Patents Issued in July 4, 2017
  • Patent number: 9696304
    Abstract: Methods are described for detecting pathogens, infectious diseases, and physiological conditions by quantifying change of impedance over time of when a biological sample is applied onto a lab-on-a-chip. The lab-on-a-chip utilizes alternating-current electrokinetic (ACEK) phenomena such that molecules move or are carried in an electric field generated by the application of an electrical signal of predetermined magnitude and frequency to an electrode array of the lab-on-a-chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Jie Wu, Shigetoshi Eda
  • Patent number: 9696305
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, systems, mediums, and kits for use in phenotyping antibody responses via devices such as surface plasmon resonance devices. Such phenotypes can include total target-specific antibody titers, quantitative isotype distribution of the target-specific antibodies, and/or epitope specificity of the target-specific antibodies. Other methods, systems, mediums, and kits are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Bloodworks
    Inventors: Kathleen Pratt, Kenneth B. Lewis
  • Patent number: 9696306
    Abstract: Successful CNS drug discovery requires a scalable, highly physiological neuronal model. Using directed differentiation of mouse embryonic stem (mES) cells, including mES cells isolated from a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD), a highly homogeneous primary neuronal model amenable to phenotypic assays for production and synaptotoxicity of amyloid ?-peptide was developed. This model furnishes a highly physiological and AD-relevant platform suitable for high throughput small molecule and functional genetic screens, providing specific small molecule compounds identified by such screens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: Tae-Wan Kim, Laura Beth Johnson McIntire, Natalie Landman, Gina Finan
  • Patent number: 9696307
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for determining whether a subject is at risk for PML, including subjects being treated with immunosuppressants, by determining whether the subject harbors a JCV variant with reduced binding for sialic acid relative to a normal JCV, are presented. Furthermore, combinations of JCV-VP1 sequence variations that are associated with PML and that can be used as a basis of an assay for identifying subjects susceptible to PML, subjects with PML (e.g., early stage PML), or subjects at risk of developing PML in response to an immunosuppressive treatment are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Biogen MA Inc.
    Inventors: Leonid Gorelik, Alexey Lugovskoy
  • Patent number: 9696308
    Abstract: A protein complex isolated from its natural medium and including the ZEBRA protein of sequence SEQ ID NO: 1, the isolated protein complex having the following properties: it is more stable than the ZEBRA protein, in particular it is more resistant to the action of the proteases than the ZEBRA protein, it is capable of specifically binding the AZ125 and AZ130 monoclonal antibodies, it is soluble in a body fluid, and in particular a body fluid selected from the group constituted by blood and serum, and to its detection process and the uses of this process for the prognosis or diagnosis of lymphoproliferative episodes associated with the EBV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: UNIVERSITE JOSEPH FOURIER
    Inventors: Emmanuel Drouet, Mohammed Habib, Felix Agbalika
  • Patent number: 9696309
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of biomarkers. More specifically, the present invention relates to biomarkers useful in diagnosing brain injuries. In a specific embodiment, a method for diagnosing perinatal brain injury in a patient comprises the steps of (a) determining the ratio of phosphorylated nNOS to unphosphorylated nNOS in a sample collected from the patient using an ELISA; and (b) comparing the ratio with predefined ratios of the same proteins that correlate to a patient having perinatal brain injury and predefined ratios of the same proteins that correlate to a patient not having perinatal brain injury, wherein a correlation to one of the predefined ratios provides the diagnosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignees: The Johns Hopkins University, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Irina Burd, Talaibek Borbiev, Elisabeth Nigrini, Michael Johnston
  • Patent number: 9696310
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to fluorescent molecular sensor based on Thiazole Orange for protein detection. Interaction of the protein target with the molecular sensors of this invention results in a significant increase in the fluorescence emission. The generation of light output signal enables one to detect protein biomarkers associated with different diseases or detecting the protein of interest also in living cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: YEDA RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CO. LTD.
    Inventors: David Margulies, Leila Motiei, Linor Unger
  • Patent number: 9696311
    Abstract: Sensor array for detecting biomarkers for cancer in breath samples. The sensor array is based on 2D films or 3D assemblies of conductive nanoparticles capped with an organic coating wherein the nanoparticles are characterized by a narrow size distribution. Methods of use of the sensor array for discriminating between patterns of volatile organic compounds from healthy individuals and patients with various types of cancer are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Technion Research and Development Foundation Ltd.
    Inventors: Hossam Haick, Peng Gang, Orna Adams
  • Patent number: 9696312
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of using the expression of ILTL3 ligand or ILT3 on certain types of cancer cells as a diagnostic tool. Methods are provided for treating ILT3-ligand expressing cancers, such as T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia), for example by administering ILT3, the extracellular domain of ILT3 or ILT3Fc conjugated to a cytotoxic agent to kill the targeted cancer cell. Other methods are provided for treating cancers that express ILT3 on their surface, such as monocytic forms of AML, for example by administering anti-ILT3 antibodies conjugated to a cytotoxic agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK
    Inventors: Nicole Suciu-Foca, George Vlad, Chih-Chao Chang, Zhuoru Liu, Adriana Ioana Colovai
  • Patent number: 9696313
    Abstract: In some aspects, the invention relates to Heat Shock Protein-1 (HSF1) gene and HSF1 gene products. In some aspects, the invention provides methods of tumor diagnosis, prognosis, treatment-specific prediction, or treatment selection, the methods comprising assessing the level of HSF1 expression or HSF1 activation in a sample obtained from the tumor. In some aspects, the invention relates to the discovery that increased HSF1 expression and increased HSF1 activation correlate with poor outcome in cancer, e.g., breast cancer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignees: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc.
    Inventors: Sandro Santagata, Susan Lindquist, Luke J. Whitesell, Tan A. Ince
  • Patent number: 9696314
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, the method may comprise: a) obtaining the antibody sequences from a population of B cells; b) grouping the antibody sequences to provide a plurality of groups of lineage-related antibodies; c) testing a single antibody from each of the groups in a bioassay and, after the first antibody has been identified, d) testing further antibodies that are in the same group as the first antibody in a second bioassay. In another embodiment, the method may comprise: a) testing a plurality of antibodies obtained from a first portion of an antibody producing organ of an animal; b) obtaining the sequence of a first identified antibody; c) obtaining from a second portion of said antibody producing organ the sequences of further antibodies that are related by lineage to said first antibody; and, c) testing the further antibodies in a second bioassay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: EPITOMICS, INC.
    Inventor: Guo-Liang Yu
  • Patent number: 9696315
    Abstract: A protein transduction method for efficiently delivery of exogenous proteins into mammalian cells is invented, which has the capability of targeting different cellular compartments and protection from degradation of the delivered proteins from cellular proteases. A composition for treat proteins has cation reagents, lipids and enhancers in a carrier. The method can be used in a number of ways including: production of large quantities of properly folded, post-translationally modified proteins using mammalian cell machinery, a in-cell fluorescence spectroscopy and imaging using small molecule fluorophores and a in-cell NMR spectroscopy using living mammalian cells. The method permits cell biology at atomic resolution that is physiologically and pathological relevant and permits protein therapy to treat human diseases. The method can also be used to deliver exogenous protein inside mammalian cells, wherein the exogenous proteins follow a similar secretion pathway as that of the endogenous protein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Wayne State University
    Inventors: Jianjun Wang, Qianqian Li
  • Patent number: 9696316
    Abstract: Disclosed are novel peptides that are useful, for example, for detecting target proteins having a ?-sheet secondary structure which may be associated with a disease, and for diagnosing and treating such a disease. Related methods and kits also are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: SYSTEM OF SYSTEMS ANALYTICS, INC.
    Inventors: D. Roxanne Duan, Jonathan R. Moll, Alan Rudolph, Renee Wegrzyn
  • Patent number: 9696317
    Abstract: Novel Mn2+-doped quantum dots are provided. These Mn2+-doped quantum dots exhibit excellent temperature sensitivity in both organic solvents and water-based solutions. Methods of preparing the Mn2+-doped quantum dots are provided. The Mn2+-doped quantum dots may be prepared via a stepwise procedure using air-stable and inexpensive chemicals. The use of air-stable chemicals can significantly reduce the cost of synthesis, chemical storage, and the risk associated with handling flammable chemicals. Methods of temperature sensing using Mn2+-doped quantum dots are provided. The stepwise procedure provides the ability to tune the temperature-sensing properties to satisfy specific needs for temperature sensing applications. Water solubility may be achieved by passivating the Mn2+-doped quantum dots, allowing the Mn2+-doped quantum dots to probe the fluctuations of local temperature in biological environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: The Trustees of Princeton University
    Inventors: Haw Yang, Chih-Hao Hsia
  • Patent number: 9696318
    Abstract: The present invention provides a hydrophilic film that causes a liquid to diffuse rapidly in a single direction. The hydrophilic film comprises a substrate having a texture of parallel sunken and raised patterns, and a hydrophilic coat comprising a coat of silicon dioxide particles. The present invention also provides a method for preparing the hydrophilic film. The method comprises: preparing an aqueous dispersion of silicon dioxide particles, wherein the average size of the silicon dioxide particles is 1 to 60 nm, and the concentration of the silicon dioxide particles is 0.05% to 15% by weight; coating the aqueous dispersion of silicon dioxide particles on a substrate, wherein the substrate has a texture of parallel sunken and raised patterns; and drying the substrate coated with the aqueous dispersion of silicon dioxide particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Te-Wei Chen, Huang Chin Hung, Naiyong Jing
  • Patent number: 9696319
    Abstract: A method of determining the immune response of a mammal to circulating tumor marker proteins is described in which a sample of bodily fluid, for example plasma or serum, is contacted with a panel of two or more distinct tumor marker antigen. The presence of complexes between the tumor marker antigens and any autoantibodies to the antigens present in the sample are detected and provide an indication of an immune response to a circulating tumor marker protein. The method is useful for the diagnosis of cancer, particularly for identifying new or recurrent cancer in an otherwise assymptomatic patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Oncimmune Ltd.
    Inventors: John F. R. Robertson, Catherine R. L. Graves, Michael R. Price, Frances M Price
  • Patent number: 9696320
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to develop and provide a lung cancer differential marker with which lung cancer can be diagnosed conveniently and highly sensitively without depending only on increase or decrease in protein expression level between cancer patients and healthy persons. Another object of the present invention is to develop and provide a glycan marker capable of distinguishing histological types of lung cancer. Of serum glycoproteins, glycopeptide and glycoprotein groups whose glycan structures were altered specifically in lung cancer cell culture supernatants were identified, and they are provided as lung cancer differential markers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignees: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tokyo Medical University
    Inventors: Hisashi Narimatsu, Akira Togayachi, Yuzuru Ikehara, Hiroyuki Kaji, Atsushi Kuno, Takashi Ohkura, Hideki Matsuzaki, Yoshitoshi Hirao, Jun Iwaki, Minako Abe, Masaharu Nomura, Masayuki Noguchi
  • Patent number: 9696321
    Abstract: The present invention provides a neutrophil activation regulator comprising a histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG) for the treatment of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), diseases caused by neutrophil activation and/or inflammatory diseases accompanied by neutrophil activation in a subject in need thereof. Further, the present invention provides methods for predicting the severity of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), diseases caused by neutrophil activation and/or inflammatory diseases accompanied by neutrophil activation in a subject in need thereof, and methods for predicting the survival of a subject with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), diseases caused by neutrophil activation and/or inflammatory diseases accompanied by neutrophil activation, that comprise determining the blood level of histidine-rich glycoprotein in the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: National University Corporation Okayama University
    Inventors: Kosuke Kuroda, Hiroshi Morimatsu, Hidenori Wake, Shuji Mori, Masahiro Nishibori, Hideo Takahashi, Keyue Liu, Kiyoshi Teshigawara, Masakiyo Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 9696322
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for monitoring, diagnosis, prognosis, and determination of treatment regimens in subjects suffering from or suspected of having a renal injury. In particular, the invention relates to using a measured urine concentration of one or more of TIMP2 and IGFBP7 in combination with one or more of a measured serum creatinine and a measured urine output, which results are correlated to the renal status of the subject, and can be used for diagnosis, prognosis, risk stratification, staging, monitoring, categorizing and determination of further diagnosis and treatment regimens in subjects suffering or at risk of suffering from an injury to renal function, reduced renal function, and/or acute renal failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: ASTUTE MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Anderberg, Jeff Gray, Paul McPherson, Kevin Nakamura, James Patrick Kampf
  • Patent number: 9696323
    Abstract: Certain embodiments include methods for assessing a subject having a trypanosome infection for the presence or absence of indications of cardiomyopathy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
    Inventors: Allan Brasier, John E. Wiktorowicz, Hyunsu Ju, Nisha Jain Garg
  • Patent number: 9696324
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the quantification of NO in a blood sample comprising the steps of collecting a blood sample, dividing said collected blood sample into three blood subsamples, chemically treating one blood subsample with an antioxidant to at least partly reduce free radicals of said blood subsample, performing EPR measurement of said blood subsamples, performing a first comparison of said chemically treated blood subsample EPR measurement with the EPR measurement of a non-chemically treated blood sub-sample thereby obtaining a first comparison result and performing a second comparison of this result with an EPR measurement of the remaining blood subsample in order to eliminate background signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: L'UNIVERSITÉ CATHOLIQUE DE LOUVAIN
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Balligand, Irina Lobysheva
  • Patent number: 9696325
    Abstract: The invention relates to the detection of DHA and EPA. In a particular aspect, the invention relates to methods for detecting DHA and EPA by mass spectrometry and kits for carrying out such methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Quest Diagnostics Investments Incorporated
    Inventors: Scott M. Goldman, Julie A. Neidich
  • Patent number: 9696326
    Abstract: A test sample is provided for testing performance of measuring and monitoring equipment for production lines, for example for foodstuffs or pharmaceuticals, and in particular, contamination monitoring equipment employing X-rays and/or metal detectors to spot foreign bodies in packaged products. The test sample may comprise a laminated card enclosing a standardised test piece such as a metal particle of specified size. The card or other sample may bear at least one identification containing a barcode, readable by an optical scanner. To test the equipment, a card is placed on a product package passing through the equipment, the optical scanner reads the barcode to confirm that the correct test sample has been submitted, and the results for the test sample are recorded in a computer log. If the results do not match those expected from the particular test sample submitted, the equipment fails the test and requires recalibration or repair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: CHEYNEY DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT LIMITED
    Inventor: Richard John Parmee
  • Patent number: 9696327
    Abstract: An analytical system is disclosed which recognizes different types of consumables with an identical footprint based on a unique surface geometry of each consumable. The analytical system includes stackers into which the consumables can be loaded either automatically or by the user. The stacker for one specific type of consumable recognizes the type of consumable based on its unique surface geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Roche Molecular Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Renato Belz, Christian Thalmann, Urs Knecht, Veronika Schaerer
  • Patent number: 9696328
    Abstract: A system and method for preparing and testing of targeted nucleic acids is presented. The system integrates a pipetter, extractor, assay reader, and other components, including a selectively compliant articulated robot arm (SCARA). This synergistic integration of previously separate diagnostic tools creates a system and method whereby a minimum of human intervention is required. The resulting system provides a substantially more accurate and precise method of isolating, amplifying and detecting targeted nucleic acids for diagnosing diseases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Timothy R. Hansen, Matthew P. Collis, Bradley S. Thomas, Thomas L. Fort
  • Patent number: 9696329
    Abstract: A high-throughput automatic analyzer integrates a biochemical analysis section and a blood coagulation analysis section. The analyzer is capable of achieving a reduction in size, system cost, and lifecycle cost. The automatic analyzer includes: a reaction disk; a first reagent dispensing mechanism that dispenses a reagent to reaction cells on the reaction disk; a photometer that irradiates a reaction solution in the reaction cell with light; a reaction cell cleaning mechanism; a reaction vessel supply unit that supplies a disposable reaction vessel for mixing and reacting a sample and a reagent with each other; a second reagent dispensing mechanism that dispenses a reagent to the disposable reaction vessel; a blood coagulation time measuring section that irradiates a reaction solution in the disposable reaction vessel with light to detect transmitted or scattered light; and a sample dispensing mechanism that dispenses a sample to the reaction cell and the disposable reaction vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Akihisa Makino, Hajime Yamazaki, Keiko Yoshikawa, Manabu Ando, Masahiko Iijima
  • Patent number: 9696330
    Abstract: In a conventional conveyor line, an empty specimen rack conveyor line is provided separately from a specimen rack conveyor line having a specimen mounted thereon. However, crossing of the conveyor lines leads to the decrease in processing speed. Also, when a specimen rack conveyor line and an empty specimen rack conveyor line are configured on two stages, a vertical movement mechanism needs to be added in order to connect the upper-stage conveyor line and the lower-stage conveyor line, and there is a possibility that the system is complicated and the cost thereof is increased. In the present invention, by connecting an empty holder conveyor line and a main conveyor line disposed up and down on two stages via one conveyor line having a horizontal part and an inclined part, crossing of the conveyor lines can be eliminated and an inexpensive structure can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Nemoto, Tatsuya Fukugaki, Naoto Tsujimura
  • Patent number: 9696331
    Abstract: The device uses a dispensing probe; a dispensing probe drive mechanism having at least one rotation drive shaft as a horizontal drive mechanism for the dispensing probe, a positioning member with a portion, which is contacted by the dispensing probe during positioning, is formed in a circular shape; a contact detection mechanism for detecting contact between the dispensing probe and the positioning member, and a control unit. The control unit drive-controls only one drive shaft into contact with the circular portion of the positioning member, and then drive-controls only one drive shaft other than the previously drive-controlled shaft into contact with the circular portion of the positioning member, and then calculates position information on a center point at a desired position where the dispensing probe is to be positioned, on the basis of position information on each point at which the contact has been detected, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Masaaki Hirano, Kazuhiro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9696332
    Abstract: A liquid handling system that is configured to receive an interchangeable pipetting head that is selected from a plurality of interchangeable pipetting heads for automated liquid handling flexibility and scalability. The system includes a housing and at least one pipetting head disposed within that housing for aspirating and dispensing a liquid. A locking mechanism interchangeably receives the at least one pipetting head and includes an adaptor plate and a support block. The adaptor plate is operably coupled to the housing and the support block is operably coupled to the at least one pipetting head. The support block is then, in turn, is configured to be operably coupled to the adaptor plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Matrix Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Zoltan Brutler, Carl Doan, Erich Fournier, Ari Kukkonen, Scott Leclerc, George Lyman, Colin Reynolds, Thomas A. Sherwin, Jonathan Kohanski, Bryan Hotaling
  • Patent number: 9696333
    Abstract: A display control apparatus for a meter is provided. The display control apparatus includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to: (i) when a shift start condition of an automatic transmission is satisfied, calculate an estimated rotation speed of an engine by adding a correction amount commensurate with a state of a torque converter to a turbine rotation speed of the torque converter, the turbine rotation speed corresponding to a gear position after a shift; (ii) control the meter such that a rotation speed displayed on the meter is brought close to the estimated rotation speed; and (iii) when a fixing condition, including that the shift start condition for a downshift is satisfied and the engine is driven from the torque converter side, is satisfied, fix the correction amount to a value at the time when a start of the shift is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Teratani, Masayasu Mizobuchi
  • Patent number: 9696334
    Abstract: A wheel speed sensor is provided that makes it possible to suppress unnecessary deformation when crimping a cover. A wheel speed sensor has a sensor head in which a sensor is accommodated, and a tube-shaped metallic cover that covers a portion of the sensor head and protects the sensor head. The cover has multiple protruding pieces on an opening portion, and is fixed against the sensor head by the protruding pieces being crimped toward the sensor head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Moriyuki Shimizu, Yoshitaka Kuroda
  • Patent number: 9696335
    Abstract: A hot wire anemometer utilizing metal-coated carbon naonotube wire includes a detecting element, a signal enlarging element, a signal dealing element, and a display device. The hot wire of the detecting element includes a nanotube composite wire. The carbon nanotube composite wire includes a carbon nanotube wire and a metal layer. The carbon nanotube wire includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes spirally arranged along an axial direction of the carbon nanotube wire. The diameter of the carbon nanotube wire ranges from 50 nanometers to 30 micrometers. The rate of twist of the carbon nanotube wire ranges from 250 t/cm to 300 t/cm. The metal layer is coated on a surface of the carbon nanotube wire. The thickness of the metal layer ranges from 50 nanometers to 5 micrometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Beijing FUNATE Innovation Technology Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Li Qian, Yu-Quan Wang
  • Patent number: 9696336
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for identifying users of portable user devices according to one or more accelerometer profiles created for a respective user. During a media session, the portable computing device collects media exposure data, while at the same time, collects data from the accelerometer and compares it to the user profile. The comparison authenticates the user and determines the physical activity the user is engaged in. Additional data may be collected from the portable computing device to determine one or more operational conditions of the device itself, including the detection of multiple devices being physically carried by one user. Gross motion strings may also be generated by devices and compared to see if strings match, thus suggesting multiple devices are being carried by one user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
    Inventors: Anand Jain, John Stavropoulos, Alan Neuhauser, Wendell Lynch, Vladimir Kuznetsov, Jack Crystal
  • Patent number: 9696337
    Abstract: A portable proximity device and method of operation thereof. The method for proximity detection implemented on a portable device can include determining an initial perturbation data, a tracking point data, and a stable position data with a physical sensor of the portable device. The initial perturbation data can include previous state data and current state data. The tracking point data can include one or more track data. An action to be performed can be determined, by a processor within the portable device, based on the initial perturbation data, the tracking point data, and the stable position data. The portable proximity device can include a physical sensor and a processor configured to perform these steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: mCube Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Huang, Chenglong Fu, Tan Liang
  • Patent number: 9696338
    Abstract: A capacitance detection circuit inhibits noise. The capacitance detection circuit detects a change in capacitance between a pair of electrodes of a physical quantity sensor, with these electrodes generating the change in capacitance in response to a change in physical quantity. The capacitance detection circuit has a carrier signal generating circuit that supplies a carrier signal to one of the electrodes, an operational amplifier that has an inverting input terminal to which the other one of the electrodes is input, a dummy capacity that is connected in parallel to the pair of electrodes, and a carrier signal conditioning circuit that inverts a phase of a carrier signal supplied from the carrier signal generating circuit to the dummy capacity and adjusts a gain to inhibit the dummy capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masami Kishiro
  • Patent number: 9696339
    Abstract: A three-axis accelerometer to provide measurement of acceleration in three axes, comprising a substrate, a suspending mass block suspended in the substrate, a group of Y direction displacement sensors, a group of Z direction displacement sensors and a group of X direction displacement sensors; wherein the Y direction displacement sensors, the Z direction displacement sensors and the X direction displacement sensors are respectively arranged adjacent to the mass block; the mass block and the displacement sensors respectively comprise a plurality of metal layers and a dielectric layer between two metal layers. In the mass block, regions corresponding to the Y, Z and X direction displacement sensors respectively comprise at least two metal layers connected by a via. The Y, Z and X groups displacement sensors respectively comprise at least two metal layers connected by a via.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: SAGATEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kuei-Ann Wen, Tai-Wei Chiang
  • Patent number: 9696340
    Abstract: A multi-axis microelectromechanical-systems (MEMS) inertial measurement unit (IMU) is fabricated in a vacuum sealed single packaged device. An FM vibratory gyroscope and an FM resonant accelerometer both for generating FM output signals is fabricated in the silicon chip using MEMS. A signal processor is coupled to the an FM vibratory gyroscope and to the FM resonant accelerometer for receiving the FM gyroscopic output signals and the FM accelerometer output signals. The signal processor generates simultaneous and decoupled measurement of input acceleration, input rotation rate, and temperature and/or temperature distribution within the IMU, self-calibration of the biases and scale factors of the IMU and its support electronics against temperature variations and other common mode errors, and reduction of the cross axis sensitivity by reducing acceleration errors in the gyroscope and rotation errors in the accelerometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Alexander A. Trusov, Sergei A. Zotov, Andrei M. Shkel
  • Patent number: 9696342
    Abstract: The imaging mode presented here combines the features and benefits of amplitude modulated (AM) atomic force microscopy (AFM), sometimes called AC mode AFM, with frequency modulated (FM) AFM. In AM-FM imaging, the topographic feedback from the first resonant drive frequency operates in AM mode while the second resonant drive frequency operates in FM mode and is adjusted to keep the phase at 90 degrees, on resonance. With this approach, frequency feedback on the second resonant mode and topographic feedback on the first are decoupled, allowing much more stable, robust operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Oxford Instruments AFM Inc.
    Inventors: Roger B Proksch, Jason Bemis
  • Patent number: 9696343
    Abstract: An asset management system comprising an asset management server connected to a plurality of distributed HF sensitive measurement devices each having at least one inseparable asset tag being located outside a high frequency shield which shields an internal circuitry of the measurement device from external high frequency signals and being configured to provide asset data of the respective measurement device to be processed by the asset management server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: ROHDE & SCHWARZ GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Harald Ripp, Hans-Joachim Mann, Michael Winkler
  • Patent number: 9696344
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a test socket which allows for ease of alignment, and more particularly, to a test socket that is interposed between a device to be inspected and an inspection apparatus so as to electrically connect terminals of the device to be inspected and pads of the inspection apparatus, the test socket including: an alignment member that has a plurality of through-holes formed at points corresponding to the terminals of the device to be inspected or the pads of the inspection apparatus and is attached to the inspection apparatus such that the through-holes are located at the pads of the inspection apparatus; and an elastic conductive sheet including conductive parts that are disposed at the points corresponding to the terminals of the device to be inspected and include a plurality of conductive particles that are distributed in an insulating elastic material, insulating support parts that support the conductive parts and disconnect an electrical connection between adjacent conductive pa
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: ISC Co, Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae Hak Lee
  • Patent number: 9696345
    Abstract: A voltage measurement device includes an insulating body, for the use in medium- or high-voltage equipment or switchgears The insulating body includes an impedance divider having at least one high voltage impedance and at least one low voltage impedance in series, and with shielding electrodes. In order to optimize the circuit design for voltage measurement design in a given application and prevent the risk of malfunction when the same device it is used in multiple applications or at severe environmental or operating conditions, the device includes at least one high-voltage shielding electrode and/or at least one low-voltage shielding electrode which dimensions together establish a physical length of the impedance divider. The shielding electrodes surround the high and/or low voltage impedances, which provide a specified voltage division ratio and which are located inside or outside of the insulating body. An output of the impedance divider is connected to a shielded cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Radek Javora, Jaromir Podzemny, David Raschka, Marek Pavlas, Petr Velesik
  • Patent number: 9696346
    Abstract: A system for intrusion detection in a field area network where data is transmitted via packets, includes a processor for analyzing the packets to ascertain whether the packets conform to a sets of rules indicating an intrusion, and a database for storing an alert indicating an intrusion if the packets conform to at least one rule in the sets. The sets of rules are for field network layer data, internet protocol traffic data and field area application traffic data. A method for detecting intrusion in a field area network where data is transmitted via packets, including analyzing the packets to ascertain whether the packets conform to the sets of rules, and storing an alert indicating an intrusion if the packets conform to at least one rule in the sets of rules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Vencore Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley Pietrowicz, Jason Youzwak, John Haluska
  • Patent number: 9696347
    Abstract: The test system provides an array of test probes having a cross beam. The probes pass through a first or upper probe guide retainer which has a plurality of slot sized to receive the probes in a way that they cannot rotate. The probes are biased upwardly through the retainer by an elastomeric block having a similar array of slots. The elastomer is then capped at its bottom by a second or lower retainer with like slots to form a sandwich with the elastomer therebetween. The bottom ends of the probes are group by probe height. A plurality of flex circuits at the different heights engage bottom probe ends at their respective height levels and take continue the circuits to a probe card where test signals originate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Johnstech International Corporation
    Inventors: John DeBauche, Dan Campion, Michael Andres, Steve Rott, Jeffrey Sherry, Brian Halvorson, Brian Eshult
  • Patent number: 9696348
    Abstract: Multi-layer capacitor divider voltage sensors include a plurality of voltage sensor conductive layers having sensor to ground interface surfaces. Respective voltage sensor conductive layers are connected to each other and sensor output voltage Vs by continuations of material forming the interface surfaces extending therebetween. The voltage sensors also include a plurality of conductive ground layers connected to electrical ground, the ground layers interleaved with the voltage sensor conductive layers so that a conductive ground layer resides between adjacent conductive voltage sensor layers. A first voltage sensor conductive layer (closest to a line conductor) is electrically connected to the other conductive voltage sensor layers and output voltage Vs and has a sensor to conductor interface surface with a corresponding interface area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Allan Juds, Kurt von Eckroth, John Trublowski, Naresh Kumar Kodela
  • Patent number: 9696349
    Abstract: A detecting unit is presented. The detecting unit includes a flexible circuit having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The flexible circuit includes a plurality of cells defined therein, each of the plurality of cells having a first side and a second side respectively corresponding to the first side and the second side of the flexible circuit. Moreover, the flexible circuit includes a plurality of conductive windings disposed on at least one of the first and second sides of the plurality of cells. Further, the flexible circuit includes a stress reduction feature between each of the plurality of cells. Also, the detecting unit includes a sealing element configured to secure the flexible circuit in a stacked configuration. A sensing system and a method of making a detecting unit are also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ruxi Wang, William Edward Burdick, Jr., Satish Prabhakaran, Raymond John Nicholas
  • Patent number: 9696350
    Abstract: Described is an apparatus having a non-linear control to manage power supply droop at an output of a voltage regulator. The apparatus comprises: a first inductor for coupling to a load; a capacitor, coupled to the first inductor, and for coupling to the load; a first high-side switch couple to the first inductor; a first low-side switch coupled to the first inductor; a bridge controller to control when to turn on and off the first high-side and first low-side switches; and a non-linear control (NLC) unit to monitor output voltage on the load, and to cause the bridge controller to turn on the first high-side switch and turn off the first low-side switch when a voltage droop is detected on the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Edward A. Burton, Gerhard Schrom, Michael W. Rogers, Alexander Lyakhov, Ravi Sankar Vunnam, Jonathan P. Douglas, Fabrice Paillet, J. Keith Hodgson, William Dawson Kesling, Chiu Keung Tang, Narayanan Raghuraman, Narayanan Natarajan, Samie Samaan, George Geannopoulos
  • Patent number: 9696351
    Abstract: A data receiving device may include an envelope detector that may include first and second inputs configured to receive a differential input signal, a first pair of detectors coupled to the first input and configured to generate first and second detector outputs, and a second pair of detectors coupled to the second input and configured to generate third and fourth detector outputs. The envelope detector may also include a logic circuit configured to generate a reset based upon the first and third detectors. The data receiving device may also include a receiver circuit coupled to the envelope detector and configured to generate an output based upon the second and fourth detectors along with the reset, and a first bit detection circuit coupled to the receiver circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics International N.V.
    Inventors: Daljeet Kumar, Tapas Nandy, Surendra Kumar
  • Patent number: 9696352
    Abstract: A switching device is controlled by a microprocessor to selectively configure the circuit between a current measurement mode and a calibration mode. When the switch is set to the “on” state, the circuit acts as a normal prior art circuit, with the output Vout being read by the microprocessor to determine the current to the load. However, when the switch is set to the “off” state, a small value resistor (which may be roughly three orders of magnitude greater than Rshunt) connects the inputs of the measuring circuit so that the circuit can generate an output Vout corresponding to the zero load current. By connecting the V+ and V? inputs together with a low resistance resistor, the no-load condition Vdiff=V+?V??0 applies. In this state, the no-load offset can be determined by measuring the output voltage of the circuit without turning off the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Hella Corporate Center USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Wayne Brown, Mark Allen Enderich, Stanley Smith
  • Patent number: 9696353
    Abstract: A sense resistor is coupled between a power source and one or more power pins of an integrated circuit (IC) chip including a circuit component (e.g., a microcontroller unit (MCU)). An on-chip amplifier (e.g., a programmable gain amplifier or op-amp) amplifies the voltage drop over the sense resistor to a level that is within the dynamic range of an on-chip analog-to-digital converter (ADC). In some implementations, the measured signals can be time-stamped and stored in a trace buffer and aligned with other trace data using a front-end tool (e.g., a personal computer). In some implementations, circuitry is included for detecting and handling power consumption events associated with the circuit component. In some implementations, a program counter associated with the circuit component is synchronously sampled with the power consumption measurements and/or other data sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Ingar Hanssen, Jo Inge Lamo
  • Patent number: 9696354
    Abstract: A system to measure electrical energy of current in a secondary electrical conductor connected to a primary electrical conductor, the primary and secondary conductors having substantially same voltage. The system includes a primary module including an emitter and a unit for measuring voltage of the primary conductor, at least one secondary module including a receiver, an intensity sensor of current in the secondary conductor, and a unit for calculating energy of the current. The primary module compresses the measured voltage value and emits, to each secondary module, a first message containing the compressed measured voltage value. A time synchronization mechanism performs time synchronization of each intensity sensor with the voltage measuring unit. The calculating unit is connected to the receiver and can calculate energy from the measured voltage and intensity values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES SAS
    Inventors: Olivier Coutelou, Pascal Houbre, Francois Vincent