Patents Issued in January 7, 2014
  • Patent number: 8621880
    Abstract: An air conditioner is provided. The air conditioner includes a heat exchanger which exchanges heat with air by passing a coolant therethrough; and an anti-freeze apparatus which prevents the freeze of water on the surface of the heat exchanger by supplying energy to the heat exchanger. The air conditioner can prevent the freeze of water on the surface of the heat exchanger during its operation, and thus, there is no need to perform a defrost operation during the operation of the air conditioner. In addition, the air conditioner can continuously and efficiently perform an air conditioning function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Won Seok Kim, Jie Seop Sim
  • Patent number: 8621881
    Abstract: A system and method to control environmental parameters of pre-defined zones within an environment using an electronic controller. An electronic controller monitors a loop temperature of a loop field of a geo-thermal heat pump as detected by a temperature sensor connected to the loop field. The electronic controller selects a staging combination of the geo-thermal heat pump and an auxiliary HVAC equipment based on at least the loop temperature. The electronic controller activates the selected staging combination, to modify at least a portion of the environmental parameters, using non-proprietary activating signals provided by the electronic controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Arzel Zoning Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Votaw, Dennis Laughlin, Joseph Ramunni, Bill Molica, Ken Barton
  • Patent number: 8621882
    Abstract: A compressor and a refrigerating machine which enable an easy disposal of a lubricant, are friendly to the natural environment, and have simple configurations, are provided. The compressor which is used in a refrigerating machine including an evaporator and a condenser and adapted for compressing refrigerant gas evaporated in the evaporator to convey the compressed refrigerant gas to the condenser, includes: a motor; a housing having a compression chamber inside; a rotary member which has a rotating shaft and is rotated by a driving force of the motor so as to compress water vapor serving as the refrigerant gas in the compression chamber; a bearing for supporting the rotating shaft of the rotary member in the housing; and a lubricant supplier for supplying water serving as a lubricant to the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignees: Danish Technological Institute, Johnson Controls Denmark APS
    Inventors: Koichiro Iizuka, Satoshi Ide, Toshikatsu Kanemura, Yoshihiro Nakayama, Masatake Toshima, Kazuto Okada, Kunihiko Suto, Kazutaka Kurashige, Ichirou Sakuraba, Daisuke Hayashi, Masaki Ikeuchi, Shinji Shato, Lars Bay Moller, Finn Jensen, Ziad Al-Janabi, Svend Rasmussen, Hans Madsboll, Christian Svarregaard-Jensen
  • Patent number: 8621883
    Abstract: A rotating valve is provided that includes an inlet region having a plurality of stationary separate inlets for several flows of a fluid and an outlet region having an in particular identical plurality of stationary separate outlets for the flows of the fluid, wherein between the inlet region and the outlet region a switching region having a switching member that can be rotated about an axis is provided, wherein in a first position of the switching member the plurality of inlets are connected to the plurality of outlets in a first association, and wherein in a second position of the switching member the plurality of inlets are connected to the plurality of outlets in a second association, wherein the switching member comprises a plurality of openings through which the fluid flows flow axially in the direction of the rotation axis and which are moved together with the switching member, the openings alternately covering a plurality of stationary, axially directed openings in the course of the rotation of the sw
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Roland Burk, Thomas Haller
  • Patent number: 8621884
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an air conditioning unit that includes an intake vent, an exhaust vent, a return vent, a supply vent, and an economizer assembly including a sliding damper and a partition. The partition includes an opening through which air can flow from the return vent to the supply vent during a mechanical cooling mode. The sliding damper includes a vertical panel capable of moving vertically to close the intake vent and the exhaust vent during the mechanical cooling mode and an angled panel capable of closing the opening in the partition in order to enter an economizer mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Hoffman Enclosures, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Dean Stammer, Randal Alan Schroeder
  • Patent number: 8621885
    Abstract: A container for accepting and retaining bottles or cans for the purpose of insulating or bringing them to a desired temperature range is disclosed. A preferred embodiment includes a hollow upper section with an internal cylindrical portion that has an upper edge. The upper section includes an internal frusto-conical section with a slotted aperture that commences from the cylindrical portion and extends away from the cylindrical portion. The device also includes a hollow base section that is adapted for engaging the upper section. The arrangement accommodates cans as well as bottles, and allows drinking from either type of container while retaining the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Inventor: Eric P. Niebolte
  • Patent number: 8621886
    Abstract: The jewelry safety chain device is a flexible cable which has a first end spaced apart from a second end, a loop disposed on the flexible cable first end, a clasp disposed on the flexible cable second end, a plurality of eye screws, each eye screw having an eyelet, a shaft extended from the eyelet, a point disposed distally on the shaft, a thread disposed on the shaft medially from the point, each eye screw configured to selectively attach to a link of an existing multi-link band of an existing jewelry item, the flexible cable and cable loop configured to attach to one of the eyelets, the flexible cable configured to pass through a remainder of the eyelets and the clasp configured to attach to one of the eyelets, thereby removably securing a chosen pair of links together in preventing inadvertent jewelry item loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Inventor: Terence Wallace
  • Patent number: 8621887
    Abstract: An earring having a rod member passable through an ear-pierced hole of a wearer, a housing connected to the rod member, and a magnetic member positioned within the housing. The rod member is made of a high-quality non-allergenic material, and a low cost ornament can be attached thereto by the magnetic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Inventor: Jessica S. Arlow
  • Patent number: 8621888
    Abstract: In manufacturing method for a thermal head, concave portions, including a reference concave portion, are formed on a surface of a substrate so that a length of each of the concave portions other than the reference concave portion increases as a distance from the reference concave portion in a length direction increases and so that a width of each of the concave portions other than the reference concave portion increases as a distance from the reference concave portion in a width direction increases. A mark identifying the reference concave portion is formed on the surface of the substrate. An insulating film is thermally fusion bonded to the surface of the substrate including the concave portions formed thereon. Heating resistors are formed on the insulating film using a photo mask by aligning the photo mask with the substrate in accordance with the reference concave portion to form the heating resistors so as to be opposed to the plurality of concave portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Toshimitsu Morooka, Keitaro Koroishi, Yoshinori Sato, Noriyoshi Shoji, Norimitsu Sanbongi
  • Patent number: 8621889
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for manufacturing compounds based on one or more silicates of alkali metals and/or of alkaline-earth metals, optionally in the form of mixed silicates that combine at least two of these elements, said process involving: (i) preferably a conversion reaction (1) in which halides of said alkali metals and/or of said rare earths and/or of said alkaline-earth metals are converted into the corresponding sulfates; (iii) a conversion reaction (2) in which said sulfates together with silica are converted into the corresponding silicates, the heat supply needed for this conversion being provided, at least in part, by a combustion reaction (3) using a submerged burner or a plurality of submerged burners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
    Inventors: Pierre Jeanvoine, Arnaud Le Verge
  • Patent number: 8621890
    Abstract: This glove (10) is knitted using three yarns, that is, a first composite yarn prepared by wrapping one or more highly abrasion-resistant polyamide yarns on a composite core made by direct cabling of a stainless steel yarn and one or more highly abrasion-resistant polyamide yarns, a second polyamide elastane yarn, and a third para-aramid yarn, the double-sided knitting being carried out by plating so that the first and second yarns are located on a first side of the knit while the para-aramid yarn is located on the second side of the knit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Florent Veillet
  • Patent number: 8621891
    Abstract: Articles of footwear may have an upper that includes a knit element and a tongue. The knit element defines a portion of an exterior surface and an opposite interior surface of the upper, with the interior surface defining a void for receiving a foot. The tongue is formed of unitary knit construction with the knit element and extends through a throat area of the upper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Bruce Huffa
  • Patent number: 8621892
    Abstract: A cloth treating apparatus is disclosed, including a cabinet having a housing space for housing cloth, a water supply unit for supplying steam to the housing space selectively, and a water spray unit movably provided to one side of the cabinet to be connected to the water supply unit selectively for supplying the steam from the water supply unit to the cloth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Taechul Moon, Kayeon Kim, Ayeong Lee, Sogkie Hong, Junghwan Lee
  • Patent number: 8621893
    Abstract: A washing machine having balancers and a method of controlling the same is provided. The number of rotations of a motor is maintained at a designated number before excessive vibration of a tub occurs for a designated time in order to prevent excessive vibration of the tub before balls reach a balancing position. The method includes sensing the number of rotations of a motor; determining whether or not the sensed number of rotations of the motor reaches a designated number of rotations by comparing the sensed number of rotations of the motor with the designated number of rotations; and controlling the motor such that the number of rotations of the motor is maintained at the designated number of rotations when it is determined that the sensed number of rotations of the motor reaches the designated number of rotations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hong Seok Ko, Seung Ju Choi, Gyu Sung Na
  • Patent number: 8621894
    Abstract: A washing machine including a rotational drum into which laundry is input, a water tub to perform a washing operation using bubbles, a water supply device to supply water, a detergent liquid supply device to supply detergent liquid, an air supply device to supply air required for the generation of the bubbles, and a controller to control the water supply device and the detergent liquid supply device to supply the water and the detergent liquid into a space between the rotational drum and the tub, to control the air supply device to generate the bubbles by supplying air to detergent water as a mixture of the water and the detergent liquid, to supply the bubbles into the laundry, and to perform the washing operation using the bubbles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seong Min Oak, Hyun Sook Kim, Sung Hoon Kim
  • Patent number: 8621895
    Abstract: A drum type washing machine is provided which includes a tub having a fastening part formed on a rear wall thereof, a stator fastened to the fastening part of the tub, the stator having a core part having teeth formed thereon, a coil wound around the teeth, a first insulator that covers a front surface of the core part and a second insulator that covers a rear surface of the core part, a stator rib formed on a front surface of the first insulator, and a supporting part that projects from the rear wall of the tub that supports the stator rib in an up-and-down direction when the stator is fastened to the fastening part of the tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Soo Bong Kim
  • Patent number: 8621896
    Abstract: A drum type washing machine is provided. The washing machine includes a tub, a drum rotatably installed in the tub, and a shaft that penetrates the tub and is connected to the drum so as to transmit a drive force of a motor to the drum. A stator is fixed to a rear wall of the tub, and an outer rotor, including at least one magnet, an annular back yoke, and a rotor frame, is rotatably disposed at the outside of the stator. The rotor frame may be made of an aluminum material, and includes a side wall portion and a rear wall portion integrally formed with the side wall portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hyeok Deok Kim, Soung Bong Choi
  • Patent number: 8621897
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a motor, which prevents cut-off of magnet wire connection parts due to corrosion caused by a potential difference and damage to a magnet wire film, and a washing machine having the motor. The motor includes a stator, on which a magnet wire is wound, including mag mate terminals connected with the magnet wire, and a rotor rotated by electromagnetic interaction with the stator. Each of the mag mate terminals includes a first metal connection part, to which a metal of a different kind is connected, and a same kind metal connection part, to which a metal of the same kind is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Woon Yong Lee, Jong Jin Lee, Myong Gui Choi
  • Patent number: 8621898
    Abstract: A foldable lock includes a first body, a second body, and a rod set including a plurality of pivotally connected locking rods. The first body and the second body are separately pin-connected to a locking rod. The first body, the second body, and the plurality of the locking rods can have rotational movement in two-dimensional space with the pin joint as a rotation axis, which affects relative position of the first body and the second body. The first body has a first mating face, and the second body has a second mating face. The mating faces can separate from or mate with each other. The bodies and the rod set constitutes a closed ring by means of matching of the mating faces; at this time, a locking operation will let the mating faces be unable to separate from each other, namely the bodies will not move relatively. At the same time, if the closed ring does not circle any object, the rod set can further be rotated to a stacking state for storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Sinoxlock (Kunshan) Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mao-Yi Chen
  • Patent number: 8621899
    Abstract: A travel padlock for securing an article comprises a housing having a shackle, a key lock and a combination lock. An indicator having at least first and second positions is moved from the first position to the second position upon insertion of an object longitudinally into a key hole of the key lock. In at least one embodiment, at least a portion of the indicator extends beyond the exterior of the housing when in the second position. In addition, in at least one embodiment of the present invention the shackle may be rotated to reset the indicator from the second position back to the first position. Furthermore, in at least one embodiment of the present invention the indicator may be reset from the second position back to the first position without rotating the shackle or unlocking the combination lock. Methods of making and using the padlock are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Sinox Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Yung-Li Kuo, Renny T. Ling
  • Patent number: 8621900
    Abstract: An electric door lock including: a lock housing; an operating member having a holding part and a shaft part, the shaft part able to be placed in the lock housing, the shaft part connected to the holding part, the holding part defined as a long axis; a cog wheel able to be placed in the lock housing, the cog wheel having at least one bump; a coupling plate installed on the shaft part of the operating member, the coupling plate having at least one bulge and one protruding part, with the protruding part and the long axis of the holding part designed to move in alignment with each other; a motor placed in the lock housing; three sensor switches set separately in the lock housing; operating the motor causing the bump of the cog wheel to rotate and push the bulge of the coupling plate, so that the protruding part of the coupling plate of the electric door lock installed in the required position on a left-hand door or right-hand door, selectively touches the two sensor switches adjacent to each other, so as to reach
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Tong Lung Metal Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Rong-Faa Wu, Tong-Yi Ho, Kun-Chen Tsai, Chen-Ming Lin, Ching-Chuan Kuo
  • Patent number: 8621901
    Abstract: A lock system is provided having a lock housing and a lock barrel, a keeper shoulder, at least one full positioner shoulder, and a positioner shoulder having a U-shaped channel. A lock plug having a keyway and tumblers is received in the barrel for rotation between locked and unlocked positions. The tumblers include a key tumbler, a positioner tumbler and a keeper tumbler. The lock plug is rotatable between a first rotary position and a second rotary position. A control key is received into the keyway to retract the lock tumbler and partially retract the keeper tumbler. Removal of the lock plug from the lock barrel requires rotation of the lock plug from the first rotary position to the second rotary position and the presence of the control key within the lock plug when in the second rotary position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Bauer Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce Bacon
  • Patent number: 8621902
    Abstract: A master key system and method for a reprogrammable lock cylinder with at least one first master pin and one second master pin. The first and second master pins have different bitting configurations. The master key system includes at least a first array of change key cuts corresponding to an input key bitting array and sequence of progression and at least two master key cuts corresponding to the input key bitting array and sequence of progression and each of the change key cuts. The system further comprises at least one master pin matrix including a master pin sequence for each change key cut and at least one rekey matrix including a rekey cut for each change key. Each master pin sequence represents a sequence of master pins configured to achieve the respective change key cut and the at least two master key cuts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC
    Inventor: Sajil John Mathachan
  • Patent number: 8621903
    Abstract: The invention relates to a continuous or instrumented indentation device for a material. The indentation device includes an indenter, a bearing means for the material to be indented, a means for moving the indenter and/or the bearing means for contacting the indenter with the material to be indented, and for pressing the indenter into the material, and a means for measuring the force and movement of the indenter when the indenter is pressed into the material. The bearing means includes a convex surface for receiving the material to be indented and is oriented towards the indenter so that the material is capable of bearing on the convex surface. The indenter may comprise a one-piece structure. The means for measuring the movement of the indenter when the indenter is pressed into the material includes at least three movement sensors angularly arranged at an equal distance about the indenter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Universite de Rennes 1
    Inventor: Gérard Mauvoisin
  • Patent number: 8621904
    Abstract: A hydroforming apparatus and working method able to simply find a load path are proposed, which system and method use a mold in which contact sensors able to judge contact with a metal tube inside the mold are mounted at least at two different positions in the tube axial direction, perform a first step of axially pushing tube ends in a state with the internal pressure held at a constant value and stopping the progress of the axial pushing action when judging that among the contact sensors not yet in contact mounted at positions closest to the tube ends detect contact with the metal tube, next perform a second step of raising only the internal pressure while leaving the positions of the tube ends fixed and stopping the increase in the internal pressure when the contact sensor not yet in contact judges contact, next perform a third step of lowering the internal pressure to the value before raising it while leaving the positions of the tube ends fixed, and repeat said first step to third step until all of said c
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignees: Nippon Steel, Sumitomo Metal Corporation
    Inventors: Masaaki Mizumura, Koichi Sato, Manabu Wada, Yukihisa Kuriyama
  • Patent number: 8621905
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing inserts for steam generator tubes is provided. The apparatus is intended to allow a technically particularly simple production process, and consequently allow particularly high-speed production of inserts. For this purpose, the apparatus includes a winding head with a wire guiding pin, a guiding opening for a former shaft, provided with a number of spiral slots, and a pressure roller, the wire guiding pin, the guiding opening and the pressure roller being arranged in such a way that a tangent of the pressure roller and of a slot of the former shaft and the guiding axis of wire guiding pin substantially coincide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jan Brückner, Martin Effert, Joachim Franke
  • Patent number: 8621906
    Abstract: The object is to strictly eliminate the difference in offset of work rolls at the upper and lower and left and right of the rolling mill occurring in the kiss roll state before rolling or during rolling and eliminate the problem of warping of the flat products or meander or camber due to the thrust force acting between the work rolls and backup rolls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeru Ogawa, Atsushi Ishii, Daisuke Kasai
  • Patent number: 8621907
    Abstract: A method for making a metallic casing includes providing an apparatus comprising a first mold and a second mold, placing a preform into a rectangular depression of first mold, moving the first mold to the second mold so that each sharp edge is substantially coplanar with a corresponding cutting edge, moving the first mold to the second mold so that the cutting edges are beyond the corresponding sharp edges of the first mold to complete a partial cut procedure, and moving the first mold to the second mold so that the secondary-cutting edge moves beyond the corresponding sharp edge and completely cuts the excess off the side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hong Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Zhi-Da Liu
  • Patent number: 8621908
    Abstract: A method and a device for determining a quality of a metallic surface of a metallic substrate, for example a steel or steel alloy substrate, are provided. The device includes a mould, a sheet holder and a die, with which the metallic substrate is formed to produce a drawn test surface. The method and device are used to test the quality of the metallic surface of a metallic coating with a view to a later utilization, especially with a view to a later forming, wherein the metallic substrate is formed at least in-an area of a test surface, wherein a main and an additional shape change of the metallic substrate in the area of the test surface assume predetermined values that are related to the later utilization of the metallic substrate, and wherein the quality of the metallic surface is tested on the test surface after forming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG
    Inventors: Andreas Birkenstock, Peter Heidbüchel, Michael Linnepe
  • Patent number: 8621909
    Abstract: The invention relates to disc-shaped compensation shims for compensating for the shortening of a tool die or a tool stamp due to regrinding. The shim includes a coding indicating a thickness of the tooling shim, the tooling shim being configured for use with a tool die or tool stamp to compensate for shortening of the tool die or tool stamp resulting from regrinding. The invention also relates to tool arrangements having at least one such shim, and to machine tools having such tool arrangements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: TRUMPF Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Stefan Buettner, Wolfgang Laib
  • Patent number: 8621910
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system comprises a magnetic head, a protective coating on a media-facing side of the head, and an indentation in the protective coating having a dimension that, when the protective coating wears, is indicative of an amount of wear of the protective coating. A method, in another embodiment, comprises creating an indentation in a protective coating of a magnetic head, the indentation having a dimension that, when the protective coating wears, is indicative of an amount of wear of the protective coating. In another embodiment, a method comprises visually inspecting indentations in a protective coating of a magnetic head, wherein at least two of the indentations have differing dimensions that, when the protective coating wears, are indicative of the amount of wear of the protective coating. The method also includes estimating an amount of wear of the protective coating based on the visual inspection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Glenn Biskeborn, W. Stanley Czarnecki, Jason Liang, Calvin Shyhjong Lo
  • Patent number: 8621911
    Abstract: A method and system for measuring or assessing the homeostatic relationship between gases in the body, environment or water. The measured or assessed level of gases in the body, environment or air uses the interrelationships of the various components in order to establish guidelines for treating individuals, the environment or water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Inventor: William J. McFaul
  • Patent number: 8621912
    Abstract: A miniaturized gas analyzer formed onto a micro-chip and a method of separating components from a composite gas using the miniaturized gas analyzer are disclosed. The gas analyzer includes an injector block and two column blocks arranged in series along an analytical path. The injector block receives the composite gas and a carrier gas to create a gas sample. The gas sample is then injected into the column blocks to separate the components of the composite gas. Further, a valve used within the miniaturized gas analyzer is disclosed, in which the valve is formed onto the micro-chip and includes a flexible membrane and a rigid substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Paul Guieze
  • Patent number: 8621913
    Abstract: A method and system for using an existing open-environment hydrogen sensor for detecting hydrogen leaking from an atmospheric reference port of a pressure regulator. The atmospheric reference port extension tube of one or more pressure regulators in a hydrogen storage system is routed past a hydrogen sensor which is already used to monitor air around the hydrogen storage system for the presence of hydrogen. In this configuration, the open-environment hydrogen sensor can quickly and reliably detect hydrogen gas flowing from the atmospheric reference port of one of the pressure regulators in the event a pressure regulator develops an internal leak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Ralf Jaeger
  • Patent number: 8621914
    Abstract: A test accessory for testing a variety respirators. The accessory is designed to compliment existing equipment to provide a robust assessment of respirator performance. The accessory may include a head form having an inflatable bladder capable of fitting a variety of sizes of respirator masks. In some embodiments, the inflatable bladder does not rely on adhesives to effect a seal, thereby eliminating manufacturing and quality assurance steps. The test accessory may also include a detachable instrumentation module that may be removed from the accessory, enabling calibration and maintenance at a remote facility without need for transporting the entire unit. The module may also house a memory device that may be upgraded with calibration data and firmware during the calibration process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: TSI, Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert Montividas, Richard Remiarz, Brian Johnson, Max Carideo
  • Patent number: 8621915
    Abstract: The invention provides improved methods and apparatus for multidimensional analysis, especially for multidimensional liquid chromatography. Methods and apparatus for the quantitative determination of one or more components comprised in a sample mixture are described. Methods and apparatus of the invention typically allow accurate quantitative determination of more components of the mixture than prior multidimensional methods. The invention is particularly useful for, but is not limited to the analysis of complex mixtures of peptides and proteins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Waters Technologies Corp.
    Inventor: Hongji Liu
  • Patent number: 8621916
    Abstract: A system for measuring an injection process includes a measurement chamber filled with a fluid. An injection valve injects the fluid into the measurement chamber. A piston is arranged in the measurement chamber. A sensor generates a voltage which is a measure of a piston travel. The sensor is connected with an evaluation unit which continuously detects the piston travel in the measurement chamber. A rotary displacement pump arranged in a bypass channel to the measurement chamber is driven dependent on an existing volume difference. A pressure sensor is arranged in the measurement chamber. A heating element and/or a cooling device is/are arranged at the measurement chamber and is/are actuated by a controller so that an amount of energy introduced by the fluid injected by the injection valve and an amount of energy introduced by the heating element and/or the cooling device is substantially constant for every injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: AVL List GmbH
    Inventors: Heribert Kammerstetter, Rainer Metzler, Manfred Werner
  • Patent number: 8621917
    Abstract: A method is provided for diagnosing a multi-mode valve train device which selectively provides high lift and low lift to a combustion valve of an internal combustion engine having a camshaft phaser actuated by an electric motor. The method includes applying a variable electric current to the electric motor to achieve a desired camshaft phaser operational mode and commanding the multi-mode valve train device to a desired valve train device operational mode selected from a high lift mode and a low lift mode. The method also includes monitoring the variable electric current and calculating a first characteristic of the parameter. The method also includes comparing the calculated first characteristic against a predetermined value of the first characteristic measured when the multi-mode valve train device is known to be in the desired valve train device operational mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew M. Fedewa
  • Patent number: 8621918
    Abstract: The invention relates to a test device for testing test vehicles, said test device having a receiving device for a vehicle mock-up. The receiving device for a vehicle mock-up is positioned on a rail system of the test device such that it can be moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: ADAC E.V.
    Inventors: Alois Sacher, Volker Sandner
  • Patent number: 8621919
    Abstract: A method for determining the tread depth of a vehicle tire, with the tire being mounted on a vehicle, the tire being rolled over or placed on a measuring station, the tread of the tire being optically sensed transversely to the rolling direction of the tire on at least one measuring line, a ray fan extending from a light source being reflected at the tire surface and a signal of the reflected ray fan being recorded by a sensor, and the signal of the reflected ray fan being evaluated by way of a triangulation method, is characterized in that the signal is recorded in a non-orthogonal manner to the tire surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Ventech GmbH
    Inventor: Ulrich Pingel
  • Patent number: 8621920
    Abstract: Samples of hydrocarbon are obtained with a coring tool. An analysis of some thermal or electrical properties of the core samples may be performed downhole. The core samples may also be preserved in containers sealed and/or refrigerated prior to being brought uphole for analysis. The hydrocarbon trapped in the pore space of the core samples may be extracted from the core samples downhole. The extracted hydrocarbon may be preserved in chambers and/or analyzed downhole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Lennox Reid, Anthony R. H. Goodwin, Peter S. Hegeman, Charles Woodburn
  • Patent number: 8621921
    Abstract: A retrievable downhole testing tool that is adapted to be temporarily installed in a well is disclosed. The retrievable downhole testing tool comprises a variable choke, a tool control unit adapted to control the variable choke, and at least two measuring sensors adapted to measure physical parameters including pressure. At least one measuring sensor is situated above the variable choke, and at least one measuring sensor is situated below the variable choke. The retrievable downhole testing tool is pre-programmed with a specified test sequence for controlling a downhole flow rate using the variable choke and for executing downhole measurements of physical parameters at specified flow periods. The specified test sequence is adapted according to a pre-defined stability criterion using the tool control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Asmund Boe, Matthew Loth, Shaun Bambridge
  • Patent number: 8621922
    Abstract: A system for monitoring subsidence and/or rising of a waterbottom has string of pressure sensors along the interior of a sealed -protective tube(q?) that rests on the waterbottom and is filled with a low pressure liquid, so that any subsidence and/or rising of the can be deduced from subsidence and/or rising of a section of the tube and associated pressure variations measured by the sensors due to variation of the hydrostatic fluid pressure of the liquid in the of the tube. The tube interior is divided into segments by valves during descent to protect the sensors against hydrostatic pressure of the liquid within the tube during installation. The use of a low pressure liquid in the tube allows the use of sensitive pressure sensors which are able to monitor pressure variations of ?0.001 Bar associated with a waterbottom subsidence of ?1 cm, at a water depth of >km where the ambient water pressure may be >100 Bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Johannis Josephus Den Boer, Andre Franzen, Daniel Joinson, Kari-Mikko Jääskeläinen
  • Patent number: 8621923
    Abstract: A humidity sensor has, on a substrate, at least one voltage sensor with a sensor region and at least one control electrode. The control electrode is connected to a signal source which is designed such that a variable control voltage can be applied to the control electrode. A moisture-permeable sensor layer whose dielectric constant depends on humidity is located on the sensor region. The control electrode is adjacent to the sensor layer in such a manner that the measured voltage signal of the voltage sensor depends on the control voltage and the humidity. The voltage sensor is connected to an analysis unit for ascertaining the humidity on the basis of the measured voltage signal. In the vertical projection onto the plane in which the substrate extends, the control electrode is located laterally next to the sensor region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Micronas GmbH
    Inventor: Heinz-Peter Frerichs
  • Patent number: 8621924
    Abstract: A humidity sensing circuit with temperature compensation includes a wave producing module, a phase processing module, a sensing module and a detecting module. The wave producing module outputs a wave signal. The phase processing module outputs an oscillatory wave and an invert oscillatory wave according to the wave signal. The sensing module has a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor which are connected in series. The temperature sensor and the humidity sensor respectively receive the oscillatory wave and the invert oscillatory wave. The sensing module outputs a parameter signal according to the oscillatory wave and the invert oscillatory wave. The detecting module outputs a detection signal according to the parameter signal. Hence, the humidity sensing circuit with temperature compensation senses the temperature and humidity by the simple circuit design. Moreover, it is feasible for circuit design and application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Te-Chung Liu, Yi-Hua Lee
  • Patent number: 8621925
    Abstract: A sensor device has a structural element, a carrier element and a housing, the structural element being situated on the carrier element, and the structural element and the carrier element being situated at least partially within the housing. The sensor device also has an intermediate housing, which is situated essentially between the housing and the structural element, the intermediate housing including a premold housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Dietrich, Martin Schuerer
  • Patent number: 8621926
    Abstract: A wiring substrate includes: a substrate having a first surface and a second surface; a first insulating layer stacked on the first surface; a pad electrode stacked on the first insulating layer; a through electrode connected to the pad electrode; and a second insulating layer disposed between the substrate and the through electrode and between the first insulating layer and the through electrode, wherein a diameter of the through electrode in a connection section between the pad electrode and the through electrode is smaller than a diameter of the through electrode on the second surface side, the first insulating layer, the second insulating layer and the through electrode overlap with each other in a peripheral area of the connection section, when seen from a plan view, and the thickness of the first insulating layer in the area is thinner than the thickness of the first insulating layer in other areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Yoda
  • Patent number: 8621927
    Abstract: An angular rate sensor having two generally planar proof masses disposed along a drive axis in the plane of the masses, a sense axis perpendicular to the drive axis, and an input axis perpendicular to the plane of the masses. The masses are suspended from a pair of driving frames, which are mounted and constrained for anti-phase linear movement along the drive axis in drive-mode. Detectors responsive to the anti-phase movement of the masses in directions parallel to the sense axis in response to Coriolis forces produced by rotation of the masses about the input axis for monitoring rate of rotation about the input axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Inventor: Minyao Mao
  • Patent number: 8621928
    Abstract: A sensor includes an acceleration detector, an angular velocity detector, a driver, and first to fourth springs. Each detector includes a pair of fixed electrodes, a pair of movable electrodes, and a pair of supporting members for supporting the movable electrodes. The driver causes the supporting members to vibrate in opposite phases in a first direction. The first spring couples the supporting members of the acceleration detector and has elasticity in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The second spring couples the supporting members of the acceleration detector to a base and has elasticity in both directions. The third spring couples the supporting members of the acceleration detector to the supporting members of the angular velocity detector and has elasticity in both directions. The fourth spring couples the supporting members to the movable electrodes of the angular velocity detector and has elasticity in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Keisuke Gotoh
  • Patent number: 8621929
    Abstract: A micromechanical component comprising a displaceable mass made of a substrate material having at least one actuator plate electrode and one first insulating layer between the displaceable mass and the at least one actuator plate electrode, a mounting having a frame, which at least partially encloses the displaceable mass, at least one contact terminal of the at least one actuator plate electrode, and at least one stator plate electrode, and at least one spring component, via which the displaceable mass is connected to the mounting, one of the actuator plate electrodes being connected to the assigned contact terminal in each case via the assigned spring component, wherein the frame of the mounting is made of the substrate material of the displaceable mass and wherein one of the actuator plate electrodes is configured in one piece with the assigned contact terminal and the assigned spring component in each case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Weiss, Arnim Hoechst