Patents Issued in March 7, 2017
  • Patent number: 9588002
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a measurement sensor comprising a radio frequency identification circuit for measuring a parameter. The circuit comprises at least of one component in which a characteristic of that component can be changed to reflect a change in a measured parameter, such that the frequency of the sensor varies according to changes in the measured parameter. The invention extends to a system for measuring a variable parameter that incorporates such a sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Silent Sensors Limited
    Inventors: Jonathan Ingram, Ashley Duddle, Marcus Taylor
  • Patent number: 9588003
    Abstract: An isolator system for a pressure transmitter includes a port internal to the transmitter, a sensor tube, and a fill tube. The sensor tube is connected to the port to fluidly connect a passageway through a transmitter body to a pressure sensor. The sensor tube includes a first end disposed in the port. The first end has a first cross-sectional area. The fill tube is internal to the transmitter and connected to the port to fluidly connect to the passageway. The fill tube includes a second end disposed in the port. The second end of the fill tube has a second cross-sectional area that is less than the first cross-sectional area of the sensor tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Rosemount Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. Hedtke, Eric Petersen
  • Patent number: 9588004
    Abstract: A Long Lifetime Cold Cathode Ionization Vacuum Gauge Design with an extended anode electrode having an axially directed tip, a cathode electrode, and a baffle structure. The axially directed tip of the anode electrode can have a rounded exterior with a diameter at least 10% greater than the diameter of the anode electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerardo A. Brucker, Scott C. Heinbuch
  • Patent number: 9588005
    Abstract: Measures are described which simplify the functional testing of a component having an MEMS element provided with a pressure-sensitive sensor diaphragm, and which allow a self-calibration of the component even after it is already in place, i.e., following the end of the production process. The component has a housing, in which are situated at least one MEMS element having a pressure-sensitive sensor diaphragm and a switching arrangement for detecting the diaphragm deflections as measuring signals; an arrangement for analyzing the measuring signals; and an arrangement for the defined excitation of the sensor diaphragm. The housing has at least one pressure connection port. The arrangement for exciting the sensor diaphragm includes at least one selectively actuable actuator component for generating defined pressure pulses that act on the sensor diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Jochen Zoellin, Ricardo Ehrenpfordt, Juergen Graf, Christoph Schelling, Frederik Ante, Michael Curcic
  • Patent number: 9588006
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for calibrating a pressure sensor associated with a mobile device. Location information may be determined for the mobile device and used to obtain reference pressure information. The reference pressure information may then be used to calibrate the pressure sensor. Additionally, when the pressure sensor of the mobile device has been calibrated, output from the pressure sensor may be used as reference pressure information by another device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: InvenSense, Inc.
    Inventors: Ardalan Heshmati, Karthik Katingari
  • Patent number: 9588007
    Abstract: An online real time steam or gas turbine engine rotor balancing system is incorporated in a rotor balance plane. A selectively displaceable balancing weight is coupled to the rotor and is selectively displaced by a motor that is coupled to the balancing weight. The motor selectively displaces the balancing weight along a displacement path that is in the balance plane. A turbine engine rotor vibration monitoring system monitors rotor vibration in real-time. A control system is coupled to rotor vibration monitoring system and the motor, for determining in real time a desired balance weight displacement position to counteract the monitored rotor vibration. The controller selectively causes the motor to displace the balancing weight to the desired displacement position. The motor power source is an inductive power source or a permanent magnet generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Edward David Thompson, David R. Tiffany, Benjamin E. Bassford, IV
  • Patent number: 9588008
    Abstract: An automobile turbocharger examination device is provided. A connection tube set connects an outlet tube of a turbocharger and an inlet tube of an engine to define a detection channel which includes a hard tube portion and a flexible tube portion which is provided for being connected among the hard tube portion, the outlet tube and the inlet tube. The examination device is for being connected between the hard and flexible tube portions. A first connection end of a connection tubular body includes at least one connection tube. One of the at least one connection tube of the first connection end is for being communicably connected with the flexible tube portion, and a second connection end of the connection tubular body is for being communicably connected with the hard tube portion. A pressure-detecting channel is for detecting pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Inventors: Ying-Chieh Liao, Yu-Kuo Liao
  • Patent number: 9588009
    Abstract: This ultrasonic fatigue testing machine is one that resonates a test piece by an ultrasonic wave to perform a fatigue test, and configured to include an ultrasonic wave generation part 10, a displacement measurement part 20, and a control part 30 that controls the overall operation of the ultrasonic fatigue testing machine. The control part 30 is configured to have a computer that includes storage devices capable of store programs and various types of data, such as an RAM and an ROM, and an arithmetic unit such as a CPU, and includes an internal temperature estimation part 31, an allowable range setting part 32, and a determination part 33 as a main functional configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tohru Matsuura
  • Patent number: 9588010
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for a soil box experiment applying vertical vibration. The apparatus for the soil box experiment applying the vertical vibration includes: a soil box for realizing a slope on which landslide occurs, the soil box being inclinedly disposed and having an opened upper portion to accommodate soil therein, a base member disposed under the soil box to support the soil box, and a vibration unit disposed on the base member to vertically vibrate the soil box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF GEOSCIENCE AND MINERAL RESOURCES (KIGAM)
    Inventors: Jung-Hae Choi, Byung-Gon Chae
  • Patent number: 9588011
    Abstract: Exemplary practice of the present invention provides and implements a superior small-scale test model of a full-scale vessel hull describing a smooth axisymmetric body. The boundary layer of a smooth axisymmetric body moving in water is characterized, in succession from front axial-longitudinal end to back axial-longitudinal end, by a laminar region, an unstable region, an intermittent region, and a turbulent region. The smooth axisymmetric body's intermittent region is characterized by generation of turbulent spots, which bring about the turbulent region. According to exemplary inventive practice, a “turbulent spot inducer” (ring-shaped structure or structural arrangement) is strategically sized and placed to increase generation of turbulent spots, thereby reducing (axially-longitudinally shortening) the intermittent region and enlarging (axially-longitudinally lengthening) the turbulent region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Young T. Shen, Michael J. Hughes
  • Patent number: 9588012
    Abstract: A method for calculating the surfaces of optical lenses including the steps of: providing a desired light distribution to be generated with light passing through the lens; deforming a first surface of the lens to generate light source images of different sizes; deforming a second surface of the lens to displace the light source images such that they lie at their highest point directly at or on a light/dark border in a resulting light distribution; determining a quality of the resulting light distribution by a comparison with the predefined light distribution; if the quality lies above a predefined limit value, storing the calculated surfaces for the lens; otherwise, renewed deformation of the first surface; renewed deformation of the second surface; repeating the previous two steps until the quality of the resulting light distribution lies above the limit value; and storing the calculated surfaces for the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Automotive Lighting Reutlingen GmbH
    Inventors: Steffen Wiersdorff, Hermann Kellermann
  • Patent number: 9588014
    Abstract: An error measuring method of gear includes: performing the single gear flank testing to the gear pair in order to produce a testing signal graph; the operation unit decomposing the testing signal graph by Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) to generate a plurality of intrinsic-mode-function graphs (IMFs), the intrinsic-mode-function graph (IMF) having a first function graph with a first range and a second function graph with a second range, the first range is greater than the second range; the operation unit selecting a plurality of third function graph from the intrinsic-mode-function graphs (IMFs), wherein the third range is greater than the second range but not greater than the first range; the operation unit combining the third function graphs to produce a graph of superposing function; the operation unit computing out a plurality of single pitch error, a plurality of adjacent pitch error and an accumulated pitch error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: NATIONAL CENTRAL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yi-Cheng Chen, Ming-Hung Chang
  • Patent number: 9588015
    Abstract: A sign of a minor rubbing abnormality of a slide bearing in a diesel engine is accurately detected. In order to realize the accurate detection, the following is performed: detecting waveform data which represents an acceleration of a vibration which occurs when a slide bearing is in operation; transforming acceleration waveform data into an acceleration spectrum of a frequency domain by applying a Fourier transform to the acceleration waveform data; quantifying a plurality of peak information which occurs at a rotational frequency interval of a shaft to be measured in the acceleration spectrum by performing a predetermined signal process combined with rotational frequency information of the shaft; obtaining a characteristic value; monitoring whether the obtained characteristic value has exceeded a predetermined threshold value; and when the characteristic value has exceeded the threshold value, determining that an abnormality has occurred in the slide bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: ASAHI KASEI ENGINEERING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Sako, Kouichi Tamura
  • Patent number: 9588016
    Abstract: A fuel injection device (fuel supply system) of a common rail type fuel injection system for an engine includes a pressure sensor disposed in a fuel inlet of an injector for measuring a fuel pressure at a position where the sensor is disposed and an ECU for sensing various kinds of pressure fluctuations associated with the injection including a pressure leak due to an injection operation of the injector and waving characteristics due to actual injection thereof based on sensor outputs from the pressure sensor. The ECU serially obtains the sensor outputs from the pressure sensor at intervals of 20 ?sec.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kouji Ishizuka, Kenichirou Nakata, Katsuhiko Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 9588017
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a variation abnormality in an air-fuel ratio between cylinders according to the present invention is configured to calculate a value representing a change in an air-fuel ratio based on an output of an air-fuel ratio sensor that is provided in an exhaust passage in a predetermined operating state in which fuel is injected from a fuel injection valve, perform, to the calculated value, sensitivity correction in accordance with a sensitivity of the sensor based on the output of the sensor during fuel-cut operation and outside atmospheric pressure correction based on outside atmospheric pressure, and determine the presence or absence of a variation abnormality in an air-fuel ratio between cylinders by comparing the corrected value with a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Miyamoto, Kenji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9588018
    Abstract: A diagnostic system for a vehicle, includes a computer storing software on a computer readable media, configurable for setting up recording of vehicle operations, selecting from a plurality of customizable triggering operations according to Boolean logic, and a vehicle communication interface detachably connected to the computer, being setup by the computer for recording of vehicle operation while the vehicle is operating and recorded information stored in a computer readable media of the vehicle communication interface being reviewed by the computer, and detachably connected to the vehicle for recording of the vehicle operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Olav M. Underdal, Harry M. Gilbert, Alex Portyanko, Randy L. Mayes, Gregory J. Fountain, William W. Wittliff, III
  • Patent number: 9588019
    Abstract: A tire deformation sensing and tire inflation system for tires that makes use of ultrasonic sensors embedded in the bead lock of the tire to measure time intervals between transmitted ultrasonic signals and the echo received signals to and uses the information obtained to adjust the tire pressure through a central tire inflation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Texas Research International, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Philip Brushaber
  • Patent number: 9588020
    Abstract: A method of testing a shape memory alloy (SMA) actuated device includes cyclically operating the device. The method further includes determining a number of cycles in a functional life of the device based on observations of the device during the cyclical operation. The functional life is a range of consecutive cycles of operation of the device beginning with a first cycle during which the device performs within a specified limit. The functional life is immediately followed by a cycle during which the device performs outside of the specified limit. The method still further includes applying a progressive substitution sub-process to identify an opportunity to increase the number of cycles in the functional life of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Alan L. Browne, Xiujie Gao, Nancy L. Johnson, Christopher B. Churchill, Guillermo A. Herrera, Geoffrey P. McKnight
  • Patent number: 9588021
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sampling apparatus and method. In the sampling method, a sample is led through a flowline (20) to a pump (5) and from there on to sampling means (12, 13). According to the invention, the pump (5) is formed of an actual pump (5) and magnetic valves (4, 6) located on either side of it, which are controlled in such a way that the pumping is pulse-like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Teknologian Tutkimuskeskus VTT Oy
    Inventors: Johannes Roine, Leif Kåll, Olli Antson
  • Patent number: 9588022
    Abstract: A sampling device including a closed sample container with a flexible wall and with an interior, a coupling member for releasable coupling to a sample outlet connector, a communicating passage between the coupling member and the interior of the sample container, at least the interior of the sample container being sterile, and a sterility protection device for ensuring the sterility of the interior of the sample container in the form of a three-way valve between the coupling member and the sample container, the three-way valve having a connection to the coupling member, a connection to the sample container and an outlet, and the three-way valve being, before use, in a closed position in which it bars access to the interior of the sample container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Keofitt A/S
    Inventor: Henrik Lysgaard Salomon
  • Patent number: 9588023
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the collection, transportation and analysis of gas samples which may be required in various scientific, environmental and natural resource contexts is provided. The apparatus comprises a sampling container assembly for sampling a fluid. The container assembly comprises a body defining a sampling chamber having a first end and a second end, a first valve assembly fluidly coupled with the first end and a reactant material positioned within the sampling chamber for reacting with the fluid. After collection of the sample in the sampling container assembly, hazardous fluids are converted to non-hazardous materials that can be transported without additional hazardous material restraints. Further, the flow through design of the sampling container assembly allows for the collection of gases such as H2S at low concentrations by flowing the gas over the reactant materials for longer periods of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Weatherford Switzerland Trading and Development GMBH
    Inventors: Todd Coleman, Corben Rice, Dennis Coleman
  • Patent number: 9588024
    Abstract: A system for sampling and/or conditioning a process gas such as natural gas or the like utilizing two or more modular components, each having unique conditioning or monitoring features or the like, which components are formed to be slidingly received in a receiver so as to be stacked one upon the other for sealed engagement, forming a serial flow-through passage to provide conditioning, monitoring, or other features as the gas flows therethrough. An embodiment of the present invention is designed to receive multiple conditioning components, each of which may have diverse functionality such as, for example, one or more stages of pressure reduction, monitoring, particulate and/or liquid droplet filtering, etc. The invention is designed for easy configuration customization so as to provide a readily customizable solution for each application, with an embodiment which may be incorporated into a probe or the like or at its tip, and thereby operate at the prevailing pressure and temperature of the process gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: A+ Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Valmond Joseph St Amant, III, Steven Douglas Calverley
  • Patent number: 9588025
    Abstract: Microfluidic structures and methods for manipulating fluids, fluid components, and reactions are provided. In one aspect, such structures and methods can allow production of droplets of a precise volume, which can be stored/maintained at precise regions of the device. In another aspect, microfluidic structures and methods described herein are designed for containing and positioning components in an arrangement such that the components can be manipulated and then tracked even after manipulation. For example, cells may be constrained in an arrangement in microfluidic structures described herein to facilitate tracking during their growth and/or after they multiply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignees: Brandeis University, President and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventors: Seth Fraden, Hakim Boukellal, Yanwei Jia, Seila Selimovic, Amy Rowat, Jeremy Agresti, David A. Weitz
  • Patent number: 9588026
    Abstract: Sample application systems can include an extraction mechanism to remove a sample from sample containers, a sample vessel disposed on a deployment mechanism, where the deployment mechanism is arranged to move the sample vessel to receive a sample, an extraction mechanism washing station to wash the extraction mechanism, a sample applicator to remove a portion of the sample in the sample vessel and apply it onto a sample carrier, where the deployment mechanism can move the sample vessel to a sample application position, a sample vessel washing station to wash the sample vessel, where the deployment mechanism can move the sample vessel to the sample vessel washing station, a sample applicator washing station to wash the sample applicator after the sample has been dispensed onto the sample carrier, and a fluid control system to control flow of a fluid provided to the extraction mechanism and the sample applicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Hematology, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. McKeen, Eric D. Yeaton, James L. Dowling, David Zahniser, Stephen Conroy
  • Patent number: 9588027
    Abstract: Fluidic devices and methods associated with mixing of fluids in fluidic devices are provided. In some embodiments, a method may involve the mixing of two or more fluids in a channel segment of a fluidic device. The fluids may be in the form of, for example, at least first, second and third fluid plugs, composed of first, second, and third fluids, respectively. The second fluid may be immiscible with the first and third fluids. In certain embodiments, the fluid plugs may be flowed in series in the channel segment, e.g., in linear order, causing the first and third fluids to mix without the use of active to components such as mixers. The mixing of fluids in a channel segment as described herein may allow for improved performance and simplification in the design and operations of fluidic devices that rely on mixing of fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: UPKO Diagnostics, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Dirckx, Vincent Linder, Jason Taylor
  • Patent number: 9588028
    Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for testing cushioning material for packaging, which improves the test method and performs a more precise characterization of cushioning for packaging. The machine is formed by: a load arm (1); a lift motor (2) on the upper part thereof; several guides that connect (i) a rigid platform (6) for positioning the sample to be tested, replaceable by a load cell (6?), and (ii) an impact platform comprising sensors (7) for monitoring the position thereof and measuring acceleration during impact; a spindle (4) for moving the load arm; and, on the lower part thereof, a seismic mass (5) for reducing the transmission of the impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Instituto Technologico del Embalaje, Transporte y Logistica
    Inventors: Manuel-Alfredo Garcia-Romeu Martinez, Juan Alcaraz Llorca, Amparo Martinez Giner, Enrique De La Cruz Navarro, Patricia Navarro Javierre, Javier Zabaleta Meri
  • Patent number: 9588029
    Abstract: A dynamics performance testing system, for use in testing the dynamics performance of an anchor rod or an anchor rode, comprising a main machine and a measurement and control system. The main machine comprises a vertical machine frame (1), a clamping apparatus (3) arranged on the top of the vertical machine frame (1) and used for vertically clamping the top end of a sample (6), where the sample (6) is provided at the bottom end thereof with a tray (61), a drop-hammering apparatus (2) used for being dropped vertically from the vertical machine frame (1) at a set height to impact the tray (61), a lifting apparatus used for lifting the drop-hammering apparatus at the bottom of the vertical machine frame (1) to the set height, and a protection apparatus used for physical protection and isolation to reduce bodily injury and noise. The measurement and control system controls the drop-hammering apparatus to select a parameter for drop-hammering and a process of lifting and dropping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: China University of Mining & Technology (Beijing)
    Inventors: Manchao He, Zhibiao Guo, Guofeng Zhang
  • Patent number: 9588030
    Abstract: In the dihedral sensor system, two flat plates are secured to a dihedron so that the distance (L) between the edge and the meniscus and the spacing between the plates (a) on the meniscus will be a function of the dihedron tangent (?). Thus, for pure water the tension (?) is equal to the potential (T) and given by T=?2?/[L tg(?)], wherein ? is the water surface tension. In order to measure water tension in the soil, the system is coupled to porous elements, while the sensor edge is pressed directly against roots and other plant organs. Water potential, instead, is measured with the edge positioned at a few micrometers from the sample and the response takes place after the exchange of a few picoliters of water, when the condition of balance of temperature and water vapor is approached. Visually, with a sliding gauge, one measures water tensions between zero and 0.3 MPa, while with the aid of a microscope the reading extends up to 3.0 MPa. The water activity corresponding to water potentials lower than ?3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: EMBRAPA-EMPRESA BRASILEIRA DE PESQUISA AGROPECUARIA
    Inventor: Adonai Gimenez Calbo
  • Patent number: 9588031
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for determining an aerosol particle size distribution that includes the steps of modulating an aerosol particle beam with an aerosol particle gate which is controlled by a modulation function for generating a modulated aerosol particle beam, guiding the modulated aerosol particle beam through a drifting region, measuring a signal of the modulated aerosol particle beam after the modulated aerosol particle beam has passed the drifting region and calculating a correlation of the modulation function and the signal in order to determine the size distribution of the aerosol particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: TOFWERK AG
    Inventor: Richard Knochenmuss
  • Patent number: 9588032
    Abstract: A sample of frozen rocks is placed into contact with a frozen solution of an X-ray contrast agent at subzero temperature. Upon the end of saturation of the sample, a computed X-ray microtomography of the sample is conducted at a subzero temperature. The obtained microtomographic image is analyzed and spatial distribution and concentration of ice and/or gas hydrate inclusions, as well as open and closed porosity are determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alexander Nikolaevich Nadeev, Evgeny Mikhailovich Chuvilin, Olga Vladimirovna Popova
  • Patent number: 9588033
    Abstract: A method for determining a mean cell volume for a blood sample includes: illuminating the sample with incident light at a plurality of illumination wavelengths and obtaining a two-dimensional image of the sample at each of the plurality of illumination wavelengths; identifying a plurality of cells that appear in each of the images; for each one of the plurality of cells, determining an integrated optical density corresponding to each of the plurality of illumination wavelengths; for each one of the plurality of cells, determining a cell volume based on the integrated optical densities corresponding to each of the plurality of illumination wavelengths; and determining the mean cell volume for the blood sample from the cell volumes for each one of the plurality of cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Hematology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Zahniser, Russell Zahniser
  • Patent number: 9588034
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing permeation testing on materials used in personal protective equipment is described. Two or more test cells are loaded with swatches of material and inserted into the testing apparatus. Chemicals to be tested on the material are loaded into one or more syringes and may be introduced into the top of the test cells as a liquid or a vapor. Vapor is collected from the bottom of the test cells, underneath the swatches of material, and tested for concentration of the chemicals being tested. The apparatus and method facilitates instantaneous breakthrough analysis, control of the sample environment and ease of operator use and calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Russell A. Bonsteel, Wesley D. Ercanbrack, Christopher A. Bailey, Kenneth D Nemelka, Nathan L. Porter, Michael B. DeZearn
  • Patent number: 9588035
    Abstract: A system for counting fetal and maternal red blood cells (RBCs) including a microscope and image capturing device to capture at least one image from a slide holding the fetal and maternal RBCs; a computer readable medium for storing the at least one image; a processor for executing computer readable instructions stored on a computer readable medium; wherein the computer executable instructions include instructions for: indentifying red blood cells from the at least one image; distinguishing between fetal and maternal red blood cells; and counting the fetal and maternal red blood cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Inventors: Yu Sun, Ji Ge, Zheng Gong, Chen Wang, John Nguyen, Jun Liu, Jun Chen
  • Patent number: 9588036
    Abstract: A microchip is provided that includes a flow path through which a liquid containing a micro particle flows, an orifice through which the liquid flowing through the flow path is discharged into a space outside the microchip, and a light-irradiated portion provided at a predetermined location of the flow path and configured to be irradiated with light. A width of the flow path and a depth of the flow path at the orifice are set to be smaller than a width of the flow path and a depth of the flow path at the light-irradiated portion, and the flow path is configured to gradually decrease from upstream of the orifice in a cross-section area perpendicular to a liquid-delivering direction between the light-irradiated portion and the orifice. A cartridge including the microchip is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Masataka Shinoda
  • Patent number: 9588037
    Abstract: A system for three dimensional imaging of motile objects includes an image sensor and a sample holder disposed adjacent to the image sensor. A first illumination source is provided and has a first wavelength and positioned relative to the sample holder at a first location to illuminate the sample. A second illumination source is also provided having a second wavelength, different from the first wavelength, and positioned relative to the sample holder at a second location, different from the first location, to illuminate the sample. The first and second illumination sources are configured to simultaneously, or alternatively, sequentially illuminate the sample contained within the sample holder. Three dimensional positions of the motile objects in each frame are obtained based on digitally reconstructed projection images of the mobile objects obtained from the first and second illumination sources. This positional data is connected for each frame to obtain 3D trajectories of motile objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Aydogan Ozcan, Ting-Wei Su
  • Patent number: 9588038
    Abstract: An analytical system is disclosed. The analytical system includes a storage container configured to store a plurality of capillaries. It also includes a gripper configured to receive at least one of the plurality of capillaries, and move the at least one capillary so that an end of the capillary contacts a sample in a sample container and draws the sample in the capillary. The system also includes a reader configured to detect a signal from the sample in the capillary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Beckman Coulter, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Retter, Yagang Liu, Patty Pang, Brian Peterson
  • Patent number: 9588039
    Abstract: A device for measuring a periodic signal is disclosed. The device includes a light source for generating an optical input signal directed at an object being measured from an electrical input signal generated by a driver device on the basis of a first clock pulse, an optical receiver for detecting and converting the signal received, a central control and measuring device is designed to generate the first clock pulse for the driver device and to receive and process the electrical measuring signal, and a voltage-supply apparatus for supplying the driver device. The central control and measuring device are preferably designed to generate a second clock pulse for the voltage-supply apparatus and to filter the electrical measuring signal on the basis of the first and/or second clock pulse. The frequency of the second clock pulse is an even multiple of the frequency of the first clock pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Hamilton Bonaduz AG
    Inventors: Bernd Offenbeck, Louis Willi
  • Patent number: 9588040
    Abstract: An infrared detection device can be used to detect coal mine polar gas. The detection device can include a central processor and a gas pool assembly having a moveable optical window. The moveable optical window can include a stationary pool body and a moveable pool body inserted into the stationary pool body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: CCTEG (China Coal Technology and Engineering Group Corp)
    Inventors: Liang Yuntao, Sun Yong, Luo Haizhu, Zhang Depeng, Feng Wenbin
  • Patent number: 9588041
    Abstract: A system for determining a material property at an interface between a first layer and a second layer includes a transmitter outputting electromagnetic radiation to the sample, a receiver receiving electromagnetic radiation that was reflected by or transmitted though the sample, and a data acquisition device. The data acquisition device digitizes the electromagnetic radiation to yield waveform data. The waveform data represents the radiation reflected by or transmitted though the sample. The material property to be determined is generally the adhesive strength between the first and second layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: PICOMETRIX, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. White, Gregory D. Fichter, Irl Duling, David Zimdars
  • Patent number: 9588042
    Abstract: A method for producing a multilayer tissue phantom involves successively forming at least two layers, each layer formed by depositing a viscous flowable material over a supporting element or over a previously formed layer of the phantom supported by the supporting element, selectively redistributing the material while material is solidifying to control a thickness distribution of the layer, and allowing the material to solidify sufficiently to apply a next layer. The supporting element supports the material in 2 or 3 directions and effectively molds a lumen of the tissue. The neighboring layers are of different composition and of chosen thickness to provide desired optical properties and mechanical properties of the phantom. The phantom may have selected attenuation and backscattering properties to mimic tissues for optical coherence tomography imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: National Research Council of Canada
    Inventors: Charles-Etienne Bisaillon, Guy Lamouche, Marc L. Dufour
  • Patent number: 9588043
    Abstract: A sensor unit photoelectrically converts received light to output image data. A lens unit condenses light reflected by an object surface to be measured on the sensor unit. A lens control unit controls a geometric condition of rays passing through the lens unit. The sensor unit and the lens control unit are controlled to acquire a multi-angular reflectance property in a neighborhood of a specular reflection direction of the object surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takamasa Seto
  • Patent number: 9588044
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for using SPR to detect buried voids in a semiconductor wafer inline post metal deposition. Embodiments include forming a first, a second, and a third metal structure in a first, a second, and a third adjacent die of a wafer; performing a SPR on the first, second, and third metal structures inline; detecting a first, a second, and a third SPR wavelength corresponding to the first, second, and third metal structures, respectively; comparing a difference between the first SPR wavelength and the second SPR wavelength and a difference between the third SPR wavelength and the first SPR wavelength against a threshold value; and determining a presence or an absence of a buried void in the first metal structure based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Sabarinath Jayaseelan, Suraj Kumar Patil
  • Patent number: 9588045
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a microscope for generating a microscopic image, wherein a) the sample is illuminated in each case by the microscope lens using the TIRF method; and b) the sample is illuminated in a structured fashion in different displacement positions of the structure. The sample light of the method according to a) and b) is detected in each case for generating an image of at least once sample region, wherein the sample images generated according to a) and b) are set off against one another, preferably multiplied, and the result is stored for generating a new sample image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Ingo Kleppe, Yauheni Novikau
  • Patent number: 9588046
    Abstract: Provided is a fluorescence observation apparatus including: a fluorescence image acquisition section and a reference image acquisition section that acquire a fluorescence image and a reference image of a subject, respectively; a division image generation section that generates a division image by dividing an image based on the fluorescence image by an image based on the reference image; a display section that displays a corrected fluorescence image based on the division image; a correction processing section that applies correction processing to at least one of the reference image and the fluorescence image and/or to the division image prior to the generation of the division image or prior to the display of the corrected fluorescence image; an observation condition determination section that determines observation conditions of the subject; and a correction condition setting section that sets parameters regarding the correction processing according to the observation conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasushige Ishihara, Hiromi Shida, Kei Kubo, Satoshi Takekoshi
  • Patent number: 9588047
    Abstract: A multi-cell apparatus and method for single ion addressing are described herein. One apparatus includes a first cell configured to set a frequency, intensity, and a polarization of a laser and shutter the laser, a second cell configured to align the shuttered laser to an ion in an ion trap such that the ion fluoresces light and/or performs a quantum operation, and a third cell configured to detect the light fluoresced from the ion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Edward Lewis Jungwirth, James Goeders
  • Patent number: 9588048
    Abstract: A surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) sensor, system and method employ nanorods and independent nanoparticles that interact. The sensor includes at least two spaced apart nanorods attached at first ends to a substrate and an independent nanoparticle. Second ends of the nanorods are movable into close proximity to one another and include a Raman active surface. The nanoparticle has a functionalized surface that includes a Raman signal generator. An interaction between the nanoparticle and the nanorod second ends in close proximity is detectable. The system includes the SERS sensor, an illumination source and a Raman signal detector. The method includes illuminating the interaction of the nanoparticle and the nanorods with an analyte, and detecting an effect on a Raman signal caused by the analyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Ansoon Kim, Zhiyong Li
  • Patent number: 9588049
    Abstract: A SERS unit comprises a substrate; an optical function part formed on the substrate, for generating surface-enhanced Raman scattering; and a package containing the optical function part in an inert space and configured to irreversibly expose the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Katsumi Shibayama, Masashi Ito, Takafumi Yokino, Masaki Hirose, Anna Yoshida, Kazuto Ofuji, Yoshihiro Maruyama
  • Patent number: 9588050
    Abstract: A total nitrogen measurement apparatus comprising an ultraviolet lamp comprising: a light emission section and a holding section for holding the light emission section, the holding section being formed of a material not including iron; a reaction vessel having a space where the light emission section is to be inserted and a sample water is to be contained around the light emission section for converting nitrogen compounds in the sample water contained in the reaction vessel into nitrate ions by oxidative decomposition using ultraviolet rays from the light emission section; and a measurement section configured to perform absorbance measurement on the sample water including the nitrate ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihito Yahata, Yoshizou Ishida, Takao Shimotani, Satoshi Takemura, Takayuki Mamiya
  • Patent number: 9588051
    Abstract: The present invention relates to optical confinements, methods of preparing and methods of using them for analyzing molecules and/or monitoring chemical reactions. The apparatus and methods embodied in the present invention are particularly useful for high-throughput and low-cost single-molecular analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Turner, Jonas Korlach
  • Patent number: 9588052
    Abstract: Water-based formulations comprising an indicating composition dispersed in water are described. The water-based indicating compositions include an organic Bi(III) compound, a sulfur source, and a carbonate salt. Formulations further including a resin and/or an acidic additive are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kevin D. Landgrebe, Ranjani V. Parthasarathy, Anthony E. Bennett, Peter T. Elliott, Steven S. Kirckof