Patents Issued in December 15, 2015
  • Patent number: 9213031
    Abstract: A method of identifying a cell sample or a subject suitable for treatment with an anti-c-Met antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof that specifically binds to an epitope within a SEMA domain of a c-Met protein by determining a Cbl concentration, a Cbl mutation, and/or a mutation of a site of c-Met for interaction with Cbl in a cell sample from a subject, as well as related compositions and methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ji Min Lee, Kyung Ah Kim, Bo Gyou Kim, Young Mi Oh, Saet Byoul Lee, Yun Ju Jeong
  • Patent number: 9213032
    Abstract: A method of identifying a cell sample or subject suitable for treatment with an anti-c-Met antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that specifically binds to an epitope within a SEMA domain of a c-Met protein by determining the presence of LRIG1 in a cell sample from the subject, as well as related methods and compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ji Min Lee, Kyung Ah Kim, Bo Gyou Kim
  • Patent number: 9213033
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are isobaric labeling reagent sets useful for multiplexed quantitation of peptides. The isobaric labeling reagent sets include a collection of at least two isobaric labeling reagents having first and second reporter groups with the same nominal mass but different isotopic substitutions and consequently different exact masses. Mass spectrometric analysis of the labeled samples is performed using a mass analyzer, such as an Orbitrap mass analyzer, capable of adequately resolving the ions of the first and second reporter groups. Reagent sets of the foregoing description may provide a degree of multiplexing in reporter ion quantitation experiments that is expanded relative to conventional labeling reagent sets, thereby reducing the number of chromatographic runs required for analysis and improving sample throughput.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Thermo Finnigan LLC
    Inventors: Robert A. Grothe, Jr., Justin Blethrow
  • Patent number: 9213034
    Abstract: Hemoglobin, its variants, and glycated forms of each are determined individually in a multiplex assay that permits correction of the measured level of HbA1c to account for glycated variants and other factors related to the inclusion of the variants in the sample. New antibodies that are particularly well adapted to the multiplex assay are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Walker, Benedicte Jardin
  • Patent number: 9213035
    Abstract: A method is described for the measurement of thrombin activity in the presence of fibrinogen, or for the measurement of the functionality of fibrinogen in the presence of thrombin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignees: Ethicon, Inc., Omrix Biopharmaceuticals Ltd.
    Inventors: Ashley De Anglis, Roberto Meidler, Anne Gorman, Liliana Bar, Israel Nur
  • Patent number: 9213036
    Abstract: A microfluidic passive device and a method for determining clotting time are described, of a fluid medium such as blood, of low production cost which can therefore be disposable. When optimized to determine blood clotting time, it requires a minimal whole blood sample (<5 ?L) and it is particularly suited to INR and PT determination, which can be used to autonomously by patient without venipuncture. Monitoring and processing means to interpret the results are comprised in an external coagulometer device. A production method for the manufacture of the microfluidic device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: ILINE MICROSYSTEMS, S.L.
    Inventors: Iñaki Sádaba Champetier De Ribes, Juan Antonio Peón Eguiguren
  • Patent number: 9213037
    Abstract: Disclosed is a sample analyzer including a transporting part configured to transport a sample rack holding one or more samples, a measuring part configured to perform a measurement on the sample of the transported sample rack and a controller. The controller is programmed to perform an analysis of a predetermined item that requires at least first and second measurement results derived respectively from first and second samples obtained from the same subject and preprocessed in different ways, and if a measurement of the predetermined item is requested and a set of first and second samples obtained from the same subject and preprocessed in different ways are transported to the measuring part, the controller controls the measuring part to perform measurements on both of the first and second samples to derive the first and second measurement results and processes them to generate an analysis result of the predetermined item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: SYSMEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kurono, Yasuhiro Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 9213038
    Abstract: This document provides methods and materials related to determining whether or not a human receiving a therapy (e.g., an anti-VEGF therapy such as a bevacizumab therapy) has developed or is at risk for developing proteinuria. For example, methods and materials for detecting urinary podocytes to determine whether or not a human receiving anti-VEGF therapy has or is at risk for developing proteinuria or kidney injury are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
    Inventor: Vesna D. Garovic
  • Patent number: 9213039
    Abstract: A state quantity distribution measuring apparatus that allows easy measurement of a state quantity distribution in an absorbent article that has irregularities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Hisataka Nanaumi, Teruko Kawamoto, Misayo Arimura, Yukiko Bitou
  • Patent number: 9213040
    Abstract: A microfluidic cartridge includes a capture portion capturing target material on surfaces of nonmagnetic particles; and a separating portion separating target molecules from the target material captured on the surfaces of the particles. The microfluidic cartridge is mounted on an adaptor that is rotated by a rotating unit in order to separate a fluid including the target molecules from the particles through centrifugal force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyuyoun Hwang, Joonho Kim, Byungsoo Kim, Sungyoung Jeong, Christopher Hansung Ko
  • Patent number: 9213041
    Abstract: A rack transporting apparatus including: a first transport path for transporting a sample rack to the sample processing unit; a second transport path for transporting the sample rack, without passing through the sample processing unit, in the same direction as a transport direction of the sample rack by the first transport path; a third transport path for transporting the sample rack in the opposite direction of the transport direction by the first transport path and the second transport path; a first rack transferring mechanism for transferring the sample rack from the second transport path to the first transport path through a first holding region being capable of holding the sample rack; and a second rack transferring mechanism for transferring the sample rack from the first transport path to the second transport path or the third transport path through a second holding region being capable of holding the sample rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: SYSMEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Kitagawa, Kei Takai, Hiroo Tatsutani
  • Patent number: 9213042
    Abstract: A vacuum assist apparatus can comprise a microplate. The microplate can comprise a first surface and an opposing second surface. A plurality of wells can be formed in the first surface of the microplate. Each of the plurality of wells can be sized to receive an assay therein. A support base can comprise a fluid passage. The microplate can be positioned adjacent and in contact with the support base. A pressure device, in fluid communication with the fluid passage, can exert a vacuum within the fluid passage to actively retain the microplate in the contact with the support base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Applied Biosystems, LLC
    Inventors: Mark F. Oldham, Adrian Fawcett
  • Patent number: 9213043
    Abstract: In embodiments disclosed herein, a diagnostic system is provided having a cartridge comprising at least one needle; at least one reservoir; at least one fluidic seal; and at least one fluidic channel of a fluidic pathway, wherein the cartridge is configured to store at least one reagent and at least one waste material on the cartridge. The diagnostic system is provided also having a diagnostic instrument comprising the fluidic pathway; an electrochemiluminescence (ECL) detection system; and a pump, wherein the fluidic pathway begins and ends in the cartridge and has a substantially single direction of flow in a pathway fluidically connecting the diagnostic instrument and the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: WELLSTAT DIAGNOSTICS, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Alan Cook, Sang Cho, Charles Quentin Davis, Kevin E Dorsey, Jason Charles Harley, Jonathan Leland, Rober Krikor Matikyan, Sjef Otten, Jeffrey Howard Peterman, Brian B Thomas
  • Patent number: 9213044
    Abstract: A method comprising causing display of at least one interface element on a display that is configured to be oriented on a wrist of a user, receiving information indicative of a deviational plane wrist input indicative of physical movement in a deviational plane direction with respect to the deviational plane, determining an interaction operation based, at least in part, on the interface element and an interaction direction; and causing performance of the interaction operation is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies OY
    Inventor: Apaar Tuli
  • Patent number: 9213045
    Abstract: A mechanism for recovering from stiction-related events in a MEMS device through application of a force orthogonal to the stiction force is provided. A small force applied orthogonal to the vector of a stiction force can release the stuck proof mass easier than a force parallel to the vector of the stiction force. Example embodiments provide a vertical parallel plate or comb-fingered lateral actuator to apply the orthogonal force. Alternate embodiments provide a proof mass of a second transducer to impact a stuck MEMS actuator to release stiction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Kemiao Jia, Peter T. Jones
  • Patent number: 9213046
    Abstract: A micro inertial measurement system includes a housing, a sensing module, and a damper. The sensing module includes a rigid sensing support, a measuring and controlling circuit board mounted on the rigid sensing support and an inertial sensor set on the measuring and controlling circuit board. The inertial sensor includes a gyroscope and an accelerometer. The sensing module is mounted in the housing. The damper is mounted in the housing and set in the gap between the sensing module and the inside wall of the housing. By use of the above-mentioned structure, the noise immunity of the inertial measuring system can be greatly improved, and the volume and weight of the inertial measuring system can be greatly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tao Wang
  • Patent number: 9213047
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of collecting topography, mechanical property data and electrical property data with an atomic force microscope (AFM) in either a single pass or a dual pass operation. PFT mode is preferably employed thus allowing the use of a wide range of probes, one benefit of which is to enhance the sensitivity of electrical property measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Bruker Nano, Inc.
    Inventors: Chunzeng Li, Yan Hu, Ji Ma, Jianli He, Lin Huang, Stephen C. Minne, Henry Mittel, Weijie Wang, Shuiqing Hu, Chanmin Su
  • Patent number: 9213048
    Abstract: Adapters for electrostatic discharge probe tips are disclosed herein. An embodiment of the adapter includes an attachment device that is attachable to the tip of the probe. A first conductor is affixed to the attachment device so that the first conductor contacts the tip when the attachment device is attached to the tip of the probe. A second conductor extends between the first electrical conductor and a point external to the attachment device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Robert Matthew Mertens, John Eric Kunz, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9213049
    Abstract: A powered device interface arranged as an interface between power received over a structured communication cabling and a powered device, the powered device interface constituted of: a class event counter; a logic circuit in communication with the class event counter; and a plurality of flag outputs each responsive to the logic circuit, each of the flag outputs associated with a predetermined powering level of a power sourcing equipment connected over the structured communication cabling, the logic circuit arranged to: output an active signal at the flag output associated with a detected powering level of the connected power sourcing equipment; and output an active signal at all other flag outputs associated with powering levels less than the detected powering level of the connected power sourcing equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Microsemi Corp.—Analog Mixed Signal Group, Ltd.
    Inventor: Eli Ohana
  • Patent number: 9213050
    Abstract: Systems and devices for, and methods of, delayed meter reporting to a remote site via a local data-gathering device. The local data-gathering device is configured to: (a) sample, at a first sample rate, energy consumption related data of the local site; (b) store, at the data store, energy consumption related data of the local site; (c) filter the stored data based on the defined rule; and (d) transmit, at a second sample rate, the filtered data, wherein the first sampling rate is equal to or higher than the second sampling rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Owen
  • Patent number: 9213051
    Abstract: A condition input device inputs a measurement condition and the information of an electronic apparatus to be measured. A measurement operation program device selects a program that causes the electronic apparatus to perform an measurement operation based on the information of a measuring target object and the measurement condition. A voltage measurement device measures a voltage variation generated by the power source of the electronic apparatus. A wave form calculating device performs an arithmetic processing, such as a filtering processing or a time-frequency conversion (e.g. Fourier conversion) for the measured voltage variation to obtain the frequency characteristics of the voltage variation. An impedance calculating device calculates an impedance from the frequency characteristics of the voltage variation and the frequency characteristics of current and the condition of the measurement operation program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Manabu Kusumoto, Masashi Kawakami
  • Patent number: 9213052
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods of peak detection are described. One method measures touch data on a sense array, the touch data represented as multiple cells. The method performs multiple different peak-detection schemes on each of the cells to generate a list of one or more possible peaks in the touch data. The method selects one or more actual peaks from the list. The actual peaks are used to determine locations of touches proximate to the sense array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: PARADE TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Cole Wilson, Jonathan R. Peterson, Dana Olson
  • Patent number: 9213053
    Abstract: A portable test chamber with an open top may serve as a field testing apparatus for wireless testing of electronic devices. A wireless device under test may be mounted within a cavity in the test chamber. The cavity may be surrounded by a dielectric lining of anechoic material. A layer of electromagnetic shielding such as metal foil may cover the outer surfaces of the dielectric lining. The chamber may have a box shape with a rectangular opening at its top. Satellite navigation system signals or other wireless signals may be received through the opening at the top of the test chamber during testing. The electromagnetic shielding may reduce the effects of multipath interference during field tests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua G. Nickel, Robert W. Mayor, Glenn D. MacGougan, William J. Noellert, Joseph Hakim
  • Patent number: 9213054
    Abstract: A semiconductor IC device comprises a timing circuit to transfer a timing signal, the timing circuit being configured to receive a first test signal and to effect a delay in the timing signal in response to the first test signal, the first test signal including a first timing event. The semiconductor IC device further comprises an interface circuit configured to transfer the data signal in response to the timing signal, the interface circuit being further configured to receive a second test signal and to effect a delay in the data signal in response to the second test signal, the second test signal including a second timing event that is related to the first timing event according to a test criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick A. Ware
  • Patent number: 9213055
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a plurality of cells in a main region, a plurality of cells in a sensing region, a transistor, and a gate shut-off time for the sensing region. The transistor is configured to drive each of the plurality of cells in the main region and each of the plurality of cells in the sensing region. The gate shut-off time for the sensing region is set according to D=(Cgs/Cgm)*(Rgs/Rgm) to be earlier than a gate shut-off time for the main region. D indicates a CR delay ratio, Rgm indicates a gate resistance value for the main region and Rgs indicates a gate resistance value for the sensing region in the transistor, and Cgm indicates a parasitic capacitance for the main region and Cgs indicates a parasitic capacitance for the sensing region in the transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Yataka, Kumiko Yamauchi, Toshimitsu Kobori
  • Patent number: 9213056
    Abstract: A harmonic load pull system uses a number of synchronized signal sources to inject harmonic power into the output of a power transistor. The mismatch between the signal sources and the transistor internal impedance is reduced by using multi-harmonic tuners, which pre-match the impedance of the signal sources to the internal impedance of the transistor at each harmonic frequency independently. Actual tuning is electronic by changing the amplitude and phase of the injected signals. The transmitted and reflected waves are measured and optimized through bi-directional couplers connected between the transistor and the tuner and a wideband harmonic receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Inventor: Christos Tsironis
  • Patent number: 9213057
    Abstract: A testing system for a touch device includes a touch simulation module, a control module and a determination module is provided. The touch simulation module includes multiple conductive elements respectively corresponding to multiple touch sensing regions of the touch device. The control module selectively provides a testing signal to one or multiple of the conductive elements. The determination module determines whether the touch device correctly responds a testing that the control module provides to the device under testing through the touch simulation module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: MStar Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Chien-Chuan Chen, Kai-Ting Ho, Yu-Chien Huang
  • Patent number: 9213058
    Abstract: A current monitoring system for monitoring at least one current terminal of a motherboard includes at least one current monitoring unit and an indication device connected to the at least one current monitoring unit. Each current monitoring unit determines whether a current output from a corresponding current terminal is abnormal. The indication device encodes and displays a determination of the current monitoring unit and alarms according to the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignees: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Song Yu
  • Patent number: 9213059
    Abstract: In some examples, a system, such as an integrated circuit device (IC), includes functional elements interspersed with access elements and associated test elements. The access elements and associated test elements may be used to determine a health status of the IC or an area of the IC. A health status determination can include, for example, identification of an area of the IC where performance may have degraded (e.g., has degraded or is about to degrade beyond desirable levels of performance). For example, a test element can be configured to generate a parametric output in response to an electrical stimulus, where the parametric output indicates a health status of one or more functional elements of the IC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Rabe
  • Patent number: 9213060
    Abstract: Test structures and method for detecting defects using the same. A probe-able voltage contrast (VC) comb test structure that includes first, second and third probe pads, a comb-like structure including grounded tines, floating tines between the grounded tines, switching devices coupled with an end portion of each floating tine, and connecting the floating tines to the second probe pad, and the third probe pad being a control pad which controls the switching devices. A probe-able VC serpentine test structure that includes first, second, third and fourth probe pads, a comb-like structure including grounded tines, floating tines between the grounded tines and each floating tine connected together between the second and third probe pads, switching devices connected to an end portion of each floating tine and connecting the floating tines to the second and third probe pads, and the fourth probe pad being a control pad which controls the switching devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William J. Cote, Yi Feng, Oliver D. Patterson
  • Patent number: 9213061
    Abstract: An optimized JTAG interface is used to access JTAG Tap Domains within an integrated circuit. The interface requires fewer pins than the conventional JTAG interface and is thus more applicable than conventional JTAG interfaces on an integrated circuit where the availability of pins is limited. The interface may be used for a variety of serial communication operations such as, but not limited to, serial communication related integrated circuit test, emulation, debug, and/or trace operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Patent number: 9213062
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a novel method and apparatus for inputting addresses to devices to select the device TAP for access. Further, the disclosure provides a novel method and apparatus for inputting addresses for selecting device TAPs and for inputting commands for commanding circuitry within the device. The inputting of addresses or the inputting of addresses and commands is initiated by a control bit input on TDI that is recognized during the Run Test/Idle, Pause-DR or Pause-IR TAP states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Patent number: 9213063
    Abstract: A reset generation circuit of an integrated circuit uses a scan data input pin as a scan mode exit control, which is enabled only when the IC reset pin of the device is active. The reset generation circuit allows a TAP controller to be scan testable yet at the same time the circuit provides a method to exit scan mode without requiring a power-up sequence or an extra pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventor: Anurag Jindal
  • Patent number: 9213064
    Abstract: A switch failure diagnosis device for using in a current path between an electric device and an electric storage device includes plural switches, a switch terminal voltage detector, and a controller. The switches are connected parallel to each other in the current path. The switch terminal voltage detector outputs a switch terminal voltage detection signal. The controller is configured to: select the switches at different time in sequence and input an open instruction signal to each switch at the time when the switch is selected; and determine, based on the switch terminal voltage detection signal output while the open instruction signal is given, that at least one of the switches has a failure if the detected voltage is in a failure determination range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: GS YUASA INTERNATIONAL LTD.
    Inventors: Takeyuki Shiraishi, Tomohiro Kawauchi, Takeshi Itagaki, Tomoshige Inoue, Daisuke Konishi
  • Patent number: 9213065
    Abstract: A method for detecting the malfunction in a three-phase synchronous electric machine by modulating variables. Two variables, which influence the torque of the electric machine are modulated. The first variable represents the q component of the stator current. The second variable represents the rotor flux. The variables are modulated by superimposing on their base signals, a test signal. Under faultless operation of the machine, there is no effect caused by the modulated variables on an electrical or magnetic parameter of the machine. When the modulated variables cause an effect on an electrical or magnetic parameter of the machine, a fault condition is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Jens-Werner Falkenstein
  • Patent number: 9213066
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to detect cell voltage of each of a plurality of battery cells in a rechargeable battery pack is disclosed. The method comprises generating a wave form with a positive phase and a negative phase by a current limited square wave generator. The wave form is a square wave having a maximum peak-to-peak voltage when the square wave generator is not loaded to be current limited. Then, sending the positive phase of the wave form to a first loop from a capacitor to the positive side of a battery cell. And, sending the negative phase of the wave form to a second loop from the negative side of the battery cell toward the capacitor. Finally, detecting a change of an electrical signal from the square wave generator. The voltage detection method and apparatus of this invention can be applied to detect whether a rechargeable battery cell has voltage lower than a low voltage limit or to measure the voltage of the battery cell in order to check its status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Inventor: John Manford Wade
  • Patent number: 9213067
    Abstract: An electrochemical generator comprises a stack of cells in series. To control the voltage across the terminals, controlling means comprise, for each cell, a first reactive passive component, the impedance varying depending on the DC voltage across its terminals, being biased by the voltage delivered by the cell, and a second reactive or resonant passive component forming, with the first reactive passive component, a series or parallel resonant circuit having a preset nominal resonant frequency for a nominal biasing voltage delivered by the cell. Using a variable frequency signal generator to supply the resonant circuits allows a detection circuit to detect resonant peak(s) across the terminals. The divergence between the resonant frequency corresponding to a detected peak and the nominal resonant frequency indicates the state of the associated cell. The frequency differences directly, for their part, provide information on the uniformity of the cells with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Didier Buzon, Daniel Chatroux
  • Patent number: 9213068
    Abstract: A method for estimating the voltage of a battery element of a vehicle battery system is provided. The method comprises providing a balancing/sensing circuit having a series combination of a balancing switch and a balancing resistive element electrically connected in parallel with the battery element, and measuring the voltage across the combination of the balancing switch and balancing resistive element when the balancing switch is presumed to be in a “closed” state. The method further comprises deriving a compensated value for the measured voltage using empirically-derived data, wherein the compensated value compensates for a voltage drop occurring in the balancing/sensing circuit when the balancing switch is in the “closed” state and represents an estimate of the voltage of the battery element. A battery system is also provided that includes a battery element, a balancing/sensing circuit, a sensor, and a control module configured to perform the method described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Andrew C. Baughman, James C. Gibbs
  • Patent number: 9213069
    Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and method for estimating the power of a secondary battery including a blended cathode material. The apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a sensor configured to measure a discharge current of a secondary battery comprising a cathode including a blended cathode material, and a control unit configured to estimate a state of charge of the secondary battery, determine a discharge voltage of the secondary battery using a first resistance predefined corresponding to the state of charge under a first condition in which a magnitude of the discharge current is smaller than a magnitude of a critical current and a second resistance predefined corresponding to the state of charge under a second condition in which the magnitude of the discharge current is larger than the magnitude of the critical current, and determine the power of the secondary battery from the determined discharge voltage and the measured discharge current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Won-Tae Joe, Sun-Young Cha
  • Patent number: 9213070
    Abstract: A calculation method causing a calculation apparatus configured to calculate a voltage of a battery to implement a computation capability includes: referring to a detection value database configured to store a charge amount of a battery and a voltage of the battery, the voltage being generated when the battery is charged, while associating the charge amount of the battery with the voltage of the battery, and a function information database configured to store a function representing a relationship between the voltage and a charge amount of each of a plurality of active materials included in the battery; and performing a regression calculation on the voltage of the battery that is stored in the detection value database, with an amount of the active materials of the function stored in the function information database being set as a variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masayuki Hoshino, Tomokazu Morita
  • Patent number: 9213071
    Abstract: A testing environment is provided in which both accelerometers and magnetometers can be tested in parallel, thereby decreasing the total cycle time for testing a semiconductor device package containing those devices. Embodiments of the present invention can also be configured to test singulated packages, thereby providing a tested and trimmed product that more accurately reflects the package delivered to the customer. In one embodiment, a series of device test locations within a testing region are configured to provide a known relationship with multiple fields of force. The device test locations are configured to provide sensitivity data from the packaged sensors in response to the directional forces. Embodiments provide a mechanism to transport the sensor packages from a device test location to a next device test location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventor: Peter S. Schultz
  • Patent number: 9213072
    Abstract: Radio-frequency (RF) traps and methods of common-mode energy damping are provided. One RF trap includes a body and a shutter holder rotatably coupled within the body, wherein the shutter holder is configured to rotate within the body about a longitudinal axis. The RF trap further including a magnetic flux shutter coupled to the shutter holder, wherein the magnetic flux shutter rotates within the body with the shutter holder to align the magnetic flux shutter at an angle within the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Victor Taracila, Miguel Angel Navarro, Fraser Robb, Pei H. Chan
  • Patent number: 9213073
    Abstract: An MRI system has a cylindrical superconducting magnet assembly contained in a bore tube of a cylindrical vacuum vessel (OVC), and a gradient coil assembly situated within the OVC bore tube. In an imaging region within a bore of the gradient coil assembly, the magnet assembly produces a magnetic field that is subject to drift during operation of the MRI system. Compensating material is located at a radial position between the imaging region and the magnet in a location that will be heated over a range of temperatures during operation of the MRI system. The compensating material is adjustable between two magnetic phases in response to an applied physical characteristic, which is selectively applied thereto so as to change the compensating material from a first magnetization to a second magnetization, and thereby compensate the drift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens PLC
    Inventor: Nicholas Paul Aley
  • Patent number: 9213074
    Abstract: A system and method for producing MR images in which bone and soft tissue are identified. The method includes applying a pulse sequence that includes a first stage configured to acquire a radially-encoded FID and radially-encoded echoes performed after a non-selective RF excitation pulse and before a second stage, which is configured to acquire additional echoes. The radially-encoded MR data acquired during the first stage is substantially representative of bone, while the MR data acquired during the second stage is substantially representative of soft tissues. MR images in which bone and soft tissue are identified are reconstructed from these MR data sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventors: Andre van der Kouwe, Thomas Benner
  • Patent number: 9213075
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes: a sequence controlling unit that, by controlling an execution of a pulse sequence, acquires magnetic resonance (MR) signals corresponding to a plurality of channels in the pulse sequence executed as a series, the MR signals being configured to be arranged into a first region of a k-space at first intervals and into a second region larger than the first region at second intervals larger than the first intervals; an arranging unit that arranges the MR signals corresponding to the channels into the k-space as k-space data; and an image generating unit that generates first-interval k-space data corresponding to the channels based on the second-interval k-space data acquired by executing the pulse sequence and generates a magnetic resonance image based on the generated first-interval k-space data, the first-interval k-space data acquired by executing the pulse sequence, and sensitivity distributions corresponding to the channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsue Miyazaki, Hidenori Takeshima, Tsutomu Hoshino, Satoshi Sugiura
  • Patent number: 9213076
    Abstract: Exemplary quantitative susceptibility mapping methods, systems and computer-accessible medium can be provided to generate images of tissue magnetism property from complex magnetic resonance imaging data using the Bayesian statistical approach. The likelihood is constructed directly using the complex data. A prior is constructed from matching structures or information content in known morphology. The quantitative susceptibility map can be determined by, e.g., maximizing the posterior. Thus, according to the exemplary embodiment, system, method and computer-accessible medium can be provided for determining information associated with at least one structure. Using such exemplary embodiment, it is possible to receive signals associated with the structure(s), where the signals can include complex data that is in the complex domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: MedImageMetric LLC
    Inventor: Tian Liu
  • Patent number: 9213077
    Abstract: A method of locating an underwater based system, the method including determining the underwater based system's geo-location, encoding the underwater based system's geo-location for RF transmission, encoding the underwater based system's geo-location for acoustic transmission, and transmitting RF and acoustic signals containing the encoded geo-location to a receiving station. A locator for locating an underwater based system including a buoy, a global positioning system having an antenna and a receiver, an RF transmission system including an antenna and a transmitter, an underwater acoustic transducer, and a locator control unit adapted to determine the underwater based system's geo-location, encode the underwater based system's geo-location for RF transmission, encode the underwater based system's geo-location for acoustic transmission, and transmit RF and underwater acoustic signals containing the encoded geo-location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Adaptive Methods, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Kieffer, Walter Allensworth, Conrad Zeglin, James Wiggins, Peter Owen, Jeffrey Herdman
  • Patent number: 9213078
    Abstract: A system and method for determining a characteristic of a noise source. A first array of microphones is mounted on a platform moveable from a starting position to an ending position along a line parallel to a central axis of the noise source. A second array of microphones includes sound sensors mounted in a spaced apart fixed position with respect to the noise source. A processing system processes first information from the first array of microphones and second information from the second array of microphones. The processing system collects and stores the first and second information at each discrete step of the first array, spatially filters the first information, processes and calibrates the filtered first information based on the second information, and further processes the calibrated first information to obtain a characteristic at a selected location. For flyover testing, the first array is instead held in a fixed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: James Robert Underbrink, Leon Brusniak
  • Patent number: 9213079
    Abstract: A method for geolocating a wireless communication unit. The method comprises receiving measurement data for radio frequency (RF) signals between the wireless communication unit and at least one base transceiver station, calculating an RF measurement based geolocation estimate for the wireless communication unit based at least partly on the received RF signal measurement data, obtaining geographical area data for at least one wireless coverage area visible to the wireless communication unit, determining a geolocation validation area based at least partly on the obtained geographical area data for the at least one wireless coverage area visible to the wireless communication unit, and deriving a confidence factor for the RF measurement based geolocation estimate based at least partly on the determined geolocation validation area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: JDSU UK Limited
    Inventors: Peter Kenington, Nicholas James Randell
  • Patent number: 9213080
    Abstract: A base station determines a muting configuration for reference signal (RS) transmission as a pattern defined by the combination of a muting sequence and a reference point. Muting occasions for a given wireless communication network cell may be differentiated from another cell by use of a different muting sequence, a different reference point, or both. Wireless communication apparatuses such as User Equipments (UEs) determine when the reference signals are muted in the cell based on the periodic muting sequence and the reference point received in assistance data transmitted by the base station. The network may alternatively utilize a common muting sequence with different reference points, a common reference point with different muting sequences, or different sequences and different reference points across multiple cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Iana Siomina, Muhammad Kazmi, Tao Cui, Elena Voltolina