Patents Issued in March 8, 2016
  • Patent number: 9279687
    Abstract: A data security system for a navigation system comprising an enabling/disabling unit for enabling or disabling a data transfer from a data memory to a data storage unit of the navigation system, an identification unit for identifying an identification code, such as a vehicle or navigation system identification code, and a comparison unit for comparing these identification codes with identification codes stored in the enabling/disabling unit, where the enabling/disabling unit may enable or disable the data transfer responsive to the comparison. If a vehicle or navigation system identification code is not stored in the enabling/disabling unit, a read/write unit writes an identification code retrieved by an identification unit into the enabling/disabling unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: HARMAN BECKER AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventors: Jürgen Hellmich, Normen Altiparmak, Lars Koslowski
  • Patent number: 9279688
    Abstract: Disclosed is a feature for a vehicle that enables taking precautionary actions in response to conditions on the road network around or ahead of the vehicle, in particular, a blind intersection along a section of road. A database that represents the road network is used to determine locations where a blind intersection is located along a section of road. Then, precautionary action data is added to the database to indicate a location at which a precautionary action is to be taken about the blind intersection located along the section of road. A precautionary action system installed in a vehicle uses this database, or a database derived therefrom, in combination with a positioning system to determine when the vehicle is at a location that corresponds to the location of a precautionary action. When the vehicle is at such a location, a precautionary action is taken by a vehicle system as the vehicle is approaching a blind intersection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventor: Robert Denaro
  • Patent number: 9279689
    Abstract: A method for constructing and revising road maps in a vehicle map database using vehicle location signals to provide traffic flow information for recognized vehicle patterns from past vehicle travel. The method includes identifying vehicle travel segments as a series of exemplar points from the location signals. Exemplar points in each travel segment are eliminated to define the travel segment by a beginning exemplar point and an ending exemplar point. A potential ending exemplar point may be redefined if an average location of the exemplar points from a line connecting the beginning point and the potential ending point is outside of a threshold distance. The travel segments are stored in a database, where each stored travel segment includes a travel time. The method compares new vehicle travel segments to the stored vehicle travel segments to identify a match, and then revise the vehicle travel time for the stored travel segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Darrel J. Van Buer
  • Patent number: 9279690
    Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and corresponding method of determining a navigation trajectory of a vehicle. The method includes receiving, by a control server, traffic congestion information with respect to a road network comprising trajectories from the current location to the destination, determining, by the control server, candidate trajectories ordered by the shortest distance among the trajectories from a current location to a destination or ordered by the shortest time among the trajectories from a current location to a destination, in consideration of the traffic congestion information, and determining, by the control server, the trajectory having the smallest increase in the traffic congestion degree with respect to the road network among candidate trajectories as a final trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: RESEARCH & BUSINESS FOUNDATION SUNGKYUNKWAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Jaehoon Jeong, Eun Seok Lee
  • Patent number: 9279691
    Abstract: A plan through a space having a near field and a far field is determined. Using a sensor device, measurements of the far field are obtained and stored in an electronic memory. A processor uses the measurements to determine the viability of each far field plan among a plurality of candidate far field plans. The processor also determines a flexibility score for each of the candidate far field plans and selects a composite plan comprising the viable far field plan having a highest flexibility score among the viable candidate far field plans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: APPLIED INVENTION, LLC
    Inventors: Adrian Kaehler, Kjerstin Williams, Mark E. Duttweiler
  • Patent number: 9279692
    Abstract: An optimum route search may be conducted through the use of a tiling overlay on the network of road segments. Overlaying the tiling (grid) over the road segments allows for a reduction of the number of road segments considered for an optimum path as road segments can be evaluated on whether the road segment is part of an optimal path to the borders of a first tile and then successively larger frames of tiles around the initial tile. By reducing the number of road segments considered for the optimum route search to road segments that are part of optimal routes to various tile boundary edges, the computation of the optimum route for the route of interest may be quicker and less resource intensive than efforts to determine optimum routes through other methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: HARMAN BECKER AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES GMBH
    Inventor: Harald Wellmann
  • Patent number: 9279693
    Abstract: A method for a computing device to determine a route entails determining a sun position relative to the route, determining weather conditions along the route, and determining whether to provide alternate routing based on both the sun position and the weather conditions. In one implementation, time-specific and weather-specific digital photographs of points of interest along the route are downloaded for display on the device when the device is located at or near the points of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: James Allen Hymel, William Donald Santo
  • Patent number: 9279694
    Abstract: A portable electronic device connected over a network to a server is used to guide a person using the device to return to a location he chooses and to find one or more selected items within a facility, with the location of the device being tracked using radio frequency signals generated within the facility or GPS signals from satellites. The process of connecting to the server may be started when a bar code is photographed using a camera within the device, or when an RFID tag is read by a reader within the device. Location processes are provided for finding a vehicle left in a parking area, and for locating items that are additionally described in messages displayed on the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Inventor: Babak Sheikh
  • Patent number: 9279695
    Abstract: A computer implemented method of operating a navigation system to provide geographic location information is provided. The method comprises receiving a query text string representing a query for a geographic location from a user and obtaining data records that represent a plurality of candidate geographic locations. The method computes a text matching score that indicates how much of the query text string matches a record text string of the candidate geographic location and applies a usage pattern weight to the text matching score to obtain an overall score value for the candidate geographic location. The candidate geographic locations are ranked based on the overall score values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: Daniel Rolf, Torsten Sievers
  • Patent number: 9279696
    Abstract: Example methods, apparatuses, or articles of manufacture are disclosed herein that may be utilized, in whole or in part, to facilitate or support one or more operations or techniques for automatic or more dynamic handover of one or more positioning parameters from a navigation device, such as a personal navigation device (PND) co-located with a vehicle, for example, to a mobile communication device for use in or with a mobile communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Koushik Annapureddy, Keir Finlow-Bates
  • Patent number: 9279697
    Abstract: Tagged driving events may be generated during a driving session from sensor data collected via one or more sensors and/or entered by an instructor. The tagged driving events may include a description of each driving event and its associated severity or weight as it relates to a scoring process as well as a time and/or a location of the driving event. A driving session report may be generated using the tagged driving events and may include a driver feedback score that is weighted based on the severity associated with each of the tagged driving events and/or the collected data, a map of the driving session route that indicates a map location of each tagged driving event, and/or a listing of each tagged driving event. The driving session report may be displayed such that a user may select a tagged driving event to view information associated with the tagged driving event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Brian Mark Fields, Steve Roberson, Abhishek Harish, Hyunji Lim, Matthew James Waughtel
  • Patent number: 9279698
    Abstract: A metering and measuring point system for measuring and metering electrical energy/electricity drawn off and/or fed into a drawing off and/or feeding device at a fixed geographical point by a consumption unit, comprises one or more stationary drawing off and/or feeding devices that are connected to the power supply and configured for drawing off and/or feeding in electrical energy/electricity by means of consumption/generation units and at least one identifiable non-stationary functional unit for measuring and metering electrical energy/electricity that is conductively, via an electric conductor or inductively, drawn off or fed into one or more stationary drawing off and/or feeding devices by consumption/generation units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: UBITRICITY GESELLSCHAFT FUR VERTEILTE ENERGIESYSTEME MBH
    Inventors: Knut Hechtfischer, Frank Pawlitschek
  • Patent number: 9279699
    Abstract: The disclosed subject matter relates to an architecture that can leverage femtocell network infrastructure in order to facilitate premises management or monitoring. In particular, the architecture can leverage the local presence of a home nodeB (HNB) located at a premises associated with a subscriber in order to aggregate, process and/or distribute various state information that can be collected at the premises.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: AT&T MOBILITY II LLC
    Inventor: Joseph Patini
  • Patent number: 9279700
    Abstract: A method for processing daily consumption, demand and time of use meter reads for electric, gas, water and other metered entities. The meter reads are collected by any of the well known Automated Meter Reading (AMR) technologies and loaded into a meter data warehouse. At a minimum daily meter reading, reads that are tagged as Good, Stale, Partial, Incomplete and Missing are required for properly identifying usage patterns, applying rules for error patterns and estimating the reads which will provide quality meter reads to the utilities thereby identifying meter problems before they become billing problems. The overall process involves loading the daily meter reads into a database, comparing each meter read against its previous day's read and applying a set of rules that help in validating, editing and estimating (VEE) of this data. The VEE rules that are applied can be broadly classified into five (5) categories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Landis+Gyr Analytics, LLC
    Inventors: Venkatesh Ramachandran, David Hubbard, John Skog
  • Patent number: 9279701
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a remote meter reading method and system of the type that may be poled by wireless communication. Other remote reading systems require a periodic change of batteries used to supply the power to the communication and other systems used in the remote meters. The present invention mitigates this need by using the water and gas flow into homes or other buildings to generate power used to recharge those batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Basic Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfiero F. Balzano, Armando Benavides
  • Patent number: 9279702
    Abstract: A measuring system having a first magnetic field sensor, a second magnetic field sensor, an encoder, and an evaluation circuit to which the first magnetic field sensor and the second magnetic field sensor are connected. The evaluation circuit generates a first signal and a second measurement signal. The encoder generates a second magnetic field change with a second periodicity. The evaluation circuit generates a second signal with the second periodicity from the first measurement signal of the first magnetic field sensor and the second measurement signal of the second magnetic field sensor according to an absolute value function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Micronas GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Ritter, Joerg Franke
  • Patent number: 9279703
    Abstract: The encoder includes a scale provided with a periodic pattern, a sensor relatively movable with respect to the scale and reading the periodic pattern to output analog signals each having a changing period corresponding to the periodic pattern and having mutually different phases, an A/D converter performing time-division analog-to-digital conversion on the analog signals output from the sensor to produce digital signals, and a phase detector detecting a phase from the digital signals. The encoder further includes a corrector calculating a correction value by using a relative movement speed of the scale and the sensor and the detected phase detected by the phase detector, and calculating a corrected phase from the correction value and the detected phase, and a position detector calculating a position in a direction in which the scale and the sensor are relativity moved by using the corrected phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hitoshi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9279704
    Abstract: An optical encoder light shielding plate has a plurality of bridge parts provided in parallel, each of the plurality of bridge parts having a metallic layer, and a slit formed between the plurality of bridge parts. The slit is configured to have light incident therefrom. In the metallic layer, a master-side surface on an exposed surface side of a conductive master body is arranged on a light incident direction side. The metallic layer is obtained such that a plurality of cavities are provided in parallel on the exposed surface of the conductive master body. A voltage is applied while the conductive master body is dipped in an electrolytic solution. The metallic layer is electrodeposited on the exposed surface of the conductive master body in the cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Rikuo Kawamura, Hideaki Ozaki, Hirotada Teranishi, Takahiro Sakai
  • Patent number: 9279705
    Abstract: A probe for use with a measurement instrument includes a circuit connected to the probe. The probe comprises a process adaptor for mounting to a process vessel and including a through bore extending from a connector end to a process end. A tubular body is received in the process adaptor at the connector end and has an outer diameter less than an inner diameter of the process adaptor at the connector end to define a cavity therebetween. The cavity is open to the process vessel. A coupling secures the body to the process adaptor. A center conductor is coaxial with the tubular body and the process adaptor. A seal element is disposed between the tubular body and the center conductor. Process pressure in the process vessel increases compressive force between the tubular body and the seal element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Magnetrol International, Incorporated
    Inventor: Paul G. Janitch
  • Patent number: 9279706
    Abstract: Certain embodiments herein relate to configurations for reducing the flow area for fluids traveling through a Vortex flowmeter. Such configurations may establish a minimum required Reynolds number consistent with optimized performance of the Vortex flowmeter. Various configurations for achieving optimized performance may include inserting one or more segments or a streamlined, torpedo-shaped body into a bore of a meter body of the Vortex flowmeter to block a certain cross-sectional area of the bore. By reducing the cross-sectional area of the bore, the Reynolds number of fluids may be increased to the optimized level. Another configuration may include reducing the diameter of the bore of the meter body. Any of these configurations may be implemented to achieve a desired Reynolds number, and hence, optimized performance. Certain embodiments herein also relate to determining or calculating precise or near precise sizes for segment insertions, torpedo body diameters, and diameters of the meter body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Yokogawa Corporation of America
    Inventor: Mohamed Khalifa
  • Patent number: 9279707
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an ultrasonic, flow measuring device, characterized by method steps as follows: selecting a number larger than one of straight subsections of the first signal path, which should have different distances from the measuring tube axis; establishing the distances of the straight subsections from measuring tube axis; calculating values of lengths of the straight subsections, as projected on the measuring tube axis, as a function of the number of straight subsections with the same distance from the measuring tube axis and the respective distances from the measuring tube axis; and inserting the at least a first reflection surface in the measuring tube such that the acoustic signal on the path from the first transmitter to the first receiver is so reflected on at least the first reflection surface that the first signal path comprises the straight subsections with the selected distances and the calculated values of the lengths as projected on the measuring tube axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Achim Wiest, Andreas Berger
  • Patent number: 9279708
    Abstract: An ultrasonic flowmeter includes a plurality of ultrasonic wave elements attached to an outer wall of a pipeline through which a measurement target fluid flows, and configured to transmit and receive an ultrasonic signal, wherein at least one of the ultrasonic wave elements is an ultrasonic wave transmission element and is attached to the outer wall of the pipeline so that an ultrasonic wave transmission surface thereof is in parallel to a pipe axis direction of the pipeline, and another at least one of the ultrasonic wave elements is an ultrasonic wave reception element and is attached to the outer wall of the pipeline so that an ultrasonic wave reception surface thereof is in parallel to the pipe axis direction of the pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: YOKOGAWA ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki Tanaka, Minako Terao, Yoshiaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9279709
    Abstract: A sensor device for detecting at least one flow property of a fluid medium, including at least one sensor housing, in which at least one electronic module having at least one flow sensor for detecting the flow property is accommodated. At least one pressure sensor and at least one humidity sensor are accommodated inside the sensor housing, at least the pressure sensor and optionally also the humidity sensor is situated inside the sensor housing independently of the electronic module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Kurt Etherington, Norbert Schneider, Heinz Rilling, Uwe Konzelmann, Andreas Kaufmann, Michael Rittmann, Andreas Stark, Hans Beyrich
  • Patent number: 9279710
    Abstract: A control and measurement system for a coriolis flowmeter having a flowtube, a driver adapted to vibrate the flowtube, and a pair of sensors adapted to generate signals indicative of movement of the flowtube when it is being vibrated by the driver, wherein the sensors are positioned relative to one another so the signals from the sensors are indicative of a mass flow rate of fluid through the flowtube. A digital drive signal generator is adapted to generate a variable digital drive signal for controlling operation of the driver. The digital drive signal generator can be adapted to cause the driver to resist motion of the flowtube during a first time period and amplify motion of the flowtube during a second time period. The digital drive signal generator can also be adapted to initiate motion of the flowtube by sending one or more square wave signals to the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Manus P. Henry, David W. Clarke, James H. Vignos
  • Patent number: 9279711
    Abstract: An optical sensor for a conventional tank gauge designed to allow a user to remotely check the liquid level of a tank without the need for a visual inspection. Using an emitter circuit board with a plurality of photoemitters and a detector circuit board with a plurality of photodetectors, the optical sensor can fit over a conventional tank gauge without disturbing the gauge. The circuit boards can be attached to an optical sensor frame, which can be adjusted on the conventional tank gauge by a height adjustment screw and a series of set screws. Alternatively, one or more sliders can be used to maintain proper alignment. Analog data generated from the photodetectors can be digitized using a microcontroller and can be made available for viewing on a stationary or mobile device via an integrated network connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Inventor: Eric Guldalian
  • Patent number: 9279712
    Abstract: A low profile, high capacity load cell suitable for use in connection with in motion weighing or other weighing scales and systems. Also disclosed are scales for use with the load cell, and systems for using the scales. The load cells are especially suited for use in high speed in-motion weighing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Intercomp Company
    Inventor: William P. Kroll
  • Patent number: 9279713
    Abstract: A device for determining the weight per unit area of a moving material web, in particular a fibrous material web includes at least one microwave sensor that has an element for coupling the microwaves and a reference element. The coupling element and the reference element are located at a distance from one another in such a way that the material web can be moved therebetween. At least one microwave sensor element, the coupling element and/or the reference element can be moved such that the distances between the material web and the elements can be adjusted for or during the measurement of the moving material web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Ischdonat, Ingolf Cedra, Oliver Kaufmann
  • Patent number: 9279714
    Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for confirming fluid fill in automobile subassemblies are described herein. Such systems can include a weigh station to determine if the assembled automobile differential is at an acceptable weight that is indicative of proper fluid fill. A method of detecting a fluid fill condition for an automobile subassembly can comprise transferring the subassembly to a weigh station, applying constraints configured to prevent removal of the subassembly from the weigh station, weighing the subassembly, and determining the fluid fill condition based on the weight of the subassembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Leontin Drasovean, Han Xu
  • Patent number: 9279715
    Abstract: A method of operating an apparatus for analysing the condition of a machine having a part rotating with a speed of rotation, includes receiving a first digital signal dependent on mechanical vibrations emanating from rotation of the part, analyzing the first digital signal so as to detect peak amplitude values during a finite time period, the finite time period corresponding to a certain amount of revolution of the part, the certain amount of revolution corresponding to more than one revolution of the monitored rotatable part, defining amplitude ranges, sorting the detected peak amplitude values into corresponding amplitude ranges so as to reflect occurrence of detected peak amplitude values within the plurality of amplitude ranges, and estimating a representative peak amplitude value in dependence on the sorted peak amplitude values and the certain amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: S.P.M. INSTRUMENT AB
    Inventor: Lars-Olov Hedin
  • Patent number: 9279716
    Abstract: The present subject matter relates to a capacity detector, a waveguide and a manifold for use with a coin sensor as well as methods for sensing a capacity of a coin receptacle. In one aspect, the waveguide for use with a coin sensor comprises an excitation end for receiving an acoustic signal, a horn end for disposition adjacent to a coin receptacle, and a conduit interconnecting the horn end and the excitation end. In embodiments, the horn end of the waveguide may define a horn selected from a tapered horn, an exponential horn, a tractrix horn, or a modified tractrix horn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Crane Payment Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Snider, Edward M. Zoladz, Jr., Christopher S. Carmine
  • Patent number: 9279717
    Abstract: A multidirectional input device includes a case; a slider slidable in a first direction and mounted to the case; a movable member mounted on an upper surface of the slider so as to be slidable in a second direction; a first reflection portion provided on any one of the movable member, the case, and the slider; a first light-emitting device arranged to be opposite to the first reflection portion; and a first light-receiving device arranged to be opposite to the first reflection portion, wherein the first reflection portion has a plurality of steps confronting the side facing the first light-emitting device, and a distance between the first reflection portion and the first light-emitting device in a third direction varies according to an area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Miyazaki, Hideaki Eto, Yosuke Ohashi, Takeshi Miyaoka
  • Patent number: 9279718
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are provided that may facilitate multibeam coherent detection and/or speckle mitigation. For example, some embodiments provide for multiple simultaneous independent speckle realizations in light reflected from an actively illuminated target while also may simultaneously provide reference beams inherently aligned to each speckle. These tools and techniques may facilitate coherent detection of light returned from a target. In some cases, this may provide the basis for substantial speckle mitigation. With the addition of illumination phase or frequency modulation and/or intelligent algorithmic methods, some designs may utilize the multiple speckle returns to actively mitigate speckle noise, and can further be used to separately measure speckle phase to implement interferometric resolution surface tilt measurement and/or surface imaging. These tools and techniques may be utilized for other purposes related to multibeam coherent detection and/or speckle mitigation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Light Works II, LLC
    Inventor: Christian J. Grund
  • Patent number: 9279719
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for making a quantitative measurement of an electric field. A plurality of antennas separated from one another by known distances are arrayed in a region that extends in at least one dimension. A voltage difference between at least one selected pair of antennas is measured. Each voltage difference is divided by the known distance associated with the selected pair of antennas corresponding thereto to generate a resulting quantity. The plurality of resulting quantities defined over the region quantitatively describe an electric field therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Edward R. Generazio
  • Patent number: 9279720
    Abstract: An analysis device for analyzing components contained in an object includes a light emitting unit that irradiates the object with light, a transmissive spectral filter, a light detector including a plurality of light receiving elements, an analysis unit. The spectral filter includes a substrate having light transmissivity and being disposed on a light path of the light after being reflected by the object or the light after passing through the object, a plurality of raised portions formed with a metal material on one surface of the substrate, and a metal oxide film including a metal oxide material having a higher refractive index than the metal material, so as to cover the plurality of raised portions and the one surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: NEC SOLUTION INNOVATORS, LTD.
    Inventor: Ippei Kamimura
  • Patent number: 9279721
    Abstract: A measuring cell for a gas analysis spectrometer has an inner chamber for a sample gas to be analyzed and an inlet and an outlet which are connected thereto. A traversing optical path for a measuring beam is formed in the inner chamber. The measuring cell is tubular, the inlet and the outlet are arranged at opposite ends, and the inner chamber of the measuring cell has a cross-sectional shape that is monotonic over the length of the tube and which has an oval-shape at the start, which disappears toward the end. That special shape results in fast gas exchange and thus high dynamics, even with larger measuring cells, which have high sensitivity due to the long optical paths thereof. Two characteristics which until now appeared to be conflicting are thereby combined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Bruker Optik GmbH
    Inventors: Sven Krause, Yifei Wang, Lars Schomann, Gerhard Matz, Roland Harig, Jens Eichmann
  • Patent number: 9279722
    Abstract: An optical emission spectrometer system includes a light source and a dichroic beam combiner. The light source emits first light in a first direction and second light in a second direction different from the first direction. The dichroic beam combiner receives the first light via a first light path and the second light via a second light path, reflects a portion the first light into an entrance aperture of a light detection and measurement apparatus, and transmits a portion of the second light into the entrance aperture, enabling analysis and measurement of both first and second light characteristics simultaneously. The portion of the first light reflected into the entrance aperture predominately has wavelengths in a first range of wavelengths and the portion of the second light transmitted into the entrance aperture predominately has wavelengths in a second range of wavelengths, different from the first range of wavelengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Bolles, Yin Sheng Sun, Lindsay Buck, Glyn Russell
  • Patent number: 9279723
    Abstract: A terahertz spectrometer includes: a terahertz-wave emitter and a terahertz receiver elements. The terahertz wave generated by means of generating beat frequency corresponding to the difference between two rapidly tunable continuous wave lasers. Having a difference in time between the interrogating signal and the reference signal at the receiver end side, which corresponds to intermediate frequency (IF), not centered around the baseband, i.e. zero Hertz. The offset step size of the intermediate frequency from zero Hertz is linearly correlated to the position of the interrogated object position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: NOVATRANS GROUP SA
    Inventors: John F. Roulston, Daniel Mandelik
  • Patent number: 9279724
    Abstract: Interferometric transform spectrometer (ITS) systems and methods of operation thereof. In one example, an ITS system includes a Michelson interferometer that introduces a varying optical path length difference (OPD) between its two arms so as to produce an interferogram, a detector that receives and samples the interferogram, and a scan controller coupled to the detector and to Michelson interferometer. The scan controller controls the Michelson interferometer to vary the OPD in discrete steps such that the detector provides M samples of the interferogram for each of two scan segments. In the first scan segment, the M samples have a uniform or non-uniform sample spacing and the OPD has a first maximum value. In the second scan segment, the M samples have an incrementally increasing sample spacing and the OPD has a second maximum value that is at least twice the first maximum value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Ian S. Robinson, John D. Bloomer, Bradley Flanders
  • Patent number: 9279725
    Abstract: A system and method of quantifying color and intensity of light sources including LEDs, HBLEDs (High Brightness LEDs), and other Solid State Lights (SSLs) using C-parameters to model a Spectral Power Distribution (SPD) to improve precision, accuracy, repeatability and usefulness of measurement of optical properties of wavelength and radiant flux in manufacturing of an object, designing products and processes that use the object, and describing/defining the object, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Sof-Tek Integrators, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Creighton Morrow, Jonathan Leigh Dummer
  • Patent number: 9279726
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an optical device comprising an emitter, first and second emitter optical elements and a receiver is disclosed. The emitter and the receiver may be arranged substantially along a longitudinal axis. The first and second emitter optical elements may be interposing the longitudinal axis. One other embodiment discloses an optical device comprising an emitter and a receiver arranged on a longitudinal axis. The optical device may further comprise first and second emitter optical elements arranged along an axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis but interposing the longitudinal axis. In another embodiment, a proximity sensor having first and second emitters interposing a longitudinal axis is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Cherng Woei Heng, Kai Koon Lee, Wee Sin Tan
  • Patent number: 9279727
    Abstract: A method and system for determining a shape of an irradiance pulse to which a semiconductor wafer is to be exposed during a thermal cycle are disclosed. The method includes receiving, with a processor circuit, thermal cycle parameters specifying requirements of the thermal cycle, and determining, with the processor circuit, a shape of a heating portion of the irradiance pulse. Determining includes optimizing at least one parameter of a flux profile model of the heating portion of the irradiance pulse to satisfy the requirements while minimizing frequency-domain energy spectral densities of the flux profile model at resonant frequencies of the wafer, to minimize vibration of the wafer at the resonant frequencies when the wafer is exposed to the irradiance pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Mattson Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Cibere, David Malcolm Camm
  • Patent number: 9279728
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for processing information in images pictured by infrared cameras comprising the steps of receiving radiation from at least one object in an area; extracting radiometric information from the radiation; transforming the radiometric information into at least one digital image file; storing the at least one digital image file and at least one digital function file comprising an executable code characterised by the steps of merging the executable code of the at least one digital function file into or with the at least one digital image file, thereby generating an executable digital image file, wherein the executable code comprises at least one instruction and is written in a programming language independent of system architecture. The invention further relates to a computer program product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: FLIR Systems AB
    Inventors: Björn Roth, Magnus Boman
  • Patent number: 9279729
    Abstract: A lightweight infrared sensor which is readily and stably erected to a substrate, the infrared sensor includes an insulating film; a first and second heat sensitive element are disposed on one surface of the insulating film separately; a first and second conductive film on one surface of the insulating film and are respectively connected to the first and the second heat sensitive element; an infrared reflection film on the other surface of the insulating film so as to face the second heat sensitive element; a reinforcing plate on which a sensor part window corresponding to a sensor part is formed and which is adhered to the insulating film; and a first and a second terminal electrode are respectively connected to the first and the second wiring film and formed on the edge of the insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenzo Nakamura, Mototaka Ishikawa, Gakuji Uozumi
  • Patent number: 9279730
    Abstract: In a device for detecting thermal radiation, at least one membrane is provided on which at least one thermal detector element is mounted for the conversion of the thermal radiation into an electric signal and at least one circuit support for carrying the membrane and for carrying at least one readout circuit for reading out the electrical signal, the detector element and the readout circuit being connected together electrically by an electric contact which passes through the membrane. In addition, a method of producing the device with the following method steps is provided: a) provision of the membrane with the detector element and of at least one electrical through-connection and provision of the circuit support and b) bringing together the membrane and the circuit support in such a manner that the detector element and the readout circuit are connected together electrically by an electrical contact passing through the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Pyreos, Ltd.
    Inventors: Carsten Giebeler, Matthias Schreiter, Christian Paulus
  • Patent number: 9279731
    Abstract: A method of using a thermocouple is provided. The method includes, but is not limited to, disposing at least one temperature sensor at each of two or more respective portions of an electrical connector adapted to receive thermocouple signals, measuring temperatures at the two or more portions, and calculating the temperatures at each terminal of the electrical connector based on measured temperature values of the two or more respective portions having the disposed temperature sensors. The method also includes, but is not limited to, calculating a cold junction temperature of a terminal for at least one thermocouple channel carrying the thermocouple signals based on measured or calculated temperature values of the terminals, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Fred Dennis Egley, John Distinti, Peter Norton, Andrea Wang
  • Patent number: 9279732
    Abstract: A temperature indicator having a tubular structure; a float or floating particles releasably held in place in the tubular structure by a temperature dependent material that is activated at or about a critical temperature, the float or floating particles having a first density; and a fluid within the tubular structure, the fluid having a second density that is less than the first density. When the temperature indicator is heated to the critical temperature, the temperature dependent material activates and releases the float or the floating particles, which rise in the fluid so as to be visible as in indicator that the critical temperature has been reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Inventor: Robert Parker
  • Patent number: 9279733
    Abstract: Pressure sensing systems comprising bulk-solidifying amorphous alloys and pressure-sensitive switches containing bulk-solidifying amorphous alloys. The bulk-solidifying amorphous alloys are capable of repeated deformation upon application of pressure, and change their electrical resistivity upon deformation, thereby enabling measurement of the change in resistivity and consequently, measuring the deformation and amount of pressure applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Prest, Matthew S. Scott, Stephen P. Zadesky, Dermot J. Stratton, Joseph C. Poole, Theodore A. Waniuk
  • Patent number: 9279734
    Abstract: Various sensor systems are described herein, including inserts having sensors thereon, which are configured to be received in an article of footwear. The inserts may be connected to a sole member of the footwear, or may function as a sole member. The sensors may be piezoelectric sensors in some configurations. The system may also include an electronic module that is overmolded into the sole structure and includes a connector for external access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven H. Walker
  • Patent number: 9279735
    Abstract: An operating method for container quay cranes used to load and unload container ships aided by a PC with a monitor in a crane driver's cabin. The crane driver operates a touchscreen on the monitor, thereby enabling the crane to reach its specified target in a fully or partially automatic manner. Several operating modes, including a training mode, are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Jan Georgi, Hartmut Walter
  • Patent number: 9279736
    Abstract: A system and method for calibrating an electronically actuatable hydraulic valve in a work machine may include at least one supply valve and at least one drain valve to be calibrated and a bypass valve in fluid communication with a pump and a fluid source. The at least one supply valve and the at least one drain valve may be calibrated by opening the at least one supply valve and the at least one drain valve, closing the bypass valve, setting the pump to a desired flow output, determining a first current command for the at least one supply valve corresponding to a first target pressure parameter and determining a second current command for the at least one drain valve corresponding to a second target pressure parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Eric C. Hughes, Matthew James Beschorner, Justin Philip Pahl