Patents Issued in July 12, 2016
  • Patent number: 9389235
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for predicting the effect of an immunotherapy against cancer in a patient based on new biomarkers. The present invention furthermore relates to a prognosis regarding the outcome based on said biomarkers. The present invention furthermore relates to panels of biomarkers for use in the above methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: IMMATICS BIOTECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Toni Weinschenk, Harpreet Singh, Andrea Mahr, Jens Fritsche
  • Patent number: 9389236
    Abstract: A method of detecting and isolating cells that produce a secreted protein of interest (POI) that has a T cell receptor variable domain, comprising: a) constructing a cell line transiently or stably expressing a cell surface capture molecule, which binds the POI, by transfecting the cell line with a nucleic acid that encodes such cell surface capture molecule; b) transfecting said cell simultaneously or subsequently with a second nucleic acid that encodes a POI wherein such POI is secreted; c) detecting the surface-displayed POI by contacting the cells with a detection molecule, which binds the POI; and d) isolating cells based on the detection molecule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: REGENERON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
    Inventors: James P. Fandl, Gang Chen, Neil Stahl, George D. Yancopoulos
  • Patent number: 9389237
    Abstract: This invention relates to Huntington's disease and more specifically to methods for inhibiting the development of or treating Huntington's disease by administering estrogen, testosterone, precursors thereof or combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Inventor: James A. Carnazza
  • Patent number: 9389238
    Abstract: An automatic analyzing device has an easy-to-use user interface. In particular, the automatic analyzing device for analyzing samples has a reaction disk to which samples are dispensed conveyed through a conveying path; a control unit that controls movement of the reaction disk; and a display unit that is controlled by the control unit and displays various screens. A sample list including sample IDs and states of analysis of the samples is displayed on a display screen of the display unit so that the sample IDs and the states of analysis can be selected, such that a menu displaying button for displaying processing menus for the sample selected in the sample list is displayed at the sample, and such that options of the menus for the sample are displayed as menu buttons when the menu displaying button is indicated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Tokunaga, Masaki Takano, Toshihide Orihashi, Hiroki Mori
  • Patent number: 9389239
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid-sample collecting system and liquid-sample collecting method that can decrease the amount of carryover in the process of collecting a liquid sample while maintaining the efficiency of collecting the liquid sample. A liquid-sample collecting system according to the present invention includes: a sampling needle to be inserted into a sample container, for collecting a liquid sample contained in the sample container; a driver for moving the sampling needle; an input unit for allowing a user enter to information for setting the ascent speed of the sampling needle; an ascent-speed determiner for setting the ascent speed based on the entered information; and a controller for controlling the driver so as to move the sampling needle downward at a predetermined descent speed in a descent phase and upward at the aforementioned ascent speed in an ascent phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Maeda
  • Patent number: 9389240
    Abstract: An automatic analyzer adapted to enhance sample/reagent dispensing accuracy, regardless of a difference in sample/reagent dispensing height of a dispensing probe. When the amount of sample in a sample container is small, tip height “h1” of a sample dispensing probe positioned immediately after it has aspirated the sample decreases below tip height “h?” of the sample dispensing probe positioned immediately before it discharges the sample. The sample in this state takes a concave shape at the tip of the sample dispensing probe positioned immediately before it discharges the sample. When the amount of sample in a sample container is large, tip height “h2” of the sample dispensing probe positioned immediately after it has aspirated the sample increases above the tip height “h?” and the sample takes a convex shape at the tip of the sample dispensing probe positioned immediately before it discharges the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Takahashi, Isao Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9389241
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a sensor. A sensor according to the present invention includes a mass body, a fixing part disposed so as to be spaced apart from the mass body, a first flexible part connecting the mass body with the fixing part in a Y-axis direction, a second flexible part connecting the mass body with the fixing part in an X-axis direction, and a membrane disposed over the second flexible part and having a width in a Y-axis direction larger than a width in a Y-axis direction of the second flexible part. Here, a width of an X-axis direction of the first flexible part is larger than a thickness in a Z-axis direction thereof and a thickness in a Z-axis direction of the second flexible part is larger than a width in a Y-axis direction thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong Woon Kim, Jun Lim, Seung Mo Lim, Sang Jin Kim
  • Patent number: 9389242
    Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present invention, a data obtainment method for obtaining data on gas flow directions in a plurality of measurement regions in a surface of a substrate loaded onto a loading unit of a substrate processing apparatus is provided. The method includes loading a sensor substrate onto the loading unit in a first direction, and changing the first direction into a second direction. Further, it is obtained a vector data of a gas flow in a first straight direction and a vector data of a gas flow in a second straight direction from each first sensor of the sensor substrate loaded in the first and second directions. Also, the method includes calculating a gas flow direction at each starting point in the first and second measurement regions by combining the vector data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Hikaru Akada
  • Patent number: 9389243
    Abstract: A method of actuating a plurality of probes. Each probe may be made of two or more materials with different thermal expansion coefficients which are arranged such that when the probe is illuminated by an actuation beam it deforms to move the probe relative to a sample. Energy is delivered to the probes by sequentially illuminating them with an actuation beam via an objective lens in a series of scan sequences. Two or more of the probes are illuminated by the actuation beam in each scan sequence and the actuation beam enters the objective lens at a different angle to an optical axis of the objective lens for each probe which is illuminated in a scan sequence. The actuation beam is controlled so that different amounts of energy are delivered to at least two of the probes by the actuation beam during at least one of the scan sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: INFINITESIMA LIMITED
    Inventor: Andrew Humphris
  • Patent number: 9389244
    Abstract: A scanning probe assembly having a nanometer sensor element defined at a tip apex and its method of fabrication using micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) processing techniques. The assembly comprises a probe body, a cantilever extending outward, and a hollow tip at the end of the cantilever. A first conductive material is disposed on the hollow tip, followed by a dielectric layer thus embedding the conductive layer. A nanometer hole is milled through the tip, first conductor and dielectric materials. A metal sensor element is deposited by means of electrochemical deposition in the through-hole. A second conductor is deposited on a lower layer. The first and second conductors form electrical connections to the sensor element in the tip. The intra-tip metal, in combination with other layers, may form a thermocouple, thermistor, Schottky diode, ultramicroelectrode, or Hall Effect sensor, and used as a precursor to grow spikes such a nanotubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Applied Nanostructures, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy J. Goeckeritz, Gary D. Aden, Ami Chand, Josiah F. Willard
  • Patent number: 9389245
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a switch control unit, a test apparatus and method for a liquid crystal cell. The switch control unit controls a signal input to the liquid crystal display driver and controls the output of the signal from the liquid crystal display driver accordingly, and includes a control signal generator and a switch module. The test apparatus for the liquid crystal cell comprises: a switch control unit connected with a gate driver, for controlling ON and OFF of a signal input to the gate driver and controlling ON and OFF of a gate scan signal accordingly. The test method for the liquid crystal cell comprises: inputting a test signal; controlling ON and OFF of a gate scan signal by controlling ON and OFF of a signal input to a gate driver so as to determine the badness positions on a screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhilong Peng, Xiangfei He, Chunbae Park, Wei Wang
  • Patent number: 9389246
    Abstract: Multi-layer capacitor divider voltage sensors include a plurality of voltage sensor conductive layers having sensor to ground interface surfaces. Respective voltage sensor conductive layers are connected to each other and sensor output voltage Vs by continuations of material forming the interface surfaces extending therebetween. The voltage sensors also include a plurality of conductive ground layers connected to electrical ground, the ground layers interleaved with the voltage sensor conductive layers so that a conductive ground layer resides between adjacent conductive voltage sensor layers. A first voltage sensor conductive layer (closest to a line conductor) is electrically connected to the other conductive voltage sensor layers and output voltage Vs and has a sensor to conductor interface surface with a corresponding interface area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Allan Juds, Kurt von Eckroth, John Trublowski, Naresh Kumar Kodela
  • Patent number: 9389247
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to magnetic field current sensors having sensor elements for sensing at least two magnetic field components, for example Bx and By. The current in a conductor is estimated by Bx and Bx/By, wherein Bx is the primary measurement and Bx/By is a corrective term used to account for position tolerances between the sensor and the conductor. In other embodiments, the corrective term can be dBx/By, where dBx is a difference in between components sensed at different sensor elements. The particular field components can vary in embodiments; for example, the current can be estimated by By and By/Bx, or dBy/Bx or some other arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Udo Ausserlechner
  • Patent number: 9389248
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a Sagnac interferometer-type fiber-optic sensor includes a synchronous detection circuit to carry out synchronous detection of detected light signal with a phase modulation angular frequency of a phase modulator. A signal processing circuit calculates and outputs the magnitude of current to be measured using the signal detected in the synchronous detection circuit. A phase modulator driving circuit controls the driving of the phase modulator. The phase modulator driving circuit controls a phase modulation depth of the phase modulator so that the amplitude of the second-order harmonics and the fourth-order harmonics obtained by carrying out the synchronous detection of the detected light signal with the phase modulation angular frequency becomes the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Kinichi Sasaki, Masao Takahashi, Yukihisa Hirata
  • Patent number: 9389249
    Abstract: A current detector that detects, based on output signals of N coreless current sensors, where N is a natural number of 3 or more, currents flowing in N conductors in a circuit connected so that the sum of the currents flowing in the N conductors becomes zero. The current detector has a signal-current correlation acquiring section that acquires a signal-current correlation representing a correlation between the output signals of the N coreless current sensors and the currents flowing in the N conductors. Furthermore, a current calculating section that calculates the currents flowing in the N conductors based on the output signals of all the N coreless current sensors by using the signal-current correlation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuya Hozumi, Keisuke Nishimura, Subrata Saha
  • Patent number: 9389250
    Abstract: A load testing apparatus includes a resistive unit that includes one or more resistor groups having a plurality of resistors and is connected with a power source to be tested for a load test. A cooling fan cools the resistors in the resistive unit. The resistive unit includes a current/voltage detection part that detects a current flowing through or a voltage applied to the resistors, the resistor groups, or the resistive unit and a temperature detection part that detects an exhaust temperature at a downstream of the resistive unit. A rotation state detection part detects a rotation state of the cooling fan. A control unit performs off control that stops power supply from the power source to be tested to the resistive unit based on information from the current/voltage detection part, information from the temperature detection part, and information from the rotation state detection part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Tatsumi Ryoki Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Toyoshi Kondo
  • Patent number: 9389251
    Abstract: A voltage-stacked system includes a first voltage source, at least one second voltage source, a master monitoring circuit and at least one slave monitoring circuit. The first voltage source and the at least one second voltage source are coupled in series. The master monitoring circuit is coupled to the first voltage source, and arranged for monitoring and controlling the first voltage source and transmitting a monitoring signal. The at least one slave monitoring circuit is respectively coupled to the at least one second voltage source and the master monitoring circuit for monitoring and controlling the at least one second voltage source, and accordingly sending a response signal to the master monitoring circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: POWERFLASH TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chun-Ming Chen, Chang-Fu Hsia, Sheng-An Yang, Yuan-Chi Ho
  • Patent number: 9389252
    Abstract: A sampling circuitry for a plurality of electrodes the circuitry comprising a plurality of charge amplifiers and a plurality of modulators, wherein each charge amplifier and each modulator, comprised in the plurality of charge amplifiers and the plurality of modulators, respectively, corresponds to an electrode of the plurality of electrodes, wherein each modulator is capable of generating a residue signal and a rough code corresponding to each sampled electrode of the plurality of electrodes, a multiplexer capable of receiving a plurality of residue signals generated by the plurality of modulators, a residue analog to digital converter capable of receiving a multiplexed residue signal from the multiplexer and outputting a digitized multiplexed residue signal, and a digital summation circuitry capable of receiving the digitized multiplexed residue signal and a plurality of rough codes, comprising each rough code corresponding to each sample electrode, and outputting a plurality of output codes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Semtech Corporation
    Inventors: Olivier Nys, Pascal Monney
  • Patent number: 9389253
    Abstract: A system for monitoring and detecting identities of electronic devices, where each of the electronic devices generates unique power up signature during its power up sequence. The system may make use of a plurality of power outlets that each has a specific identification designation, with each one of the electronic devices being assigned to a specific one of the power outlets. A processor may be used which is configured to read the power up signature of a given one of the electronic devices during its power up sequence, when the given electronic device is plugged into a given one of the power outlets and is powering up. The processor may use a stored power up signature for the given power outlet, together with the power up signature read for the given electronic device, to determine if the given electronic device is using its assigned power outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: AVOCENT HUNTSVILLE CORP.
    Inventor: Mario Costa
  • Patent number: 9389254
    Abstract: A computer-readable-recording-medium stored a program for causing a computer to execute: judging, for each of elements of a plurality of scattering parameters, whether a difference between a first-area in a plane containing an axis representing frequency and an axis representing the element, and a second-area in the plane is within a permissible range, the first-area being surrounded by a first-element-value series of the element that is defined in advance for a plurality of first-frequencies, the second-area being surrounded by a second-element-value series that is obtained by performing interpolation calculation from the first-element-value series for a plurality of second frequencies which are different from the plurality of first-frequencies and which are provided at regular intervals; and determining, by performing the judging for one interval or a plurality of intervals, an interval so that the difference falls within the permissible range for all of the elements of the plurality of scattering parameter
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Kumiko Teramae, Yoshiyuki Iwakura, Tsunaki Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 9389255
    Abstract: An input signal Sx in a first millimeter-wave frequency band higher than 100 GHz is input to a millimeter-wave band filter 20 in which a pair of radio wave half mirrors 30A and 30B so as to opposite to each other and which performs a resonance operation. A signal component Sa corresponding to the resonance frequency of the filter is extracted, is mixed with a first local signal L1 with a fixed frequency, and is converted into a signal in a second frequency band. The converted signal component Sb is mixed with a second local signal L2 whose frequency is swept and is converted into a signal in a predetermined intermediate frequency band. Then, the level of the signal is detected. The millimeter-wave filter 20 has high selectivity characteristics in a frequency domain higher than 100 GHz and can change its passband center frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: ANRITSU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaaki Fuse, Akihito Otani, Hitoshi Sekiya
  • Patent number: 9389256
    Abstract: Capacitance sensing circuits and methods are provided. The capacitance sensing circuit includes a capacitance-to-voltage converter configured to receive a signal from a capacitance to be sensed and to provide an output signal representative of the capacitance, an output chopper configured to convert the output signal of the capacitance-to-voltage converter to a sensed voltage representative of the capacitance to be sensed, an analog accumulator configured to accumulate sensed voltages during an accumulation period of NA sensing cycles and to provide an accumulated analog value, an amplifier configured to amplify the accumulated analog value, and an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the amplified accumulated analog value to a digital value representative of the capacitance to be sensed. The analog accumulator may include a low pass filter having a frequency response to filter wideband noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Paolo Angelini, Giovanni Carlo Tripoli, Ernesto Lasalandra, Tommaso Ungaretti, Kien Beng Tan, Yannick Guedon, Dianbo Guo, Sze-Kwang Tan
  • Patent number: 9389257
    Abstract: A method for producing a capacitive contact sensor and a capacitive contact sensor having a carrier plate made of plastic are described. The front surface of the sensor initiates a switching process when contacted, and the rear surface of the sensor has one or more capacitive sensor electrodes disposed thereon and connected via conductors to analysis electronics. The regions on the front surface of the carrier plate opposite the sensor electrodes thereby form contact zones. A plastic film supporting the sensor electrodes and conductors is placed on a first side wall of a cavity of an injection molding tool, wherein the sensor electrodes face the first side wall, and then a polycarbonate forming the carrier plate is injected into the cavity on the side of the plastic film facing away from the sensor electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Bolte, Till Fiegler
  • Patent number: 9389258
    Abstract: Techniques for designs of single-layer touch sensors are described herein. In an example embodiment, a device comprises a sensor array. The sensor array comprises first plurality of electrodes and second plurality of electrodes that are interleaved without intersecting each other within a touch-sensing area in a single layer on a substrate of the sensor array. A first electrode (of the first or second plurality) comprises at least two shaped portions. The two shaped portions may be disposed across at least a portion of a given second electrode from each other, or may be disposed between two or more portions of the given second electrode. The two shaped portions of the first electrode are routed in different directions on the substrate and are coupled to each other outside of the touch-sensing area of the sensor array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: PARADE TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Igor Kravets, Alexandre Gourevitch, Oleksandr Karpin, Oleksandr Hoshtanar, Massoud Badaye
  • Patent number: 9389259
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods that facilitate the measurement of the capacitance of high voltage devices while shielding an active device involved in the measurement from the high voltage. The systems and methods employ capacitors to store the high voltage such that the active device does not experience the high voltage. Placement of a reset device ensures that the active device is shielded from the high voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: SEMTECH CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michel Alain Chevroulet
  • Patent number: 9389260
    Abstract: An impedance analyzer is provided. The analyzer includes a signal excitation generator comprising a digital to analog converter, where a transfer function of the digital to analog converter from digital to analog is programmable. The impedance analyzer further includes a receiver comprising a low noise amplifier (LNA) and an analog to digital converter (ADC), where the LNA is a current to voltage converter; where the programmable digital to analog transfer function is implemented by a direct digital synthesizer (DDS) and a voltage mode digital to analog converter, or a digital phase locked loop (PLL), or both. Further, a multivariable sensor node having an impedance analyzer is provided. Furthermore, a multivariable sensor network having a plurality of multivariable sensor nodes is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Radislav Alexandrovich Potyrailo, Jeffrey Michael Ashe, Sm Shajed Hasan, Naresh Kesavan Rao, Krishnakumar Sundaresan
  • Patent number: 9389261
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for measuring net charge density of membrane and apparatus thereof. The method measures the net charge density of a membrane by utilizing the relation between the mechanical pressure difference applied across the membrane and the generated streaming potential or the relation between the applied electric field and the generated electroosmotic flow. The present invention also provides a method and an apparatus for measuring the resistance of a membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: CHUNG YUAN CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Ching-Jung Chuang
  • Patent number: 9389262
    Abstract: A fault detection device includes an interface electrically connected to an electrical instrument to transfer commercial power to the electrical instrument, transmit a command for driving one of a plurality of loads included in the electrical instrument to the electrical instrument, and detect current flowing in one of the plurality of loads of the electrical instrument; and a terminal configured to receive a current signal corresponding to the current flowing in one of the plurality of loads from the interface, determine whether the one load has a fault on the basis of the received current signal and display whether the load has a fault. A faulty load is determined by detecting current of only a load suspected to have a fault when a fault is generated in the electrical instrument so as to improve fault detection accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Se Jin Jo, Myung Chul Kim, Yoon Sup Kim, Ki Hong Noh
  • Patent number: 9389263
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are presented for detecting degrading filter capacitors in motor drives or other power converters, in which an expected DC equivalent voltage and a measured DC equivalent voltage are computed according to sampled filter circuit currents and voltages, and compared to selectively identify filter capacitor degradation conditions in a power converter filter circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christian Sartler, Yogesh Patel, Lixiang Wei, Mark G. Phillips
  • Patent number: 9389264
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for preventing erroneous detection of a jack is provided. The apparatus includes a detection terminal configured to detect whether a jack plug of an earphone is inserted into the jack, a comparator configured to compare a voltage input from the detection terminal with a predetermined reference voltage and provide a comparison result signal to a baseband module, a resistor with a certain resistance value, being interposed between the detection terminal and the comparator to keep a voltage of a high signal not to be lowered than the predetermined reference voltage when the jack is conducted due to conductive particles flowed into the jack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ho-Soo Seo, Mu-Sul Kim, Jung-Hyeong Lee
  • Patent number: 9389265
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided to reduce or eliminate interference signals that have been additively superimposed on a useful signal for locating a cable sheathing fault of a buried electrical cable. A correction unit includes a filter, a delay device and/or a DC component estimator. The correction unit automatically determines a transient interference signal and a DC offset voltage component that have been superimposed on the useful signal as received in an input signal of the correction unit, and then subtracts these determined interference signals from the input signal to provide the interference-free or interference-suppressed useful signal as the output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Hagenuk KMT Kabelmesstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Marco Stephan, Marco Kuettner, Rainer Purschwitz
  • Patent number: 9389266
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system to ensure that distributed resources of a power distribution system remain connected to the circuitry of the power distribution system when a fault occurs at a distributed resource node to assist in identifying the location of the fault by continuing to inject current from the distributed resources into the distribution system, wherein at least one of the distributed resources is a microturbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: The Florida State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Passinam Tatcho, Mischa Steurer, Hui Li
  • Patent number: 9389267
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system to ensure that distributed resources of a power distribution system remain connected to the circuitry of the power distribution system when a fault occurs at a distributed resource node to assist in identifying the location of the fault by continuing to inject current from the distributed resources into the distribution system, wherein at least one of the distributed resources is a wind turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: The Florida State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Passinam Tatcho, Mischa Steurer, Hui Li
  • Patent number: 9389268
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system to ensure that distributed resources of a power distribution system remain connected to the circuitry of the power distribution system when a fault occurs at a distributed resource node to assist in identifying the location of the fault by continuing to inject current from the distributed resources into the distribution system, wherein at least one of the distributed resources is a DC voltage distributed resource comprising a controllable voltage source converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: The Florida State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Passinam Tatcho, Mischa Steurer, Hui Li
  • Patent number: 9389269
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system to ensure that distributed resources of a power distribution system remain connected to the circuitry of the power distribution system when a fault occurs at a distributed resource node to assist in identifying the location of the fault by continuing to inject a direct current (DC) signal from the controllable voltage source converter of at least one DC voltage distributed resource into the distribution system and modulating an alternating current (AC) signal on top of the direct current (DC) signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: The Florida State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Passinam Tatcho, Mischa Steurer, Hui Li
  • Patent number: 9389270
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method to ensure that distributed resources of a power distribution system remain connected to the circuitry of the power distribution system when a fault occurs at a distributed resource node to assist in identifying the location of the fault by continuing to inject current from the distributed resources into the distribution system, wherein at least one of the distributed resource comprises a controllable voltage source converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: The Florida State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Passinam Tatcho, Mischa Steurer, Hui Li
  • Patent number: 9389271
    Abstract: In a method for detecting disruptions proximate to an underground conduit, at least one signal carrying cable is positioned along a length of the conduit and between the conduit and a ground surface. At least one cable engaging member is connected to spaced apart locations on the at least one signal carrying cable to extend laterally outward of the at least one signal carrying cable. Each of the at least one cable engaging members is configured to transmit a force to the at least one signal carrying cable when impacted by an external force. A monitoring signal is provided to the at least one signal carrying cable, and a reflected monitoring signal is received in response to the supplied monitoring signal. One or more properties of the reflected monitoring signal are compared to one or more corresponding properties of a predicted reflected monitoring signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Ohio University
    Inventors: Shad M. Sargand, Gayle F. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 9389272
    Abstract: Method for detecting an electric are in a photovoltaic device by ultrasound, comprising measuring at least one parameter among the amplitude, the duration and the central frequency, of an electrical signal received by an ultrasound sensor; and comparing the measurement of this at least one parameter of the electrical signal with predefined values in order to determine whether the measurement corresponds to that of an electric arc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Commissariat a L'energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventors: Nicolas Chaintreuil, Pierre Perichon, Sandrine Vallet
  • Patent number: 9389273
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining solar cell characteristics includes a quantum efficiency measurement tool configured to measure an external quantum efficiency of the solar cell and a reflectivity measurement tool configured to measure the reflectivity of the solar cell. The apparatus also includes a capacitance measurement tool configured to measure the capacitance of the solar cell and a processor configured to calculate a diffusion length of the solar cell based on the measured quantum efficiency, reflectivity and capacitance of the solar cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tayfun Gokmen, Oki Gunawan
  • Patent number: 9389274
    Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to an electrical circuit and method. A capacitive element can be configured to be coupled in series with an electronic package component. A path resistance can be electrically coupled to the capacitive element. A driver can be configured to electrically charge the capacitive element. A voltage detector can be coupled to the capacitive element and configured to identify a condition of the electronic package component based on a measured voltage of the capacitive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Bharani Thiruvengadam, Akira Kakizawa
  • Patent number: 9389275
    Abstract: Techniques to provide calibration of a measurement system in conjunction with measurement operations. The techniques may include providing a reference device in a signal processing chain within the measurement system. An excitation signal may be driven through the reference device while it may be connected to the signal processing chain within the measurement system and a calibration response may be captured. During a measurement operation, the reference device connection may be complemented with a sensor connection in the signal processing chain and the excitation signal may be driven through the signal processing chain. A measurement response may be captured from the system. The measurement system may generate a calibrated measurement signal that accounts for phase and/or amplitude errors within the system from the calibration response and the measurement response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Gabriel Banarie, Andreas Callanan, Damien McCartney, Colin Lyden
  • Patent number: 9389276
    Abstract: Faults and fault types in electric machines can be identified based on spectra associated with stator and field currents. Signals associated with such currents can be compensated for line variations, and spectral contributions for non-eccentric machines can be reduced or eliminated to permit distinguish static eccentricities from non-eccentric machine operation. One or more of a static eccentricity, a dynamic eccentricity, and a mixed eccentricity can be identified based on spectral component magnitudes at selected frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Inventors: Subhasis Nandi, Ilamparithi Thirumarai Chelvan
  • Patent number: 9389277
    Abstract: A voltage measuring apparatus is configured to measure voltages of respective battery cells of a battery cell array including a plurality of battery cell groups each including a predetermined number of battery cells connected in series. The voltage measuring apparatus includes a plurality of measuring units each provided for each of the battery cell groups. The adjacent measuring units are connected through a communication channel so as to perform current communication therebetween. A bidirectional diode circuit element is connected to the communication channel extending between the adjacent measuring units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akira Kawabe, Gorou Mori
  • Patent number: 9389278
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for estimating a power of a secondary battery comprising a blended cathode material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Won-Tae Joe, Sun-Young Cha
  • Patent number: 9389279
    Abstract: A battery cell assembly having a battery cell and a thin profile sensor is provided. The battery cell has a housing and first and second electrical terminals. The thin profile sensor has a flexible plastic sheet, and a microprocessor, a sensing circuit, and a heat generating circuit coupled to the flexible plastic sheet. The flexible plastic sheet is coupled to the battery cell. The microprocessor determines a first voltage value representing an open circuit voltage, and a second voltage value of the battery cell when the battery cell is supplying electrical current through the heat generating circuit. The microprocessor determines a current value when the battery cell is supplying the electrical current through the heat generating circuit, and determines an internal resistance value based on the first voltage value, the second voltage value, and the current value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventor: Greg Bober
  • Patent number: 9389280
    Abstract: A device for measuring voltages of N cells in a fuel cell includes plural voltage measurement modules and a communication bus connecting in series the plural measurement devices to a computer. The N cells are separated by bipolar plates. Each module can measure M voltages on a group of adjoining cells of the fuel cell, with M being a natural number, and with M?N/2. A group of cells measured by a first module is adjacent to group of cells measured by a second module. Each module includes a mechanism for fixing the module onto the fuel cell, a voltage measurement device, a connector for connecting bipolar plates of the module to the voltage measurement device, and a connector for connecting the voltage measurement device to the communication bus. A last bipolar plate connected to the first module also is connected to the second module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignees: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN, MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A.
    Inventors: Gino Paganelli, David Olsommer
  • Patent number: 9389281
    Abstract: A solution for compensating a magnetic field sensor to permit detection of a small magnetic field in the presence of a large magnetic field is disclosed. A magnetic field sensor detects the magnetic field which produces an analog signal then encoded by an analog to digital converter (ADC) into a digital stream. A controller operating on the digital stream incorporates additional sensor data to create a compensation signal which is sent to a digital to analog (DAC) converter. This compensation signal then modifies the output of the magnetic field sensor before entering the ADC. Compensation is software controlled, and is thus adaptable to numerous conditions requiring compensation. Apart from being easily tunable, the compensation may respond dynamically to changing conditions. The invention has particular application to airborne electromagnetic surveying where small fields scattered from the Earth are measured in the presence of a large transmitted field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Vale S.A.
    Inventors: Gordon Fox West, Peter Whyte Walker, Benjamin David Polzer
  • Patent number: 9389282
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting magnetism includes a self-exciting fluxgate type magnetic oscillation sensor in each of three axes perpendicular to one another, the magnetic oscillation sensor including a magnetism sensor including a core-coil including a core made of a magnetic material and a coil wound around the core, and an operational amplifier circuit causing an AC excitation current to run through the coil to generate an output in accordance with a strength of an external magnetic field applied to the core. An air core coil not wound around a core is arranged in the vicinity of and in parallel with the core-coil of each of the magnetic oscillation sensors arranged in each of the axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignees: NATIONAL AGENCY FOR AUTOMOBILE AND LAND TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGY, HANO MANUFACTURING CO., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Mizuma, Shinjiro Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 9389283
    Abstract: A sensor system determines an absolute angular position of a to-be-sensed rotating member. The sensor system may include a rotor with a first magnet coupled to the rotor and a shaft having threads thereon. The sensor system may further include a sleeve with a second magnet and threads complementary to the threads of a shaft. The sleeve may be configured to travel axially along the shaft as a function of rotation of the rotor. The sensor system may also include a first transducer configured to sense orientation of the first magnet and at least one second transducer configured to sense a location of the second magnet along the shaft. Through use of the sensor system, an absolute number of turns and, consequently absolute angular position, of the rotating member can be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Sensata Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Rene Putinier
  • Patent number: 9389284
    Abstract: A spinning current Hall sensor configured to provide a sequence of input signals in response to a bias current being applied to a sequence of terminals of Hall sensing elements of the Hall sensor, the terminals of the Halls sensing elements configured to be interconnected in a sequence of configurations between a bias current supply and ground, with the bias current supply being connected to and applying the bias current to a different one of the terminals of each configuration. A chopping circuit demodulates the sequence of input signals to provide a corresponding sequence of demodulated positive and negative signals, with a residual offset calibration signal for the spinning current Hall sensor being based on the sequence of demodulated positive and negative signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Mario Motz