Patents Issued in January 30, 2018
  • Patent number: 9880219
    Abstract: A sensing structure is presented for use in testing integrated circuits on a substrate. The sensing structure includes a probe region corresponding to a conductive region for connecting to the integrated circuit. A first sensing region at least partially surrounds the probe region. A plurality of sensing elements connects in series such that a first of the plurality of sensing elements has two terminals respectively connected to the first sensing region and the probe region. And a second of the plurality of sensing elements has two terminals respectively connected to the probe region and a first reference potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventor: Alberto Pagani
  • Patent number: 9880220
    Abstract: According to an exemplary embodiment, a method of detecting edge cracks in a die under test is provided. The method includes the following operations: receiving a command signal; providing power from the command signal; providing a response signal based on the command signal; and self-destructing based on the command signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Huang-Ting Hsiao, An-Tai Xu, Pei-Haw Tsao, Cheng-Hung Tsai, Tsui-Mei Chen, Nai-Cheng Lu
  • Patent number: 9880221
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a digital circuit having a scan test mode. The digital circuit includes a first flip-flop forming a part of a scan chain when in the scan test mode, and a first selector provided on an input side of the first flip-flop. The first selector is capable of selecting a first signal when not in the scan test mode, and selecting a second signal that is different from the first signal when in the scan test mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hideki Sato
  • Patent number: 9880222
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a novel method and apparatus for testing TSVs within a semiconductor device. According to embodiments illustrated and described in the disclosure, a TSV may be tested by stimulating and measuring a response from a first end of a TSV while the second end of the TSV held at ground potential. Multiple TSVs within the semiconductor device may be tested in parallel to reduce the TSV testing time according to the disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Lee D. Whetsel, Baher S. Haroun
  • Patent number: 9880223
    Abstract: A method of estimating stator resistance of an induction motor is provided. The method includes applying voltage pulses through two phase paths of the motor for a plurality of electrical cycles to inject current in the motor, wherein the voltage pulses are applied until rotor flux of the motor is substantially stabilized and measuring stator voltage and stator current in response to the applied voltage pulses for each of the plurality of electrical cycles. The method also includes calculating the stator resistance based upon the measured stator voltages and the stator currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Messersmith, Douglas J. Bader, Haihui Lu, Thomas A. Nondahl, Zhenhuan Yuan
  • Patent number: 9880224
    Abstract: A battery system monitoring device includes a plurality of battery monitoring circuits, which is respectively provided in cell groups, and a balancing resistor. Each of the battery monitoring circuits includes a cell voltage measurement unit to measure a cell voltage of each single battery cell at predetermined timing, a discharge switch to switch a state of a discharge current which flows from each single battery cell through the balancing resistor, and a balancing control unit configured to control the discharge switch. A filter circuit is connected between the cell voltage measurement unit and each single battery cell. The cell voltage measurement unit determines whether a cell voltage is measured within a transient response period corresponding to a time constant of the filter circuit and corrects a measurement value of a cell voltage by using a correction value correcting a result of the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiko Kudo, Mutsumi Kikuchi, Tomonori Kanai
  • Patent number: 9880225
    Abstract: This battery state determination device (10) is provided with: a voltage detection unit (13) that detects the voltage (V) of a rechargeable battery (M) to be evaluated; a current detection unit (12) that detects the current of the rechargeable battery (M); a charge state detection unit (11) that detects the state of charge (SOC) of the rechargeable battery (M); and a determination unit (11) configured so as to calculate the absolute value of the voltage gradient (G), which indicates the change in voltage with respect to the discharge amount (Ah), when the state of charge (SOC) of the rechargeable battery (M) is less than 40%, compare the absolute value of the voltage gradient (G) to a pre-set upper limit value (Gmax), and, when the absolute value of the voltage gradient (G) is greater than the upper limit value (Gmax), determine that a small short circuit has occurred in the rechargeable battery (M).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: PRIMEARTH EV ENERGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke Koba, Sachio Takeda, Koichi Ichikawa, Yasuhiro Takahashi, Masahiko Mitsui
  • Patent number: 9880226
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring the conductivity of a cooling fluid flowing in a fuel cell system on a vehicle including a chassis. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack electrically coupled to a stack bus and a battery electrically coupled to a propulsion bus. The method includes operating the fuel cell system, measuring a first isolation resistance at the first power level, measuring a first stack voltage, and measuring a first battery voltage. The method also includes operating the fuel cell system at a second power level, and measuring a second isolation resistance, measuring a second stack voltage, and measuring a second battery voltage. The method calculates a stack coolant resistance using the first and second isolation resistances, the first and second stack voltages, and the first and second battery voltages, which is then used to calculate the cooling fluid conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Robert S. Foley
  • Patent number: 9880227
    Abstract: An electrical device includes a memory storing a value indicative the remaining available rated capacity of one or more batteries. The stored value is changed in use to reflect reducing capacity. The initial stored value is chosen so that there is a very high (e.g. >99.9%) confidence that the one or more batteries will provide at least the capacity indicated by the initial stored value. This reduces the chance of failure during emergency procedures. The one or more batteries may be integral to the electrical device. An override facility is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Aircraft Medical Limited
    Inventors: Matthew John Ross McGrath, Peter Douglas Colin Inglis, Brian Alan Laffoley
  • Patent number: 9880228
    Abstract: A method of measuring integrity of a pulse-width modulated power converter may include the steps of monitoring data associated with an input and an output of the power converter. Then correlating the data to identify degradation in performance of the power converter. A system for measuring integrity of a pulse-width modulated power converter. Current sensors may sense input and output currents of the power converter. A programmable controller may be loaded with an integrity measuring algorithm that may analyze data from the current sensors. An impending failure of the power converter may be indicated as a result of the analysis of the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: InfiniRel Corporation
    Inventors: Norbert H. Wank, David H. Friedman
  • Patent number: 9880229
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for determining a contact resistance of an H bridge including four transistors, each transistor having a point of connection to two neighboring transistors, a bond being produced in each case between a connection point lying between two transistors and an access terminal. The method includes: acting on the open/closed state of the transistors of the bridge so that the transistors on either side of the connection point corresponding to the access terminal are open; applying a determined voltage to an access terminal; determining the current flowing through the bond corresponding to the access terminal; grounding an access terminal neighboring the access terminal if this neighboring access terminal is not already connected to ground; and measuring the voltage at the other neighboring access terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignees: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Angelo Pasqualetto, Jean-Marie Quintin
  • Patent number: 9880230
    Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for inferring operational specifications of a photovoltaic power generation system using net load is provided. Photovoltaic plant configuration specifications can be accurately inferred with net load data and measured solar resource data. A time series of net load data is evaluated to identify, if possible, a time period with preferably minimum and consistent power consumption. Power generation data is simulated for a range of hypothetical photovoltaic system configurations based on a normalized solar power simulation model. Net load data is estimated based on a base load and, if applicable, any binary loads and any variable loads. The set of key parameters corresponding to the net load estimate that minimizes total squared error represents the inferred specifications of the photovoltaic plant configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: CLEAN POWER RESEARCH, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Thomas E. Hoff
  • Patent number: 9880231
    Abstract: A gear detection switch apparatus may include a detection unit into which a magnetization target is inserted at a front part thereof, the detection unit having a printed circuit board (PCB), a front housing having an open front end and into which the detection unit is inserted so that a frontal end of the PCB is exposed through the open front end, a rear housing connected to a rear side of the front housing, wherein a connection boundary between the front and rear housings is molded with a molding material, a Hall sensor device coupled to the exposed frontal end of the PCB, and a finishing closure molded over the open front end of the front housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignees: Hyndai Motor Company, Daesung Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeong Yeon Park, Seag Woo Lee, Chang Kyu Han
  • Patent number: 9880232
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor comprising a first shield and a second shield and a sensor stack between the first and the second shield, the sensor stack having a plurality of layers wherein at least one layer is annealed using in-situ rapid thermal annealing. In one implementation of the magnetic sensor a seed layer is annealed using in-situ rapid thermal annealing. Alternatively, one of a barrier layer, an antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer, and a cap layer is annealed using in-situ rapid thermal annealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Qing He, Wonjoon Jung, Mark William Covington, Mark Thomas Kief, Yonghua Chen
  • Patent number: 9880233
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to determine a parameter of a metal-containing film are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of determining a parameter of a metal-containing film may include generating a first magnetic field by flowing an alternating current through a coil disposed adjacent to and spaced apart from the metal-containing film, wherein the first magnetic field induces a second magnetic field proximate the metal-containing film; heating the metal-containing film from a first temperature to a second temperature; measuring a response of the first magnetic field to the second magnetic field as the metal-containing film is heated from the first temperature to the second temperature; and correlating the response with a rate of temperature change of the metal-containing film as the metal-containing film is heated from the first temperature to the second temperature to determine a parameter of the metal-containing film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventor: Abraham Ravid
  • Patent number: 9880234
    Abstract: A current sensor may comprise a first Hall cell, a second Hall cell, a third Hall cell, a fourth Hall cell, and a fifth Hall cell to a set of magnetic field values associated with a magnetic field generated by a current passing through a current rail. The second Hall cell may be positioned at a first distance from the first Hall cell, and the third Hall cell may be positioned at a second distance from the first Hall cell such that the third Hall cell is positioned between the first Hall cell and the second Hall cell. The fourth Hall cell may be positioned adjacent to the first Hall cell, and the fifth Hall cell may be positioned at a third distance from the fourth Hall cell. The magnetic field values may be used to determine an amount of current associated with the current passing through the current rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Akos Hegedus
  • Patent number: 9880235
    Abstract: A magnetic substance detection device includes elongated magnets and ferromagnetic thin film magnetoresistance elements. The magnets extend in parallel with a Y-axis direction and are magnetized opposite to each other in a Z-axis direction. The ferromagnetic thin film magnetoresistance elements have respective linear segments extending substantially along the Y-axis direction on a plane of a substrate disposed in a path of lines of magnetic force between the magnets and change their resistances in response to a change in a magnetic field directed in a direction orthogonal to the Y-axis direction in the plane of the substrate. The magnets apply bias magnetic fields lower in intensity than a saturated magnetic field of the ferromagnetic thin film magnetoresistance elements to the ferromagnetic thin film magnetoresistance elements, respectively, in the direction orthogonal to the Y-axis direction in the plane of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Kohden Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinsuke Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 9880236
    Abstract: In a PET (Positron Emission Tomography)-MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) apparatus of an embodiment, a magnet that is a seamless structure generates a static magnetic field in a bore having a cylindrical shape. First detectors and second detectors are each formed in a ring shape and detect gamma rays emitted from positron emitting radionuclides injected into a subject. The first detectors and the second detectors are disposed with a space therebetween in an axial direction of the bore so as to interpose the magnetic field center of the static magnetic field therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignees: National Institute for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Obata, Taiga Yamaya, Iwao Kanno, Hitoshi Yamagata, Takuzo Takayama, Kazuya Okamoto
  • Patent number: 9880237
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner includes a control device, a gradient coil for generating a gradient field, a gradient coil connector for connecting the gradient coil to the control device, and a temperature sensor. The temperature sensor is configured and disposed to detect a temperature of the gradient coil connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Andrew Dewdney
  • Patent number: 9880238
    Abstract: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) receiver includes a receiver coil on a substrate. The receiver coil includes one or more capacitors. The construction of the capacitors allows for the use of very flexible substrates and allows the capacitors themselves to be highly flexible. The increased flexibility permits the MRI receiver to be conformed to the body of a patient and accordingly improves the MRI process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Ana Claudia Arias, Shimon Michael Lustig, Anita M. Flynn, Joseph Corea
  • Patent number: 9880239
    Abstract: In a radio frequency coil according to an embodiment, electrical conductors and circuit elements are arranged. The radio frequency coil is configured so that the direction in which two of the electrical conductors forming a ring are connected together by one or more of the circuit elements positioned between the electrical conductors is different from the circumferential direction of the radio frequency coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sadanori Tomiha
  • Patent number: 9880240
    Abstract: Described embodiments include a system, apparatus, and method. An apparatus includes an assemblage of artificially structured electromagnetic unit cells. The assemblage of artificially structured electromagnetic unit cells includes a first artificially structured electromagnetic unit cell configured to transform incident radiofrequency electromagnetic waves into a radiofrequency magnetic field B perpendicular to the plane of the assemblage. The assemblage of artificially structured electromagnetic unit cells includes a second artificially structured electromagnetic unit cell configured to transform the incident radiofrequency electromagnetic waves into an electric field E counteracting a non-vanishing electric field component generated by the first artificially structured electromagnetic unit cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Inventors: Tom Driscoll, David R. Smith, Yaroslav A. Urzhumov
  • Patent number: 9880241
    Abstract: A patch resonator for nuclear magnetic resonance device includes a ground plane, a conductive element, a dielectric element positioned between the ground plane and the conductive element, the resonator being able to transmit a circularly polarized radiofrequency signal when the resonator is supplied by a first transmission line connected to the conductive element via a first connection point and able to receive alternatively a radiofrequency signal circularly polarized in the opposite direction when the resonator is connected to a second transmission line via a second connection point, the resonator including a switch mounted in parallel on each transmission line at a distance from the ground plane corresponding to (2n+1)?/4 with n a natural integer, and ? the wavelength of the guided wave in the transmission line at the operating frequency of the resonator, the switch making it possible to electrically connect/disconnect the transmission lines from the conductive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT À L'ÉNERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ÉNERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Guillaume Ferrand, Michel Luong
  • Patent number: 9880242
    Abstract: Systems, methods and devices are configured for integrated parallel reception, excitation, and shimming (iPRES) with RF coil elements with split DC loops. Parallel transmit/receive (which can include B1 shimming and/or parallel imaging capabilities) and B0 shimming employ the same set of localized coils or transverse electromagnetic (TEM) coil elements, with each coil or TEM element working in both an RF mode (for transmit/receive and B1 shimming) and a direct current (DC) mode (for B0 shimming) simultaneously. Both an RF and a DC current (in split DC loops) can flow in the same coil element simultaneously but independently with no electromagnetic interference between the two modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Duke University
    Inventors: Dean Darnell, Trong-Kha Truong, Allen W. Song
  • Patent number: 9880243
    Abstract: A method includes applying a pulse train to a spin system in a scanner. The pulse train has a plurality of discontinuities in a time domain. The method includes receiving a response from the spin system. The response corresponds to a gated signal. The method includes accessing a correction factor corresponding to the scanner. The method includes calculating a correction to the response based on the correction factor. The method includes generating an output based on the correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Curtis A. Corum, Steen Moeller, Djaudat S. Idiyatullin, Ryan Chamberlain, Michael G. Garwood
  • Patent number: 9880244
    Abstract: A method that includes obtaining an MRI gradient echo train of at least three echo data sets at differing phase angles; producing a plurality of phase error maps among the at least three echo data sets; and imaging at least three distinct chemical species based on the plurality of phase error maps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ken-Pin Hwang, Zachary William Slavens, Ersin Bayram, Kang Wang, Daniel Litwiller, Jingfei Ma
  • Patent number: 9880245
    Abstract: In a method and a magnetic resonance system for acquisition of spectroscopy data in a predetermined volume segment of an examination subject, spectroscopy data in the volume segment are acquired in multiple measurement steps, and spatially resolved MR data of the examination subject also are acquired in multiple measurement steps. Each of the measurement steps to acquire the spectroscopy data or to acquire the MR data respectively includes an excitation step and a readout step associated with that excitation step. At least one of the measurement steps to acquire the MR data occurs between one of the measurement steps to acquire the spectroscopy data and another of the measurement steps to acquire the spectroscopy data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Stephan Kannengiesser
  • Patent number: 9880246
    Abstract: Samples of a Fourier transform of a signal may be received that are distributed in a generally spherically-shaped pattern on a surface of at least one sphere. The samples may be assembled to form a profile function having a domain that is a surface of at least one sphere. Information indicative of at least one property of the signal may be determined by applying a spherical linear transform to the profile function. The spherical linear transform may use more than just an equator of the profile function for each of multiple orientations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventors: Justin P. Haldar, Richard M. Leahy
  • Patent number: 9880247
    Abstract: A method for highly accelerated projection imaging (“HAPI”) is provided. In this method, conventional linear gradients are used to obtain coil sensitivity-weighted projections of the object being imaged. Only a relatively small number of projections, such as sixteen or less, of the object are required to reconstruct a two-dimensional image of the object, unlike conventional projection imaging techniques. The relationship between the voxel values of the imaged object and the coil sensitivity-weighted projections is formulated as a linear system of equations and the reconstructed images are obtained by solving this matrix equation. This method advantageously allows higher acceleration rates compared to echo planar imaging (“EPI”) with SENSE or GRAPPA acceleration. Moreover, the method does not require any additional or specialized hardware because hardware in conventional MRI scanners is adequate to implement the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: The Medical College of Wisconsin
    Inventors: Lutfi Tugan Muftuler, Ali Ersoz, Volkan Emre Arpinar
  • Patent number: 9880248
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus and method are provided. The MRI apparatus includes a first interpolator configured to generate a plurality of first interpolation data by performing calibration on a plurality of undersampled K-space data obtained from a plurality of channel coils in a radio frequency (RF) multi-coil, respectively, and a second interpolator configured to generate a plurality of second interpolation data by performing calibration on a plurality of filtered data obtained by filtering the first interpolation data using a plurality of high-pass filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignees: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., Korea University Research and Business Foundation
    Inventors: Su-hyung Park, Yeol-min Seong, Sang-cheon Choi
  • Patent number: 9880249
    Abstract: Various embodiments relate to a method for determining distortion-reduced magnetic resonance data in a subarea of a magnetic resonance system located along a radial direction of the magnetic resonance system at the edge of a field of view of the magnetic resonance system. The method includes positioning the object to be examined at a first and a second position along an axial direction of the magnetic resonance system and acquiring first magnetic resonance data in the subarea at the first position and acquiring second magnetic resonance data in the same subarea at the second position. The method also includes determining distortion-reduced magnetic resonance data based on the first and second magnetic resonance data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Jan Ole Blumhagen, Stephan Kannengieβer
  • Patent number: 9880250
    Abstract: An MR image is produced from data acquired by radiating an RF pulse and switching multiple bipolar magnetic field gradients to generate multiple gradient echoes that are acquired in a raw data set with multiple raw data lines by a reception coil, the multiple gradient echoes being acquired with bipolar magnetic field gradients of different polarity. Due to the bipolar magnetic field gradients of different polarity, in the raw data set first raw data lines are filled with MR signals in one direction in raw data space, and second raw data lines are filled with MR signals in the opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Patrick Gross, Rene Gumbrecht
  • Patent number: 9880251
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are cerebrospinal diffusion phantoms which include a housing having a shape and size configured for insertion into a magnetic resonance coil in one or more preselected poses. A scaffold support structure is mounted on an interior of said housing and a plurality of elongated diffusion mimicking members supported on the support array. The elongated diffusion mimicking members are affixed to the scaffold support structure such that elongated diffusion mimicking members extend in directions needed to substantially emulate a 3 dimensional arrangement of cerebrospinal diffusion fiber tracts in a living organism; as well as modules for elimination of resolution based-bias, angular accuracy evaluation, diffusion rate calibration, and quality assurance image referencing. Each elongated diffusion mimicking member includes an aqueous component which can undergo diffusion along the elongated diffusion mimicking member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Synaptive Medical (Barbados) Inc.
    Inventors: Fergal Kerins, Timotheus Anton Gmeiner, Jeff Alan Stainsby, Chad Tyler Harris, Sheryl Rae Thingvold, Gregory Allan Whitton
  • Patent number: 9880252
    Abstract: A method of calibrating and debugging a testing system is provided. First, values of different electrical path segments are calibrated, and parameters of the electrical path segments while being calibrated are saved. After calibration, electrical tests can be processed on a DUT. If the testing system malfunctions, the values of the electrical path segments are calibrated again to compare the current parameters to the previously saved parameters. The component which goes wrong can be found out quickly in this way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: MPI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wei-Cheng Ku, Shao-Wei Lu, Hao Wei, Yu-Tse Wang
  • Patent number: 9880253
    Abstract: An object detection system is configured to detect location of an object proximate a first surface of a vehicle. A beacon is configured to be positioned and repositioned relative to the vehicle. A controller is configured to process data from the object detection system and position data from the beacon. The controller is configured to define a first zone of interest relative to the first surface of the vehicle body structure without the beacon and further process object location data from the object detection system and output the object location data to the display relative to the first zone of interest. The controller determines current location of the beacon relative to the first surface of the vehicle body structure, defines a second zone of interest relative to the beacon and outputs the object location data to a display relative to the second zone of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Adrian Tan
  • Patent number: 9880254
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting presence of a blood sample is presented where the apparatus has a housing having an aperture that can receive a user's body part such that a camera in the housing can capture images of the user's body part. A processor, also in the housing, controls operation of the camera receive and determines from the captured images whether a predetermined quantity of blood is present on the surface of the user's body part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Richter, Ross MacArthur
  • Patent number: 9880256
    Abstract: Systems and methods can support coprocessing radio signals and video to identify and locate a radio transmitter. Positions and orientations for cameras and RF sensors may be maintained. An RF signature associated with the radio transmitter may be received from the RF sensors to determine an RF persona. A first physical location for the radio transmitter may be estimated according to a physical radio propagation model operating on RF signals. A video stream from one or more of the cameras may be received. An individual may be identified in the video stream using computer vision techniques. A second physical location for the radio transmitter may be estimated from the video stream. Relationships may be established between the first physical location and the second physical location and between the RF persona and the identified individual. The relationships may be presented to an operator interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Bastille Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert John Baxley, Christopher Jay Rouland, Michael Thomas Engle
  • Patent number: 9880257
    Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods for providing outputs; e.g., location estimates, based on trained Gaussian processes modeling signals of wireless signal emitters. A computing device can determine first and second trained Gaussian processes. The respective first and second Gaussian processes can be based on first and second hyperparameter values related to first and second wireless signal emitters. The computing device can determine first and second sets of comparison hyperparameter values of the respective first and second hyperparameter values, and then determine whether the first and second sets of comparison hyperparameter values are within one or more threshold values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Brian John Julian, Brian Patrick Williams, Etienne Le Grand
  • Patent number: 9880258
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program are provided for estimating a characteristic static location of a user equipment in a wireless communication network comprising a plurality of network nodes for transmitting radio signals. Each network node has an associated cell corresponding to a predicted geographical coverage area of a corresponding transmitted radio signal. Location event data for the user equipment provides a cell-specific location for the user equipment at a point in time. A plurality of event frequencies is determined for the user equipment, each corresponding to a cumulative number of received location events locating the user equipment in a respective cell/sector in a given time interval. A characteristic static location is calculated using a combined measure of at least two non-zero values of the plurality of event frequencies corresponding respectively to at least two different cells or sectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: VODAFONE IP LICENSING LIMITED
    Inventor: Brendan Ludden
  • Patent number: 9880259
    Abstract: A method for estimating the position of a mobile station (MS) comprising the following steps: physically moving the MS at a constant velocity v in an environment comprising S stationary scatterers; wirelessly transmitting N uplink communication signals from a transmitter physically mounted to the MS; receiving each of the N uplink signals via D distinct paths at a fixed-location base station (BS); recording with the BS a time of arrival (TOA) ?, an angle-of-arrival (AOA) ?, and a Doppler-shifted frequency (DSF) of each received uplink signal; estimating the location of the MS using a least squares algorithm based on the TOA, the AOA, and the DSF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by Scretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Rohan Yash Ramlall
  • Patent number: 9880260
    Abstract: An RF emitter sensing device is provided comprising an antenna circuit and an estimator configured to output, for one or more incoming signals-of-interest (SoI), either or both of an estimated range to the emitter of each SoI, and estimates for one or more angles corresponding to the 3D angle-of-arrival (AoA) of each SoI, wherein: the antenna circuit has a plurality of ports that each output an output signal containing the one or more SoI, the antenna circuit including one or more multi-port antennas, each multi-port antenna having two or more ports, each multi-port antenna being configured to pick up a combination of one or more E-field signals and one or more H-field signals from each SoI, in a common volume of space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: APPLIED SIGNALS INTELLIGENCE, INC.
    Inventor: John W. McCorkle
  • Patent number: 9880261
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a radar apparatus for estimating a position and a velocity of a plurality of obstacles. The radar apparatus includes a slave radar chip. A master radar chip is coupled to the slave radar chip. The master radar chip includes a local oscillator that generates a transmit signal. The slave radar chip receives the transmit signal on a first path and sends the transmit signal back to the master radar chip on a second path. A delay detect circuit is coupled to the local oscillator and receives the transmit signal from the slave radar chip on the second path and the transmit signal from the local oscillator. The delay detect circuit estimates a routing delay from the transmit signal received from the slave radar chip on the second path and from the transmit signal received from the local oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Karthik Subburaj, Brian Ginsburg, Karthik Ramasubramanian
  • Patent number: 9880262
    Abstract: A radar apparatus includes: a transmitting antenna including a first antenna and a second antenna that transmit transmission waves; a signal processor configured to determine a mounted state of the radar apparatus on the vehicle; and a phase adjuster that adjusts at least one of phases of transmission signals output to the first antenna and the second antenna of the transmitting antenna. The signal processor controls the phase adjuster to adjust the at least one of the phases of the transmission signals based on the mounted state determined by the signal processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: FUJITSU TEN LIMITED
    Inventor: Eisuke Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 9880263
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described that relate to a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device. The LIDAR device includes a fiber laser configured to emit light within a wavelength range, a scanning portion configured to direct the emitted light in a reciprocating manner about a first axis, and a plurality of detectors configured to sense light within the wavelength range. The device additionally includes a controller configured to receive target information, which may be indicative of an object, a position, a location, or an angle range. In response to receiving the target information, the controller may cause the rotational mount to rotate so as to adjust a pointing direction of the LIDAR. The controller is further configured to cause the LIDAR to scan a field-of-view (FOV) of the environment. The controller may determine a three-dimensional (3D) representation of the environment based on data from scanning the FOV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Pierre-yves Droz, Gaetan Pennecot, Anthony Levandowski, Drew Eugene Ulrich, Zach Morriss, Luke Wachter, Dorel Ionut Iordache, William McCann, Daniel Gruver, Bernard Fidric, Samuel William Lenius
  • Patent number: 9880264
    Abstract: A projection optical system includes a light source to emit light and an optical element including an incidence plane on which the light from the light source is incident and an emission plane having a plurality of flat planes to emit the light, wherein the plurality of flat planes includes a first inclination plane inclining in a direction of the light-emitting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Tadashi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9880265
    Abstract: An optoelectronic apparatus (10) for the detection of object information from a monitored zone (12), comprising a light receiver (18), a receiving optics (16) associated with the light receiver (18), the receiving optics having an adaptive lens (26) with variable tilt, and an evaluation unit (20) for the generation of object information from a received signal of the light receiver (18) is provided. In this respect the evaluation unit (20) is configured to bring the adaptive lens (26) into a plurality of different tilt positions and to thereby obtain additional object information from an enlarged monitored zone (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventors: Florian Schneider, Denise Bertz, Dirk Strohmeier
  • Patent number: 9880266
    Abstract: An optical measurement system includes a photodetector coupled in series with a field effect transistor (FET) that is a part of a sample and hold circuit. When the sample and hold circuit is in a sampling mode of operation, a voltage bias is applied to the FET and the photodetector is exposed to ambient light, thus resulting in a first current flow through the photodetector. One of several components can be selected in the sample and hold circuit for obtaining a desired time constant. When the sample and hold circuit is subsequently placed in a hold mode of operation, a second current flows through the photodetector due to exposing of the photodetector to a combination of ambient light and light associated with an optical measurement. A portion of the second current that is attributable to the light associated with the optical measurement is used for executing the optical measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Milos Davidovic, Wolfgang Gaberl, Gunther Steinle
  • Patent number: 9880267
    Abstract: A scanning display system includes hybrid data acquisition. Data can be acquired in a time-of-flight mode, or in a non-time-of-flight mode. Infrared light pulses may be used in both modes. The infrared light pulses may have different characteristics. Time-of-flight data acquisition and non-time-of-flight data acquisition may be used sequentially or simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
    Inventors: P. Selvan Viswanathan, Jari Honkanen, Bharath Rajagopalan, Alexander Tokman
  • Patent number: 9880268
    Abstract: A method is presented for correcting errors in a 3D scanner. Measurement errors in the 3D scanner are determined by scanning each of a plurality of calibration objects in each of a plurality of sectors in the 3D scanner's field of view. The calibration objects have a known height, a known width, and a known length. The measurements taken by the 3D scanner are compared to the known dimensions to derive a measurement error for each dimension in each sector. An estimated measurement error is calculated based on scans of each of the plurality of calibration objects. When scanning target objects in a given sector, the estimated measurement error for that sector is used to correct measurements obtained by the 3D scanner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian L. Jovanovski, Jingquan Li
  • Patent number: 9880269
    Abstract: The dimensions of an object are measured as it is transported by a forklift within an area of measurement. A first scanner is on a first side of the area of measurement; a second scanner is on an opposite second side and across the first scanner. The first and second scanners provide a dual-head scanner arrangement to capture dimensions of the object. A third scanner is on the first side of the area of measurement, parallel to the first scanner. The first and third scanners are configured to capture speed and direction of the object. Each scanner has a processor to operate it. The first and second scanners are synchronized, and operation of the first and third scanners is correlated. Placement of the first and second scanners establishes a width of the area of measurement and the first and third scanners establish a length thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo GmbH
    Inventors: Einar Sorensen, Espen Rutger, Kjell Krakenes, Eivind Kvedalen