Patents Issued in March 13, 2018
  • Patent number: 9915700
    Abstract: Probing an integrated circuit (IC), by: electrically applying stimulation signal to said IC; scanning a selected area of said IC with a monochromatic beam; collecting beam reflection from the selected area of said IC, wherein the beam reflection correspond to modulation of the monochromatic beam by active devices of said IC; converting said beam reflection to an electrical probing signal; selecting a frequency or a band of frequencies of said probing signal; utilizing the probing signal to generate a spatial modulation map for various locations over the selected area of said IC; and displaying the spatial map on a monitor, wherein grey scale values correspond to modulation signal values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: FEI EFA, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Kasapi
  • Patent number: 9915701
    Abstract: Aspects include techniques for bypassing an encoded latch on a chip during a test-pattern scan and using on-chip circuitry to generate a desired encoded pattern, which is inserted into a scan-bypassed latch, to test the on-chip circuitry for defects. A computer-implemented method may include applying a global control bit to the chip; initializing a scan of the chip while bypassing the encoded latch; and applying an extra scan clock to initiate the encoded latch after completing the scan, wherein the encoded latch is updated with check bits generated by the on-chip circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Fee, Ronald J. Frishmuth, Mary P. Kusko, Cedric Lichtenau
  • Patent number: 9915702
    Abstract: Various aspects of the disclosed techniques relate to channel sharing techniques for testing circuits having non-identical cores. Compressed test patterns for a plurality of circuit blocks are generated for channel sharing. Each of the plurality of circuit blocks comprises a decompressor configured to decompress the compressed test patterns. Test data input channels are thus shared by the decompressors. Control data input channels are usually not shared by non-identical circuit blocks in the plurality of circuit blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Mentor Graphics Corporation
    Inventors: Yu Huang, Mark A. Kassab, Janusz Rajski, Wu-Tung Cheng, Jay Babak Jahangiri
  • Patent number: 9915703
    Abstract: A voltage sensing system for a vehicle traction battery having a plurality of cells includes: a battery controller, a plurality of electrical circuits, each being respectively connected to at least one of the cells and including an electrical component for limiting current therethrough, and a plurality of wires, each being respectively connected to one of the electrical circuits in series with a respective one of the electrical components for limiting current and the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Debbi Callicoat, Robert Bolduc, Ben A. Tabatowski-Bush
  • Patent number: 9915704
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for determining a Coulombic efficiency of battery modules of a rechargeable battery with a circuit arrangement connected to the battery modules. The circuit arrangement has multiple current paths, each of which has a series circuit of switch modules and at least one power semiconductor element which can be operated in a linear mode in order to regulate the current flowing through the respective current path, and one of the battery modules is connected to each of the switch modules. Each of the switch modules is configured as a switch module for selectively connecting the connected battery module into the respective current path or to alternatively remove the connected battery module from the respective current path. In each of the current paths at least one of the battery modules is selected with the switch module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignees: Robert Bosch GmbH, Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joachim Fetzer, Holger Fink, Hans Partes
  • Patent number: 9915705
    Abstract: A battery control device includes: a battery; a storage circuitry configured to store a disconnection time which indicates a time at which a power supply is disconnected; and a diagnosis circuitry configured to, when the power supply is reactivated, diagnose a charge capacity of the battery at the time of reactivation based on a disconnection period obtained from the disconnection time and a time at when the power supply is reactivated, a temperature of the battery in a state during the power supply is disconnected and a deterioration degree of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Hiroki Tashima
  • Patent number: 9915706
    Abstract: Each of a plurality of first magnetoresistive elements includes a double spiral pattern in plan view. The double spiral pattern includes a first spiral pattern, a second spiral pattern, and an S-shaped or inverted S-shaped pattern that joins the first spiral pattern and the second spiral pattern at a center portion of the double spiral pattern. Orientations of the double spiral patterns of the plurality of first magnetoresistive elements are different from each other in a circumferential direction, and orientations of the S-shaped or inverted S-shaped patterns differ from each other in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Mori, Syuji Okabe
  • Patent number: 9915707
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to xMR sensors having very high shape anisotropy. Embodiments also relate to novel structuring processes of xMR stacks to achieve very high shape anisotropies without chemically affecting the performance relevant magnetic field sensitive layer system while also providing comparatively uniform structure widths over a wafer, down to about 100 nm in embodiments. Embodiments can also provide xMR stacks having side walls of the performance relevant free layer system that are smooth and/or of a defined lateral geometry which is important for achieving a homogeneous magnetic behavior over the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Juergen Zimmer, Klemens Pruegl, Olaf Kuehn, Andreas Strasser, Ralf-Rainer Schledz, Norbert Thyssen
  • Patent number: 9915708
    Abstract: An assembly of Hall sensors provides the following: the three averaged values for the magnetic field components are assigned to the same point in space, at the center of the Hall sensor assembly. This allows for the instantaneous measurement of the full field vector. With the appropriate electrical connections of the Hall elements from opposing surfaces of each pair, undesired planar Hall effect is practically cancelled out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Paul Scherrer Institut
    Inventors: Stephane Sanfilippo, Vjeran Vrankovic, Christina Wouters
  • Patent number: 9915709
    Abstract: A motor system includes a motor including two Hall sensors configured to output binary values, and a controller configured to control the motor. The two Hall sensors are placed 120 or 60 electrical degrees apart. The controller is operable to monitor output signals of the two Hall sensors and to determine a third Hall sensor output binary value. The controller is operable to fulfill the commanded requirements to operate in a servo system, by controlling commutation of a drive current into the motor, and by keeping track of the motor rotor position based on the third generated signal and the outputs of the two Hall sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond Liu, Estella Chung
  • Patent number: 9915710
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor is provided in which in a case where magnetization amounts of the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer in the first magnetic sensor element are respectively set to be Mst11 and Mst12 and magnetization amounts of the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer in the second magnetic sensor element are respectively set to be Mst21 and Mst22, in a case of Mst11>Mst12, a relationship of Mst21>Mst22 is satisfied, and in a case of Mst11<Mst12, a relationship of Mst21<Mst22 is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fumihito Koike, Hirofumi Okumura, Eiji Shinohara, Kazuhiro Shigeta, Taku Saito
  • Patent number: 9915711
    Abstract: A compact, high-sensitivity magnetometer, including: an optical interface to accept a linearly polarized first light; a pump light source to produce a circularly polarized pump light; a vapor cell having a sealed vessel containing an alkali-metal gas, a first input port to receive the first light, a second input port to accept the pump light from a direction perpendicular to the first light, and an output port to produce a second light; an electromagnetic source to apply a modulated electromagnetic field to the vapor cell at a direction perpendicular to the first light and the pump light, without using a modulator external to the vapor cell; a second linear polarizer, polarized perpendicular to the first light, the second polarizer to receive the second light and to produce a third light; and a photodetector to receive the third light, to produce an intensity measurement of the third light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: TWINLEAF LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Whitmore Kornack, Elizabeth Lee Foley
  • Patent number: 9915712
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system is provided. The system includes a main field magnet generating a main magnetic field B0. Moreover, the system further includes radio frequency (RF) receiver coils including a first combination of two coils, the two coils of the first combination decoupled based on quadrature decoupling such that the two coils of the first combination are able to receive signals orthogonal to each other and to B0. The two coils can be butterfly coils, the loop plane of the butterfly coils arranged along a surface, the longitudinal axis of the butterfly coils being substantially orthogonal and crossing at substantially midpoint. The surface can be substantially orthogonal to B0 and be curved. The first of the two coils can also be a loop coil and the second of the two coils a butterfly coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: SYNAPTIVE MEDICAL (BARBADOS) INC.
    Inventors: Cameron Anthony Piron, Alexander Gyles Panther
  • Patent number: 9915713
    Abstract: A method of determining the position of at least one magnetic field probe located within a pre-defined volume of interest within a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging or spectroscopy arrangement comprises applying a spatially and temporally variable magnetic reference field having a unique time-course at every point in said volume of interest during a preselected time window. An MR signal is ac-quired from said magnetic field probe during said time window, and the position of the probe is determined from the probe MR signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignees: Universitat Zurich, Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule (ETH)
    Inventors: David Brunner, Christoph Barmet, Klaas Prussmann, Maximilian Häberlin
  • Patent number: 9915714
    Abstract: Systems and methods employing spin editing techniques to improve magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) are discussed. Using these spin editing techniques, magnetic resonance signals of one or more unwanted chemicals (that is, chemicals whose signals are to be filtered out or suppressed) chemicals can be suppressed, so that the signal(s) of a first set of chemicals can be obtained without signals from the one or more unwanted chemicals. Information about and differences between the molecular topologies of the first set of chemicals and the one or more unwanted chemicals can be used to design a sequence that suppresses the one or more unwanted chemicals while allowing acquisition of signal(s) from the first set of chemicals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventor: Qiuhong He
  • Patent number: 9915715
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging of an examination object, a control computer is provided with a designation of a first recording region, which is cuboidal. The computer automatically determines a second recording region that represents an adjustment of the first recording region such that the second recording region is cube-shaped. Magnetic resonance scan data are acquired from the entire second recording region. Magnetic resonance image data are reconstructed from the acquired magnetic resonance scan data. An image region of the magnetic resonance image data is supplied in electronic form from the computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Uvo Hoelscher, Dominik Paul
  • Patent number: 9915716
    Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance apparatus for establishing at least one measurement protocol of a magnetic resonance measurement of an examination object, the measurement parameters necessary for the magnetic resonance measurement of the examination object are set, at least one absorption variable according to the measurement parameters set is established, and at least one measurement protocol is established that includes further measurement parameters according to the established at least one absorption variable. A characteristic variable can be established that indicates the ability to carry out the at least one measurement protocol according to the at least one established absorption variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Heiko Meyer
  • Patent number: 9915717
    Abstract: A method for acquiring image data from a plurality of slice locations in a subject with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system is provided. The method includes directing the MRI system to perform a pulse sequence that includes performing a contrast preparation module configured to generate contrast-encoded longitudinal magnetization and an image encoding module configured to acquire image data from multiple slice locations substantially simultaneously. The contrast preparation module generally includes tipping longitudinal magnetization into the transverse plane to produce transverse magnetization, generating contrast-prepared transverse magnetization by establishing an image contrast in the transverse magnetization, and tipping the contrast-prepared magnetization back along the longitudinal axis to produce the contrast-encoded longitudinal magnetization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventor: Kamil Ugurbil
  • Patent number: 9915718
    Abstract: In a method for the determination of sensitivity profiles of local coils in the acquisition of magnetic resonance data, a first measurement data set of an examination area is acquired with a first acquisition coil, a second measurement data set of the examination area is acquired with a local coil, and a sensitivity profile of the local coil that is used is determined on the basis of the first measurement data set and the measurement data set. The first measurement data set and the second measurement data set are acquired using a pulse sequence with ultrashort echo times. In the determination of the sensitivity profile, errors due to dephasings are avoided as best as possible by the acquisition of the measurement data sets with a pulse sequence with ultrashort echo times (i.e. in particular echo times TE shorter than 0.5 ms); in particular, the dephasings are smaller given these echo times than in the case of gradient echo (GRE)-based pulse sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: David Grodzki, Wilfried Landschuetz
  • Patent number: 9915719
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for recording magnetic resonance (MR) signals from an examination object, raw data space is filled with MR signals in raw data lines. Movement information of the examination object is detected during recording of the MR signals and the movement information is grouped into different movement phases of the examination object. A temporally randomly distributed sequence of the recording of the raw data lines is determined, with which at least one predetermined portion of the raw data space is filled MR signals. The MR signals are acquired in the determined temporally randomly distributed sequence of the raw data lines in the predetermined portion. Each recorded raw data line is allocated to one of the movement phases of the examination object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Popescu
  • Patent number: 9915720
    Abstract: An electrical panel meter system may include a plurality of meter modules housed in an electrical panel enclosure. Each meter module may be configured to sample electrical readings related to electrical power provided to a respective branch circuit of the electrical panel meter system. To field test the metering accuracy of each meter module, a field tester may be coupled to the electrical panel enclosure. The field tester may inject an electrical signal via a test conductor provided in the electrical panel enclosure. The test conductor may be coupled to each meter module. The field tester may measure an electrical parameter of the injected electrical signal and compare it to electrical readings sampled by the meter modules. A pass/fail result for each meter module may be indicated. Methods of field testing meter modules in an electrical panel meter system are also provided, as are other aspects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Leidy, Kevin Miller
  • Patent number: 9915721
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a WPS dedicated device is used to estimate the position of a user device. The WPS dedicated device is configured to be receive-only and lacks WLAN packet transmission capabilities, or is configured to provide limited-transmission and is capable of transmitting only a predefined subset of WLAN packets supported by a WLAN protocol. The WPS dedicated device may be used with optimized scanning procedures that include a plurality of phases that are progressed through until WLAN information sufficient to identify at least a threshold number of more WLAN APs is obtained, that simultaneously scan on multiple WLAN channels, or that provide other types of optimization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Skyhook Wireless, Inc.
    Inventor: Farshid Alizadeh-Shabdiz
  • Patent number: 9915722
    Abstract: In an embodiment of the present invention, a GraphSLAM-like algorithm for signal strength SLAM is presented. This algorithm as an embodiment of the present invention shares many of the benefits of Gaussian processes yet is viable for a broader range of environments since it makes no signature uniqueness assumptions. It is also more tractable to larger map sizes, requiring O(N2) operations per iteration. In the present disclosure, an algorithm according to an embodiment of the present invention is compared to a laser-SLAM ground truth, showing that it produces excellent results in practice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Joseph Huang, David Millman, David Stavens, Sebastian Thrun
  • Patent number: 9915723
    Abstract: Aspects receive different instances of reception data from different respective wireless communication receivers that include broadcast data packets broadcast from a mobile device, geographic locations of the communication receivers and times of reception of the broadcast data packet by the respective receivers. Each broadcast data packet includes a time of broadcast by the mobile device and a unique identifier of the mobile device. Aspects determine a geographic location of the mobile device at the time of broadcast of the data packets as a function of triangulating to the geographic locations of the different communication receivers; and/or of determining a Doppler shift in frequency transmission data of an instance of reception of a first data packet relative to frequency transmission data of another instance of reception of another, second data packet transmission broadcast at a different time than the first data packet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Meller Javier Perez Nunez, Franz Friedrich Liebinger Portela, Ricardo Golcher Ugalde
  • Patent number: 9915724
    Abstract: Some demonstrative embodiments include devices, systems and methods of determining a Time of Arrival (ToA) of a wireless communication signal. For example, a method may include receiving a signal over a wireless communication channel, detecting a symbol boundary of a symbol of the signal, and determining a ToA of the signal based on the symbol boundary and a channel estimation of the wireless communication channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuval Amizur, Leor Banin
  • Patent number: 9915725
    Abstract: A system comprising synchronization circuitry, a first interrogator, and a second interrogator. The first interrogator includes a transmit antenna; a first receive antenna, and circuitry configured to generate, using radio-frequency (RF) signal synthesis information received from the synchronization circuitry, a first RF signal for transmission by the transmit antenna, and generate, using the first RF signal and a second RF signal received from a target device by the first receive antenna, a first mixed RF signal indicative of a distance between the first interrogator and the target device. The second interrogator includes a second receive antenna, and circuitry configured to generate, using the RF signal synthesis information, a third RF signal; and generate, using the third RF signal and a fourth RF signal received from the target device by the second receive antenna, a second mixed RF signal indicative of a distance between the second interrogator and the target device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Humatics Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory L. Charvat, David A. Mindell
  • Patent number: 9915726
    Abstract: A lightweight, low volume, inexpensive LADAR sensor incorporating 3-D focal plane arrays is adapted specifically for personal electronic appliances. The present invention generates, at high speed, 3-D image maps and object data at short to medium ranges. The techniques and structures described may be used to extend the range of long range systems as well, though the focus is on compact, short to medium range ladar sensors suitable for use in personal electronic devices. 3-D focal plane arrays are used in a variety of physical configurations to provide useful new capabilities to a variety of personal electronic appliances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Continental Advanced Lidar Solutions US, LLC
    Inventors: Howard Bailey, Patrick Gilliland, Barton Goldstein, Laurent Heughebaert, Brad Short, Joseph Spagnolia, Roger Stettner
  • Patent number: 9915727
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for transmitting a first set of stepped-frequency CW signals having first signal parameters, where the first signal parameters includes a first bandwidth and a first step size between signal frequencies. Detecting reflections of the first set of transmitted CW signals. Identifying an indication of a potential target in a frequency range of the reflections of the first set of transmitted CW signals from the detected reflections of the first set of transmitted CW signals. Determining second signal parameters for a second set of stepped-frequency CW signals in response to identifying the indication of the potential target. The second signal parameters include a second bandwidth and a second step size between signal frequencies, and where the second signal parameters focus on the frequency range in which the indication of the potential target is identified. Transmitting the second set of CW signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Security and Detection Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor V. Reznack, Herbert Duvoisin, III, Joe R. Jordan, III
  • Patent number: 9915728
    Abstract: A phased array radar configured to transmit two or more slightly misaligned beams, for improved angular resolution. The transmitting array is split into two or more subarrays that transmit slightly misaligned beams that may have a common carrier frequency and each of which has a different modulation. Each subarray may include alternate elements in the rows of the transmitting array, and alternate elements in the columns of the transmitting array. The width of each transmitted beam may be greater than or comparable to the diffraction-limited width, but the region in which the beams overlap may be significantly narrower than any of the transmitted beams. The reflected beam from a target contains one or more of the modulations of the transmitted beams, in proportions depending on the location of the target, and the extent to which it is illuminated by each beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventor: Benjamin Dolgin
  • Patent number: 9915729
    Abstract: A ground penetrating radar antenna array is consistently maintained at a spacing of less than or equal to about 4 inches above the target surface. As a result, the antenna array may be moved up to 75 mph while maintaining accuracy of data collection. The apparatus includes a wooden support from which non-elastic straps are suspended. The straps are attached to a housing containing the ground penetrating radar antenna array and receiver. The housing is supported from below by a pair of skis that have wear plates attached to their undersides with the wear plates engaging the target surface. The wear plates maintain the distal ends of the antennas within the antenna array at a spacing from the target surface of less than or equal to 4 inches, preferably 3.75±0.25 inches. The method of operation is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Inventor: Michael Leon Scott
  • Patent number: 9915730
    Abstract: A method and system for generating an image of a scene behind a wall, wherein the scene is represented as a grid, by first transmitting a radar pulse through the wall using a transmitter and receiving a set of echoes corresponding to the radar pulse being reflected by the scene in a receiver at a known location. Based on the location, an imaging operator that relates the set of echoes to the grid is determined. Using the imaging operator, a sparse delay kernel that matches a response of a current image to a similar response in the set of echoes is determined. Then, the current image is updated, based on the set of echoes, the imaging operator, and the sparse delay kernel. The transmitting, the receiving, the determining, the obtaining, and the updating steps are repeated for different locations until a termination condition is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Hassan Mansour, Ulugbek S. Kamilov
  • Patent number: 9915731
    Abstract: A radio sensing device includes N antennas, N being a natural number which is one or more, a switching control unit that sequentially switches the antennas and scans radio waves in some directions or all directions in a circular shape or a spherical-shell shape, and a random number generating unit that generates random numbers. The switching control unit performs an operation of switching selecting orders of the N antennas on the basis of the generated random numbers within a time which is M (M; positive integer) times a unit time required to sequentially scan each of all the N antennas once.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: U-SHIN LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshihisa Amano
  • Patent number: 9915732
    Abstract: Object detection systems are provided herein. An example system includes an enclosure formed by a sidewall to define an interaction volume, at least one light source for illuminating the interaction volume with a light, at least one light sensor that senses disturbances in light intensity due to scattering, reflection, or absorption of the light by objects within the interaction volume, and a controller that is configured to detect an object or object behavior within interaction volume based on the disturbances in the light intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: onVector Technology LLC
    Inventor: Michael Weber-Grabau
  • Patent number: 9915733
    Abstract: A method of imaging a scene includes estimating multiple three-dimensional (3D) representations, each of which corresponds to a respective portion of the scene. Neighboring portions of the scene area are at least partially overlapping. Each 3D representation is estimated by illuminating the respective portion of the scene with a light burst including multiple light pulses, after which multiple point clouds are generated by detecting photons reflected or scattered from the respective portion of the scene using a focal plane array. Data points in the point clouds represent a distance between the focal plane array and a scene point in the respective portion of the scene. The 3D representation is then estimated based on the multiple point clouds via coincidence processing. The method then generates a 3D image of the scene based on the multiple 3D representations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Dale G. Fried, Jonathan Frechette
  • Patent number: 9915734
    Abstract: Systems and methods for averaging satellite sigmas and readmitting excluded satellite measurements into differential corrections and integrity monitors are provided. In one embodiment, a method comprises: calculating a first RFI based averaged sigma and a second RFI based averaged sigma, wherein the first RFI based averaged sigma includes a sigma for the excluded satellite measurement and wherein the second RFI based averaged sigma does not include the sigma for the excluded satellite measurement; and, readmitting the excluded satellite measurement into either a differential correction broadcast or a respective integrity monitor when the first RFI based averaged sigma is less than or equal to the second RFI based averaged sigma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph E. Scheitlin, Mats Anders Brenner
  • Patent number: 9915735
    Abstract: A method for positioning a vehicle includes deriving an estimated position of the vehicle by way of a satellite signal received from the vehicle, receiving a correction signal from a second vehicle, and correcting the estimated position by way of the correction signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Nikolas Wagner, Marco Moebus, Bruno Praunsmaendel
  • Patent number: 9915736
    Abstract: A navigation satellite system, one or more NSS reference station is set out for providing information to one or more rover receivers. The NSS reference station comprises a processing unit configured to determine one or more first range intervals representing first ambiguity windows based on estimated atmospheric effects, and determine one or more second range intervals representing a second ambiguity window smaller than each of the first ambiguity windows based on uncertainties of range measurements within a predetermined previous period. The NSS reference station further comprises a transmission unit configured to transmit, to the NSS rover receivers, first messages each comprising a modulo a first ambiguity window, and transmission of two first messages, to range measurement transmit between the NSS rover receiver, a plurality of second messages, each second message comprising a range measurement modulo one of the second ambiguity windows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Trimble Inc.
    Inventor: Kendall Ferguson
  • Patent number: 9915737
    Abstract: A nuclear medicine (NM) multi-head imaging system is provided that includes a gantry defining a bore configured to accept an object to be imaged. The imaging system includes a plurality of detector units coupled to the gantry, with each of the detector units having a respective detector field-of-view (FOV). Each of the detector units is configured to rotate about a respective unit axis, with the plurality of detector units including at least a first and a second detector unit. The imaging system also includes at least one processor configured to execute programmed instructions stored in memory, wherein the at least one processor, when executing the programmed instructions, rotates the first and second detector units as the first and second detector units acquire persistence image data; and generates at least one persistence image based on the persistence image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Yariv Grobshtein, Jean-Paul Bouhnik, Gil Kovalski, Shiran Golan
  • Patent number: 9915738
    Abstract: A device for measuring an amount of beryllium in a radioactive object, including: a hollow cylinder of a first piece made of a material to thermalize neutrons emitted by the radioactive object and a metal piece to mitigate a dose rate on the radioactive object, the first piece having a hollow cylinder shape deprived of a wall fraction, the metal piece including a solid part inserted in a space which corresponds to the deprived wall fraction of the first piece and a recessed part which is an extension of the solid part and is accommodated within the wall of the first piece, in contact with the first piece; a gamma radiation source accommodated in an indentation of the recessed part of the metal piece; and at least one neutron detector placed in a bulk of the first piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENEGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Cedric Carasco, Bertrand Perot, Alain Mariani, Sebastien Colas, Nicolas Saurel
  • Patent number: 9915739
    Abstract: An apparatus to detect gamma rays, comprising a scintillator, a position sensitive photo sensor and a scintillation-light-incidence-angle-constraining, SLIAC, element, the scintillator has faces and the position sensitive photo sensor detects scintillation photons exiting a scintillation photons transparent face of the scintillator, and a portion of a scintillator face is covered with an absorbing layer, which absorbs scintillation photons created by scintillation events due to the interaction of incoming gamma rays with the scintillator, and the SLIAC element is optically coupled between a scintillation photons transparent face of the scintillator and the position sensitive photo sensor and the SLIAC element guides the scintillation photons exiting the scintillator towards the position sensitive photo sensor, and the SLIAC element restricts the maximum allowed half light acceptance angle for the scintillation light hitting the position sensitive photo sensor to less than 45°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignees: General Equipment for Medical Imaging S.A. (Oncovision), Bruker Biospin AG
    Inventors: Jose Maria Benlloch Baviera, Antonio Javier Gonzalez Martinez, Filomeno Sanchez Martinez, Cesar Molinos Sonsona, Juan Vicente Catret Mascarell, Carlos Correcher Salvador, Noriel Pavon Hernandez
  • Patent number: 9915740
    Abstract: An ionizing radiation detector or scintillator system includes a scintillating material comprising an organic crystalline compound selected to generate photons in response to the passage of ionizing radiation. The organic compound has a crystalline symmetry of higher order than monoclinic, for example an orthorhombic, trigonal, tetragonal, hexagonal, or cubic symmetry. A photodetector is optically coupled to the scintillating material, and configured to generate electronic signals having pulse shapes based on the photons generated in the scintillating material. A discriminator is coupled to the photon detector, and configured to discriminate between neutrons and gamma rays in the ionizing radiation based on the pulse shapes of the output signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventor: Patrick L. Feng
  • Patent number: 9915741
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of making an apparatus suitable for detecting x-ray, the method comprising: obtaining a substrate having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the substrate comprises an electronics system in or on the substrate, wherein the substrate comprises a plurality of electric contacts are on the first surface; obtaining a first chip comprising a first X-ray absorption layer, wherein the first X-ray absorption layer comprises an electrode; bonding the first chip to the substrate such that the electrode of the first X-ray absorption layer is electrically connected to at least one of the electrical contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: SHENZHEN XPECTVISION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Peiyan Cao, Yurun Liu
  • Patent number: 9915742
    Abstract: Method and system are described for generating a stratigraphic model of a subsurface volume. Measured geophysical data are converted into a vector volume (106) by assigning to each sample in each trace in the data volume a vector representing dip, azimuth or confidence. Then a labeled volume is generated from the vector volume by assigning a label to each sample in an initial trace (1006), then selecting a propagation pattern (1008) and propagating the labels to other traces (1010). Horizons can be extracted (110) from the labeled volume, and utilized to enhance the process of producing hydrocarbons (114).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Pavel Dimitrov, Matthias Imhof
  • Patent number: 9915743
    Abstract: A method and marine seismic processing system including an interface for receiving recorded data, wherein the recorded data includes seismic data and bio-acoustic data; a seismic data processor for estimating a source signature from the recorded data, wherein the source signature is associated with a seismic source that emits seismic waves in water during a seismic survey; and a bio-acoustic processor that estimates a presence of a mammal generating the bio-acoustic data, based on a processed signal obtained by removing the source signature from the recorded data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: SERCEL
    Inventors: John Sallas, Simon Vallez
  • Patent number: 9915744
    Abstract: Marine seismic sources for exploring formations under the seafloor using reflection seismology include ghost attenuators for reducing or eliminating ghost signals. Such a ghost attenuator is located in the water above an individual source element and 5 water surface and is configured to dissipate energy of up-going signals and/or to redirect the up-going signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: CGG SERVICES SAS
    Inventor: Yuan Ni
  • Patent number: 9915745
    Abstract: At least some embodiments are directed to a system. The system includes a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory stores a program that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to calculate a pressure response of a first sensor, and correct pressure wavefield data obtained from the first sensor responsive to a first acoustic wavefield. The correction is based on the calculated pressure response of the first sensor. The pressure response of the first sensor is responsive to a second acoustic wavefield having a propagation path between a source of the second acoustic wavefield and the first sensor, in which the propagation path includes no reflection from a subsurface formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: PGS Geophysical AS
    Inventors: Stian Hegna, Tilman Kluver
  • Patent number: 9915746
    Abstract: A method of measuring seismic signals generated by marine acoustic sources includes deploying at least one seismic sensor unit to a location on a floor of a body of water within a survey area, and recording seismic signals that include a real measured far field signature generated by a seismic source during a marine seismic survey. The method further includes automatically actuating a retrieval device to cause the at least one seismic sensor unit to rise to the surface, in response to expiration of the selected time period or an actuation signal from the surface, retrieving the at least one seismic sensor unit from the surface, and processing seismic data collected from the return signal. Processing including identifying a far field signature of the seismic source based on the signals detected by the seismic sensor, and designaturing the seismic data based on the far field signature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY
    Inventors: Peter M. Eick, Joel D. Brewer
  • Patent number: 9915747
    Abstract: A transmitter for use in an inground tool transmits a locating signal for tracking an underground position of the inground tool. The locating signal is characterized by a transmission frequency which changes responsive to detecting a roll orientation pattern in which the transmitter is held stationary for a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Merlin Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Guenter W. Brune, John E. Mercer
  • Patent number: 9915748
    Abstract: The invention provides a target object detection system, comprising a plurality of sensing nodes (10) for positioning at respective detection locations with respect to a detection area (12) that is situated within a field generated by an ambient AC source of excitation. Each sensing node has at least one electric potential sensor (22, 42) designed to detect perturbations in said field caused by a target object (14), said one sensor including an electrode (20, 40) responsive to the AC excitation field for generating detection signals, an amplifier (28) connected to the electrode for receiving and amplifying the detection signals to produce AC measurement signals as output, and at least one feedback circuit (30, 36) from an output of the amplifier to an input thereof for enhancing the input impedance of the amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: University of Sussex
    Inventors: Robert J. Prance, Helen Prance, Sam Thomas Beardsmore-Rust, Philip Watson
  • Patent number: 9915749
    Abstract: A logging sensor or tool including a structural component, a non-structural component, and a composite disposed between the structural component and the non-structural component. The composite may contain a metallic foam having pores and an elastomeric material deposited in the pores. The elastomeric material may include an elastomer and a plurality of metallic shield particles. A logging system and to a wireline system containing such a logging sensor or tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Teng Thuan Khoo, Adan Hernandez Herrera