Patents Issued in September 27, 2016
  • Patent number: 9453894
    Abstract: An imaging system is presented. The imaging system includes a storage structure that stores a first sheet of coils inside a cradle, wherein the storage structure includes a plurality of first set of rotatable bodies and a plurality of second set of rotatable bodies, and a plurality of springs that are coupled to one or more of the plurality of second set of rotatable bodies, wherein the first sheet of coils is disposed around the plurality of first set of rotatable bodies, the plurality of second set of rotatable bodies and the plurality of springs, and wherein a first end of the first sheet of coils protrudes out of the cradle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Selaka Bandara Bulumulla, Thomas Kwok-Fah Foo, Christopher Judson Hardy
  • Patent number: 9453895
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for learning a tight frame includes acquiring undersampled k-space data over a time period using an interleaved process. An average of the undersampled k-space data is determined and a reference image is generated based on the average of the undersampled k-space data. Next, a tight frame operator is determined based on the reference image. Then, a reconstructed image data is generated from the undersampled k-space data via a sparse reconstruction which utilizes the tight frame operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jun Liu, Qiu Wang, Mariappan Nadar, Michael Zenge, Edgar Mueller
  • Patent number: 9453896
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, a magnetization of nuclear spins in a subject is prepared in multiple preparation modules of an acquisition sequence. MR signals are acquired with at least one imaging module of the sequence. Spoiler gradient fields are generated in the multiple preparation modules in order to affect a transverse magnetization of the spins. The spoiler gradient fields that are applied in at least two different preparation modules are spatially varied along different directions. Spoiler gradient moments of the spoiler gradient fields are selected so that, for at least one of three orthogonal spatial directions, a weighted sum of the spoiler gradient moments that are applied along this spatial direction satisfies a threshold condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thorsten Feiweier, Bernd Kuehn
  • Patent number: 9453897
    Abstract: Regardless of the measurement conditions, the degradation of the image quality due to a vibrational error magnetic field, which is generated by the vibration of the mechanical structure of an MRI apparatus, is reduced. In order to do so, error magnetic field image data indicating an error magnetic field distribution is acquired on the basis of an echo signal measured using a pulse sequence having a test gradient magnetic field, a parameter value of a damped vibration function showing a vibrational error magnetic field is calculated using the error magnetic field image data, and a correction magnetic field is calculated on the basis of the calculated parameter value of the damped vibration function showing the vibrational error magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI MEDICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shouichi Miyawaki, Hiroyuki Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 9453898
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system including a memory for storing machine executable instructions and a processor for controlling the magnetic resonance imaging system. The MRI system for performing a plurality of MRI scans for acquiring magnetic resonance data from a target volume of a patient in accordance with respective predefined scan geometries. The execution of the machine executable instructions causes the processor to control the MRI system to at least: perform a first calibration scan; perform a second calibration scan; generate geometry transformation data; determine a deviation of the target volume caused by a movement of the patient; update each of the predefined scan geometries and the second scan geometry as a function of the geometry transformation data; and perform at least one MRI scan of the plurality of MRI scans to acquire image data in accordance with the respective updated predefined scan geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Tim Nielsen, Peter Boernert, Julien Senegas
  • Patent number: 9453899
    Abstract: A system for effecting the rotational movement of a solar tracker about an axis of rotation includes a bow mounted on the solar tracker and comprising a rack and a worm engaging with the rack to effect the rotational movement, the rack having a plastic tooth set and the bow having a damper configured to dampen the connection with the solar tracker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: EXOSUN
    Inventor: François Paponneau
  • Patent number: 9453900
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying an unidentified sound source in a 3-dimensional sensor array calculates a position vector for each of a plurality of sensors in the array. A time Fourier transform is computed based on time samples from each of the sensors. A spatial Fourier transform is computed for the results of the time Fourier transform and in part on the position vectors calculated. All three dimensional components of the wavenumber of the received signal, kx, ky and kz are explicitly calculated to generate spatial frequency information in all three dimensions. Direction of arrival of the received sound signal is determined in all three spatial directions providing unambiguous target localization and acoustic signature characterization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: John R. MacGillivray, David L. Graham, Dane E. Reiner
  • Patent number: 9453901
    Abstract: A dual frequency ultrasonic locationing system includes an emitter operable to emit two different ultrasonic frequencies simultaneously in one ultrasonic burst. A receiver with at least two microphones is operable to receive the ultrasonic burst. A correlator is operable to correlate the signals obtained from each microphone to derive a time difference of arrival of the ultrasonic burst at each microphone. The time difference of arrival of the ultrasonic signal from the emitter impinging on each microphone of the receiver is utilized to determine a location of the emitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Russell E. Calvarese, Richard J. Lavery
  • Patent number: 9453902
    Abstract: Embodiments of techniques and systems for dead-zone-location detection in wireless systems are described. In embodiments, a wireless device may be configured to receive radio signals and provide indicators that convey signal strength of received radio signals. The received radio signals are considered degraded when signal strength of the received radio signals is below a threshold level. The wireless device may also be configured to determine which dead zone the wireless device is currently located, in response to a determination that receipt of radio signals is degraded. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Xiaoyong Jacky Pan, Justin Lipman, Robert A. Colby
  • Patent number: 9453903
    Abstract: Technology to determine a satellite's orbit is disclosed. In an example, an orbital determination (OD) device for a satellite operable to determine a satellite's orbit can include computer circuitry configured to: Receive a single global positioning system-generated (GPS-generated) signal from a GPS satellite; decode an ephemeris of the GPS satellite from the GPS-generated signal; determine a Doppler shift and a Doppler trend of the GPS-generated signal; and generate a Doppler-GPS OD using the ephemeris of the GPS satellite and the Doppler shift and the Doppler trend of the GPS-generated signal fit to Kepler orbital elements of an orbit model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Ian S. Robinson
  • Patent number: 9453904
    Abstract: A positioning server is connected to a collection of access points, base stations, NFC stations, and image or video cameras and the collected data is used for positioning objects. A plurality of electronic devices are paired with an object by tracking the position of the object based on imaging and the position of electronic devices based on RF signals in vicinity of the object. Once a device is paired with an object, the propagation channel profile measured through the electronic device is used to develop and tune a database of channel profiles versus location. This database is used based on signature/profile matching and correlation for positioning devices and objects that do not have pairing or have poor image-based positioning accuracy or reliability. When a device is detected that cannot be paired with any object, or a device that is unpaired from a previously associated object, a theft or loss alert is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: GOLBA LLC
    Inventor: Mehran Moshfeghi
  • Patent number: 9453905
    Abstract: In selected embodiments, a process of geolocation of a transmitter uses a receiver with an antenna array that is non-line-of-sight (NLoS) to the transmitter. A first plurality of scatterers within line-of-sight (LoS) of the array is located using multilateration based on time difference of arrival (TDoA) from the first scatterers, and applying a spatial consistency requirement. Time of emission/reflection from the first scatterers is also determined. The coordinates and timing of the first scatterers are used to locate either the transmitter or another set of scatterers, by applying multilateration to the TDoA at the first scatterers, and applying the spatial consistency requirement. The process is iteratively repeated until the transmitter is identified. The multilateration may be linearized without sacrificing precision. In each iteration, a non-singularity requirement is applied to ensure that the selected scatterers produce unambiguous results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: ZIVA CORPORATION
    Inventor: David Smith
  • Patent number: 9453906
    Abstract: This invention describes circuits and methods which can allow multiple radar receiver chips to be adjusted to have very low phase offset between them. Multiple receiver chips are used in frequency-modulated carrier-wave (FMCW) radar systems for beamforming to enable angle-of-arrival measurements. FMCW radar systems are widely used in collision-avoidance and adaptive cruise control systems in vehicles, which today are operating in the 76-81 GHz frequency band. In a multi-receiver system, each receive element must have a well-controlled phase response which can be calibrated over process, voltage, and temperature. Without calibration, phase offsets can result in erroneous beamforming receiver measurements. The inventive circuit provides a technique to adjust the phase of multiple receivers across multiple chips using a single local oscillator reference and built-in-test circuitry which consist of phase shifters, a multi-frequency nonlinear phase detection circuit, and power coupling circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignees: North Carolina State University, Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Floyd, Takeji Fujibayashi, Seiji Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 9453907
    Abstract: A system uses range and Doppler velocity measurements from a lidar subsystem and images from a video subsystem to estimate a six degree-of-freedom trajectory of a target. The video subsystem and the lidar subsystem may be aligned with one another by mapping the measurements of various facial features obtained by each of the subsystems to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Digital Signal Corporation
    Inventors: Anatoley T. Zheleznyak, Chris Roller, Gavin Rosenbush, Richard L. Sebastian
  • Patent number: 9453908
    Abstract: In ultrasound B-scan imaging or other pulse-echo imaging, an inverse filter solution eliminates both the speckle phenomenon and the poor resolution dependency on the pulse length and width to produce SURUS (super-resolution ultrasound) images. The pulse shapes have stable inverses, derived by use of the standard Z-transform and related properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: University of Rochester
    Inventor: Kevin J. Parker
  • Patent number: 9453909
    Abstract: An ultrasonic pulse-echo ranging device includes a piezo-electric transducer, a transmitter, a receiver, a first transformer having a primary winding coupled to an output of the transmitter and a secondary winding connected to the transducer, and a second transformer having a primary winding coupled to an input of the receiver and a secondary winding connected to the transducer, where the secondary windings of the first and second transformers are in series with the transducer, a first switching element is parallel with the primary winding of the first transformer and controlled to short-circuit this primary winding when the receiver receives the signals from the transducer, and where a second switching element is parallel with the primary winding of the second transformer and controlled to short-circuit this primary winding of when the transmitter drives the transducer to optimize the signal transfer to and from the piezo-electric transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: George Burcea
  • Patent number: 9453910
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a radar sensor for detecting objects in the vehicle path. The radar sensor may become blocked by contaminants or debris. A controller monitoring the radar system may detect a radar blockage when a return signal magnitude is less than a threshold. A typical response may be to set a radar blockage diagnostic under such a condition. The controller may inhibit setting a radar blockage diagnostic when other data indicates that the radar sensor is not blocked. Data such as vehicle position, traffic information, camera images, and historical radar returns may be used. A controller may confirm a radar blockage diagnostic when other data indicates that the radar sensor may be blocked. Data such as temperature, vehicle position, surface roughness, automated brake interventions, and heating system status may be used. Return signal dependent functions may be operated based on the radar blockage diagnostic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shane Elwart, Aaron L. Mills, Dorian Jack Spero
  • Patent number: 9453911
    Abstract: A target tracking system which tracks targets using a plurality of virtual particles includes a detector which detects the targets based on a signal wave from the targets and outputs a detected results as a detected target positions, a fluctuation distribution unit which generates fluctuations arising from at least disturbances and measurement errors, and an estimation unit which sets virtual particles based on the fluctuations and estimates a true target positions based on the detected target positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hisashi Shiba
  • Patent number: 9453912
    Abstract: A ship perimeter information display device is provided. The device includes a sensor information input unit connected with a sensor equipped in a first ship and for receiving an input of a detection result of the sensor, an AIS information input unit for receiving an input of VDO information that is a VHF data link own-ship message contained in AIS information transmitted from the first ship to a second ship, a display unit for displaying a situational image illustrating a situation around the first ship, and a control unit for displaying, on the display unit, information indicating a difference between first state information of the first ship obtained based on the detection result of the sensor and second state information of the first ship obtained based on the VDO information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Kaida, Motoji Kondo, Katsuyuki Yanagi, Masahiro Nakahama
  • Patent number: 9453913
    Abstract: A target is provided having a retroreflector. A body is provided having a spherical exterior portion, the body containing a cavity. The cavity is sized to hold the retroreflector, the cavity open to the exterior of the body and having at least one surface opposite the opening, the retroreflector at least partially disposed in the cavity, wherein the retroreflector and at least one surface define a space therebetween. A transmitter is configured to emit an electromagnetic signal. A first actuator is configured to initiate emission of the electromagnetic signal, wherein the transmitter and the first actuator are affixed to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Peter G. Cramer, Robert E. Bridges, Nils P. Steffensen, Robert C. Mehler, Kenneth Steffey, John M. Hoffer, Jr., Daniel G. Lasley
  • Patent number: 9453914
    Abstract: A lightweight, low volume, high performance LADAR sensor incorporating 3-D focal plane arrays is adapted specifically for terrain mapping. The present invention generates, at high speed, 3-D topographical, water surface, floating object, bathymetric, biological gas cloud, poison gas cloud, or smoke stack emission mapping data. The 3-D focal planes are used in a variety of physical configurations which provide advantages over prior art terrain mapping LADAR sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL ADVANCED LIDAR SOLUTIONS US, INC.
    Inventors: Roger Stettner, Howard Bailey, Brad Short, Laurent Heughebaert, Patrick Gilliland, Joseph Spagnolia, Bart Goldstein
  • Patent number: 9453915
    Abstract: In one or more embodiments described herein, there is provided an apparatus including a memory having computer code stored thereon, and a processor. The code is configured to cause the apparatus to: receive partial GNSS data from one or more GNSS satellites relating to the geographical location of a first portable electronic device, wherein the received partial GNSS data is insufficient for determining the geographical location of the first portable electronic device; communicate with one or more further portable electronic devices in proximity to the first portable electronic device to access partial GNSS data relating to the geographical location of the respective further portable electronic devices; and use the accessed partial GNSS data of the further portable electronic devices to supplement the received partial GNSS data of the first portable electronic device to thereby determine the geographical location of the first device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Jari Tapani Syrjarinne, Altti Samuli Jokinen
  • Patent number: 9453916
    Abstract: A low noise amplifier (LNA) assembly comprising a filter circuit for receiving signals from a Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) band and a Radio Navigation Satellite Service (RNSS) band; and an alternative filter circuit configured to filter out a jammer signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Stuart Riley, Eric Krantz
  • Patent number: 9453917
    Abstract: A method, non-transitory computer readable medium and timing computing device for subnanosecond time synchronization. A difference between synchronized measurements of one of a plurality of satellite signals from a reference receiver and another receiver for each of N values within a cycle is determined. A clock bias error is calculated for each of the N values. The calculated clock bias errors are stored in a vector over time for each of the N values, with one of the vectors for each of the N values. A trajectory of the vectors over time is determined. The one of the vectors with a best convergence over time is selected. A timing signal is adjusted based on the N value for the selected one of the vectors with the best convergence over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Spectracom Corporation
    Inventors: John Fischer, Paul E. Myers
  • Patent number: 9453918
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing a radio navigation signal. The apparatus has a first correlator correlating a first signal component with a first code, providing a first output, and having a carrier frequency and data. The apparatus also has a second correlator is configured to correlate a second signal component with a second code, providing a second output, and being different from the first code, the second signal component having the same carrier frequency as the first signal component and the same data as the first signal component. Each of real (I) and imaginary (Q) parts of the second output are delayed relative to respective parts of the first output such that the data on the second signal component is delayed with respect to the data on the first signal component, providing a delayed second output. The processor processes the outputs, their data being aligned to provide frequency information about the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Philip Mattos
  • Patent number: 9453919
    Abstract: A method for acquiring a Gold code, obtained as a sum of a first M-sequence (x) and a second M-sequence (yi), the first M-sequence being generated by a first generator polynomial (gx) and the second M-sequence being generated by a second generator polynomial (gy), the weight of the first generator polynomial being lower than the weight of the second generator polynomial, the acquiring method involving a first step of message passing decoding according to a first bipartite graph the edges of which are determined by the coefficients of the first generator polynomial, a decimation step using a predetermined decimation factor, and a second step of message passing decoding according to a second bipartite graph the edges of which are determined by a third generator polynomial having a minimum weight generating a third M-sequence having the same length as that of the second M-sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'energie atomique et aux energies alternatives
    Inventor: Mathieu Bouvier Des Noes
  • Patent number: 9453920
    Abstract: A method for selecting a global positioning receiver includes receiving global positioning system signals from global positioning system receivers. The global positioning system receivers receive the global positioning system signals from corresponding global positioning system satellites. The method also includes replicating the global positioning system signals from the global positioning system receivers, determining a signal drift and a phase precision for each global positioning system signal, and selecting one of the global positioning system signals based on the corresponding signal drift and the phase precision of the global positioning system signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Zixia Huang, Marvin Weinstein, Nicholas Ng, Ke Dong, Cedric Fung Lam, Tony Ong, Wenlei Dai
  • Patent number: 9453921
    Abstract: Present novel and non-trivial system, device, and method for generating geographic position are disclosed. A processor receives navigation data representative of geographic position from an external source such as a global positioning system (“GPS”); receives navigation data representative of measurements of angular and linear motions from an internal source of navigation data such as an inertial measurement unit (“IMU”); and determines and generates navigation data representative of geographic position responsive to such determination. The generation of navigation data could be based upon internal source navigation data and an estimate of error of geographic position, where the estimate of error is based upon a delay of the external-sourced navigation data and a delayed output from one of the internal sources (e.g., delayed output of an IMU).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas A. Bell, James H. Doty
  • Patent number: 9453922
    Abstract: A hybrid medical imaging system comprises a nuclear medicine imaging subsystem for capturing an image of a target region of a subject, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) subsystem for capturing an MRI image of the target region based on at least one MRI parameter and processing structure communicating with the subsystems. The processing structure processes the MRI image to estimate attenuation within the target region and uses the estimated attenuation to correct the image captured by the nuclear medicine imaging subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Multi-Magnetics Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert Z. Stodilka, Jean Theberge, Benoit Lewden, Frank S. Prato, R. Terry Thompson
  • Patent number: 9453923
    Abstract: A portable radiation image capturing apparatus is described. In the portable radiation image capturing apparatus multiple image capturing elements are two-dimensionally arranged, the apparatus is provided with a current detecting means for detecting a current flowing in the apparatus, a read-out circuit having a power supply mode in which the charge generated in each image capturing element can be read out and converted into an electric signal and a stand-by mode in which charge is not read out and power is consumed less than in the power supply mode, and a control means for causing the read-out circuit to change from the stand-by mode to the power supply mode when detecting start of irradiation with radiation on the basis of an increase in the current value detected by the current detecting means while the read-out circuit is in the stand-by mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA INC
    Inventor: Yoshihiko Eguchi
  • Patent number: 9453924
    Abstract: A radiation control apparatus includes a determination unit configured to determine dose values of exposures to a radiation detector for acquiring correction images, corresponding to measured input-output characteristics of the radiation detector, and a acquisition unit configured to acquire correction data for the input-output characteristics of the radiation detector, based on the correction images acquired from the detector exposed at the determined dose values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Takasaki
  • Patent number: 9453925
    Abstract: A technique includes determining at least one parameter that characterizes a seismic survey in which multiple interfering seismic sources are fired and seismic sensors sense energy that is produced by the seismic sources. The determination of the parameter(s) includes optimizing the seismic survey for separation of the sensed energy according to the seismic sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: WESTERNGECO L. L. C.
    Inventors: Craig J. Beasley, William Henry Dragoset, Jr., Ian Moore
  • Patent number: 9453926
    Abstract: A system and method for investigating rock formations outside a borehole are provided. The method includes generating a first compressional acoustic wave at a first frequency by a first acoustic source; and generating a second compressional acoustic wave at a second frequency by a second acoustic source. The first and the second acoustic sources are arranged within a localized area of the borehole. The first and the second acoustic waves intersect in an intersection volume outside the borehole. The method further includes receiving a third shear acoustic wave at a third frequency, the third shear acoustic wave returning to the borehole due to a non-linear mixing process in a non-linear mixing zone within the intersection volume at a receiver arranged in the borehole. The third frequency is equal to a difference between the first frequency and the second frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignees: Chevron U.S.A. Inc., Los Alamos National Security LLC
    Inventors: Cung Khac Vu, Christopher Skelt, Kurt Nihei, Paul A. Johnson, Robert Guyer, James A. Ten Cate, Pierre-Yves Le Bas, Carène S. Larmat
  • Patent number: 9453927
    Abstract: A sensor structure includes a substrate having a main extension plane, a first seismic mass and a second seismic mass, the first and the second seismic masses being deflectable relative to the substrate along a direction of deflection essentially perpendicular to the main extension plane. The first and second seismic masses are coupled together via a rigid coupling rocker pivotable around a rocker axis parallel to the main extension plane. The first seismic mass is suspended from the substrate with the aid of a first suspension spring, and an essentially rigid first coupling bar is situated between the first suspension spring and the first seismic mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Markus Heitz, Christoph Gauger, Sebastian Gracki, Patrick Wellner
  • Patent number: 9453928
    Abstract: Computing systems and methods for processing collected data are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for iteratively separating a simultaneous-source dataset is provided, wherein the simultaneous-source dataset is used as an input dataset for a first iteration of simultaneous-source separation. The input dataset includes a plurality of shots that include data corresponding to a plurality of source activations. The method of iteratively separating the input dataset includes generating simulated simultaneous shots based on shots separated in the input dataset; and forming an output dataset based on the separated simultaneous shots and the simultaneous-source dataset, wherein the output dataset is configured for use as the input dataset for the next iteration of separating the simultaneous-source dataset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.
    Inventors: Bartosz Szydlik, Ian Moore
  • Patent number: 9453929
    Abstract: Method for joint inversion of geophysical data to obtain 3-D models of geological parameters for subsurface regions of unknown lithology. Two or more data sets of independent geophysical data types are obtained, e.g. seismic and electromagnetic. Then they are jointly inverted, using structural coupling, to infer geophysical parameter volumes, e.g. acoustic velocity and resistivity. Regions of common lithology are next identified based on similar combinations of geophysical parameters. Then a joint inversion of the multiple data types is performed in which rock physics relations vary spatially in accordance with the now-known lithology, and 3-D models of geological properties such as shale content and fracture density are inferred. The computational grid for the last inversion may be defined by the lithology regions, resulting in average geological properties over such regions, which may then be perturbed to determine uncertainty in lithologic boundaries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Jan Schmedes, Christopher J. DiCaprio, Charlie Jing, Garrett M. Leahy, Anoop A. Mullur, Rebecca L. Saltzer
  • Patent number: 9453930
    Abstract: This disclosure presents computational systems and methods for obtaining high-resolution, three-dimensional seismic images of a region of a subterranean formation using separated up-going and down-going wavefields that include primary and multiple reflections obtained by processing dual-sensor towed streamer seismic data. The inclusion of multiple reflections reduces acquisition footprints in migration of the seismic data. The computational systems and methods produce high-resolution images in a region of a subterranean formation that lies below a body of water. The methods and systems employ a digitally encoded wavefields constructed from a discrete sampling of a two-dimensional slice of a three-dimensional wavefield and stored in one or more tangible, physical data-storage devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: PGS GEOPHYSICAL AS
    Inventors: Norman Daniel Whitmore, Jr., Shaoping Lu
  • Patent number: 9453931
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for enabling anti-twist functionality in marine geophysical streamers. An embodiment discloses a method comprising: towing a streamer behind a survey vessel in a body of water, wherein the streamer comprises rotation sensors and streamer rotation devices; receiving data from at least one rotation sensor indicative of streamer twist; and rotating a portion of the streamer with at least one streamer rotation device to reduce the streamer twist based, at least in part on the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: PGS Geophysical AS
    Inventors: Øyvind Hillesund, Gustav Goran Mattias Südow
  • Patent number: 9453932
    Abstract: A mobile terminal device for a positioning system based on a magnetic field map and a method thereof, are provided. The mobile terminal includes a memory configured to store a magnetic field map including magnetic field values at positions. The mobile terminal further includes a magnetic field sensor configured to measure a magnetic field value at a position of the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal further includes an inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor configured to measure an acceleration value and a gyro value of the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal further includes a processor configured to determine the position of the mobile terminal based on the magnetic field map, the magnetic field value, the acceleration value, and the gyro value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong Kim, Eung Sun Kim, Ji Hyun Yoon
  • Patent number: 9453933
    Abstract: A method for determining the position of a mobile unit which has a first coil, the mobile unit being disposed in a manner allowing movement relative to a stationary second coil, and a system for carrying out a method, the first coil having two part-windings, the second coil likewise having two part-windings, prevailing strengths of the inductive coupling of the part-windings of the first coil, or of the first coil to the part-windings of the second coil or to the second coil being determined, a phase shift of the induced AC-voltage signals being determined, a position range in which the phase shift is a biunique function of the position being determined from the coupling strengths, the position being determined from the phase shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: SEW-EURODRIVE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Zhidong Hua, Andreas Wanjek
  • Patent number: 9453934
    Abstract: Non-visible objects which differ in their physical properties from their surroundings by association with a variable strength magnetic field may be detected by a suitable array of sensors which can be moved relative to the object in question. By analyzing the signals from the plurality of the sensors in the array, the position of the object can be deduced relative to the array and the array moved to enable a machining guide thereon to be aligned with the non-visible object. The system is of particular value in locating apertures in wing spars when attempting to fix the skin of the wing on to them where it is important to be able to locate the correct point at which to drill a hole through the skin to coincide with the hole in the spar. By defining a magnetic field in the vicinity of the hole to identify the hole magnetically and using an array of magnetic field sensors in a base with an aperture, it is possible to shift the array so that the aperture is precisely aligned with the non-visible hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: TT Electronics Technology Ltd.
    Inventor: Richard David Hughes
  • Patent number: 9453935
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a gantry configuration for a combined mobile radiation inspection system comprising a first arm frame, a second arm frame and a third arm frame. The first, second and third arm frames define a scanning channel to allow an inspected object to pass therethrough. The gantry configuration for the combined mobile radiation inspection system further comprises a position sensing device configured to detect a position error between the first arm frame and the second arm frame; and a controller configured to control a moving speed of at least one of the first arm frame and the second arm frame based on the detected position error, so that the position error between the first arm frame and the second arm frame is equal to zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignees: Nuctech Company Limited, Tsinghua University
    Inventors: Jianmin Li, Yuanjing Li, Chunguang Zong, Quanwei Song, Tao Xue, Qingjun Zhang, Sheng Tang
  • Patent number: 9453936
    Abstract: The inventive body scanner is used to screen persons entering a security controlled area for the presence of security threats hidden under the clothing, such as guns, knifes, explosives and contraband. The Invention is an improvement on prior art body scanners that operate primarily by acquiring backscatter x-ray images, but only acquire transmission images over a limited part of the person's body. These prior art systems provide x-ray sources on the anterior and posterior sides of the person being screened, and x-ray sensitive detectors on the sides of these x-ray sources. While sufficient for backscatter imaging, the gaps between these detectors results in blind areas in the transmission images, resulting in lower ability to detect security threats hidden under the clothing. The present Invention overcomes these limitations of the prior art by providing x-ray sensitive detector on the outside of the x-ray sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Inventor: Steven Winn Smith
  • Patent number: 9453937
    Abstract: A stationary CT apparatus and a method of controlling the same. The stationary CT apparatus includes: a scanning passage; a stationary carbon nanotube X-ray source arranged around the scanning passage and comprising a plurality of ray emission focal spots; and a plurality of stationary detector modules arranged around the scanning passage and disposed opposite the X-ray source. At least some of the plurality of detector modules are arranged in a substantially L shape or a substantially ? shape when viewed in a plane intersecting the scanning passage. Reconstruction of the CT apparatus without a rotary gantry is achieved and special substances in an object under inspection is identified by optimizing design of the carbon nanotube X-ray source and the detector device. The invention ensures that the stationary gantry type CT system has a small size and a high accuracy and is particularly suitable for safety inspection of baggage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Nuctech Company Limited
    Inventors: Jinyu Zhang, Bin Sang, Zhanjun Duan, Li Zhang, Ziran Zhao
  • Patent number: 9453938
    Abstract: A method for spectroscopic analysis of a fluid using electromagnetic radiation from lasers is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes sampling formation fluid within a well and determining formation fluid properties for the sampled formation fluid through downhole fluid analysis. Determining formation fluid properties for the sampled formation fluid can include using a spectrometer having a plurality of quantum cascade lasers to determine optical properties of the formation fluid and determining levels of multiple chemical species in the formation fluid using the determined optical properties of the formation fluid. Various other methods, systems and devices are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Arjun Vijayakumar
  • Patent number: 9453939
    Abstract: Device for detecting the position of at least a first and a second hand of an electromechanical watch, said first and second hands moving above a dial, the detection device including a single light source emitting a light beam towards the first and second hands, and a first and a second light detection system, the light source and the first and second light detection systems being mounted on or underneath the dial, the light source and the first and second light detection systems being arranged so that, in a determined position of the first hand, the light beam emitted by the light source is reflected by the first hand towards the first detection system, and in a determined position of the second hand, the light beam emitted by the light source is reflected by the second hand towards the second detection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Pierpasquale Tortora, Simon Springer
  • Patent number: 9453940
    Abstract: The presently disclosed inventive concepts are directed, in at least one non-limiting embodiment, to a computer system and method for issuing a tornado-indicative notification, such as a warning. In one embodiment the method includes receiving time sequential radar reflectivity data from an area undergoing a weather event, via at least one computer port and at least one processor executing processor executable code, analyzing the radar reflectivity data of the area to determine if an entropic source and an entropic sink are present in the area, determining a distance between the entropic source and the entropic sink when the entropic source and the entropic sink are present in the area, and outputting a tornado-indicative notification for the area when the distance between the entropic source and the entropic sink is less than or equal to a predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma
    Inventor: Yoshi K. Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9453941
    Abstract: A method of determining a surface condition of a road of travel. A light beam directed at a surface in the road of travel is transmitted utilizing a lidar system. A response is analyzed at a photodetector of the lidar system after transmitting the light beam. A determination is made whether a form of precipitation is present on the road of travel in response to analyzing the response at the photodetector. A precipitation indicating signal is generated in response to the determination that the ground surface includes a form of precipitation on the road of travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Inna Stainvas Olshansky, Yosi Buda, Ariel Lipson
  • Patent number: 9453942
    Abstract: Light-reflective structures comprising a binding material configured as an inverse opal having reflections of at least two wavelengths and methods of producing the light-reflective structures are described herein. The wavelengths reflected by the light-reflective structures may be tuned by external stimuli. In an example, silk-fibroin inverse opals have two reflection wavelengths that may be shifted based on changes in humidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: National University of Singapore
    Inventors: Xiangyang Liu, Yingying Diao
  • Patent number: 9453943
    Abstract: The invention provides a class of block copolymers having a plurality of chemically different blocks, at least a portion of which incorporating polymer side chain groups having a helical secondary structure. The invention also provides structures generated by self-assembly of polymer blends including at least one block copolymer component, such as a brush block polymer or wedge-type block polymer. The invention provides, for example, periodic nanostructures and microstructures generated by self-assembly of block copolymers and polymer blends comprising a mixture of at least one block copolymer component, such as a brush block copolymer, and at least a second component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Garret M Miyake, Raymond Weitekamp, Robert H Grubbs, Victoria Piunova