Patents Issued in April 11, 2017
  • Patent number: 9618330
    Abstract: A coordinate measurement device comprises an articulated arm having a first end, a second end, and a plurality of jointed arm segments therebetween. Each arm segment defines at least one axis of rotation. A laser scanner assembly is coupled to the second end of the arm and is rotatable about a last axis of rotation of the articulated arm. The laser scanner assembly comprises a laser and an image sensor. The laser is positioned on an opposite side of the last axis of rotation from the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Hexagon Metrology, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Ferrari
  • Patent number: 9618331
    Abstract: A method and equipment based on detecting the polarization property of a polarization maintaining fiber (PMF) probe for measuring structures of a micro part are provided. The provided method relates to how to accomplish measuring structures of a micro part by transforming two or three-dimensional contact displacements into polarization property changes of the PMF probe, and how to reconstruct the structure geometry of a micro part. The provided equipment can be used to bring the spherical tip of the PMF probe into contact with a micro part, to determine coordinates of contact points, and to reconstruct the structure geometry of a micro part. The provided method and equipment feature high sensitivity, low probing force, high inspecting aspect ratio and immunity to environment interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: HARBIN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Jiwen Cui, Junying Li, Kunpeng Feng, Jiubin Tan
  • Patent number: 9618332
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method of determining a position of an object with respect to incident radiation, comprising iteratively determining at least one of an object function indicating one or more characteristics of an object and a probe function indicative of one or more characteristics of incident radiation, iteratively determining the position of the object, wherein the iteratively determining the position of the object comprises cross correlating first and second estimates of the object function or the probe function, determining a location of a peak of the cross correlation, and determining a translation deviation indicative of a difference in position of the object between the first and second estimates based on the location of the peak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: PHASE FOCUS LIMITED
    Inventor: Fucai Zhang
  • Patent number: 9618333
    Abstract: A clearance measurement device for a combustor includes: a rod part with the hollow base end side which is mounted on a first flange of the combustor while being inserted in the combustor; a support part which is mounted at the leading end of the rod part so as to be rotatable around an axis perpendicular to the axial direction of the rod part; an imaging element which is supported by the support part and images an annular clearance; an operation lever which penetrates the inside of the rod part and extends toward the support part; and a link mechanism which is provided between the operation lever and the support part and converts a forward/backward motion of the operation lever into a rotary motion of the support part around the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Yugo Tokunaga, Kenta Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 9618334
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring turbine component deformation are provided. The turbine component has an exterior surface. A method includes directly measuring a strain sensor configured on the exterior surface of the turbine component along an X-axis, a Y-axis and a Z-axis to obtain X-axis data points, Y-axis data points, and Z-axis data points. The X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis are mutually orthogonal. The method further includes assembling a three-dimensional profile of the strain sensor based on the X-axis data points, Y-axis data points and Z-axis data points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jason Lee Burnside, Gregory Lee Hovis, Bryan J. Germann, John David Ward, Jr., William F. Ranson
  • Patent number: 9618335
    Abstract: A system and method for adjusting light emitter output for a railway track inspection system based on data feedback from one or more sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Tetra Tech, Inc.
    Inventor: Darel Mesher
  • Patent number: 9618336
    Abstract: There is provided a measuring device that includes a first measuring unit that measures a distance between a measurement reference point and an intersection of a plane and a line passing through the measurement reference point, a calculator that calculates angles formed by the plane and the intersection; and a second measuring unit that measures an object using data of the distance or the angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Kouichirou Kasama
  • Patent number: 9618337
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for measuring an altitude of a terminal which can correct an altitude error according to temporal and spatial changes are provided. The apparatus includes an atmospheric pressure measuring unit for measuring an atmospheric pressure from a barometer included in the terminal, a position determiner for measuring position information of the terminal, and a controller for, when a reference atmospheric pressure reception period is not generated, predicting a current reference atmospheric pressure by using previously received reference atmospheric pressures and measuring a current altitude by using the predicted reference atmospheric pressure and the measured atmospheric pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-Woong Chun, Jeong-Min Park, Do-Hyoung Chung
  • Patent number: 9618338
    Abstract: A relative angle between a machine's direction of travel and the orientation of an inclination sensor on a work tool coupled to the machine is determined and/or calculated. In some examples, the present disclosure describes a method of determining a relative angle between a machine's direction of travel and an inclination sensor coupled to a work tool coupled to the machine. Such method may include determining the machine's direction of travel, and determining an orientation of the inclination sensor coupled to the work tool coupled to the machine. The relative angle between the machine's direction of travel and the orientation of the inclination sensor coupled to the work tool may then be calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Drew Fehr
  • Patent number: 9618339
    Abstract: Wider overall angular viewing range for a spirit level achieved by provisioning spirit levels with a bubble vial module including a reflective surface wherein the reflective surface is manually pivotal about a pivot axis relative to a non-pivoted direct opposite viewing position such that a user can pivot the reflective surface towards himself. The system may include predetermined viewing positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Kapro Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Rafi Ben Josef, Yossi Palatshe
  • Patent number: 9618340
    Abstract: The invention provides a surveying instrument, comprising a frame unit rotatable in a horizontal direction, a telescope unit as mounted rotatably in a vertical direction on the frame unit and further for sighting an object to be measured, a horizontal driving unit for rotating and driving the frame unit in a horizontal direction, a vertical driving unit for rotating the telescope unit in a vertical direction, a horizontal angle measuring unit for detecting a horizontal angle of the frame unit, a vertical angle measuring unit for detecting a vertical angle of the telescope unit and a control device, wherein the control device is adapted to calculate a solar altitude at a time moment by setting up coordinates of where the surveying instrument is installed and the time moment, and to make the telescope unit to set to the solar altitude as calculated by controlling the vertical driving unit, to control the horizontal driving unit, to execute searching of the sun by horizontally rotating the frame unit at the sola
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha TOPCON
    Inventors: Takeshi Ishida, Nobuyuki Nishita, Jumpei Kochi, Hiroyuki Nakabe, Goro Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 9618341
    Abstract: Visual codes are scanned to assist navigation. The visual code may be a Quick Response (QR) code that contains information useful to calibrating a variety of navigation-based sensors such as gyroscopes, e-compasses, and barometric pressure sensors. In an embodiment, an imaging device, an gyroscope, and a processor are elements of a system. The processor is coupled to the imaging device and the gyroscope. The processor causes the imaging device to scan a visual code. Based on scanning the visual code, the processor causes the gyroscope to be calibrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Deric Wayne Waters, Tarkesh Pande
  • Patent number: 9618342
    Abstract: A MEMS anti-phase vibratory gyroscope includes two measurement masses with a top cap and a bottom cap each coupled with a respective measurement mass. The measurement masses are oppositely coupled with each other in the vertical direction. Each measurement mass includes an outer frame, an inner frame located within the outer frame, and a mass located within the inner frame. The two measurement masses are coupled with each other through the outer frame. The inner frame is coupled with the outer frame by a plurality of first elastic beams. The mass is coupled with the inner frame by a plurality of second elastic beams. A comb coupling structure is provided along opposite sides of the outer frame and the inner frame. The two masses vibrate toward the opposite direction, and the comb coupling structure measures the angular velocity of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Geology and Geophysics
    Inventors: Lian Zhong Yu, Chen Sun
  • Patent number: 9618343
    Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for providing a recommendation and/or a travel interface based upon a predicted travel intent. For example, a set of user signals (e.g., search queries, calendar information, social network data, etc.) may be evaluated to determine the predicted travel intent for a user to travel to a destination. A recommendation may be provided based upon the predicted travel intent. For example, images, news stories, advertisements, events, attractions, travel accommodation (e.g., hotel, car, and/or flight reservation functionality) and/or other information and functionality associated with the destination may be provided through the recommendation. The recommendation may be provided through an alert, a mobile app, a website, a travel interface, and/or a variety of other interfaces. The predicted travel intent may be used to modify information provided by a website, an operating system, and/or apps (e.g., a news app may display information about the destination).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Zachary Adam Kahn, Karan Singh Rekhi, Gautam Kedia
  • Patent number: 9618344
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an apparatus may include a circuit that has a first input to receive motion data from at least one of a motion sensor and an optical sensor and that has a second input to receive directional data corresponding to the motion data. The circuit may further include an input/output interface configured to provide data to a display and a control circuit coupled to the first input, the second input, and the input/output interface. The control circuit may be configured to determine a current position based at least in part on the motion data and the directional data and update an indicator on a digital map based on the current position determined from the motion data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Inventors: Brett Harrison, Bradley Denn, Phillip Reason
  • Patent number: 9618345
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method performed by a road segment determining system for identifying beforehand a situation with a potentially in-alert driver of a vehicle. The road segment determining system determines a position of the vehicle, and further determines pre-stored road characteristics of a road segment assumed or known to be ahead of the vehicle. Moreover, the road segment determining system determines the road segment to be monotonous based on comparing at least a first road parameter of the pre-stored road characteristics with predetermined monotonous road criteria. The disclosure also relates to a road segment determining system in accordance with the foregoing, a vehicle comprising at least a portion of the road segment determining system, and a user device comprising at least a portion of the road segment determining system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Staffan Davidsson, Johan Maresch
  • Patent number: 9618346
    Abstract: Various embodiments can predict a user's intended driving route in order to provide the user with traffic warnings for traffic conditions along the same. A user's driving route, in at least one embodiment, is predicted by collecting travel data, such as information associated with the date, time, location, and direction for trips made within a network of roads over time. Instead of keeping the travel data anonymous, the travel data is associate or linked to the user's account or stored in a user profile in order to build a history of travel patterns for the user over time. The travel patterns can then be used to predict when a user is going to travel or make a trip and, upon identifying a context indicative of a travel pattern, traffic information for a route associated with the pattern is obtained and provided to the user's computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Christopher Wenneman, Samuel S. Gigliotti
  • Patent number: 9618347
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating projected vehicle transportation network information representing an intersection for use in traversing a vehicle transportation network may include receiving a remote vehicle message including remote vehicle information indicating remote vehicle geospatial state information and remote vehicle kinematic state information, identifying host vehicle information including host vehicle geospatial state information and host vehicle kinematic state information, generating projected vehicle transportation network information representing a portion of the vehicle transportation network including an intersection based on the remote vehicle information and the host vehicle information, and traversing the intersection represented by the projected vehicle transportation network information using the projected vehicle transportation network information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Chambers, Roy Goudy, Neal Probert, Andrew Christensen
  • Patent number: 9618348
    Abstract: A loading machine may include a position sensor associated with a bucket. The position sensor may be configured to generate position and orientation data of the bucket. The loading machine may also include a computer including a spotting location module in communication with, at least, the position sensor. The spotting location module may be configured to: receive the position and orientation data of the bucket generated by the position sensor; determine a spot point based on the received position and orientation data of the bucket; store the spot point; and associate the stored spot point with a subsequent location when the loading machine relocates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Russell Friend, Qi Chen
  • Patent number: 9618349
    Abstract: A method of operation of a navigation system includes: determining a travel condition for traveling from a start location to a waypoint; determining a navigation mode based on the travel condition by comparing a travel distance, from the start location to the waypoint, to a distance threshold for selecting a mode type; and generating a travel route with a control unit based on the navigation mode for displaying on a device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Telenav, Inc.
    Inventor: Xinan Cheng
  • Patent number: 9618350
    Abstract: A computer readable medium embodies a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a processing apparatus to perform operations including determining information corresponding to a number of differences in distances between ending points of journeys taken by a vehicle and starting points of consecutive journeys taken by the vehicle, and transmitting one or more representations of the information. Another computer readable medium tangibly includes instructions for, for each of a number of vehicles, receiving one or more scores corresponding to a vehicle, and determining a ranked list containing at least a portion of the scores, and outputting the ranked list. Another computer readable medium includes instructions for, for each of a number of vehicles, receiving information corresponding to a vehicle, using one or more metrics, calculating one or more values from the received information, and communicating one or more representations of the one or more value to one or more entities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Todd M. Appel, Duncan A. Ashby, So Yeon Chun, Milind R. Naphade, Richard J. Nash, Anshul Sheopuri, Anders Thornqvist, Martin Vuyk
  • Patent number: 9618351
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for power saving during sensor-assisted Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation using a mobile device are presented. The methods may include receiving location improvement data for a geographic location, the location improvement data including a value corresponding to improvement in accuracy for location data for the geographic location. The mobile device may utilize the location improvement data to determine whether to utilize inertial sensors in the mobile device to improve the accuracy of the position fix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Abinash Mahapatra
  • Patent number: 9618352
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling a navigator are disclosed herein. The apparatus includes a natural voice command acquisition unit, an information acquisition unit, a speech language understanding unit, a related information extraction unit, and a dialog management control unit. The natural voice command acquisition unit obtains a natural voice command from a user. The information acquisition unit obtains vehicle data including information about the operation of the navigator and information about the state of the vehicle. The speech language understanding unit converts the natural voice command into a user intention that can be understood by a computer. The related information extraction unit extracts related information that corresponds to the user intention. The dialog management control unit generates a response to the natural voice command based on the related information, the user intention and a dialog history, and controls the navigator in accordance with the conversation response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Oh-Woog Kwon, Young-Kil Kim, Chang-Hyun Kim, Seung-Hoon Na, Yoon-Hyung Roh, Young-Ae Seo, Ki-Young Lee, Sang-Keun Jung, Sung-Kwon Choi, Yun Jin, Eun-Jin Park, Jong-Hun Shin, Jinxia Huang
  • Patent number: 9618353
    Abstract: A device 20 for requesting a vehicle to a location associated with the device. The device 20 comprises input means 126 arranged to generate a vehicle request upon receipt of a user input, said device 20 being arranged to allow at least a second vehicle request to be generated using the input means before the vehicle associated with a first vehicle request has departed from the location associated with the device. The device 20 is arranged, for each vehicle request, to generate a message indicative of the status of the vehicle request and to display the generated message on a display 124. The device is arranged to stop displaying the message on the display 124 when the requested vehicle departs from the location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: TomTom International B.V.
    Inventors: Godert Otto Anthony Ruys, Tako Jelle Bruinsma, Steven Hans Jan Blom
  • Patent number: 9618354
    Abstract: A method includes: providing a map database; providing a landmark database; providing at least one user-specific landmark type; determining navigation instructions based on the map database, the landmark database, and the at least one user-specific landmark type; and outputting the determined navigation instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AG, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Philip Tseng, William Brian Lathrop, Jo Ann Sison, Crystal Juarez
  • Patent number: 9618355
    Abstract: An onboard unit for a vehicle for providing information to the driver when travelling on a road portion with at least two adjacent lanes forming a common traffic area, the onboard unit having a position detection device for determining the position thereof and having a measured value of the speed thereof, comprising a lane detector, connected to the position detection device, with a map memory for a digital road map for locating in the road map a lane corresponding to the determined position, a traffic jam detector for detecting a traffic jam when at least the speed measured value falls below a predefined threshold value, and an evaluation and output unit, which is connected to the lane detector and the traffic jam detector and which is configured, upon detection of a traffic jam, to output direction of travel information specific for the located lane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Kapsch TrafficCom AG
    Inventors: Oliver Nagy, Robert Povolny
  • Patent number: 9618356
    Abstract: A navigation apparatus includes storage configured to store a graphic map and a photographic map, a controller configured to control to convert the photographic map into the graphic map to display the graphic map when the photographic map and actual topography or the photographic map and the graphic map include mutually different positions in a photographic map display mode, and a display configured to display the graphic map or the photographic map and display a current position of a vehicle on the graphic map or the photographic map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Kwang Hun Choi
  • Patent number: 9618357
    Abstract: A vehicle assistance device for a driver includes a control unit for generating data that indicates information with respect to the temporal occurrence of an event along a route of a vehicle. A display unit displays a map of the route of the vehicle between a starting point and a destination point of the route. The control unit controls the display unit with data, wherein the control unit generates the data in such a way that the information characterizing the temporal occurrence of an event is displayed on the display unit along the map of the route as a function of the point-in-time of occurrence of the event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christopher Roelle, Markus Strassberger
  • Patent number: 9618358
    Abstract: A method for identifying a result responsive to a current location of a client device includes receiving, form a client device and at a host, a search query that includes a point of interest and a current location of the client device. The method also includes automatically updating the search query as the current location of the client device changes and instructing the host to identify a potential location associated with the point of interest and located within a user-defined proximity from the current location of the client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: FACEBOOK, INC.
    Inventors: Adrienne C. Meisels, Stephen J. Coughlin, George Fletcher, David S. Bill
  • Patent number: 9618359
    Abstract: Various systems and methods for improving map and navigation data are described herein. An electronic navigation system for improving map and navigation data comprises a database access module to access a database of physiological information to obtain a biometric value, the biometric value associated with a location and a time; a processing module to determine whether the biometric value violates a threshold; and a display module to display a notification on a map when the threshold is violated, the map including an area around the location associated with the biometric value, and the notification displayed proximate to the location associated with the biometric value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: John C. Weast, Lenitra M. Durham, Giuseppe Raffa
  • Patent number: 9618360
    Abstract: A method for accessing information on an electronic version of an navigation information display is described. The method includes displaying navigation information in a first portion of a display of a device, the device incorporating a touch screen, sensing a user touch on the touch screen, determining, by the device, a selected location on the touch screen where the user touch has occurred, correlating the selected location on the touch screen where the user touch has occurred with a location on the navigation information display, displaying a magnified area of a portion of the navigation information proximate the location on the touch screen where the user touch occurred, and displaying textual information related to the magnified area in a second portion of the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Ross McNeil Brown
  • Patent number: 9618361
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, apparatus and methods for digital automatic gain control for driving a MEMS device, such as a proof mass. In an example, an apparatus can include a driver configured to oscillate a proof mass of a MEMS device, a charge-to-voltage (C2V) converter configured to provide oscillation information of the proof mass, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) configured to provide a digital representation of the oscillation information, and a digital, automatic gain control circuit to provide oscillation amplitude error information using a comparison of the oscillation information to target amplitude information, and to provide a digital drive command signal using an amplified representation of the oscillation amplitude error information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ion Opris, Hai Tao, Shungneng Lee
  • Patent number: 9618362
    Abstract: One embodiment includes a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) gyroscope system. The system includes a vapor cell comprising an alkali metal and a plurality of gyromagnetic isotopes and a pump laser configured to generate an optical pump beam configured to spin-polarize the alkali metal. The system also includes a probe laser that generates an optical probe beam and a detection system configured to monitor the optical probe beam and to calculate a rotation of the NMR gyroscope system about a sensitive axis based on a modulation of the optical probe beam in response to precession of the plurality of gyromagnetic isotopes resulting from the spin-polarization of the alkali metal. The system further includes a calibration controller that modulates a characteristic of the optical pump beam to substantially mitigate bias errors associated with the gyromagnetic isotopes in the calculation of the rotation of the NMR gyroscope system about the sensitive axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Michael D. Bulatowicz, Michael S. Larsen
  • Patent number: 9618363
    Abstract: A specimen analysis system, a specimen analyzer, and a specimen analysis method are provided by which reexamination of a specimen can be executed more quickly than in conventional technology. A specimen analyzer measures a specimen and obtains an analysis result. The specimen analyzer determines the necessity of remeasurement of the specimen, based on a specimen analysis result. Also, the specimen analyzer determines, based on the specimen analysis result, whether or not determination of the necessity of remeasurement of the specimen based on examination information by the examination information management device is necessary. If it is determined that determination of the necessity of remeasurement of the specimen based on the examination information is necessary, the specimen analyzer makes a request to determine the necessity of remeasurement of the specimen based on the examination information, to the examination information management device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: SYSMEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuya Oda, Keisuke Kuwano, Daigo Fukuma, Shunsuke Ariyoshi
  • Patent number: 9618364
    Abstract: An integrated wheel speed measuring device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a hub which is installed inside a wheel bearing; a magnetic encoder which is installed by being inserted into a recessed portion that is provided in one surface of the hub; and a wheel cap which surrounds the one surface of the hub and the recessed portion, in which the magnetic encoder has a cylindrical shape, and is installed in the recessed portion in a longitudinal direction thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Euisung Lee
  • Patent number: 9618365
    Abstract: An angle sensor device includes first and second magnet tracks, a sensor component, and a control unit. The first and second magnet tracks are fixed to a rotatable object and are configured to generate a non-homogenous field. The rotatable object is configured to rotate about a rotation axis and the non-homogenous field has a smaller gradient of magnitude along a rotational direction than a perpendicular direction, which is perpendicular to the rotational direction. The sensor component is positioned off-axis and is configured to measure a magnetic field including the non-homogenous field and provide magnetic field measurements. The control unit is configured to determine angular information from the magnetic field measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Udo Ausserlechner, Mario Motz
  • Patent number: 9618366
    Abstract: An absolute scale configuration is provided for use in a position encoder which includes a readhead and a scale. The absolute scale configuration includes a plurality of scale loops distributed along a measuring axis to provide a position dependent signal that varies depending on a relative position between the scale loops and the readhead. At least some of the scale loops are coupled to respective impedance modulating circuits connected to receive energy from current induced in the scale loop and to provide a unique coded modulation of the scale loop impedance during a code signal generating state. The unique coded modulations as sensed by the readhead are indicative of a coarse resolution absolute position, which may be utilized in combination with the position dependent signal to determine an absolute position with a high resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Nahum
  • Patent number: 9618367
    Abstract: A capacitive sensor circuit includes a sensor for providing a sensing voltage, a pre-processing circuit electrically connected to the sensor via an input connection line, and an impedance transformation circuit electrically connected between the input connection line and a bias point. The impedance transformation circuit includes a first impedance unit and a second impedance unit. The first impedance unit includes a first current mirror, and the second impedance unit includes a second current mirror configured as an invented matching current mirror of the first current mirror. The first current mirror is electrically connected to the input connection line, and the second current mirror is electrically connected to the bias point to receive a bias voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: AAC TECHNOLOGIES PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Tan Siew Seong, Chua Tiong Kee
  • Patent number: 9618368
    Abstract: A position-measuring device includes a scale and a scanning unit movable relative to the scale in a measurement direction. The scale has an incremental measuring graduation and reference marks spaced apart from each other. The scale has a first marking track containing a first marking associated a reference mark and a second marking spaced apart from the first marking. The scanning unit has a first and a second detector spaced apart from each other. A distance between the detectors is greater than a length of the first marking and less than a length of the second marking. The scanning unit is configured to produce a reference pulse based on only the first detector of the two detectors generating a scanning signal, and to produce a switching signal when both the first detector and the second detector generate a scanning signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GMBH
    Inventor: Ludwig Schlichtner
  • Patent number: 9618369
    Abstract: Various uses of visible light interference patterns are provided. Suitable interference patterns are those formed by diffraction from patterns of apertures. Typical uses disclosed herein relate to spatial metrology, such as a translational and/or angular position determination system. Further uses include the analysis of properties of the light itself (such as the determination of the wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation). Still further uses include the analysis of one or more properties (e.g. refractive index) of the matter through which the light passes. Part of the interference pattern is captured at a pixellated detector, such as a CCD chip, and the captured pattern compared with a calculated pattern. Very precise measurements of the spacing between maxima is possible, thus allowing very precise measurements of position of the detector in the interference pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: THE UNIVERSITY COURT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW
    Inventors: Jonathan Mark Ralph Weaver, Phillip Stephen Dobson, David Paul Burt, Stephen Thoms, Kevin Edward Docherty, Yuan Zhang
  • Patent number: 9618370
    Abstract: The optical encoder includes a scale provided with a scale pattern reflecting or transmitting light from a light source, and a sensor receiving the light from the scale pattern. The sensor is provided with a light-receiving element array. The light-receiving element array includes multiple light-receiving element groups with a pitch P. Each group is constituted by two or more light-receiving elements whose outputs are added together. An intermediate pattern is provided between the scale and the sensor. The intermediate pattern includes a first pattern to form a first light intensity distribution with a first spatial period shorter than the pitch P on the light-receiving element array and a second pattern to form a second light intensity distribution with a second spatial period longer than the pitch P on the light-receiving element array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Chihiro Nagura
  • Patent number: 9618371
    Abstract: An ultrasonic flowmeter includes a main body that calculates components parallel to a pipe axis regarding the velocity of fluid on the basis of a first propagation time difference, which is the difference in time between the time that ultrasonic waves transmitted from a second ultrasonic transceiver and the time that ultrasonic waves transmitted from a first ultrasonic transceiver propagate through a first flow propagation path traversing inside the pipe in the radial direction for 2n?1 times (n is a positive integer), and a second propagation time difference, which is the difference in time between the time that ultrasonic waves transmitted from the second ultrasonic transceiver and the time that ultrasonic waves transmitted from the first ultrasonic transceiver propagate through the second flow propagation path traversing inside the pipe in the radial direction for 2m?1 times (m is a positive integer other than n).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Azbil Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Muraki
  • Patent number: 9618372
    Abstract: A transit time flow sensor is configured as an insertable probe carrying a pair of transducers spaced apart along an acoustic path. The transducers are attached to respective tabs extending outwardly from the ends of a tubular member and skewed with respect to an axis of the tube so that acoustic signals from one of the transducers are reflected from an interior portion of the tube and subsequently detected by the other transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Onicon Inc.
    Inventor: Murray F Feller
  • Patent number: 9618373
    Abstract: A device for detecting at least one property of a fluid medium has at least one sensor housing introducible into the fluid medium, which sensor housing has at least one channel through which the fluid medium flows and which has at least one outlet opening. The fluid medium flows out through the outlet opening after flowing through the channel. The sensor housing has at least one housing body and at least one cover. The outlet opening is situated in the cover. The housing body has at least one collar section, which engages with the outlet opening and which forms at least one part of an edge of the outlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Torsten Mais, Ulrich Wagner
  • Patent number: 9618374
    Abstract: Flowmeters are described in which a sensor signal received from a sensor that is attached to vibratable flowtube, so as to determine properties of a fluid within the flowtube, contains a drive signal component and a Coriolis mode component. The flowmeters are operable to determine drive parameters of the drive signal component, as well as Coriolis parameters of the Coriolis mode component. By analyzing the sensor signal based on the drive signal parameters, and not on the Coriolis signal parameters, the flowmeters are able to provide stable and accurate determinations of the properties of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Manus P. Henry
  • Patent number: 9618375
    Abstract: A flow rate sensor system (200) is provided. The flow rate sensor system (200) includes a density or specific gravity meter (202) including a sensor assembly (204a) and a density or specific gravity meter electronics (204b) configured to generate a density or specific gravity measurement of a process fluid. The flow rate sensor system (200) further includes a mass flow meter (203) including a sensor assembly (205a) and a mass flow meter electronics (205b) configured to generate a mass flow rate of the process fluid and in electrical communication with the density or specific gravity meter electronics (204b). A remote processing system (207) is provided that is in electrical communication with only one of the density or specific gravity meter electronics (204b) or the mass flow meter electronics (205b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventor: Simon P. H. Wheeler
  • Patent number: 9618376
    Abstract: An apparatus, method and system providing for calibration and/or control of a liquid dispensing system is disclosed. The hand-held calibration auditing tool includes a flow meter (36-37) with inlets adapted for quick connection to one or more liquid inputs and/or liquid outputs of a liquid dispensing system (10). A sensor (94-95) having a data output of liquid flow information for a liquid input to the dispensing system (10) is operably connected to a controller (12) to receive the liquid flow information for the liquid input. The controller (12) provides a dilution rate and other liquid flow information for a liquid product input to a dispenser. The tool may include any number of flow meters, and may also include a flow meter connected to an outlet of a dispenser (22) for providing flow information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Henry L. Carbone, II, Richard J. Mehus, Kevin C. Tauer, Anatoly Skirda, Eugene Tokhtuev, William M. Christensen
  • Patent number: 9618377
    Abstract: A flexible storage container may have a first footprint when empty, and retracts to a second footprint when filled with a substance. A load sensing apparatus used for determining the volume of the substance in the flexible storage container can include a first set of load-sensitive sensors arranged in at least a region of the first footprint external to the second footprint, and a second set of load-sensitive sensors arranged within the second footprint. The sensor data from the load-sensitive sensors can be used to create a pressure level profile, and the volume of the substance contained in the flexible storage container can be calculated from the pressure level profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: DRS Sustainment Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Roark D. Weil, Matthew J. Hollander, Asdrubal Garcia-Ortiz, William F. Maciejewski
  • Patent number: 9618378
    Abstract: A fluid level sensor for determining an amount of first fluid in a system is provided including a first substantially transparent sight glass mounted outside and fluidly coupled to a portion of the system. A level of first fluid in the first sight glass is indicative of the amount of first fluid in the system. A second substantially transparent sight glass has an independent closed loop containing a second fluid. The second sight glass is positioned adjacent outside the system. A plane of the second sight glass is arranged adjacent to a pivot point of the first fluid within the system. A level of second fluid in the second sight glass is indicative of the amount of first fluid corresponding to normal operation of the system. A comparison of the level of first fluid in the first sight glass and the level of second fluid in the second sight glass indicates if the amount of first fluid in the system requires adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuriy Gmirya
  • Patent number: 9618379
    Abstract: A liquid amount measuring device 10 includes a plurality of detectors 36, 22 arranged within a vessel, each of the plurality of detectors being configured to output a first analog signal, and an output circuit 38 configured to output an analog detection signal corresponding to an amount of the liquid stored in the vessel based on the first analog signals outputted by the detectors. Each of the detectors 36, 22 includes a float 24, 32; an arm member 26, 34 configured to convert a vertical motion of the float 24, 32 to a rotational motion; and a magnetic sensor 31, 41 configured to output a second analog signal corresponding to the rotational motion of the arm member. The output circuit 38 is configured to correct the first analog signals outputted from the detectors 22, 36 and add the corrected first analog signals so as to output the analog detection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinsuke Hirahara, Masaki Ikeya