Patents Issued in August 1, 2017
  • Patent number: 9719829
    Abstract: This invention is to improve procedures of maintenance of a fluid measurement system having a fluid measurement device and a control device. The fluid measurement system has a fluid measurement device and a control device to control the fluid measurement device, and the fluid measurement device comprises a fluid sensor and a related data store part configured to store fluid calculation related data for calculation of one or more fluid parameters with measurement data obtained by the fluid sensor, and the control device obtains the fluid calculation related data from the related data store part and calculates the one or more fluid parameters with the measurement data of the fluid sensor and the fluid calculation related data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: HORIBA STEC, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Matsuura, Hiroshi Takakura, Yukimasa Furukawa, Tadahiro Yasuda
  • Patent number: 9719830
    Abstract: A calibration cup for use in calibrating a quantity of a dessert dispensed from a product dispensing machine includes a body portion having an interior cavity, the interior cavity including a first chamber adjacent to at least a second chamber being disposed along a longitudinal width of the body portion, the first and the at least one second chamber being configured for receiving a quantity of the dessert from the product dispensing machine; and at least one opening on the body portion, the at least one opening being configured for receiving a nozzle coupled to the product dispensing machine; where the body portion is configured for self-aligning the first chamber and the at least a second chamber to the product dispensing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: CARRIER COMMERCIAL REFRIGERATION, INC.
    Inventor: James J. Minard
  • Patent number: 9719831
    Abstract: Level measuring device which can compensate the distortions, caused by an STC filter, of the received signal, by measuring a reference signal which passes through the receiving branch and also through the STC filter, during the ongoing operation of the level measuring device or during manufacture. For example, after passing through the receiving branch, this reference signal can be fed to a microprocessor which can calculate the correction values of the IF signal therefrom. A switch can be provided which can switch over between the reference signal and the IF signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: VERA GRIESHABER KG
    Inventor: Daniel Schultheiss
  • Patent number: 9719832
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for determining or monitoring a physical or chemical, process variable, comprising a sensor element (2) having at least one temperature sensitive, sensor region and/or an electronics unit (3) having at least one component (4), whose specification requires use within a predetermined temperature range, wherein a connecting component (5) is provided between the temperature sensitive, sensor region and the remaining regions of the sensor element (2) and/or between the sensor element (2) and the electronics unit (3), wherein the connecting component (5) is composed at least partially of a metal- or ceramic foam (6) having a predetermined porosity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Peter Klofer, Klaus Feisst
  • Patent number: 9719833
    Abstract: A filling level transmitter for measuring a filing level of a liquid includes: a filling level sensor having: an ultrasonic transceiver configured to emit ultrasound, and sensor electronics; a sound-conducting tube having two reflectors spaced apart from one another, the first reflector being configured to deflect ultrasound emitted by the transceiver in the direction of the second reflector, and the second reflector being configured to deflect the emitted ultrasound in the direction of the surface of the liquid. A third reflector is arranged in the second reflector such that emitted ultrasound impacting the third reflector is reflected in the direction of the first reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Wighard Jäger, Karl-Friedrich Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 9719834
    Abstract: The invention is a fill-level measuring device having the following features: a housing, a membrane, a first drive unit have a first bolt, the bolt being coupled to the membrane, a second drive unit having a second bolt, the second bolt being operatively connected to the membrane and being connected to the housing at an end of the second bolt facing the membrane by means of an intermediate bottom, and the first drive unit and the second drive unit are mechanically connected to each other in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: VEGA GRIESHABER KG
    Inventor: Holger Gruhler
  • Patent number: 9719835
    Abstract: A ceramic card having a thick film network, with conductive vias formed as part of the card. Each of the vias is in electrical communication with both sides of the thick film network, allowing the pads and the pad senders to be formed on both sides of the card. This configuration maintains the contact when one of the connectors is subjected to bending force or is otherwise displaced, maintaining contact with at least one of the pads, and allowing the system to still function. The double sided thick film network allows for each connector to touch both sides of one of the pads, and still maintain electrical communication with the level sender, thus eliminating the failure mode of intermittent contact with the thick film network resulting from movement of the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul F Briggs, John Patrick Wattai, Matthias Kadler, Robert Peter
  • Patent number: 9719836
    Abstract: A high-temperature resistance is disposed in an internal passage and has its energization controlled based on an intake-air flow rate in the passage to increase/decrease a heat generation amount. A first low-temperature resistance constitutes a bridge circuit which has its energization state changed according to the heat generation amount of the high-temperature resistance. The first low-temperature resistance varies its resistance value according to intake-air temperature. A second low-temperature resistance is an element, which is not incorporated into the bridge circuit and varies its resistance value according to intake-air temperature to increase/decrease an energization amount. The second low-temperature resistance is provided on a substrate. Another bridge circuit produces an intake air amount detection signal using an electrical signal generated by operation of the high-temperature resistance and the first low-temperature resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasushi Kohno, Junzo Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9719837
    Abstract: During a water draw test, horizontal type bidirectional sphere provers with a straight calibrated section of pipe between the detector switches sometimes suffer from sphere launch failure which typically results in a failed water draw test. These types of provers, especially in larger pipe diameters will benefit from an elongate concentric fabricated reducer attached to the outlet of each launch tube. These elongate concentric fabricated reducers result in a successful sphere launch on the first attempt. Assuming all the other components of the prover are properly designed and assembled, a successful sphere launch will result in a successful water draw test on the first attempt saving time, money and reputation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: WFMS, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel J. Rudroff
  • Patent number: 9719838
    Abstract: A method for calibrating a multiple flow conduit flow meter (200) is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The multiple flow conduit flow meter (200) includes a first flow conduit (201) conducting a first flow stream and a pair of first pickoff sensors (215, 215?) affixed to the first flow conduit (201). The multiple flow conduit flow meter (200) further includes at least one additional flow conduit (202) conducting at least one additional flow stream and at least one pair of additional pickoff sensors (216, 216?) affixed to the at least one additional flow conduit (202).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Paul Stack, Andrew Timothy Patten, Gregory Treat Lanham, Mark James Bell
  • Patent number: 9719839
    Abstract: An occupant sensor having a switching element, which comprises a top carrier layer and a bottom carrier layer separated by a spacer. The spacer has an opening defining an active zone in which the carrier layers may be brought together in response to a force acting on at least one of them. The switching element includes a first electrode and a second electrode arranged within the active area between the carrier layers such that an electrical contact is established between the first and second electrodes if the carrier layers are brought together. The occupant sensor includes a decoupling layer arranged on a top side of the switching element such that the decoupling layer covers the top carrier layer in the region of the active area. The decoupling layer and switching element are laterally displaceable with respect to each other in the region of the active area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: IEE International Electronics & Engineering S.A.
    Inventors: Konstantin Weires, Dietmar Jungen, Claus-Christian Kedenburg, Manuel Wampach
  • Patent number: 9719840
    Abstract: A body weight management device includes: a change obtainment unit for obtaining an intra-day body weight change value on a daily basis based body weight measurement values of a measurement subject measured on a daily basis; an achievement rate obtainment unit for comparing the intra-day body weight change value obtained by the change obtainment unit with an intra-day target weight loss value and obtaining, based on a result of the comparison, a target achievement rate indicating a percentage of total days in a predetermined period in which the intra-day body weight change value has reached the intra-day target weight loss value; and a target obtainment unit for obtaining, based on the target achievement rate obtained by the achievement rate obtainment unit, a new intra-day target weight loss value to serve as a target for future body weight measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: OMRON HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Satoe Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9719841
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for dynamic nutrition tracking with utensils. Example methods may include receiving an image of a first food item positioned at a first location and a second food item positioned at a second location, the image comprising location metadata, determining, based at least in part on the image and the location metadata, a first set of coordinates corresponding to a first perimeter of the first location of the first food item, and determining a second set of coordinates corresponding to a second perimeter of the second location of the second food item. Example methods may include determining that a utensil performed a gesture associated with a food consumption event, determining that an origination point of the food consumption utensil at a start of the gesture was within the first perimeter, and identifying a weight measurement of a food portion on the utensil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Inventor: Umar Rahim Bakhsh
  • Patent number: 9719842
    Abstract: A method for diagnosing or predicting the risk of shock, the method incorporating an algorithmic combination of optical, electromagnetic, and other sensors, along with their anatomic and temporal patterns. A method for developing the algorithms through iterative optimization using machine learning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Inventor: Norman A. Paradis
  • Patent number: 9719843
    Abstract: A household scale including a housing intended to be placed horizontally during use, the housing including a support, at least one weight measuring system, connected to a display unit for the result of the measurement, the scale being designed to hold on the support, during use, and a container for holding an item or ingredient. The housing includes a connection to the support enabling the support to hold the container in the following two positions. A stowage position in which the container is attached to the support regardless of the position of the scale in space, and a position of use in which the container is set down on the support not attached to it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: SEB S.A.
    Inventors: Stéphane Thirouin, Michel Sarrazin
  • Patent number: 9719844
    Abstract: A weighing chamber in a shape of a transparent cuboid with sliding panels (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) assembled on structural guides (8) that are fastened using at least a single adjustable lock (13) blocking at least one panel in a way that their releasing enables sliding and disassembling the other panels. The fastening lock forms a profiled element, preferably an angle bar shaped component assembled in a detachable manner to the horizontal structural beam (8). The chamber comprises two vertical columns (6, 7) assembled at the back corners of the chamber's interior which support the chamber structure (8) comprising a horizontal beam for assembling the fastening lock and guides for holding and sliding the top and side panels using grips (9, 10, 11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: RADWAG WAGI ELEKTRONICZNE WITOLD LEWANDOWSKI
    Inventor: Witold Lewandowski
  • Patent number: 9719845
    Abstract: A method for locking out load cells includes dispensing a fluid into a collapsible bag that is supported within a support housing, the support housing resting on a plurality of load cells that sense the weight of the fluid; manipulating a plurality of lockouts located adjacent to corresponding load cells from a first position to a second position so that the lockouts remove at least a portion of the weight of the fluid from the plurality of load cells; moving the support housing containing the collapsible bag with the fluid therein to a new location; and further manipulating the plurality of lockouts from the second position back to the first position so that the plurality of load cells again sense the full weight of the fluid within the collapsible bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Steven R. Kjar, Whitt F. Woods, Paul T. Thacker
  • Patent number: 9719846
    Abstract: An example system for detecting mud pulses may include a distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) data collection system coupled to a downhole drilling system, and an information handling system communicably coupled to the DAS data collection system. The information handling system may include a processor and memory coupled to the processor. The memory may contain a set of instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive quadrature DAS data signals from the DAS data collection system, determine a first template signal associated with mud pulses, transform the determined first template signal into analytic representation form, perform a matched filter operation using the quadrature DAS data signals and the transformed first template signal, and analyze an output signal of the matched filter operation to detect mud pulses in the downhole drilling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Ellmauthaler, Leonardo de Oliveira Nunes, Neal Gregory Skinner, Christopher Lee Stokely, David Andrew Barfoot
  • Patent number: 9719847
    Abstract: A detection circuit detects a signal output from an element that receives an acoustic wave. The detection circuit is configured so as not to conduct a detection operation during a period in which the element does not receive the acoustic wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Atsushi Kandori
  • Patent number: 9719848
    Abstract: An optical module comprising: an optical waveguide transports light, the optical waveguide including a first mirror which reflects first light; an adhesive sheet formed over the optical waveguide, the adhesive sheet including a first gap above the first mirror; a first light-transmissive layer formed in the first gap; a lens sheet arranged over the adhesive sheet, the lens sheet including a first lens which is formed above the first light-transmissive layer; and a light-emitting device formed above the lens sheet, the light-emitting device including a light-emitting portion which emits the first light to the first lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Norio Kainuma, Takashi Kubota
  • Patent number: 9719849
    Abstract: An example optical computing device includes an integrated computational element (ICE) core arranged within an optical train that optically interacts with electromagnetic radiation and a substance, the ICE core being further configured to operate in a optical region of interest corresponding to a characteristic of the substance, a first bandpass filter arranged in the optical train and configured to transmit the electromagnetic radiation across a first wavelength zone within the optical region of interest, a second bandpass filter arranged in the optical train and configured to transmit the electromagnetic radiation across a second wavelength zone within the optical region of interest, and a detector configured to receive electromagnetic radiation that has optically interacted with the substance and the ICE core and configured to generate an output signal corresponding to the characteristic of the substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Perkins, Robert Paul Freese, Christopher Michael Jones, Richard Neal Gardner
  • Patent number: 9719850
    Abstract: A spatial light measuring system is disclosed, which is configured to store illuminance data acquired by measurement in a new state as initial data, to make the traveling vehicle run after acquiring the initial data, to save illuminance data acquired by the illuminance measuring instrument as daily management data, and to specify an illuminance measuring position and an image acquiring position based on the speed of the traveling vehicle and to use a correction coefficient due to a distance from the ground to an illuminance measuring instrument mounting position and a correction coefficient due to the speed of the traveling vehicle and is configured to correct daily management data into illuminance data on the ground based on both the correction coefficients and to judge the soundness of the illumination facility based on a comparison between the illuminance data as corrected, the initial data and based on the images as acquired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: TOPCON Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Isozaki, Kazunori Sato
  • Patent number: 9719851
    Abstract: An infra-red assembly for a television, that has a plurality of layers operating for creating an image from pixels formed of illuminated color filters. The plurality of layers including a backlight, a polarization layer adjacent the backlight, a TFT layer over the polarization layer, an LCD layer overlying the TFT layer, and a color filter layer overlying the LCD layer. Wherein at least one of the layers includes an opening, and another of said layers includes an infrared filter that passes infrared and blocks light that is not infra red, and where another of said layers underlying said infrared layer includes an infrared receiver that receives the infrared through said opening and said infrared filter, and where said opening and said filter and said receiver are located in registration with one another, such that infrared passes through the opening and passes through the filter and passes to the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Vizio Inc
    Inventor: Matthew Blake McRae
  • Patent number: 9719852
    Abstract: In accordance with a broad aspect of the present invention the system and method described are directed to correcting with a single reference channel thermally dependent spectrum shifts of a light source used with a spectrophotometer. In one embodiment of the system and method described, a light measuring device uses the measured light intensity values to generate a correction coefficient for use in correcting measured light from an object under analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: DATACOLOR HOLDING AG
    Inventor: Zhiling Xu
  • Patent number: 9719853
    Abstract: A handheld LIBS spectrometer includes an optics stage movably mounted to a housing and including a laser focusing lens and a detection lens. One or more motors advance and retract the optics stage, move the optics stage left and right, and/or move the optics stage up and down. A laser source in the housing is oriented to direct a laser beam to the laser focusing lens. A spectrometer subsystem in the housing is configured to receive electromagnetic radiation from the detection lens and to provide an output. A controller subsystem is responsive to the output of the spectrometer subsystem and is configured to control the laser source and motors. In this way, auto-calibration, auto-clean, and auto-focus, and/or moving spot functionality is possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: SciAps, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Day, Konstantin Derman, John Francis Egan, Paul Edward Soucy
  • Patent number: 9719854
    Abstract: A spectroscopic analysis device for analysis of a sample comprising: a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) comprising: an input (DEF) for receiving light from the sample; and a demultiplexer (DEMUX) arranged to distribute the received light into at least a first optical chain (C1) and a second optical chain (C2); wherein each optical chain (C1, C2) of the photonic integrated circuit (PIC) further comprises a tunable bandpass filter (TBF1, TBF2) and a variable attenuator (ATT1, ATT2) and a photodetector (PD1, PD2) arranged respectively to filter and to attenuate and to detect the light distributed into its corresponding optical chain (C1, C2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Klaas Cornelis Jan Wijbrans, Gerhardus Wilhelmus Lucassen, Bernardus Hendrikus Wilhelmus Hendriks
  • Patent number: 9719855
    Abstract: Methods, storage mediums and systems (MS&S) are provided which successively image an imaging region of an assay analysis system (AAS) as particles are loaded into the imaging region, generate a frequency spectrum of each image via a discrete Fourier transform, integrate a same coordinate portion of each frequency spectrum and terminate the loading of particles upon computing an integral which meets preset criterion. In addition, MS&S are provided which send a signal indicative of whether enough particles are in an imaging region for further processes by an AAS based on the magnitude of integral calculated from an image's frequency spectrum. MM&S are also provided such that the steps of generating a frequency spectrum of each image and integrating a portion of each frequency spectrum are replaced by generating a convolved spatial image with a filter kernel and integrating a same coordinate portion of each convolved spatial image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Luminex Corporation
    Inventor: Nicolas Arab
  • Patent number: 9719856
    Abstract: Embodiments herein provide for imaging objects. In one embodiment, a spectral imaging system includes an optical element configured to receive electromagnetic energy of a two-dimensional scene and a filter configured to provide a plurality of spectral filter profiles. The filter also transmits multiple spectral wavebands of the electromagnetic energy substantially simultaneously through at least one of the spectral profiles. The spectral imaging system also includes a detector configured to measure intensities of the multiple spectral wavebands, and a processor configured to generate a spectral image of the scene based on the measured intensities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Areté Associates
    Inventors: Randall Potter, Brian David Clader
  • Patent number: 9719857
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) sample chamber. An apparatus includes a sample chamber, a laser source connected to an excitation optics assembly, the excitation optics assembly connected to a first port on the sample chamber, a collimator assembly connected to a spectrometer, the collimator assembly connected to a second port on the sample chamber, and a first lens tube positioned on the first port and a second lens tube positioned on the second port, the first lens tube protecting the first port connected to the excitation optics assembly and the second lens tube protecting the second port connected to the collimator assembly from particles emitted when a laser pulse from the laser source ablates a surface of a target sample and generates a plasma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Thermo Scientific Portable Analytical Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Peidong Wang, Haowen Li, Rong Sun, Michael Bush
  • Patent number: 9719858
    Abstract: According to the disclosed embodiments, an illustrative apparatus that is configured to attach to a viewport of a container comprises a first plate having a first aperture and an attached second plate having a second aperture substantially aligned to the first aperture. The first and second plates, when attached, define a cavity from an outer edge of the first and second plates to the substantially aligned apertures. A window containment arm is pivotally affixed to at least the first plate and configured to substantially fit and pivot into and out of the cavity, and a window contained within the window containment arm is positioned such that the window substantially aligns with the first and second apertures when the window containment arm is fully pivoted into the cavity, and such that the window is accessibly located outside of the cavity when the window containment arm is pivoted out of the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: GTAT Corporation
    Inventor: David F. Broyer
  • Patent number: 9719859
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to the provision of an interferometer and a phase shift amount measuring apparatus that can precisely operate in the EUV region. The interferometer according to the invention comprises an illumination source for generating an illumination beam, an illumination system for projecting the illumination beam emitted from the illumination source onto a sample, and an imaging system for directing the reflected beam by the sample onto a detector. The illumination system includes a first diffraction grating for producing a first and second diffraction beams which respectively illuminate two areas on the sample where are shifted from each other by a given distance, and the imaging system includes a second grating for diffracting the first and second diffraction beams reflected by the sample to produce a third and fourth diffraction beams which are shifted from each other by a given distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: LASERTEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Haruhiko Kusunose, Kiwamu Takehisa
  • Patent number: 9719860
    Abstract: A power device temperature monitor is provided. The power device temperature monitor includes a power device having a control terminal and an output terminal, where the output terminal is configured to output a current as directed by a voltage of the control terminal. The power device temperature monitor includes an inductor coupled to the output terminal of the power device and an amplifier coupled to the inductor. The power device temperature monitor includes a computing device that receives an output of the amplifier, the computing device is configured to derive a temperature of the power device based upon the output of the amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Atieva, Inc.
    Inventor: Yifan Tang
  • Patent number: 9719861
    Abstract: A temperature sensor circuit implemented in electronic circuitry that senses the temperature at a site, digitizes the sensed temperature, and then outputs a signal representing such a sensed temperature. The temperature sensor circuit converts a voltage signal that is proportional to the temperature to a first digital value. The temperature sensor circuit converts a voltage signal that is inversely proportional to the temperature to a second digital value. The sensed temperature is determined as a function of a difference between the first and second digital values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: NXP USA, INC.
    Inventors: Ravindraraj Ramaraju, David R. Bearden
  • Patent number: 9719862
    Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for temperature measurement of a target site, such a human body site. The invention includes an intelligent temperature probe configured to physically contact a target site and to communicate with a host device, which can be implemented as a hand-held device or as a personal computer. The host device can compute, store and display an accurate predicted temperature, or an actual temperature at thermal equilibrium, of the target site for each of a plurality of different intelligent temperature probes that each have unique and varied operating characteristics. A set of unique operating characteristics for each temperature probe is represented by information communicated between each respective temperature probe and the host device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Welch Allyn, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig M. Meyerson, David E. Quinn, John A. Lane, Anthony P. Wagner, Matthew J. Kinsley, Scott A. Martin, Matthew D. Mullin
  • Patent number: 9719863
    Abstract: A thermomagnetic sensor, measurement system and a method of measuring temperature employ a thermomagnetic probe to measure temperature of a device using a thermomagnetic effect. The thermomagnetic sensor includes a plurality of coils configured to provide a mutual inductance measurement between a selected pair of coils of the plurality and the thermomagnetic probe between the selected pair. The thermomagnetic probe includes a ferromagnetic material having a temperature-dependent magnetic permeability determined from the mutual inductance measurement. A predetermined relationship between the temperature-dependent magnetic permeability and temperature in a range between a maximum magnetic permeability value and a Curie temperature provides a measurement of a temperature local to the thermomagnetic probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Chia-Ming Chang, John Wang, Geoffrey P McKnight, Ping Liu
  • Patent number: 9719864
    Abstract: A method for determining the ambient temperature of an electronic device, the device comprising heat-generating components (102) and a temperature sensor (105) positioned within a common casing (101), the method comprising the steps of: in an environment with a controlled ambient temperature: determining (307) a device-specific coefficient of power dissipation change (a) between a first (Emin) and second (Emax) power modes, wherein in the second power mode (Emax) the device dissipates more power than in the first power mode (Emin); and in an environment for which the ambient temperature is to be determined: measuring (203-205) temperatures (Tmin, Tmax) by the temperature sensor (105) for the first power mode (Emin) and the second power mode (Emax), calculating (206) ambient temperature (Tamb) as a function of the measured temperatures (Tmin, Tmax) and the device-specific coefficient of power dissipation change (a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: ADVANCED DIGITAL BROADCAST S.A.
    Inventors: Miroslaw Wlodarczyk, Piotr Paszkudzki
  • Patent number: 9719865
    Abstract: A method including obtaining calibration data for at least one sub-component in a heat transfer assembly, wherein the calibration data comprises at least one indication of coolant flow rate through the sub-component for a given surface temperature delta of the sub-component and a given heat load into said sub-component, determining a measured heat load into the sub-component, determining a measured surface temperature delta of the sub-component, and determining a coolant flow distribution in a first flow path comprising the sub-component from the calibration data according to the measured heat load and the measured surface temperature delta of the sub-component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy J. Chainer, Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Pritish R. Parida
  • Patent number: 9719866
    Abstract: A sensor failure detection device includes a storage, a predictor, a calculator and a detector. The storage stores temperature information of individual sensors. The temperature information includes measured values of temperatures. The measured values of temperatures are measured by a plurality of sensors. The predictor predicts a temperature distribution by performing a thermal fluid simulation, on the basis of the temperature information received from a remaining sensor. The remaining sensor is a sensor of the plurality of sensors other than the test target sensor. The calculator calculates a difference value between a temperature at a position of the test target sensor in the temperature distribution and a temperature measured by the test target sensor. The detector detects that the difference value is higher than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Sachio Kobayashi, Masayoshi Hashima
  • Patent number: 9719867
    Abstract: A heat flux sensor equipped measurement wafer includes a substrate, a cover thermally coupled to a portion of the substrate, a sensor cavity formed between the substrate and the cover, a thermal barrier disposed within at least a portion of the sensor cavity, a bottom temperature sensor thermally coupled to the substrate and insulated from the cover by a portion of the thermal barrier and a top temperature sensor thermally coupled to the cover and insulated from the substrate by an additional portion of the thermal barrier, wherein a temperature difference between the bottom temperature sensor and the top temperature sensor is related to a heat flux passing through the substrate and cover proximate to the sensor cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Sharratt, Farhat Quli, Earl Jensen, Mei Sun
  • Patent number: 9719868
    Abstract: An electronic measurement unit for a polymorphous device, comprising a number of lateral structures, each lateral structure including: a support structure; at least one sensor constrained to the support structure and generating an electrical signal indicative of a deformation of the support structure; and a coupling structure that constrains a corresponding external covering element to the support structure in a releasable manner, so that when the external covering element is constrained to the support structure and an external force acts on the external covering element, the electrical signal is indicative of the external force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Fondazione Instituto Italiano Di Tecnologia
    Inventors: Ioannis Sarakoglou, Nikos Tsagarakis, Darwin Caldwell
  • Patent number: 9719869
    Abstract: A load measuring apparatus includes a waterproof load cell having a load measuring surface, of which the length is substantially equal to a diameter of the substrate, and a base plate that supports the waterproof load cell. The load measuring apparatus is set in a substrate cleaning apparatus like a substrate, and measures a load applied from the roll cleaning tool of the substrate cleaning apparatus using the waterproof load cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventor: Hideaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9719870
    Abstract: A read circuit of an electrical signal produced by a POSFET device comprising a transconductance amplifier connected at an inverting input thereof to the output of the POSFET device; and at least one neuron connected at the output to the transconductance amplifier. The transconductance amplifier is adapted to: receive a signal coming from the POSFET device representative of a force or pressure exerted on the POSFET device, and produce at the output at least one current signal representative of the force or the pressure. The at least one neuron is adapted to receive said at least one current signal and to produce at least one output signal, said at least one output signal being a pulse train having a frequency proportional to said at least one current signal produced by the transconductance amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: FONDAZIONE ISTITUTO ITALIANO DI TECNOLOGIA
    Inventors: Stefano Caviglia, Chiara Bartolozzi, Maurizio Valle
  • Patent number: 9719871
    Abstract: An example method includes detecting a signal that represents a strain of a frame of a wearable computing device and causing the wearable computing device to perform a function based on the detected signal. The method may also include generating a representation of the detected signal, comparing the representation of the signal to a threshold value, and causing the wearable computing device to perform a function based on the comparison to the threshold value. An example wearable computing device and an example non-transitory computer readable medium related to the example method are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Evan Blum, Joseph John Hebenstreit, Ali-Reza Bahmandar
  • Patent number: 9719872
    Abstract: A pressure sensor includes a base having a high-pressure contact portion, and a diaphragm positioned over the base and having an external top surface opposite the base. The external top surface is defined within a closed perimeter and external side surfaces extend down from an entirety of the closed perimeter toward the base. A high-pressure contact portion of the diaphragm is aligned with and separated by a gap from the high-pressure contact portion of the base. A sensing element is coupled to the diaphragm and provides an output based on changes to the diaphragm. When a hydrostatic pressure load above a threshold value is applied to the entire external top surface and external side surfaces of the diaphragm, the hydrostatic pressure load causes the high-pressure contact portion of the diaphragm to contact the high-pressure contact portion of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Rosemount Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Ray Willcox, Jennifer Ann Blodgett, Mark George Romo
  • Patent number: 9719873
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a pressure sensor includes: preparing a stem which has a cylindrical shape with a bottom as a diaphragm; mounting a sensor chip on the diaphragm; preparing a conductive member, in which an internal connection region is integrated with an external connection region electrically connected to an external circuit by an outer frame; forming a first resin mold to couple the internal connection region to the external connection region; separating the outer frame from the internal connection region and the external connection region; arranging the internal connection region in the stem; and electrically connecting the sensor chip and the internal connection region through the first connection member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsunori Tanida, Takeshi Murata, Naoki Fujimoto, Masao Yamada
  • Patent number: 9719874
    Abstract: A pressure sensor device is to be positioned within a material where a mechanical parameter is measured. The pressure sensor device may include an IC having a ring oscillator with an inverter stage having first doped and second doped piezoresistor couples. Each piezoresistor couple may include two piezoresistors arranged orthogonal to one another with a same resistance value. Each piezoresistor couple may have first and second resistance values responsive to pressure. The IC may include an output interface coupled to the ring oscillator and configured to generate a pressure output signal based upon the first and second resistance values and indicative of pressure normal to the IC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.R.L.
    Inventors: Alessandro Motta, Alberto Pagani, Giovanni Sicurella
  • Patent number: 9719875
    Abstract: A pressure sensor may comprise a nylon socket, an upper PCB, a lower PCB, and a hex housing. The nylon socket may include a plurality of co-molded electrical pin conductors extending axially from electrical connectors defined within a top end of the nylon socket for receiving an external electrical cable to a bottom end of the nylon socket. A top side of the upper PCB may have electrical contacts configured to contact the electrical pin conductors. The lower PCB may be connected to the upper PCB by at least one structural member, and electrically coupled to the upper PCB and to strain gauges coupled to a diaphragm. The hex housing may have an interior axial port extending from a bottom of said hex housing to a counterbore for holding the diaphragm, thereby exposing a first side of said diaphragm to the fluid within the axial port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Measurement Ltd.
    Inventor: Steven Petrucelli
  • Patent number: 9719876
    Abstract: This fluid pressure sensor includes a coil the self inductance of which varies as a function of the pressure of a fluid inside the flexible pipe. This coil includes a turn including: a first portion and a second portion of its periphery rigidly mechanically connected to a first location and a second location on the periphery of the pipe, respectively, and third and fourth free portions of the periphery of the turn situated between the first and second portions and each on a respective side of a central axis of the pipe and each separated from the flexible pipe by a clearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Commissariat A L'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventors: Jacques Reverdy, Thierry Thomas
  • Patent number: 9719877
    Abstract: A system and method mitigate the effects of these external vibrations on a capacitance diaphragm gauge by sensing the motion of the diaphragm at the first natural frequency of the diaphragm of the CDG. The presence of the natural frequency signals superimposed on the pressure signal is determined by sensing variations in the output of a sensor at or near the known natural frequency of the diaphragm and filtering that known low frequency from the output. The filtered signal is used in a feedback circuit to impose electrostatic forces on the diaphragm. The imposed electrostatic forces oppose the motion created by the external vibration to suppress the effects of the vibration on the pressure measured by the CDG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Ferran Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. Ferran
  • Patent number: 9719878
    Abstract: An article to determine a sample condition includes a substrate; a reference optical cavity disposed on the substrate and comprising a reference cavity, the reference optical cavity being configured to support a reference optical resonance and to maintain an axial length of the reference cavity; and a sample optical cavity disposed on the substrate and comprising a sample cavity, the sample optical cavity being configured to support a sample optical resonance and to maintain an axial length of the sample cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE
    Inventors: Jay H. Hendricks, Gregory F. Strouse, Jacob E. Ricker, Douglas A. Olson, Gregory E. Scace, Jack A. Stone, Patrick F. Egan