Patents Issued in January 12, 2016
  • Patent number: 9234753
    Abstract: Low friction or nearly frictionless compasses are provided. One compass embodiment includes a housing having a wall forming a chamber, the housing having a closed end and an open end. The compass includes a fluid disposed within the chamber. The compass includes a magnetized material floating in the fluid, wherein the magnetized material is operative to indicate Earth's magnetic north. The compass includes a protective face adjacent to the open end, wherein the protective face closes the open end of the chamber. Also provided is a compass that includes low friction material deposited on at least one side of the magnetized material and the adjacent closed end of the housing to create a nearly frictionless interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Inventor: Frank Sanns, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9234754
    Abstract: An X-axis sensor, a Y-axis sensor, and a Z-axis sensor that detect a geomagnetic vector are provided, and the direction of the geomagnetic vector is sought on a spherical coordinate from the detection output of each sensor. A reference axis is determined in the spherical coordinate, a hypothetical central point is sought on the reference axis depending on data of two coordinate detection points, a perpendicular line to a plane that includes vectors from the hypothetical central point to the respective data is sought from the cross product of the vectors, an axis that is parallel to the perpendicular line and passes through an origin is set to be a calculated rotational axis, and movement centered around the calculated rotational axis is specified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yukimitsu Yamada, Kisei Hirobe
  • Patent number: 9234755
    Abstract: A gyroscope includes a body, a driving mass, which is mobile according to a driving axis, and a sensing mass, which is driven by the driving mass and is mobile according to a sensing axis, in response to rotations of the body. A driving device forms a microelectromechanical control loop with the body and the driving mass and maintains the driving mass in oscillation with a driving frequency. The driving device comprises a frequency detector, which supplies a clock signal at the frequency of oscillation of the driving mass, and a synchronization stage, which applies a calibrated phase shift to the clock signal so as to compensate a phase shift caused by components of the loop that are set between the driving mass and the control node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Luciano Prandi, Carlo Caminada, Alessandra Maria Rizzo Piazza Roncoroni
  • Patent number: 9234756
    Abstract: An optical tracking device includes a light source, an image sensor and a processing unit. The light source emits light at a lighting frequency. The image sensor outputs an operating image when the light source is being turned on and outputs a background image when the light source is being turned off. The processing unit is configured to obtain background information from the background image, calculate a differential image of the operating image and the background image, obtain object information from the differential image and compare the background information and the object information thereby removing background noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INC
    Inventors: Ming-Tsan Kao, Shu-Sian Yang, Han-Ping Cheng
  • Patent number: 9234757
    Abstract: Methods and systems for enhanced node location determination by varying a power characteristic of nodes in a wireless node network are described. At least one of the nodes is instructed by a managing element in the network to incrementally change the power characteristic (e.g., change output power level and/or node receiver sensitivity). As the power characteristic incrementally changes, nodes are identified that initially received a signal broadcast from a first of the nodes but no longer receive the broadcast signal. As the power characteristic continues to incrementally change, a node is identified as a last of the nodes that receives the broadcast signal before none of the other nodes can receive the broadcast signal. As such, the identified last of the other nodes is a closest node to the first node. Then, a location of the first node is determined based upon the closest node to the first node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: FEDEX CORPORATE SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Ole-Petter Skaaksrud, Terence Hollahan, Steven Benton
  • Patent number: 9234758
    Abstract: A system and method for estimating position of a machine is disclosed. The method may include receiving, from a perception sensor, scene data describing an environment in a vicinity of the machine and estimating a first position of the machine based on the scene data. The method may include determining whether a first signal indicative of a location of the machine is received by the machine and estimating a second position of the machine when it is determined that the first signal is received. The method may include comparing the second position with the first position and estimating a third position of the machine using at least one of the first position and the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Russell Friend, Qi Chen, Frank Arthur Willis
  • Patent number: 9234759
    Abstract: Road information data is enriched and a vehicle drive train is controlled on basis of this data. Based on vehicle position, data about possible routes which may be taken is collected from at least three sources (A, B, C). Data with the highest quality is chosen for controlling the drive train. When running, information about the traveled route is recorded and saved, thus providing a continuous update.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Johan Bjernetun, Anders Eriksson
  • Patent number: 9234760
    Abstract: A mobile transceiver device comprises a GPS receiver module to receive GPS signals and calculate current positions. The current positions are used in a navigation module. The mobile transceiver device comprises one or more local interface technologies, such as Bluetooth and USB. These local interface technologies can be used to communicate with an automobile data system. In situations where there is sporadic GPS coverage, the mobile transceiver device receives inputs from the automobile data system, such as speed or velocity information, and heading information, such as output from a compass, as available. These inputs are used in the navigation module of the mobile transceiver device to navigate by dead reckoning until an updated position fix based on received GPS signals can be calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventor: Michael Joseph DeLuca
  • Patent number: 9234761
    Abstract: A vehicle course estimation device which includes: a direction indicator sensor which detects an operating state of a direction indicator of a vehicle; a distance detection section which detects a distance between the vehicle and an intersection located at a travel direction side of the vehicle; a reference speed calculation section which calculates a reference speed, which is a speed for the vehicle to arrive at the intersection after a predetermined time, on the basis of the distance between the vehicle and the intersection located at the travel direction side of the vehicle, which has been detected by the distance detection section, when an operation of the direction indicator is detected by the direction indicator sensor; and a course estimation section which estimates a course of the vehicle on the basis of a speed of the vehicle with respect to the reference speed calculated by the reference speed calculation section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toru Miyamoto, Akihide Tachibana
  • Patent number: 9234762
    Abstract: A method for identifying a result responsive to a current location of a client device includes receiving, form a client device and at a host, a search query that includes a point of interest and a current location of the client device. The method also includes automatically updating the search query as the current location of the client device changes and instructing the host to identify a potential location associated with the point of interest and located within a user-defined proximity from the current location of the client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: FACEBOOK, INC.
    Inventors: Adrienne C. Meisels, Stephen J. Coughlin, George Fletcher, David S. Bill
  • Patent number: 9234763
    Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying and selecting personalized waypoints for presentation on a map are provided. In particular, a user's data can be analyzed to identify a plurality of candidate waypoints. The candidate waypoints can correspond to locations at which the user has a scheduled event, reservation, or appointment. When the user performs a search query in a mapping application or geographic information system, the plurality of candidate waypoints can be obtained and scored according to a scoring formula. One or more candidate waypoints can be selected based on the determined scores and presented on a personalized map in addition to the result of the search query. An exemplary scoring formula takes a candidate waypoint and a point of interest search result as inputs and analyzes a distance between the two locations and a likelihood that a user wants directions between the two locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Christos Savvopoulos, Stephan Seyboth
  • Patent number: 9234764
    Abstract: An in-vehicle system determines whether conditions are satisfied, including a favorite order being known and a current time of day being within a time period of a predefined time day. If the conditions are satisfied, a conversation is initiated to ask whether the favorite order is desired. When a response indicates that the favorite order is desired, the favorite order is placed and navigation guidance is provided for driving to a vendor. In some embodiments, when second conditions are met, including a monitored portion of a current route matching a previously monitored portion of a route when an order was placed and a monitored time of day matching a previously monitored time of day, within a predefined time period, a speech conversation is initiated to ask whether the order is desired. If the driver indicates the desire for the order, the order is placed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Alvin Yuan, Pedram Vaghefinazari
  • Patent number: 9234765
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus include computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage medium, including a method for determining routes. Starting and destination points, and any user constraints, are identified for travel. Initial routes are determined between the starting and destination points. Each initial route is segmented into segments. Attribute oriented routes are determined using the segments. Entities associated with each segment are determined. Attributes are identified for each entity and are aggregated and ranked along all the determined initial routes, and emerging attributes are determined. Attribute oriented routes are determined based on the emerging attributes including: identifying a theme for an attribute oriented route, identifying a set of entities from the determined entities that are associated with the emerging attributes, and creating the attribute oriented route that passes through a region that includes the entities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Amir Padovitz, Akshay N. Java
  • Patent number: 9234766
    Abstract: A computer program product including computer readable program code embodied on a computer readable storage medium. The computer program product includes computer readable program code for obtaining a fuel tank size, amount of fuel in the tank, and a fuel efficiency for an automobile; accepting user entry of a destination for traveling in the automobile; and automatically identifying a current location and determining a route to the destination. Additional computer readable program code acquires, for each of a plurality of refueling stations along the route, a location and a current fuel price being offered at the refueling station. Computer readable program code also provides output recommending one or more refueling stations at which to stop and a quantity of fuel to purchase at each of the one or more refueling stations in order to reach the destination without running out of fuel and minimizing the price of fuel purchased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jennifer L. Burlingham, Gary D. Cudak, Christopher J. Hardee, Christine M. Stamm-Nettleship, LaLecha J. Watkins
  • Patent number: 9234767
    Abstract: A running condition detection device includes a GPS receiving unit configured to receive a GPS signal and output a current position, a geomagnetic sensor configured to detect geomagnetism, a direction determination unit configured to obtain a current moving direction based on current positional data and last positional data from the GPS receiving unit, a first bend determination unit configured to compare current moving direction data obtained by the direction determination unit and reference direction data to determine passage of a street corner, a second bend determination unit configured to compare geomagnetic data detected by the geomagnetic sensor and reference geomagnetic data to determine passage of a street corner, and a determination prohibition unit which prohibits the first and second bend determination units from determining passage of a street corner during a given period of time when passage of a street corner is determined by one of the first bend determination unit and the second bend deter
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takeshi Matsue
  • Patent number: 9234768
    Abstract: A sensor assembly may include a Wheatstone bridge with one or more sense elements, an amplifier coupled to the Wheatstone bridge for providing a sensor output signal, a resistor, and a switch for connecting the resistor between the sensor and an adjustable power source output to induce an offset in the sensor output signal. In some instances, a controller may perform an automatic shunt calibration procedure by activating the switch to connect the resistor between the sensor and the adjustable power source output to induce an offset in the sensor output signal. The controller may read the output value and compare the output value with a predetermined value. The controller may adjust the power source output to a value that moves the sensor output value toward the predetermined value. The controller may repeat the reading, comparing and adjusting step until the sensor output value is within a predetermined range of the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Mahendra Kumar Pradhan, Gautham Ramamurthy, Sudheer Beligere, Vishal Malhan
  • Patent number: 9234769
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system and a method involve receiving a raw signal collected by a sensor that pertains to a temporal trend, creating a reference signal of a known amplitude and frequency, adding the reference signal to the raw signal to form a modulated signal, decomposing the modulated signal to obtain a decomposed signal, and conducting time-frequency analysis on the decomposed signal to detect abnormal patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventor: Hae-Bum Yun
  • Patent number: 9234770
    Abstract: A device for sensing a phenomenon using a dynamic measurement range includes: a sensing element configured to measure the phenomenon using a first measurement range and to provide an analog indication of a value of the phenomenon; an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) coupled to the sensing element and configured to convert the analog indication to a digital indication; and a processor coupled to the ADC and the sensing element and configured to analyze the digital indication to determine a second measurement range for the sensing element and to cause the sensing element to change from the first measurement range to the second measurement range for measurement of the phenomenon, the first measurement range being different than the second measurement range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Victor Kulik, Joseph Czompo, Cristina A. Seibert
  • Patent number: 9234771
    Abstract: A guide detection type rotary encoder has first through fourth transmission windings, first through fourth reception windings, and first through fourth flux coupling bodies. The first and second transmission windings, the first and second reception windings, and first and second flux coupling bodies each form first and second angle detection tracks which generate an N1 time and N2 time cyclic change at one rotation of the first rotor. The third and fourth transmission windings, the third and fourth reception windings, and third and fourth flux coupling bodies each form third and fourth angle detection tracks which generate an N3 time and N4 time cyclic change at one rotation of the second rotor. N1 and N2 are different, and N3 time and N4 are different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koji Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9234772
    Abstract: The optical encoder includes a scale provided with a periodic pattern in which an optical portion is periodically formed with a first period in a first direction, and a light receiver movable relatively with the scale in the first direction and photoelectrically converts a detection light from a light source and then passing through the optical portions. The optical portion periodically has a pattern, which is formed by pattern portions mutually adjacent in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and mutually shifted in the first direction, in the second direction with a second period of t. A width w of the light source in the second direction satisfies w=(a+b)/b·nt where n represents a natural number, and a:b represents a ratio of a distance from the light source to the periodic pattern and a distance from the periodic pattern to the light receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hitoshi Nakamura, Chihiro Nagura
  • Patent number: 9234773
    Abstract: A method for self-compensating a method includes the steps of rotating the patterned element relative to the read heads, the rotation about the axis to a plurality of first angles covering a range of at least 360 degrees; obtaining, at each of the plurality of first angles, first angular readings for the m measure read heads and for the reference read head; calculating a first array for each of the m measure read heads, each first array including, for each of the plurality of first angles, a difference in the first angular readings of the measure read head and the first angular reading of the reference read head; calculating, for each of the m measure read heads, at least one first spectral component based at least in part on the first array; calculating, for each of the m measure read heads, at least one second spectral component, the second spectral component based, at least in part, on the at least one first spectral component and on estimates of the second angles of the m measure read heads; and recording
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Peter G. Cramer
  • Patent number: 9234774
    Abstract: A lighting structure for a meter device is provided to include a dial, a rotating shaft having a light transmitting property, which is provided in a back surface side of the dial and rotates by receiving a turning force from a motor, a light transmitting pointer which is provided integrally with a light transmitting pointer shaft having a hole formed in a base end part into which an end part of the rotating shaft is inserted and fixed and rotates along a surface of the dial, and a light source which outputs the illuminating lights incident on a base end part of the rotating shaft. The pointer shaft includes a first laterally light-dispersing unit formed with a recessed part recessed toward the light source in an end part over the hole for dispersing a part of the illuminating lights incident on the pointer shaft toward the dial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Maebashi, Masaaki Sano
  • Patent number: 9234775
    Abstract: Methods of measuring gas flow rates in a gas supply system for supplying gas to a plasma processing chamber are provided. In a differential flow method, a flow controller is operated at different set flow rates, and upstream orifice pressures are measured for the set flow rates at ambient conditions. The measured orifice pressures are referenced to a secondary flow verification method that generates corresponding actual gas flow rates for the different set flow rates. The upstream orifice pressures can be used as a differential comparison for subsequent orifice pressure measurements taken at any temperature condition of the chamber. In an absolute flow method, some parameters of a selected gas and orifice are predetermined, and other parameters of the gas are measured while the gas is being flowed from a flow controller at a set flow rate through an orifice. In this method, any flow controller set point can be flowed at any time and at any chamber condition, such as during plasma processing operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dean J. Larson, Robert C. Hefty, James V. Tietz, William S. Kennedy, Eric H. Lenz, William M. Denty, Jr., Enrico Magni
  • Patent number: 9234776
    Abstract: A multivariable process fluid transmitter module includes a base having a pair of recesses. A pair of pedestals is provided with each pedestal being disposed in a respective recess and being coupled to a respective isolation diaphragm. At least one line pressure assembly is mounted proximate one of the pedestals. The at least one line pressure assembly couples a respective isolation diaphragm to a line pressure sensor. A differential pressure sensor has a sensing diaphragm fluidically coupled to the isolation diaphragms by a fill fluid. At least one additional sensor is disposed to sense a temperature of a process fluid. Circuitry is coupled to the line pressure sensor, the differential pressure sensor, and the at least one additional sensor to measure an electrical characteristic of each of the line pressure sensor, the differential pressure sensor, and the at least one additional sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Rosemount Inc.
    Inventor: David Matthew Strei
  • Patent number: 9234777
    Abstract: An ultrasonic signal coupler includes a pipe having a first ultrasonic waveguide and a second ultrasonic waveguide penetrating the pipe so that ultrasonic transducers attached to ends of the ultrasonic waveguides communicate ultrasonic signals through the ultrasonic waveguides directly through a fluid traveling through the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xiaolei Shirley Ao, Oleg Alexander Khrakovsky, Yue Ma
  • Patent number: 9234778
    Abstract: In an operation method of a multi-flow passage device, and a multi-flow passage of the present invention, blockage detection of a reaction flow passage can be readily performed and cleaning of the reaction passage can be easily performed. The operation method of the multi-flow passage device of the present invention is an operation method of a multi-flow passage device 1 formed with a reaction flow passage 20 for producing a reaction product S by allowing raw material fluids Q, R to flow and making chemical reaction, the method including steps of: partitioning the reaction flow passage 20 into a plurality of sections; and allowing the raw material fluids Q, R to flow in the reaction flow passage 20 and measuring pressure of the raw material fluids Q, R or the reaction product S flowing through the respective sections to determine blockage of the sections based on the pressure loss of the respective sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Noishiki, Akira Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 9234779
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for down hole gas separation from the multiphase fluid flowing in a wellbore or a pipe, for determining the quantities of the individual components of the liquid and the flow rate of the liquid, and for remixing the component parts of the fluid after which the gas volume may be measured, without affecting the flow stream, are described. Acoustic radiation force is employed to separate gas from the liquid, thereby permitting measurements to be separately made for these two components; the liquid (oil/water) composition is determined from ultrasonic resonances; and the gas volume is determined from capacitance measurements. Since the fluid flows around and through the component parts of the apparatus, there is little pressure difference, and no protection is required from high pressure differentials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC
    Inventor: Dipen N. Sinha
  • Patent number: 9234780
    Abstract: A multi-phase process fluid is passed through a vibratable flowtube. Motion is induced in the vibratable flowtube. A first apparent property of the multi-phase process fluid based on the motion of the vibratable flowtube is determined, and an apparent intermediate value associated with the multi-phase process fluid based on the first apparent property is determined. A corrected intermediate value is determined based on a mapping between the intermediate value and the corrected intermediate value. A phase-specific property of a phase of the multi-phase process fluid is determined based on the corrected intermediate value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Manus P. Henry, Michael S. Tombs
  • Patent number: 9234781
    Abstract: An automatic filling up spuit (100) screwed to an entrance (1a) of a cosmetics container (1) for suctioning and discharging liquid stored in the cosmetics container (1) includes: a spuit pipe (10); a cylinder member (20); a piston member (30); a cylindrical push button (50); and a top/bottom-opened cylindrical enclosure (60). The automatic filling up spuit has an advantage of convenient use in that it is capable of automatically filling up liquid contents in a cosmetics container by a certain amount precisely at all times through joining with the cosmetics container without requiring a separate filling up operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Inventors: Young Ju Lee, Jae Kwang Hwang
  • Patent number: 9234782
    Abstract: Volume dimensioning employs techniques to reduce multipath reflection or return of illumination, and hence distortion. Volume dimensioning for any given target object includes a sequence of one or more illuminations and respective detections of returned illumination. A sequence typically includes illumination with at least one initial spatial illumination pattern and with one or more refined spatial illumination patterns. Refined spatial illumination patterns are generated based on previous illumination in order to reduce distortion. The number of refined spatial illumination patterns in a sequence may be fixed, or may vary based on results of prior illumination(s) in the sequence. Refined spatial illumination patterns may avoid illuminating background areas that contribute to distortion. Sometimes, illumination with the initial spatial illumination pattern may produce sufficiently acceptable results, and refined spatial illumination patterns in the sequence omitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation
    Inventors: Franck Laffargue, Alain Gillet, Serge Thuries
  • Patent number: 9234783
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for connecting a tube coaxially arranged around a measuring probe in a measuring probe unit of a fill-level measuring device comprising: a cable- or rod-shaped measuring probe and a tube coaxially surrounding the measuring probe. The measuring probe unit is connected to the container by means of a process connection element, wherein the measuring probe and the tube arranged coaxially around the measuring probe for the measuring probe unit are connected releasably to the process connection element. The coaxially arranged tube is connected releasably to the process connection element via a shape interlocking, threaded connection in a defined connection region, and the releasable, shape-interlocking, threaded connection of the coaxially arranged tube to the process connection element is secured by means of a radially directed deformation of the coaxially arranged tube in the defined connection region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventor: Dirk Oβwald
  • Patent number: 9234784
    Abstract: A radar level gauge and a method for measurement of a distance to a surface of a product in a tank are disclosed. The radar level gauge comprises transceiver circuitry configured to transmit and receive electromagnetic signals, the transceiver circuitry comprises a frequency stabilizing feedback loop configured to generate the electromagnetic transmit signal in the form of a frequency sweep. The frequency stabilizing feedback loop is configured to generate an oscillation, forming a sinusoidal modulation of the frequency sweep. The radar level gauge further comprises a second mixer configured to mix an intermediate frequency signal and an integer multiple of the frequency of the sinusoidal modulation to provide an adjusted intermediate frequency signal, and processing circuitry configured to determine the distance based on the adjusted intermediate frequency signal. By providing a frequency sweep comprising a sinusoidal modulation, an improved sensitivity is achieved by the radar level gauge and method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: ROSEMOUNT TANK RADAR AB
    Inventor: Anders Jirskog
  • Patent number: 9234785
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a weighing device for determining the weight of discrete weighing products in a speed-independent manner, wherein a weighing chute comprising a sliding surface that is inclined with respect to the horizontal is fed detached weighing products, and the load introduction direction of a weighing cell supporting the weighing chute is aligned perpendicularly to the sliding surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Wipotec Wiege- und Positioniersysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Alexander Schulzki
  • Patent number: 9234786
    Abstract: The object to create a system and a method which allows better running gear diagnosis of rail vehicles is achieved by the present invention by arranging a number of force measurement devices on the rail measurement zone to detect the forces and/or torques acting on the rail measurement zone, such that the system also comprises a number of sonic measurement devices for detecting the sound waves which occur when the rail vehicle travels over the rail measurement zone. The present invention thus offers a diagnostic system for analysis of the condition of wheel bearings and wheel geometries in particular in which the forces and sound waves occurring when the rail vehicle travels over the rail can be detected and analyzed, so that more reliable inferences about the condition of the running gear of the rail vehicle can be drawn from them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Schenck Process GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Groll, Ralph Mueller
  • Patent number: 9234787
    Abstract: A combination weigher (100) comprises actuator units (19) for actuating weighing hoppers (14), and a body (17) having a side wall (17C) attached with the actuator units (19), and a casing member used to accommodate feeders (12) is formed by the side wall (17C).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: YAMATO SCALE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takayuki Nagai
  • Patent number: 9234788
    Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for measuring the strength of ultrasonic waves are provided. They are capable of measuring the strength of ultrasonic waves easily and at low cost without using a sound pressure meter. The ultrasonic wave strength measuring apparatus has a particle source soaked in a cleaning liquid, an oscillator to generate the ultrasonic waves whose strength is going to be measured to vibrate the particle source so that particles are eluted from the particle source into the cleaning liquid, a counter to count the number of particles in the cleaning liquid, and an operation unit to find the strength of the applied ultrasonic waves based on the counted number of particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shuichi Akutsu
  • Patent number: 9234789
    Abstract: The present invention relates to display devices, and more particularly to an optical sensing frame in which an infrared sensor module is fastened to a case top with a bracket to secure an assembly margin and prevent the infrared sensor module from mismatching with a liquid crystal display module by relative movement; and a display device therewith, the optical sensing frame includes a case top having a frame shaped upper side, and sides bent and extended from four sides of the upper side perpendicular thereto, first to third brackets fastened to an inside of the upper side of the case top at three corners thereof respectively, and an infrared sensor module placed in each of the first to third brackets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: LG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wan-Sik Lim, Jang-Hwan Kim, Jae-Hwan Kim, Jin-Hyuk Jang, Woo-Nam Tak
  • Patent number: 9234790
    Abstract: Optical apparatus and methods utilizing sensors operating in the reflection mode are provided. The apparatus includes at least one optical bus. The at least one optical bus is configured to be optically coupled to at least one source of input optical signals, to at least one optical detector, and to a plurality of reflective sensing elements. The at least one optical bus transmits an input optical signal from the at least one source to the plurality of reflective sensing elements. At least one reflective sensing element of the plurality of reflective sensing elements receives a portion of the input optical signal and reflects at least a portion of the received portion. The at least one optical bus transmits the reflected portion to the at least one optical detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Onur Can Akkaya, Onur Kilic, Michel J. F. Digonnet, Gordon Kino, Olav Solgaard
  • Patent number: 9234791
    Abstract: A light emission detection device having a flow path from which light to be detected is emitted is provided. The device includes a detection-side substrate having a joining surface and a detection surface provided opposite the joining surface, the joining surface having a depression and a light-shielding film provided over an area excluding the depression, the depression forming the flow path, the detection surface transmitting the light emitted from the flow path; and a wiring-side substrate having a joining surface and a conductive pattern provided with a varying thickness on the joining surface, the joining surface of the wiring-side substrate joining the joining surface of the detection-side substrate. In the area over which the light-shielding film is provided, adhesive is provided with a thickness corresponding to the varying thickness of the conductive pattern and the detection-side substrate and the wiring-side substrate are closely joined to each other with the adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Makoto Ogusu
  • Patent number: 9234792
    Abstract: A fiber laser system with a fiber laser device including a fiber laser; a laser output end part; and a delivery fiber. The delivery fiber is constituted by a double cladding fiber. An SFBG is provided on the output end side of the delivery fiber, which reflects part of laser light propagating in the core of the delivery fiber to thereby couple the part of the laser light with a backward-propagating cladding mode propagating in a first cladding in a backward direction. A backward-propagating cladding mode detecting section is provided on the input end side of the delivery fiber, which detects the intensity of backward-propagating light in a cladding mode, which light is the part of the laser light coupled by the SFBG with the backward-propagating cladding mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: FUJIKURA LTD.
    Inventor: Hidenori Miyauchi
  • Patent number: 9234793
    Abstract: An analyzer of the spatial intensity distribution of a laser beam focused or transmitted by an optical fiber comprises: a shaping lens; a device for taking a partial sample of the beam; a heat sink; a photodiode; an imaging lens to form images of the plane on an image sensor; a motorization of the shaping lens to translate along the optical axis; a motorization of the imaging lens to translate in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis; a motorization of the image sensor to translate along the optical axis; an electronic unit controlling each motorization; an electronic unit synchronizing the image sensor, connected to the photodiode to synchronize image capture with the laser pulses or in the pulses; an electronic unit adjusting the aperture and/or gain of the image sensor; and a software interface parameterizing and piloting the electronic control units, equipped with an image processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Laurent Berthe, Matthieu Schneider, Marco Soscia
  • Patent number: 9234794
    Abstract: A method directs a gas of interest into a minicell and uses an emitting laser to produce laser emission light that is directed into the minicell and onto the gas of interest. The laser emission light is reflected within the cell to make multipasses through the gas of interest. After the multipasses through the gas of interest the laser light is analyzed to produces gas spectroscopy data. The minicell receives the gas of interest and a transmitting optic connected to the minicell that directs a beam into the minicell and onto the gas of interest. A receiving optic connected to the minicell receives the beam from the gas of interest and directs the beam to an analyzer that produces gas spectroscopy data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Tiziana C. Bond, Mihail Bora, Michael A. Engel, James F. McCarrick, Bryan D. Moran
  • Patent number: 9234795
    Abstract: A spectroscopic measurement apparatus includes: a wavelength tunable interference filter including a fixed substrate having a fixed reflection film, a movable substrate having a movable reflection film, and an electrostatic actuator that changes a gap value of an inter-reflection-film gap by applying a voltage to bend the movable substrate; a detector that detects a light level; and a controller that measures a spectral characteristic of light under measurement. The controller includes a filter driver that applies a drive voltage to the electrostatic actuator to change the inter-reflection-film gap, a detected light level acquisition unit that acquires light levels detected by the detector, and a target light level acquisition unit that acquires a light level corresponding to an oscillation center of the movable substrate as a target light level based on how the detected light level transitions and a natural oscillation cycle that the movable substrate has.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Sano
  • Patent number: 9234796
    Abstract: A low-radiance infrared airborne calibration reference is an infrared imaging and calibration method. The method includes positioning a mirror perpendicular to an optical axis of a focal plane array in both an open-face position and a mirror-reading position. Temperatures of a lens, window, and the mirror are determined. In-band radiance and offset is calculated to generate an adjusted calibration curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Mason David Paulec, Jeffrey Brian Dieterich, Kenneth Howard Parker, Kevin Michael Young, Jack Ronald White
  • Patent number: 9234797
    Abstract: A focal plane array (FPA) imaging sensor includes an array of multiple tuning cells disposed on a monolithic substrate, in which each tuning cell includes: (a) a tunable etalon disposed in the monolithic substrate, and (b) a THz detector assembly comprised of at least two antennae disposed in the monolithic substrate. The THz detector assembly is disposed below the tunable etalon. Each tunable etalon includes a Fabry-Pérot interferometer comprised of upper and lower mirrors, spaced by a gap between the mirrors, the gap forming an etalon of the interferometer. The FPA imaging sensor may also be formed as a hybrid, in which portions of the tuning cells are fabricated separately from the THz detector assembly and aligned to each other. The lower mirrors may also be fabricated monolithically with the substrate and the upper mirrors may be formed separately and then aligned to the lower mirrors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Exelis, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Daniel Newman, Paul Poo-Kam Lee, Andrew Paul Sacco
  • Patent number: 9234798
    Abstract: Provided are a system and a method for detecting a number of layers of few-layer graphene employing multispectral image reproduction process to provide rapid detection of numbers of layers of few-layer graphenes on transparent or non-transparent substrates. The application of the system and method in relevant industries expedites validation and/or verification of the number of layers of an FLG product and improves the quality control efficiency thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: National Chung Cheng University
    Inventors: Hsiang-Chen Wang, Guan-Huang Wu, Jhe-Ming Yang
  • Patent number: 9234799
    Abstract: The invention relates according to a first aspect to an interferometric inversion method for measuring a characteristic variable of a radiation source and/or of a medium through which the radiation passes between the source and an interferometer, the interferometer being capable of generating an interferogram of the radiation by creating a finite number of optical step differences between two rays that have followed the same path between the source and the interferometer, characterized by the implementation of the steps whereby a quantity characterizing an improvement in the inversion is determined, step differences that contribute mainly to optimizing the quantity characterizing an improvement in the inversion are selected without sampling regularity constraints, and a free interferogram is generated using only the selected step differences. According to a second aspect, the invention provides an interferometer for implementing the method according to the first aspect of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: CENTRE NATIONAL D'ETUDES SPATIALES
    Inventors: Alain Rosak, Clémence Pierangelo
  • Patent number: 9234800
    Abstract: A spectrometer recognizes a measurement target on the basis of the spectral data set of observed light detected by a spectral sensor capable of measuring wavelength information and light intensity information. The spectrometer is provided with a spectral data processor. Spectral data sets are detected at two different positions by the spectral sensor, and the processor subtracts a first spectral data set from a second spectral data set, or divides the first spectral data set by the second spectral data set to calculate one phase correlation spectral data set, which is correlated to the spectral data sets at the two different positions. The processor simultaneously identifies the measurement target corresponding to the two different positions on the basis of the correlation spectral data set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinya Kawamata, Ryuji Funayama, Tsutomu Ishi, Yumiko Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 9234801
    Abstract: A method is provided for forming multiple-LED (light-emitting-diode) light emitters from a plurality of LEDs, wherein the number of LEDs in each emitter is an integer M. The method includes providing a plurality of LEDs, each of the LEDs characterized by a first parameter and a second parameter, which are related to color coordinates CIEx and CIEy in a chromaticity diagram. The method also includes determining first and second parameter X0 and Y0 for a target color. The method further includes, for all possible combinations of M LEDs out of the plurality of LEDs, determining a first group parameter and a second group parameter based on the first and second parameters for all of the M LEDs, and selecting a group of M LEDs whose first group parameter and second group parameter are closest to X0 and Y0 as a candidate for forming a light emitter of M LEDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: LedEngin, Inc.
    Inventors: Zequn Mei, Danny Gonzales, Xiantao Yan, William E. Armstrong
  • Patent number: 9234802
    Abstract: An energy output measuring device including a main body having a light reflecting exterior and a window portion formed in the main body and produced from infrared-reflecting glass. At least one visible light sensor is disposed adjacent the window. The energy output measuring device is configured to pass through a heating device. An energy output of the heating device is determined from measurements taken by the heating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Plastic Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Alan McGurk, Aaron Raphael Teitlebaum