass flowing through a flow pipe, includes at least one sensor situated in the fluid medium and at least one grating which is situated transversely to the main flow direction and which has at least one bar. On at least one surface over which the fluid medium flows, the bar has at least one shearing element which is designed to generate a region in the flow having a turbulent flow downstream from the shearing element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventors: Torsten Mais, Erhard Renninger, Christoph Gmelin, Oliver Hennig
  • Publication number: 20110179859
    Abstract: The present invention relates to evaluating the performance of an automated matrix-format liquid handling system by using receptacles and caps. The invention provides a method comprising the steps of determining a receptacle weight for each receptacle, determining a mean cap weight for the caps, dispensing a volume of liquid in each receptacle by using the liquid handling system, capping each receptacle approximately simultaneously with respect to each other, determining a gross weight for each capped receptacle, and calculating the volume of liquid dispensed in each receptacle from the respective gross weight, the respective receptacle weight, and the mean cap weight. The invention further provides a kit for carrying out the method, the kit comprising a plurality of receptacles, a plurality of caps, a holder device for arranging the receptacles in accordance with liquid dispensing positions in the liquid handling system, and a capping device for capping the receptacles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: Biohit Oyi
    Inventors: Ian Hemmings, Osmo Suovaniemi
  • Publication number: 20110179860
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable of a medium. The apparatus includes: at least one mechanically oscillatable unit; at least one transducer unit, which excites the mechanically oscillatable unit to mechanical oscillations based on an exciter signal and which receives the mechanical oscillations of the mechanically oscillatable unit and converts such to a received signal. The transducer unit has at least one piezoelectric element. The apparatus further includes: at least one electronics unit, which supplies the transducer unit with the exciter signal and which receives the received signal from the transducer unit; and at least one compensation element, which supplies the exciter signal to the electronics unit and from which the electronics unit receives a compensation signal. The invention provides that the compensation element has at least one at least element made at least partially of a piezoelectric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: Endress + HAuser GmbH + Co.KG
    Inventors: Martin Urban, Serguej Lopatin, Oliver Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20110179861
    Abstract: A humidity sensor of capacitive type, a device for detecting or measuring humidity including the sensor, and a method to fabricate the sensor. The humidity sensor includes at least one nanoporous dielectric material positioned between at least one first electrode of a capacitor and at least one second electrode of the capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: Commissariat A L'Energie Atomique et Aux Ene Alt
    Inventors: Hubert Grange, Jean-Sébastien Danel, Brigitte Desloges, Vincent Jousseaume
  • Publication number: 20110179862
    Abstract: A method and device for measuring force, torque and output on an ergometer or bicycle. When the ergometer or bicycle is used as intended, a torque is transmitted via a shaft onto a flexible drive and further onto the flywheel of an ergometer or the rear wheel of the bicycle by two pedal cranks. The flexible drive has a pulley or a sprocket wheel which is non-rotatably connected to the shaft in at least one direction of rotation. Elastic torsions of the shaft that result independently from the torque transmission are detected at both sides of the pulley or the sprocket wheel as a measure of the forces applied to the shaft to determine the torque and output both of the left and right leg of the user of the ergometer or bicycle. Corresponding electrical sensor signals are generated and supplied to a memory and/or evaluation unit for further processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Harald Grab
  • Publication number: 20110179863
    Abstract: A rotating machine element is monitored for displacements using co-rotating sensors for acceleration, rotation or the direction of gravitation. In doing so, the sensor data are received by a, likewise, co-rotating electronic unit. The data can also be stored and further processed in this electronic unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: PRUFTECHNIK DIETER BUSCH AG
    Inventors: Edwin BECKER, Dieter BUSCH, Johann LOESL, Heinrich LYSEN
  • Publication number: 20110179864
    Abstract: A clamshell device having a dual accelerometer detector includes a first keyboard portion including a first accelerometer, a second display portion including a second accelerometer, a hinge for coupling the first portion to the second portion, and circuitry coupled to the first and second accelerometers for providing an output signal in response to the position of the first and second portions of the clamshell device. The output signal is provided to indicate a shutdown or standby mode, tablet operation mode, a partially shut or power savings mode, a normal operating mode, or an unsafe operating mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicants: STMicroelectronics, Inc., STMicroelectronics Srl
    Inventors: William R. RAASCH, Wen Lin, Paolo Bendiscioli, Alberto Ressia
  • Publication number: 20110179865
    Abstract: A fan speed testing system for testing a testing fan includes a testing fan, a collecting module, a processing module, a converting module; and a displaying module. A label is attached to the testing fan and capable of rotating with the testing fan. The collecting module is configured to collect light reflected off of the label as the fan rotates in order to produce a pulse signal. The processing module is configured to adjust the pulse signal to be a standard square wave. The converting module is configured to obtain a fan speed data of the testing fan according to conversion times between high levels and low levels of the standard square wave. The displaying module is configured to display the fan speed data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicants: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: XIANG-BIAO CHEN, YU-LIN LIU, QIANG ZHANG
  • Publication number: 20110179866
    Abstract: Gyroscopes that can compensate frequency mismatch are provided. In this regard, a representative gyroscope, among others, includes a top substrate including an outermost structure, a first driving structure and a first sensing structure. The first driving structure and the first sensing structure are disposed within the outermost structure. The first driving structure and the first sensing structure include a first driving electrode and a first sensing electrode that are disposed on a bottom surface of the first driving structure and first sensing structure, respectively. A portion of the mass on the top surface of the first sensing structure is removed. The gyroscope further includes a bottom substrate that is disposed below the top substrate. The bottom substrate includes a second driving electrode and a second sensing electrode that are disposed on a top surface of the bottom substrate and below the first driving electrode and the first sensing electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Wenhua Zhang, Robert G. Walmsley
  • Publication number: 20110179867
    Abstract: A physical amount detecting device includes: one pair of first driving vibration arms are bending-vibrated in a Z-axis direction with a first phase, one pair of second driving vibration arms are bending-vibrated in the Z-axis direction with a second phase that is a reverse phase of the first phase, the one pair of the first driving vibration arms and the one pair of the second driving vibrating arms are vibrated in a Y-axis direction with opposite phases by a Coriolis force that is generated in accordance with angular velocity of a X-axis rotation, and one pair of detection vibration arms are bending-vibrated in the X-axis direction with opposite phases in accordance with vibration of the one pair of the first driving vibration arms and the one pair of the second driving vibration arms in the Y-axis direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masaki AMEMIYA
  • Publication number: 20110179868
    Abstract: A physical quantity sensor system drives a physical quantity sensor and detects a physical quantity signal from a sensor signal. An analog-to-digital conversion circuit respectively converts a monitor signal and the sensor signal to a digital monitor signal and a digital sensor signal. A drive control circuit controls a drive signal according to the digital monitor signal. A phase adjustment circuit adjusts the phase difference between the digital monitor signal and the digital sensor signal. A detection circuit detects the physical quantity signal by multiplying the digital monitor signal by the digital sensor signal after the phase difference adjustment by the phase adjustment circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichi KAINO, Motonori Taniguchi, Fumihito Inukai
  • Publication number: 20110179869
    Abstract: The angular velocity sensor of the present invention has one end connected to holding section and the other end connected to weighting section. According to the angular velocity sensor, driving arm has a dog-leg structure of arms extending in a direction perpendicular to a connecting direction of holding section and weighting section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yasunobu Kobayashi, Takashi Kawai, Tomohiro Mitani, Youhei Ashimori
  • Publication number: 20110179870
    Abstract: A dual-axis acceleration detection element comprises a first detection element, a second detection element and a stationary unit. The first detection element is movable relative to the second detection element. The second detection element is movable relative to the stationary unit. The relative movements take place on different axes to detect acceleration on two different axes. The first detection element and the second detection element are interposed by corresponding detection electrodes, and the second detection element and the stationary unit also are interposed by other corresponding detection electrodes. Hence when the relative movements occur among the first and second detection elements and the stationary unit, overlapped areas of the detection electrodes change to generate and output a capacitance difference, thereby acceleration alteration can be detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventors: Chun-Kai CHAN, Weileun Fang
  • Publication number: 20110179871
    Abstract: Acceleration sensors and a microcomputer are mounted on a sensor mounting board. At this time, the accelerations sensors are arranged so that, even in the case where any detection axes of the acceleration sensors is made horizontal, the other detection axes of the acceleration sensors cannot be horizontal. Then, the microcomputer selects an acceleration sensor in which detection accuracy is the best from among the acceleration sensors, and arithmetically operates a tilt angle of a tilt sensor unit based on an output signal of the selected acceleration sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: PANASONIC ELECTRIC WORKS CO., LTD.,
    Inventors: Atsushi MISAWA, Kazuya NOHARA
  • Publication number: 20110179872
    Abstract: An amplitude detection circuit detects the amplitude value of a monitor signal responsive to self-excited vibration of a physical quantity sensor. A waveform shaping circuit converts the monitor signal to a pulse signal. A pulse amplitude modulation circuit adjusts the amplitude of the pulse signal according to the amplitude value obtained by the amplitude detection circuit and outputs the result as a drive signal for control of the self-excited vibration of the physical quantity sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoichi Kaino, Motonori Taniguchi, Fumihito Inukai
  • Publication number: 20110179873
    Abstract: An apparatus provides for the non-destructive testing of samples. The samples can in this respect also be formed from critical materials which change their properties during manufacture, for example on a hardening or solidification. In an apparatus in accordance with the invention, at least one ultrasonic pressure wave transducer is arranged at a forward cell. The forward cell is filled with a liquid and is placed with an open side at one side onto a surface (A) of a conversion prism, in the form of a solid body, so that the liquid and the surface (A) are in touching contact. The conversion prism is placed with a further surface (B) onto a surface of a sample to be tested. At least one ultrasonic pressure wave transducer can be positioned or is positioned at the forward cell at at least two positions (T1, T2) so that the positions are arranged at an equal spacing from the center of the surface (A) of the conversion prism, said surface being placed onto the sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER ANGEWAN FORSCHUNG E.V.
    Inventors: Frank Schubert, Abdelmalek Bouhadjera
  • Publication number: 20110179874
    Abstract: A nondestructive evaluation system, consisting of a metrology device and a directable acoustic transducer, is used to measure the variation of the surface when stress is applied. The directable acoustic transducer selects the location of the applied stress. The difference between the surface during stress application and in the absence of stress detects both surface and buried defects along the location of the stress. By scanning the beam from the acoustic transducer, the location of the stress can be adjusted, enabling the system to locate the detected defect in three dimensions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: RAN Science & Technology, LLC
    Inventor: Russell M. KURTZ
  • Publication number: 20110179875
    Abstract: A method and device are disclosed for evaluating received signals acquired during non-destructive ultrasonic testing of a test body, wherein ultrasound waves are generated inside the test body with an electromagnetic ultrasonic transducer acting as an ultrasound transmitter and ultrasound waves which propagate within the test body are converted into received signals with an electromagnetic ultrasonic transducer acting as an ultrasound receiver. The received signals are evaluated for the purpose of examining the test body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FÖRDERUNG DER ANGEWAND
    Inventors: Hans-Jürgen Salzburger, Frank Niese
  • Publication number: 20110179876
    Abstract: A capacitance type vibration sensor has a substrate including a hollow portion, a vibration electrode plate, which is arranged facing the hollow portion at an upper surface side of the substrate and which performs film vibration upon receiving vibration, and a fixed electrode plate which is arranged facing the vibration electrode plate and which is opened with a plurality of acoustic perforations passing therethrough in a thickness direction. The capacitance type vibration sensor has an air path, which communicates a space between the vibration electrode plate and the fixed electrode plate to the hollow portion, between an upper surface of the substrate and a lower surface of the vibration electrode plate in at least one part of a periphery of the hollow portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: OMRON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Kasai, Yoshitaka Tsurukame
  • Publication number: 20110179877
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating vibrations in a component comprising a clamp assembly for clamping the component and a vibration generator for generating vibrations in the clamped component, the clamp assembly including: a base member, a pair of fixedly-spaced clamp members and a wedge for laterally wedging part of the component between the clamp members thereby to clamp the component. The base member, or a fixed clamp member, is inclined and the wedge having an inclined wedging surface arranged to engage the inclined base member or inclined fixed clamp member. The apparatus may form part of a test rig for vibration testing components such as turbo machine blades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Sacheev D. HANOOMANJEE, Sophoclis PATSIAS
  • Publication number: 20110179878
    Abstract: A novel oil pressure sensor includes component parts simply stacked up from bottom to top, namely a main body, a separator, an induction unit, a press board, an electronic circuit and a lid. The main body has an accommodation cavity to accommodate other component parts. An oil inlet pipe which extended downward from the accommodation cavity is covered by the separator to alleviate the impact of the flowing oil to the component parts. A conduction medium filled between the induction unit and the separator contributes to assuring conductance of the oil pressure thereby upgrading measurement sensitivity. The press board contributes to prevention of oil leakage. The electronic circuit sends the measured data to another instrument by simple and reliable plug and receptacle combination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventor: Jui-Yang LO
  • Publication number: 20110179879
    Abstract: A multi-range pressure sensor apparatus and method that provide multiple signal paths for detecting a broad range of pressures with a high accuracy. A pressure transducer can be configured to include the use of a pressure sense die with piezoresistive elements integrated into the sensor die and in a Wheatstone bridge configuration. A sensed output signal from the sense die can be transferred to one or more amplifier circuits. A programmable compensation circuit can be utilized to multiplex different amplified output signals from each of the amplifier circuits and to provide a digital output. A memory associated with the programmable compensation circuit provides separate compensations, which are stored for each of the different signal paths and removes errors due to amplifier gain and offset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: Ian Bentley
  • Publication number: 20110179880
    Abstract: A flow sensing system is provided. The system can include a first graphitic member and a first measurement device communicatively coupled to the first graphitic member. The first measurement device is adapted to measure a voltage along each of a plurality of orthogonal axes defined by the first graphitic member. The system can further include a display communicatively coupled to the first measurement device, the display adapted to convert the measured voltages into a signal proportionate to the fluid flow past the first graphitic member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Alexandre M. Bratkovski, Iakov Veniaminovitch Kopelevitch
  • Publication number: 20110179881
    Abstract: In a method for determining mass flow with a Coriolis mass flow measuring device arranged on a rotary filler, a correction value ?{dot over (m)} is ascertained, which is proportional to the RPM n of the rotary filler. This correction value is subtracted from the conventionally ascertained value {dot over (m)} of the mass flow. The corrected measured value {dot over (m)}corr is thus {dot over (m)}corr={dot over (m)}??{dot over (m)}.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Eckert, Christian Matt, Matthias Altendorf
  • Publication number: 20110179882
    Abstract: A bearing durability test for automotive axle lubricant has been devised to assess lubricant requirements for bearing durability. Although various tests exist for differential lubricants to test for gear wear and other factors, the applicant has assessed a need and met that need with a bearing durability test and test rig apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventor: Cory Koglin
  • Publication number: 20110179883
    Abstract: A tunable nanoscale resonator has potential applications in precise mass, force, position, and frequency measurement. One embodiment of this device consists of a specially prepared multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT) suspended between a metal electrode and a mobile, piezoelectrically controlled contact. By harnessing a unique telescoping ability of MWNTs, one may controllably slide an inner nanotube core from its outer nanotube casing, effectively changing its length and thereby changing the tuning of its resonance frequency. Resonant energy transfer may be used with a nanoresonator to detect molecules at a specific target oscillation frequency, without the use of a chemical label, to provide label-free chemical species detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Alex K. Zettl, Kenneth J. Jensen, Caglar Girit, William E. Mickelson, Jeffrey C. Grossman
  • Publication number: 20110179884
    Abstract: The invention provides a test rig for testing blades for a wind turbine, the test rig comprising a fixing structure where a root end of a wind turbine blade can be fixed, a loading mass structure extending from the fixing structure, and an actuation structure which can apply a sinusoidal force to the loading mass structure so that a counterbalanced resonance is established between the loading mass structure and a blade which is fixed in the fixing structure. Due to the counterbalanced resonance, the force from the test rig onto the floor or other building components can be reduced relative to that known from the traditional rigs for blade testing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventor: Stuart Guy
  • Publication number: 20110179885
    Abstract: In an operation amount detecting apparatus, a brake pedal (11) is coupled with an operation rod (15) by a coupling shaft (18), respective end portions of an elastic member (21) are supported at support positions of a brake pedal (11) by support shafts (28, 29), the brake pedal (11) is away in a direction orthogonal to an axis line direction of an operation rod (15) with respect to the coupling shaft (18), an intermediate portion of the elastic member (21) is relatively displaceably coupled by a support shaft 18 and a coupling hole (11a), and the elastic member (21) is disposed with output strain sensors (30a, 30b, 31a, 31b) which detect an elastic deformation amount of the elastic member (21) and output the elastic deformation amount as a brake operation amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Isono
  • Publication number: 20110179886
    Abstract: A compressive force measurement device with a pressure-/voltage converter in chip technology features a spherical segment-shaped sensor area. The pressure-/voltage converter is disposed between one base disc and one cover disc, wherein the base disc and the cover disc are tensioned against one another by means of springs with essentially identical pulling force. Forces acting on the cover disc have the effect that the cover disc always positions itself perpendicularly to the direction of force, whereby some of the springs are additionally loaded and others are relieved and thereby a compensation of forces takes place that act obliquely on the compressive force measurement device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: INNOVATIONS-TRANSFER UPHOFF GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Hans-Walter Schneider
  • Publication number: 20110179887
    Abstract: A sample acquisition device includes a body comprising a plurality of sample acquisition regions defined by at least a first wall and a second wall oriented nonparallel to the first wall. In some embodiments, the body defines a plurality of apertures that define a plurality of sample acquisition regions. In other embodiments, the walls extend from the body, and the sample acquisition regions are defined between the walls. The sample acquisition regions may be configured in some embodiments such that a user may acquire a sample by rotating the body in a first direction relative to a sample source and may release the sample by rotating the body in a second direction that is substantially opposite to the first direction. When rotated in the first direction, at least one of the first or second walls defines a surface that is inclined into a sample acquisition region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventors: Paul J. Cobian, G. Marco Bommarito, Bernard A. Gonzalez, Tushar A. Kshirsagar, Patrick A. Mach, Tera M. Nordby, Gustavo H. Castro, Joseph J. Stoffel, Murat Okcay, Scott A. Burton
  • Publication number: 20110179888
    Abstract: Device, system and method for sampling of soft sediments with retention of sample material and profile. A barge is anchored and stabilized in position; sampling tubes are driven through underlying sediments using continuous and controllable translational pneumatic force; a torpedo-shaped end piece leads the sampling tubes into the sediments. Once at desired depth, a rotational force is applied to sampling tubes. Fins located around torpedo prevent the torpedo from rotating and connection between leading sampling tube and torpedo is tightened. O-ring located between torpedo and leading sampling tube is squeezed as a result of such tightening and bulges inward pinching the core inside sampling tube. During retrieval, core is more likely to break at the location of the pinch which has introduced structural discontinuity; core above the pinch is capped by compacted material at the pinch. O-ring does not disturb sample integrity during descent. Winch and pulley mechanism may assist.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventor: Bijan Danesh