Patents Issued in February 16, 2016
  • Patent number: 9261508
    Abstract: Provided is the use of antisense RNA and methods for the treatment, diagnosis and prophylaxis of cancer comprising administering said antisense RNA, particularly miRs 15 and 16 to a patient in need thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Istituto Superiore Di Sanita
    Inventors: Desiree Bonci, Ruggero De Maria
  • Patent number: 9261509
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods for assessing efficacy of a methotrexate (MTX) dosing regimen in a patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Inventor: Thierry Dervieux
  • Patent number: 9261510
    Abstract: The present invention relates to fusion proteins suitable as test antigens in the detection of infections with pathogens, particularly of primary infections with pathogens. Further, the invention relates to methods for detecting and differentially determining antibodies, particularly IgM antibodies resulting from an infection with a pathogenic organism. Furthermore, test reagents for carrying out these methods are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Christian Schotz, Elke Faatz, Peter Schaarschmidt, Urban Schmitt
  • Patent number: 9261511
    Abstract: The present invention relates to human IgE antibodies and derivatives thereof, which bind non-continuous planar allergenic epitope, such as in ?-lactoglobulin, with high affinity and specificity. The present invention also relates to processes for making and engineering such allergen binding monoclonal antibodies and to methods for using these antibodies and derivatives thereof in the field of immunodiagnostics and immunotherapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: DESENTUM OY
    Inventors: Sirpa Jylhä, Merja Niemi, Juha Rouvinen, Marja-Leena Laukkanen, Kristiina Takkinen, Hans Söderlund, Soili Mäkinen-Kiljunen, Tari Haahtela
  • Patent number: 9261512
    Abstract: The present invention concerns biomarkers and use thereof for determining whether a subject is or is not susceptible to developing a prophylactic or therapeutic immune response after such treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Transgene, S.A.
    Inventors: Bruce Acres, Benoit Grellier
  • Patent number: 9261513
    Abstract: An isolated antibody having a specific binding affinity for a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence HTEGKP (SEQ ID NO: 2) phosphorylated at threonine is described. The antibody may be used as biomarker for mitotic cells. A method for using the antibody includes contacting a cell with the antibody and detecting antibody bound to the cell as an indicator of the cell being in the mitotic state. A reagent kit comprising the antibody is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Florida State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Myra Hurt, Raed Rizkallah
  • Patent number: 9261514
    Abstract: A conformation-switching fluorescent protein probe for detection of alpha synuclein oligomers using an alpha synuclein (?S) variant, PG65 (SEQ ID NO: 4), together with a conformation-sensitive fluorescent molecule to create a molecular probe for rapid, specific, and quantitative detection of ?S oligomers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: New York University
    Inventors: Jin Ryoun Kim, Michael Hernandez
  • Patent number: 9261515
    Abstract: Provided herein is a method for determining the volume or hemoglobin content of an individual red blood cell in a sample containing a population of red blood cells. The method may be performed on a hematology analyzer. Also provided are a hematology analyzer for performing the method and a computer-readable medium containing programming for performing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventors: Giacomo Vacca, Martin Krockenberger, Diana Garrett
  • Patent number: 9261516
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the diagnosis and/or risk stratification of cardiac diseases and diseases of the respiratory tract and lungs. According to said method, the free fragment N-terminal proEndothelin (NT-proET-1; AS 18-52 of the pre-proET according to FIG. 1) or fragments and partial peptides thereof is or are determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: B.R.A.H.M.S GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Bergmann, Joachim Struck
  • Patent number: 9261517
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods for in vitro diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or angina pectoris (AP) by determining the level of neurophysin II in a sample from a patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: B.R.A.H.M.S GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Bergmann, Nils Morgenthaler, Jana Papassotiriou, Joachim Struck, Leong L. Ng
  • Patent number: 9261518
    Abstract: The application relates to a method for producing a medical bioprosthesis that can be transplanted in a patient and comprises substances from animal tissue, said method comprising a step during which a bioprosthesis is positively selected for implantation in the body of said patient when (i) the phenotype in the ABO/ABH system of said bioprosthesis is compatible with (ii) the phenotype in the ABO/ABH system of said patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Inventor: Olivier Schussler
  • Patent number: 9261519
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of natural isotopes 44Ca/42Ca 87Sr/86Sr as biomarkers to measure changes in bone mineral balance and loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents, a Body Corporate of the State of Arizona Acting for and on Behalf of Arizona State University
    Inventors: Ariel Anbar, Joseph Skulan, Gwyneth Gordon, Jennifer Morgan
  • Patent number: 9261520
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the field of biomarkers. In particular, the present invention relates to biomarkers such as PC-O 44:4 that can be used, for example for detecting and/or quantifying visceral adiposity and/or changes in visceral adiposity. This biomarker may also be used to diagnosing the effect of a change in lifestyle on visceral adiposity in a subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: NESTEC S.A.
    Inventors: Francois-Pierre Martin, Ivan Montoliu Roura, Philippe Alexandre Guy, Serge Andre Dominique Rezzi
  • Patent number: 9261521
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the field of biomarkers. In particular, the present invention relates to biomarkers such as PC-O 42:4 that can be used, for example for detecting and/or quantifying visceral adiposity and/or changes in visceral adiposity. This biomarker may also be used to diagnosing the effect of a change in lifestyle on visceral adiposity in a subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: NETSEC S.A.
    Inventors: Francois-Pierre Martin, Ivan Montoliu Roura, Philippe Alexandre Guy, Serge Andre Dominique Rezzi
  • Patent number: 9261522
    Abstract: Methods for assessing the condition of keratinized structures, including hair, in particular methods to determine the condition of keratinized structures in relation to suitability for analysis of analytes of interest in a test sample, are presented. The methods comprise contacting the keratinized structure with a non-proteolytic reducing agent and an optional proteolytic agent. The methods further include inspection of the hair sample, or measurement of free protein eluted from the keratinized structure, after reduction and optional proteolysis to determine condition prior to analyte identification and quantitation by known techniques such as immunoassays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Psychemedics Corporation
    Inventors: Virginia Hill, Michael I. Schaffer, Elvan Loni, Gary Neil Stowe
  • Patent number: 9261523
    Abstract: A system for managing the inventory of reagents for a laboratory automation system. The system for managing the inventory of reagents comprises a controller, software for the controller, and a refrigerator capable of refrigerating reagents, detecting the presence or absence of reagents in the refrigerator, and detecting the location of reagents in the refrigerator. The system for managing the inventory of reagents is connected to a laboratory automation system. The laboratory automation system comprises at least one clinical analyzer. A typical system for managing inventories of reagents includes an operator interface for the loading of boxes of reagents and other supplies, radio frequency identification system for identification of inventory and tracking, robotic mechanisms for loading containers onto the track system and removing containers from the track system, de-capping equipment, refrigeration equipment, and information technology connections to laboratory analyzers and vendors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventors: Patrick P. Fritchie, John C. Jones, Oscar F. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 9261524
    Abstract: The invention relates to a positioning device for a sample distribution apparatus, such as a pipetting apparatus, providing a first part, at which a sample transport device can be arranged, a second part, at which a sample holder can be arranged, wherein the first part and the second part are arranged moveable in relation to each other between a first position and an adjusted target position of the first and second part for performing a positioning motion, such that a sample can be conveyed towards the sample holder by the positioning motion. The automated change of the target position assists for achieving an error-free positioning and sample distribution. A corresponding method for the automatical change of a position of a first part relative to a second part using the positioning device, is also claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Eppendorf AG
    Inventors: Boris Von Beichmann, Uwe Mellenthin, Rainer Disselbach
  • Patent number: 9261525
    Abstract: The invention comprises an inertia! sensor comprising a frame, a proof mass; a first resonant element having a proximal end and a distal end, the first resonant element being fixed to the frame at its proximal end and coupled to the proof mass at its distal end, a second resonant element having a proximal end and a distal end, the second resonant element being fixed to the frame at its proximal end, adjacent to the first resonant element such that there is no coupling between the second resonant element and the proof mass, a means for coupling the first resonant element to the second resonant element; a drive means coupled to the first and second resonant elements for vibrating the first and second resonant elements; and a sensor assembly for detecting the amplitude of vibration of the resonant elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Cambridge Enterprise Limited
    Inventors: Pradyumna Thiruvenkatanathan, Ashwin Seshia, Jize Yan
  • Patent number: 9261526
    Abstract: Enables a fitting system for sporting equipment using an application that executes on a mobile phone for example to prompt and accept motion inputs from a given motion capture sensor to measure a user's size, range of motion, speed and then utilizes that same sensor to capture motion data from a piece of equipment, for example to further optimize the fit of, or suggest purchase of a particular piece of sporting equipment. Utilizes correlation or other data mining of motion data for size, range of motion, speed of other users to maximize the fit of a piece of equipment for the user based on other user's performance with particular equipment. For example, this enables a user of a similar size, range of motion and speed to data mine for the best performance equipment, e.g., longest drive, lowest putt scores, highest winning percentage, etc., associated with other users having similar characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: BLAST MOTION INC.
    Inventors: Michael Bentley, Bhaskar Bose, Ryan Kaps
  • Patent number: 9261527
    Abstract: A method of utilizing a mobile device to detect an emergency includes detecting whether the mobile device is carried by a user; detecting an acceleration status of the mobile device when the mobile device is determined to be carried by the user; and determining whether the user is in the emergency according to the acceleration status of the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventors: Wei-Chih Lin, Chih-Ping Huang, Yuan-Chan Lee
  • Patent number: 9261528
    Abstract: An impact detecting device includes a first impact detecting portion, a determining portion and an informing portion. The first impact detecting portion detects an impact applied to an object equipped to a vehicle. The determining portion determines that the object has received the impact when a detection result of the first impact detecting portion is greater than a first impact determination threshold. The informing portion informs that the object has received the impact, when the determining portion determines that the object has received the impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuo Imamura, Tateki Takayama, Yasuki Otake, Tomoaki Nakashima, Norihiko Nagae, Tsutomu Kondo, Yujiro Miyata
  • Patent number: 9261529
    Abstract: An acceleration sensor includes an outer frame body, a heating element, a first temperature sensing element for temperature measurement and a second temperature sensing element for temperature measurement, and an operational amplifier. In the outer frame body, a fluid chamber capable of sealing a fluid inside thereof is formed. The heating element is formed on a circuit mounting surface which is a specific inner wall surface of a plurality of inner wall surfaces defining the fluid chamber. The first temperature sensing element and the second temperature sensing element are formed on the circuit mounting surface. The distance from the first temperature sensing element to the heating element is shorter than the distance from the second temperature sensing element to the heating element. The operational amplifier calculates a difference between a measurement result by the first temperature sensing element and a measurement result by the second temperature sensing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akira Tanabe
  • Patent number: 9261530
    Abstract: An acceleration sensor includes a weight portion having a recess section and a solid section, beam portions, a movable electrode provided on the opposite surface of the weight portion from an open surface of the recess section to extend over the recess section and the solid section, a first fixed electrode arranged at the opposite side of the movable electrode from the recess section, and a second fixed electrode arranged at the opposite side of the movable electrode from the solid section. The acceleration sensor detects acceleration using a change in capacitance between the movable electrode and the fixed electrodes caused by rotation of the weight portion. The beam portions are shifted toward the recess section such that an angle between a perpendicular line extending from a gravity center position of the weight portion to the rotation axis and a surface of the movable electrode becomes equal to 45 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Yosida, Nobuyuki Ibara, Hideki Ueda, Takeshi Okada, Takeshi Mori, Masatosi Nomura, Katumi Kakimoto, Yuji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9261531
    Abstract: In a quantification method for an electrode material, information regarding a distribution of a material in an electrode is obtained. Information regarding a distribution of resistance in the electrode is obtained. A scatter diagram is produced based on the information regarding the distribution of the material and the information regarding the distribution of the resistance. The scatter diagram is divided into a plurality of regions. The material constituting the electrode is quantified based on the divided regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takeshi Matsubara
  • Patent number: 9261532
    Abstract: A conductive atomic force microscope including a plurality of probe structures each including a probe and a cantilever connected thereto, a power supplier applying a bias voltage, a current detector detecting a first current flowing between a sample object and each of the probes and a second current flowing between a measurement object and each of the probes, and calculating representative currents for the sample and measurement objects based on the first and second currents, respectively, and a controller calculating a ratio between representative currents of the sample object measured by each of the probe structures, calculating a scaling factor for scaling the representative current with respect to the measurement object measured by each of the probes, and determine a reproducible current measurement value based on the second measurement current and the scaling factor may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyun-woo Kim, Woo-seok Ko, Young-hwan Kim, Jeong-hoi Kim, Baek-man Sung, Hyung-su Son, Chae-ho Shin, Yu-sin Yang, Jae-youn Wi, Sang-kil Lee, Chung-sam Jun
  • Patent number: 9261533
    Abstract: An automatic test equipment (ATE) unit, which incorporates a mass interconnect system. The mass interconnect system is provided with a universal mounting table for use with receiver and test interface modules for electronically mounting and testing a variety of different types of electronic components or unit under test thereon. The mounting table test interface module incorporates MEMS based spring contacts to provide high-speed micro test-channels in order to establish signal connectivity between the components or unit under test and the tester, and which maintain the signal integrity up to 50 GHz without significant signal loss distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR
    Inventors: Rashid Rashidzadeh, Majid Ahmadi, Nabeeh Kandalaft
  • Patent number: 9261534
    Abstract: Among other things, one or more techniques and/or systems are provided for shielding a signal pin. A signal pin, such as a signal pin within a probe card used to test electronic devices, such as integrated circuits, is shielded from interference signals, which are emitted from other signal pins within the probe card. Shielding the signal pin mitigates cross-talk issues and/or impendence control issues associated with signals that are carried by the signal pin. In one example, one or more shield pins are arranged with respect to the signal pin according to a shield configuration. For example, the shield configuration comprises a plane of signal pins, a substantially regular layout of signal pins, or a polygonal layout of signal pins, etc. In this way, one or more shield pins inhibit unintended interactions or effects that otherwise occur among two or more signal pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Yung-Hsin Kuo, Po-Yi Huang
  • Patent number: 9261535
    Abstract: An adapter for attaching an active probe to a device under test is disclosed. According to one aspect, an active probe adapter includes an adapter body for connecting an active probe to a device under test (DUT), the adaptor body having an impedance controlled conducting path for connecting a signal of the DUT to a signal input of the active probe, the path including a signal conductor and a reference conductor. The adapter body includes probe-side electrical contacts for electrically connecting an active probe to the signal and reference conductors of the adapter, and a set of DUT-side electrical contacts for electrically connecting the signal and reference conductors of the adapter to the DUT via one or more connectors attached to the contacts. The DUT-side electrical contacts are physically arranged to allow different orientations of the connector relative to the adapter body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Max Jakobson
  • Patent number: 9261536
    Abstract: A testing apparatus for electronic components comprises a mounting block and a plurality of contact strips arranged on the mounting block. The contact strips are configured such that electrical leads of an electronic component are operative to press against and bend the contact strips in a biasing direction to ensure good contact between the electrical leads and the contact strips during testing of the electronic component. Further, a preload block located on the mounting block is operative to contact and apply a pre-stress force onto the contact strips in the biasing direction prior to contact between the electrical leads and the contact strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: ASM TECHNOLOGY SINGAPORE PTE LTD
    Inventors: Hing Suen Siu, Yu Sze Cheung, Chi Wah Cheng, Kai Fung Lau
  • Patent number: 9261537
    Abstract: A testing device for wafer level testing of IC circuits is disclosed. An upper and lower pin (22, 62) are configured to slide relatively to each other and are held in electrically biased contact by an elastomer (80). The elastomer is precompressed from its natural rest state between a top (22) plate and a bottom (70). Pre compression improves the resilient response of the pins. The pin crows (40) are maintained relatively coplanar by the engagement of at least one flang (44a-b) against an up-stop surface 90 of plate 20, thereby insuring coplanarity of the crowns. The pin guide (12) is maintained in alignment with the retainer 14 by establishing a registration corner (506) and driving the guide into the corner by elastomers in at least one diagonally opposite corner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Johnstech International Corporation
    Inventors: Jathan Edwards, Charles Marks, Brian Halvorson
  • Patent number: 9261538
    Abstract: An electrical circuit and method includes a transmitter in a first power domain with a first supply voltage referenced to a first voltage reference. The transmitter has an oscillator generating a first carrier signal, and an analog modulator receiving an input sensor signal and the first carrier signal and generating a modulated carrier signal. A receiver is in a second power domain with a second supply voltage referenced to a second voltage reference. The second voltage reference is different from the first voltage reference. The receiver includes a demodulator that receives and demodulates the modulated carrier signal and generates an output sensor signal. At least one coupler includes a pair of galvanically isolated elements with one galvanically isolated element in each of the first and second power domains. The modulated carrier signal couples from the first power domain to the second power domain through the at least one coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Solantro Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Christain Cojocaru, Igor Miletic, Gerald Augustoni
  • Patent number: 9261539
    Abstract: A method for measuring an electrical current with the aid of a field effect transistor inserted into a current path is disclosed, in which a control voltage is applied between the gate and source of the transistor in such a way that the voltage drop between the drain and source at the transistor in the current path remains within a specifiable range. Further, said voltage drop and the control voltage are determined. With these two values, and with a known relationship between the drain-source current, the drain-source voltage and the gate-source voltage the value of the current of interest can now be determined. Apparatus for implementing the method according to the invention is, furthermore, disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: MAGNA STEYR Fahrzeugtechnik AG & Co KG
    Inventor: Karl Pilz
  • Patent number: 9261540
    Abstract: Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of devices for measuring voltage of a power supply. Also disclosed are exemplary embodiments of detection devices and temperature controllers comprising such devices for measuring voltage of a power supply. In exemplary embodiments, a device for measuring the voltage of a power supply generally includes a resistor, a capacitor, and a control unit. One end of the capacitor is connected with the resistor, while the other end of the capacitor is connected to ground. The control unit is connected with the power supply. The control unit includes a comparator connected with the capacitor, a reference power supply connected with the comparator, a timer, and a computing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Lihui Tu, Liang Cao, Cuikun Chu
  • Patent number: 9261541
    Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention a device, circuit, and method are described for sampling input signal voltages, which may include voltages below a negative supply voltage for the device or circuit, without requiring static current from the input. Various embodiments of the invention obviate the requirement of an external negative supply voltage or attenuation resistors to allow sampling between a positive and negative voltage range. These embodiments result in a lower power sampling solution as well as simplifying any driver circuitry required by the sampler. The embodiments of the invention may be applied to sampling processes within analog-to-digital converters and may also be applicable to various other types of circuits in which a sampling input having input voltages that are lower than its negative supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: David Maes, Bharath Mandyam
  • Patent number: 9261542
    Abstract: Measured efficiency of an air conditioner or heat pump system is needed to accurately evaluate the economics of operating the system to provide a known amount of cooling. Significant degradation of air-conditioner and or heat pump components increases the operating cost by lowering the capacity of the system and/or increasing the power consumption. The invention provides measurement of the energy efficiency of any operating DX cooling, refrigeration, or heating unit, expressed in standard units by measuring the cooling or heating capacity and the power usage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Advantek Consulting Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Kenneth West
  • Patent number: 9261543
    Abstract: A power detection device includes first and second power detection circuits configured to output a first and second detection signals, respectively, each including a half-wave rectifier circuit having a transistor, and connected to an RF input terminal, a ripple filter having a transistor and a capacitor, and configured to filter ripples of a rectified signal from the half-wave rectifier circuit, a transmission circuit having a pair of transistors, and connected to the half-wave rectifier circuit and the ripple filter to transfer the rectified signal to the ripple filter, and a constant current source having a transistor to supply a current to the half-wave rectifier circuit, the ripple filter, and the transmission circuit, and a subtraction circuit configured to receive the first and second detection signals and to calculate a difference between the two signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yutaka Mimino
  • Patent number: 9261544
    Abstract: An arrangement includes an A/D converter and a processing circuit. The A/D converter is configured to generate digital samples of voltage and current waveforms in a polyphase electrical system. The processing circuit is operably coupled to receive the digital samples from the A/D converter. The processing circuit configured is to obtain contemporaneous phase current and voltage samples IA, IB, IC and/or IN, and VA, VB, VC. The processing circuit is further configured to determine at least ICB sample values based on three of the current samples of IA, IB, IC, and IN, and determine a VA value based at least in part on ICB. The processing circuit is further configured to provide information representative of the VA calculation to one of a group consisting of a display, a communication circuit, a memory and a billing calculation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Landis+Gyr, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Mondot
  • Patent number: 9261545
    Abstract: A capacitance voltage conversion circuit, which converts respective capacitances of a plurality of sensor capacitors into voltages, includes: a plurality of capacitance current conversion circuits disposed in respective correspondence with the sensor capacitors, each capacitance current conversion circuit configured to generate a detection current corresponding to a capacitance of a corresponding sensor capacitor; a current average circuit configured to average a plurality of detection currents, which are respectively generated by the capacitance current conversion circuits, to generate an average current; and a plurality of current voltage conversion circuits disposed in respective correspondence with the sensor capacitors, each current voltage conversion circuit configured to convert a difference current between a corresponding detection current and the average current into a voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yukihiro Iwamoto, Yuji Shimada
  • Patent number: 9261546
    Abstract: A touch sensing circuit is provided. The touch sensing circuit includes: a touch capacitor, for being touched; a touch capacitor frequency detection unit, coupled to the touch capacitor, for detecting an output frequency from the touch capacitor; a reference frequency generation unit, for generating a reference frequency; a calculation unit, coupled to the touch capacitor frequency detection unit and the reference frequency generation unit, for calculating the variation of the difference between the output frequency from the touch capacitor and the reference frequency; and a determination unit, coupled to the calculation unit, for determining whether the touch capacitor is being touched based on whether the variation of the difference is greater than a criterion value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: PRINCETON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wei-Lung Lee, Chieh Yung Tu, Chien-Hsien Tsai
  • Patent number: 9261547
    Abstract: An electrostatic capacitance detection device includes a plurality of electrodes configured to detect an electrostatic capacitance, an electrostatic capacitance measurement part configured to select one electrode from the plurality of electrodes as a detection electrode, to allow the electrodes other than the detection electrode to be in a first electric potential condition and then to be in a second electric potential condition that is different from the first electric potential condition, and to measure a first voltage of the detection electrode in the first electric potential condition and a second voltage of the detection electrode in the second electric potential condition, and a judgment part configured to compare measurement values based on the first and the second voltages of the detection electrode, thereby to judge whether the detection electrode is in a short circuit condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO
    Inventor: Tomomi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9261548
    Abstract: A hum noise detection device includes: a frequency conversion unit (1) configured to perform a frequency converting process at a constant time interval on an input signal, and converting the input signal into a frequency signal; a peak frequency calculation unit (2) configured to calculate a stationary peak frequency based on the frequency signal; a fundamental frequency estimation unit (3) configured to estimate a fundamental frequency of hum noise based on the stationary peak frequency; and a hum noise judgment unit (4) configured to judge whether or not there is hum noise in the input signal based on the estimated fundamental frequency and the stationary peak frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Masakiyo Tanaka, Shusaku Ito
  • Patent number: 9261549
    Abstract: A sensor apparatus for detecting leakage current in a suspension-type insulator of an electrical power system is disclosed. The sensor apparatus includes a housing having a leakage current sensor contained therein, a door pivotally connected to the housing and adapted to move between an open position where a grounded end fitting of the insulator is received by the sensor apparatus and a closed position, and a clamping mechanism connected to the housing. The leakage current sensor is adapted to detect a leakage current along the insulator. The clamping mechanism is adapted to clamp the sensor apparatus to the grounded end fitting of the insulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: ELECTRIC POWER RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew John Phillips, Chris Engelbecht, J. Mark Major, Bob Lynch
  • Patent number: 9261550
    Abstract: An in-situ unplug detector circuit detects when a cable is disconnected or unplugged. Detection does not have to wait for normal signaling to pause, such at the end of a frame or timeout. Instead, detection occurs during normal signaling. When the cable is disconnected, the transmitter no longer drives the load at the far end of the cable, and thus can drive the near end to a higher high voltage and to a lower low voltage. The increased voltage swing is detected by a detector at the near end that amplifies the transmitter output to the cable. A fast detector has a higher bandwidth and faster response time than a slow detector, and generates a fast detect signal that crosses over a slow detect signal. When the cable is disconnected, the fast detect signal again crosses over the slow detect signal, and decision logic activates an unplug signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Pericom Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Hung-Yan Cheung, Michael Y. Zhang
  • Patent number: 9261551
    Abstract: Provided is a ground fault detecting device 10 having a ground fault detection part 64 which detects a ground fault of an ungrounded circuit 70 based on a ground fault detection signal St_s of a ground fault signal detection circuit 53 when detection signals S_sig are superimposed on a positive side output part PL and a negative side output part ML by an inverting amplifier 25 connected to the positive side output part PL and an inverting amplifier 35 connected to the negative side output part ML, and having a power supply voltage detection part 66 which detects output voltage of a lithium-ion battery 71 based on a first power supply voltage detection signal Vd1_s of a first power supply voltage detection circuit 52.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9261552
    Abstract: A fault detector for operating process of electric arc furnace and method thereof are disclosed, which belong to the technical field of fault detection. The fault detector includes the temperature signal acquisition equipment, the current signal acquisition equipment and a host computer. The multimode fault monitoring and diagnosis method comprises the following steps: acquiring and standardizing the data; establishing the preliminary monitoring model for the operating process to obtain common subsets of M operating modes and typical subsets of every operating mode; calculating the T2 statistics and the SPE statistics, and monitoring and diagnosing fault in the operating process. The present invention has the advantages that the colorimetric temperature measurement can improve the calculation accuracy, different equipment becomes compatible, and the fault detector is suitable for operating in industrial production process with a variety of steady modes and can diagnose faults in a certain operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Northeastern University
    Inventors: Yingwei Zhang, Wenyou Du, Zhiming Li, Yunpeng Fan
  • Patent number: 9261553
    Abstract: A probe apparatus of inspecting electrical characteristics of a power device having electrodes on both sides of a substrate at wafer level can reduce and uniformize a contact resistance between the electrode on a rear surface of the substrate and a mounting surface conductor of a chuck top. In the probe apparatus, an attracting device supports a semiconductor wafer W on the chuck top 12, and has many vertical fine holes in a pattern (diameter ? and pitch p) that satisfies the condition of ?<p?2?. For example, the diameter ? is about 0.25 mm, and the pitch p is about 0.5 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Eiichi Shinohara, Munetoshi Nagasaka, Isamu Inomata, Kazuya Yano, Yoshiyasu Kato
  • Patent number: 9261554
    Abstract: To provide a semiconductor device capable of being easily subjected to a physical test without deteriorating characteristics. According to a measuring method of a semiconductor device in which an element layer provided with a test element including a terminal portion is sealed with first and second films having flexibility, the first film formed over the terminal portion is removed to form a contact hole reaching the terminal portion; the contact hole is filled with a resin containing a conductive material; heating is carried out after arranging a wiring substrate having flexibility over the resin with which filling has been performed so that the terminal portion and the wiring substrate having flexibility are electrically connected via the resin containing a conductive material; and a measurement is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya Tsurume, Etsuko Asano
  • Patent number: 9261555
    Abstract: To measure an inner temperature of a chamber included in a test handler, self-refresh currents of semiconductor memory devices under test are measured. The semiconductor memory devices are disposed in the chamber and have a function of linear temperature compensated self-refresh (Li-TCSR). Local temperature values are generated based on the self-refresh currents, where each local temperature value indicates a temperature near the corresponding semiconductor memory device of the semiconductor memory devices under test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-Kyu Yoon, Sang-Joon Ryu, Hwa-Cheol Lee, Yong-Hwan Cho
  • Patent number: 9261556
    Abstract: An optical die probe wafer testing circuit arrangement and associated testing methodology are described for mounting a production test die (157) and surrounding scribe grid (156) to a test head (155) which is positioned over a wafer (160) in alignment with a die under test (163) and surrounding scribe grid (161, 165), such that one or more optical deflection mirrors (152, 154) in the test head scribe grid (156) are aligned with one or more optical deflection mirrors (162, 164) in the scribe grid (161, 165) for the die under test (163) to enable optical die probe testing on the die under test (163) by directing a first optical test signal (158) from the production test die (157), through the first and second optical deflection mirrors (e.g., 152, 162) and to the first die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael B. McShane, Perry H. Pelley, Tab A. Stephens
  • Patent number: 9261557
    Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus includes a clock enable signal buffer unit configured to receive an input clock enable signal, and generate an output clock enable signal; a buffer control unit configured to generate a buffer enable signal in response to the output clock enable signal and a test enable signal; an input/output buffer unit configured to receive input patterns and generate output patterns; and a compression test unit configured to test the output patterns and the output clock enable signal according to the test enable signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Chang Hyun Lee, Young Jun Ku