Patents Issued in March 27, 2018
  • Patent number: 9927257
    Abstract: A method of initializing a meter reading device that communicates a current meter value of a meter to a central metering facility includes capturing, by a camera, an optical image of the meter that displays meter information and determining an initial meter value from the meter information in the optical image of the meter. The method further includes initializing the meter reading device using the initial meter value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: SENSUS SPECTRUM, LLC
    Inventor: Justin Dubs
  • Patent number: 9927258
    Abstract: A system having a position sensing algorithm for determining a position of an electro-mechanical actuator (EMA) stroke includes a first rotary component supported for rotation about a first axis, and a second rotary component supported for rotation about a second axis. A first rotary encoder may be configured to generate an output based on an angular position of the first rotary component, and a second rotary encoder may be configured to generate an output based on an angular position of the second rotary component. The first and second rotary components may define a ratio such that the first and second rotary encoders generate unique combinations of outputs for an entire stroke of an EMA. A decoder may be provided having a position sensing algorithm that determines a position of the EMA stroke based on the ratio between first and second rotary components and outputs from first and second encoders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Derek Paul Dougherty, John Mendenhall White, Andrew Thompson
  • Patent number: 9927259
    Abstract: A rotary position indicator is configured to integrate with an actuator, wherein the rotary position indicator includes a first shaft and a second shaft in a nested arrangement, wherein the first and second shafts are configured to transfer linear motion of an actuation component of the actuator into a first rotational motion and a gear box configured to couple to the actuator, wherein the gear box is configured to transfer the first rotational motion to a second rotational motion of a position shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventor: Alberto Dequarti
  • Patent number: 9927260
    Abstract: A sensor assembly for ascertaining the path of a moved part includes a magnetic measuring assembly and a fixed sensitive measure element. The magnetic measuring assembly has a magnetic field with at least one spatial component that is changed by the movement of the part along the path to be ascertained. The position of the moved part is detected in relation to the fixed sensitive measuring element. The magnetic field is generated by at least one effective magnet connected to the moved part, and at least one support magnet arranged in a fixed manner in the measuring region of the sensitive measuring element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Eduard Maiterth, Michael Kleinknecht, Mathias Kimmerle, Joerg Siedentopf
  • Patent number: 9927261
    Abstract: An inductive sensor device includes a scale unit (24) containing field elements (26) that cooperate with a transmit circuit (32) to create a field pattern (S(x)) in measuring direction (M). A sensor unit (25) contains at least one receive circuit (34) with at least one receive coil (35), respectively. The sensor unit (25) and the scale unit (24) can move relatively in measuring direction (M). The coil loops (37) of the at least one receive coil (35) and/or the scale loops (28) of the scale elements (26) are separated into a loop front (56) and a loop back (57), each containing a sectional portion that runs alternately with regard to the height direction. The alternating run can be obtained by combining linear and/or curved portions so that a meandering, zigzag, sinusoidal, or another arbitrary alternating run can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: SAGENTIA LTD.
    Inventor: Ross Peter Jones
  • Patent number: 9927262
    Abstract: High-resolution multi-turn sensing apparatus and methods. A method can be implemented to sense a rotational position of a shaft having a longitudinal axis. Such a method can include determining a turn number of the shaft with a first magnet arranged in a non-contact manner with a first magnetic sensor to allow measurement of a linear position of the first magnet relative to the first magnetic sensor. The linear position can be representative of a turn number of the shaft. The method can further include determining an angular position of the shaft within a given turn with a second magnet positioned at an end of the shaft along the longitudinal axis and arranged relative to a second magnetic sensor. The method can further include combining the turn number with the angular position to generate one or more output signals representative of a measured rotational position of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Bourns, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugen Bogos, Perry Wehlmann, Christopher Couch
  • Patent number: 9927263
    Abstract: An intrusion detection system includes a suspended optical fiber having a neutral buoyancy and an optical time-domain reflectometer connected to the suspended optical fiber at an origin location. The suspended optical fiber is connected to a mooring at a first end of the suspended optical fiber and further includes at least one terminal end. The optical time-domain reflectometer includes a light source operable to emit an optical pulse of light into the suspended optical fiber from the origin location toward the terminal end, and a processor operable to receive an optical return signal from the terminal end of the suspended optical fiber or from a deformation created by a disturbance to the suspended optical fiber and to determine a location and a type of the disturbance based on an analysis of at least a time to receive the optical return signal and a magnitude of the optical return signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventor: Randy Young
  • Patent number: 9927264
    Abstract: An encoder includes a disc having one or more slit arrays having multiple slits aligned in a circumferential direction of the disc, and an optical module positioned to face a portion of the slit array such that the slit array moves relative to the optical module in the circumferential direction of the disc. The optical module includes two or four light sources aligned along a direction corresponding to the circumferential direction and one or more light receiving arrays aligned along the direction corresponding to the circumferential direction, the light sources are positioned to irradiate light upon a portion of the slit array, and the light receiving array includes multiple light receiving elements positioned to receive the light irradiated by the light sources and light affected by actions of the slits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventor: Takehiko Hamada
  • Patent number: 9927265
    Abstract: A system includes an encoder to monitor a machine and generate an encoder output signal indicative of at least one of the motion or position of the machine. A combiner can be configured to receive the encoder output signal from the encoder and to receive machine diagnostic data from at least one other sensor. The combiner can combine the machine diagnostic data with the encoder output signal to provide a combined signal that includes the machine diagnostic data synchronized with the at least one of the motion or position of the machine. An output stage can provide the combined signal to a remote system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Nidec Avtron Automation Corporation
    Inventors: William P. Niro, Brian Winter
  • Patent number: 9927266
    Abstract: A multi-die sensor system comprises a package and one or more transducer dies mounted in the package. Each transducer die includes one or more transducers, a temperature control element, and temperature sensor. The temperature control element changes the temperature of at least a portion of the transducer during operation of the temperature control element. A temperature sensor senses the temperature of at least the portion of the transducer. An output circuitry die mounted in the package receives transducer signals and a sensed temperature signal from the temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Chad S. Dawson, Phillipe Lance, Yizhen Lin, Mark E. Schlarmann
  • Patent number: 9927268
    Abstract: Oxidation/reduction measurement is described. An aspect provides an oxidation/reduction quantification method, including: receiving intermittent oxidizer/reducer reference measurements from one or more reference sensors; receiving one or more substantially continuous oxidizer/reducer-related measurements from one or more corroboration sensors; and processing the one or more substantially continuous oxidizer/reducer-related measurements with the intermittent oxidizer/reducer reference measurements to generate substantially continuous representative oxidizer/reducer measurements. Other aspects are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: HACH COMPANY
    Inventors: Vadim B. Malkov, David Langley Rick
  • Patent number: 9927269
    Abstract: Provided is a pressure detection device including: a pressure detection unit; and a flow channel unit provided with a flow channel and a pressure receiving portion. The pressure detection unit includes a pressure sensor including a diaphragm, and a pressure transmission portion which is disposed in a state where one end of the pressure transmission portion is in contact with the diaphragm and the other end thereof is in contact with the diaphragm, and transmits a pressure of a fluid received by the diaphragm to the diaphragm. The pressure transmission portion is disposed in a state where the diaphragm is displaced toward the flow channel and an urging force directed from the diaphragm to the diaphragm is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Surpass Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Imai, Takashi Imai
  • Patent number: 9927270
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for measuring properties of a flowing multiphase mixture uses a plurality of electrodes or plurality of microwave antennas to rapidly and repeatedly measure an electrical property of the multiphase mixture over a period of time. A computer processes the rapid and repeated measurements to determine a succession of values of permittivity and/or conductivity of a liquid phase of the multiphase mixture within the said period of time and further processes the succession of values of a permittivity and/or a conductivity of the liquid phase to determine at least one of a water-in-liquid-ratio and a liquid holdup of the multiphase mixture. A conduit for the multiphase flow possibly includes a Venturi and the processor takes pressure and differential pressure as further inputs to compute flow rates for each phase in the multiphase mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Cheng-Gang Xie
  • Patent number: 9927271
    Abstract: A system or a method for measuring flow of fluid or gas, has a flow duct with at least two transducers which generate at least one beam of ultrasound in the flow duct in which ultrasound transducers are placed in a fixed positions in a duct for flowing air where the electronic device for analyzing signal from the transducers is performed in a handheld device. A transmitter circuit is permanently connected to the transducers and a receiver circuit is placed in a handheld device. The transmitter circuit has calibration data representing the actual placement of the transducers in relation to the actual duct, which calibration data is communicated by every connection to the receiver circuit. Hereby can be achieved that transducers can be permanently placed in ventilation ducts in buildings, where placement of ultrasound transducers for measurement and for calibration of measurement of an air stream is nearly impossible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: LINDAB AB
    Inventors: Henning Max Hansen, Hans Schmidt-Hansen
  • Patent number: 9927272
    Abstract: An air flow meter has a housing, a flow rate sensor, and a physical-quantity measuring sensor. The housing therein defines a bypass passage into which a part of air flowing in a duct flows. The flow rate sensor is disposed in the bypass passage. The physical-quantity measuring sensor measures a physical quantity of air flowing in the duct and is disposed separately from the flow rate sensor. The housing has a recessed portion that is recessed from an inner wall surface of the bypass passage and that has a blind-passage shape. The physical-quantity measuring sensor is disposed in the recessed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi Ooga
  • Patent number: 9927273
    Abstract: A flow measuring device, comprising a container for receiving a flow of liquid, a plurality of optical sensors associated with the container, each of the plurality of optical sensors producing an output signal dependent upon the presence of liquid reaching a level in the container associated with each optical sensor, means for modifying the output signal in accordance with at least one predetermined temperature compensation factor, and means for calculating a flow rate from the time at which the liquid traverses between two levels in the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Fluke Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Malcolm Charles Brown, Keith Norman McMann
  • Patent number: 9927274
    Abstract: A system for estimating fluid flow in a system including a pump and a fluid vessel operatively coupled to the pump via a conduit is described herein. The system comprises an accelerometer affixed to an exterior surface of the conduit, wherein the accelerometer is configured to generate signals representing physical movement of the conduit, and wherein the signals are suitable for estimating fluid flow in the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Jabil Inc.
    Inventors: Jamie Evans, Stephen McSoley
  • Patent number: 9927275
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a detector, a pressure sensor and a processor. The detector is operable to detect light that is scattered by an aerosol that is associated with a pressure. The pressure sensor is operable to measure the pressure. The processor is coupled to the detector and to the pressure sensor, and is configured to receive at least a signal from the detector and the pressure sensor. The processor is further configured to use the received signals to calculate a volume of the first aerosol, and to output an output signal associated with the calculated volume. The various measurements can be repeated and compared, and the output signal can be a feedback signal for metering subsequent amounts of the aerosol, based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: David E. Altobelli, Larry B. Gray, Derek G. Kane
  • Patent number: 9927276
    Abstract: Method and device for monitoring the flow of a liquid, in which method and device an electronic device (25) carried by an apparatus equipped with a turbine (17) that can be rotated by a stream of fluid comprises a means of detecting at least one determined angular position of said turbine that delivers an electric pulse each time the turbine passes through this angular position. A pulse counter may count the pulses delivered. An electric current generator connected to the turbine may power the electronic device. An electrical energy accumulator may be charged by the current generator and power the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Smart and Blue
    Inventor: Gabriel Della-Monica
  • Patent number: 9927277
    Abstract: A water meter resetter incorporates as a principal component a plastic body having six fittings lying in a common plane. A primary inlet and primary outlet are coaxially aligned on first and second opposed walls. A secondary outlet and secondary inlet are coaxially aligned on the opposed walls. In use, a first horn is rotatably attached to the secondary outlet, and a second horn is rotatable attached to the secondary inlet. A water meter is attached between the horns. Because the horns are rotatable about a common axis at each of their ends, the meter can be offset from the supply pipes at continuously variable heights. In an embodiment, the secondary inlet and outlet are internal, and the horns are held in a fluid-tight slip joint formed by internal O-rings. The height of the meter may optionally be locked by the use of an angle holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: John C. Kupferle Foundry Company
    Inventors: Daniel C. Lorentz, Bruce A. Manning
  • Patent number: 9927278
    Abstract: A sensor device for remote monitoring of a waste container, the sensor device including one or more sensors for sensing an amount of waste and an environment within the waste container, a data processing unit for processing sensor signals indicative of the amount of waste and the environment within the waste container, a communication interface for enabling the sensor device to communicate information corresponding to the sensor signals to a remote location. The sensor device is mounted to an upper lid of the waste container in a spaced apart manner by placing one or more spacing elements and a heat reflecting layer arranged between the sensor device and the upper lid to provide a thermal barrier between an underside surface of the waste container lid and the sensor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Enevo Oy
    Inventors: Fredrik Kekalainen, Johan Engstrom
  • Patent number: 9927279
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for assembling and testing the functionality of a structural unit having a fill level gauge in a non-stationary container for liquids, said container being embodied from thermoplastic synthetic material, wherein the method comprises testing a first and second angular position of a lever arm of the fill level gauge when the latter is in the installed position under the influence of a magnetic field on the empty container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Kautex Textron GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Markus Labusch
  • Patent number: 9927280
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer readable media are provided for measuring fluid level in a tank. A system may include: a transmitter gauge installed on or in the tank, the transmitter gauge comprising a probe arranged to be at least partially immersed in the fluid and adapted to conduct energy pulses generated by an energy source within the transmitter gauge; a refractometer module operatively coupled to the transmitter gauge, the refractometer module comprising a processor configured to measure travel times of the energy pulses conducted along the probe and to determine the fluid level in the tank based on the measured travel times: if the fluid level in the tank is below a threshold level, according to a first mode of operation, by determining the fluid level in the tank based on the measured travel time of an energy pulse reflected from a terminal end of the probe, a length of the probe, a speed of the reflected energy pulse in air, and a speed of the reflected energy pulse in the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: TITAN LOGIX CORP.
    Inventor: Gabriel Jarillo Alvarado
  • Patent number: 9927281
    Abstract: A level measuring device for radar transmitter calibration, and method of use is herein disclosed. The level measuring device can comprise a radar transmitter, a fluid column, process flanges, and a visible level gauge. The radar transmitter can mount above the fluid column. The fluid column can comprise a chamber capable of holding a fluid. The process flanges can be in fluid connection with the fluid column at a first side of the fluid column. The process flanges can be connectable to a vessel. The visible level gauge can attach to a second side of the fluid column. The visible level gauge can comprise one or more sight glasses that can allow visible light between the chamber and outside the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Inventors: Kunal Anand, Rengacharry Rajan
  • Patent number: 9927282
    Abstract: A liquid level detector includes a casing, a float, a magnet body, and a switch mechanism. The casing includes a tube section. The float is displaced upward or downward along a gravity direction. The magnet body is held by the float. The switch mechanism is accommodated in the tube section and is switched between an on-state and an off-state. The casing includes a first casing part and a second casing part. The first casing part includes the tube section, a first locking section that is formed radially outward of the tube section, and a first guide section that is formed at a tip of the tube section in an extending direction. The second casing part includes a second locking section and a second guide section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Yasuda, Makoto Hatano
  • Patent number: 9927283
    Abstract: A digital filter for a digital weigher reduces a calculation time in an adapted filter while maintaining weighing accuracy, a digital weigher includes the filter for the weigher, and a wave filtering process method uses the digital filter for the digital weigher. A fixation section of a FIR filter removes an oscillating component in a predetermined frequency range, from a digital weighing signal. A determination device determines whether an amplitude of an oscillating component contained in a digital weighing signal derived by performing a wave filtering process falls within a predetermined damping range. A control device changes a frequency range of an oscillating component to be removed by an adaptive section of the filter based on a result of the determination. The adaptive section of the filter performs the wave filtering process with respect to the oscillating component in the frequency range changed by the control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: YAMATO SCALE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sachie Ito, Takayuki Nagai, Ryo Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9927284
    Abstract: A monolithic weighing system including a base (12), a load holder (26), which is articulated on the base (12) through a parallel link arrangement (16, 20), and a lever (28), which is articulated on the load holder (26) and which has an attachment point for a force compensating arrangement and a target area (32) for an optical position sensor (34). The target area (32) has a slotted diaphragm (36) in a thin walled lever section of the lever (28) in the deflection plane thereof. A position sensor pedestal (38a, b), which is integrally connected to the base (12), is arranged laterally adjacent to the target area (32). The position sensor pedestal has a pedestal aperture (40a, b), which extends perpendicularly to the deflection plane. The slotted diaphragm (36) of the target area (32) is laser-machined through the pedestal aperture (40a, b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Sartorius Lab Instruments GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Winfried Graf
  • Patent number: 9927285
    Abstract: A vibration analysis system including a sensor to be coupled to a machine to measure vibration data, a data acquisition and processing unit to communicate with the sensor to receive the measured vibration data from the sensor and to perform test operations on the received vibration data to calculate vibration parameters, and at least one control unit to transmit operation requests instructing the data acquisition and processing unit to start receiving the vibration data from the sensor, to perform test operations, and to transmit corresponding vibration parameters over a wireless communication link to the control unit. The data acquisition and processing unit includes a data management unit such that when the communication link is broken, the data acquisition and processing unit continues to perform the test operations, and when the communication link is reestablished, the data management unit transmits the vibration parameters to the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Azima Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Ralph Piety, Dana Kendrick Martin, Robert Scott Raber
  • Patent number: 9927286
    Abstract: A technique facilitates geophysical exploration and comprises deploying an optical fiber in a borehole formed in a formation. A seismic signal, e.g. seismic waves, is excited into the formation, and an optical interrogation system is used to obtain data at a plurality of fixed, sampling locations along the optical fiber. The data is processed to determine features in the formation. Based on the processed data, updated sampling locations are selected along the optical fiber to enable further analysis of the features of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toru Ikegami, Masafumi Fukuhara
  • Patent number: 9927287
    Abstract: A device and method for sensing including a sensor having a functional surface layer located to interact with a material to be sensed, the sensor having an output that produces a signal responsive one or more of inertia, stiffness, acceleration, pressure, radiation, chemical compounds, and biological compounds; and further including electronics including: an input coupled to the sensor to receive a first signal therefrom; and a non-linearity provider that applies one or more non-linear operations to the input signal to generate a non-linear second signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Frederick Rhoads, George Tsu-Chih Chiu, Nikhil Bajaj, Andrew Burke Sabater
  • Patent number: 9927288
    Abstract: A real-time lighting control system of an ecosystem and real-time lighting control method includes a computer device, multiple lighting devices and multiple wireless base stations. The lighting devices and the wireless base stations are arranged in multiple lighting regions of an indoor space. Each wireless base station emits a wireless signal continuously, and controls one or more connected lighting devices when receiving a lighting control signal. The computer device senses the wireless signals continuously, and keeps determining its position at the different time points according to the received wireless signals and the arranged positions of the wireless base stations. Next, the computer selects one of the lighting regions according to space information and the determined positions, and sends the lighting control signal to one of the wireless base stations arranged in the selected lighting region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: CHICONY POWER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chao-Sheng Huang, Kuo-Wei Lee, Wei-Che Lee
  • Patent number: 9927289
    Abstract: In flight vehicles subject to extreme aero-thermal heating of the optical window, the optical system is configured to look through an off-axis segment of the optical window and a polarizer is positioned in the optical path between the off-axis segment and the detector. The polarizer comprises at least one filter pixel that imparts a linear polarization of a certain angular value to filter the incident radiation as a function of its polarization. In the case of a sheet polarizer, the entire polarizer is aligned to the plane of incidence. The sheet polarizer preferentially filters the target radiation to increase the SNR at the detector. In the case of a microgrid polarizer, at least one and preferably multiple filter pixels in each sub-array aligned to the plane of incidence. The microgrid polarizer can produce data products including a radiance image, an AoLP image and a DoLP image, only the AoLP image removes the self-emitted window radiance and an gradient caused by non-uniform aero-thermal heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Eric C. Fest
  • Patent number: 9927290
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement and a method for detecting and indicating laser radiation comprising a laser device (36) producing the laser radiation, such as rotation lasers or line lasers, and an indicating device (22) with at least one laser beam detector and at least one indicating element (26, 28, 30) which indicates the detected laser radiation. In order to precisely indicate the position of the laser radiation to be detected using uncomplicated circuitry, it is proposed that the at least one laser beam detector and the at least one indicating element are the same component in form of an LED (26, 28, 30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: STABILA MESSGERATE GUSTAV ULLRICH GMBH
    Inventors: Daniel Busam, Andreas Weber
  • Patent number: 9927291
    Abstract: The following steps are performed in connection with a photodiode circuit: a) resetting the photodiode circuit; b) determining when a photodiode voltage changes in response to illumination to reach a threshold; and c) updating a counter in response to the determination in step b). The steps a) to c) are repeated until an end of a measurement period is reached. The value of the counter at the end of the measurement period is then output to indicate an intensity of the illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SAS
    Inventor: Pascal Mellot
  • Patent number: 9927292
    Abstract: A system includes a plurality of sensors at distinct and separate locations, each of the distinct and separate locations being equidistant from a region that is configured to pass light that propagates along a beam path, the sensors being configured to sense radiation from an optical element positioned to interact with light that propagates on the beam path; and a controller including one or more electronic processors and a computer-readable medium, the computer-readable medium including instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more electronic processors to receive an output from each of the sensors, the output of each sensor including an indication of an intensity of the radiation detected by the sensor, and analyze the received output to determine a position of the light that propagates along the beam path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Christo Liebenberg
  • Patent number: 9927293
    Abstract: A sensor device for a motor vehicle includes a light source, a detection device and a control and evaluation device. The control and evaluation device activates the light source to emit pulses, activates the detection device for detecting light reflected back by the environment, and evaluates the signals from the detection device. The control and evaluation device, the detection device and the light source are designed as a Time-of-Flight structure for detection in a first spatial direction such that spatially assignable distance data are detected. The light source and the detection device are disposed in a receiving space arranged along a bearing surface of a vehicle. The light source is disposed inside the receiving space in a tilted manner such than an angle of at least 5 degrees is formed between a normal to the bearing surface and an optical axis of the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Huf Huelsbeck & Fuerst GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Nadine Sticherling
  • Patent number: 9927294
    Abstract: A UV exposure dosimetry system includes at least one UV sensor that accurately measures the UV irradiance intensity. The system can generate extrapolated UV intensity data based on measured UV intensity data to correct unreliable UV measurement due to inconsistent irradiation of UV light. The UV dosimetry system integrates the extrapolated UV intensity data over time to calculate the real-time UV dosage and the vitamin D production by taking into account factors comprising UV sensor location, body surface area, clothing coverage, and sunscreen usage. Based on the measurement, the system can predict the time remaining to skin burn and the time remaining to reach daily goal of vitamin D production. The UV dosimetry system supports multi-user control through an advanced and user friendly input and output interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Ultra, Inc.
    Inventors: Jie Lian, Nabyl Bennouri, Nattapon Chaimanonart
  • Patent number: 9927295
    Abstract: A circuit includes an input capacitor that stores charge based on a current received from a photodetector during a bias phase of the photodetector. The stored charge on the input capacitor is sampled during the sampling phase to determine an amount of light captured by the photodetector. A bias controller supplies a pulsed-bias voltage to the photodetector to generate the current from the photodetector. The bias controller controls the current to a current level below a predetermined current threshold via the pulsed-bias voltage before biasing of the detector and subsequent sampling of the stored charge on the input capacitor is initiated to mitigate 1/F noise in the photodetector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Sung-Shik Yoo, Christopher L. Kauffman, Phillip R. Minarik
  • Patent number: 9927296
    Abstract: An adjustable mount for an optical device in a laser spectroscopy system is provided. The adjustable mount includes body configured to mount to a process and a reflector mount having a feature configured to mount an optical device. An interface between the body and the reflector mount allows relative motion between the reflector mount and the body. At least one alignment device is configured to engage the reflector mount and the body to fix a position of the reflector mount relative to the body. An optical device is removably mounted to the reflector mount independent of the alignment device and is sealed to the reflector mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Rosemount Analytical Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Schachinger
  • Patent number: 9927297
    Abstract: An optical microscope capable of performing measurement with a high resolution and a spectrometry method are provided. A spectrometry device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a Y-scanning unit that scans a spot position of the light beam on the sample, a beam splitter that separates, among the light beam incident on the sample, outgoing light, the outgoing light being emitted with a different wavelength, a spectroscope that spatially disperses the outgoing light separated by the beam splitter according to the wavelength, a detector that detects the outgoing light dispersed by the spectroscope, and a pinhole array 30 disposed on an incoming side of the spectroscope, a plurality of pinholes being arranged in the pinhole array, the plurality of pinholes being adapted to allow outgoing light to pass therethrough to the spectroscope side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: NANOPHOTON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Kawata, Minoru Kobayashi, Taisuke Ota
  • Patent number: 9927298
    Abstract: A spectroscopic measurement apparatus includes a light source, a diffraction grating being a spectroscopic unit, a spatial filter unit, a detection unit, and an analysis unit. The diffraction grating spatially disperses light from the light source, and outputs the light to different optical paths according to a wavelength. The spatial filter unit inputs the light from the diffraction grating to different positions according to the wavelength, applies loss depending on the wavelength to the light, and outputs the light. The detection unit detects the intensity of the light from the spatial filter unit. The analysis unit obtains the intensities of light in an absorption band and light in a non-absorption band of a component in a measurement sample on an optical path between the light source and the detection unit based on the detection result, and evaluates the component in the measurement sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Yoichi Kawada, Yoshiyuki Shimizu, Toyohiko Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 9927299
    Abstract: A system for spectral reading includes a plurality of LEDs, an interface, and a processor. The plurality of LEDs are disposed in a physical array. Light from the plurality of LEDs is enabled to be collimated at a Fabry-Perot etalon. The interface is configured to receive a gap calibration table and power characteristics of a plurality of LEDs. The processor is configured to determine an LED switch table. The LED switch table indicates a set of the plurality of LEDs with power above a threshold at a plurality of wavelengths. The processor is further configured to cause measurement of a sample using the gap calibration table and the LED switch table for a set of gap values and determine measurement results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: TruTag Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Learmonth, Hod Finkelstein
  • Patent number: 9927300
    Abstract: Snapshot spectral imagers comprise an imaging lens, a dispersed image sensor and a restricted isometry property (RIP) diffuser inserted in the optical path between the source image and the image sensor. The imagers are used to obtain a plurality of spectral images of the source object in different spectral bands in a single shot. In some embodiments, the RIP diffuser is one dimensional. An optional disperser may be added in the optical path, to provide further dispersion at the image sensor. In some embodiments, all imager components except the RIP diffuser may be part of a digital camera, with the RIP diffuser added externally. In some embodiments, the RIP diffuser may be included internally in a digital camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Inventors: Michael Golub, Amir Averbuch, Menachem Nathan
  • Patent number: 9927301
    Abstract: A motion sensor housing includes a base and a lens holder that is supported on the base. The motion sensor is disposed in the housing between the base and the lens holder so as to face the lens holder, and a frameless lens is supported on an outer surface of the lens holder in such a way that the lens provides the outermost surface of the housing. In addition, when the motion sensor housing is viewed facing the lens, the lens holder is not visible, and the outward-facing surface of the lens is free of edges, borders and/or discontinuities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignees: Bosch Security Systems, Inc., Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Craig Peterson
  • Patent number: 9927302
    Abstract: An in-toilet apparatus for discrimination of urine and feces is disclosed. An optical sensor is provided for the analysis of urination and defecation events within a toilet bowl. Additionally, strain gauges are provided to make possible the quantification of urine and feces that a user releases. The combination of data from the optical sensors and strain gauges makes it possible for a user to readily know the mass of their bodily excrements, characterized by excrement type. In several embodiments the optical sensor is a thermal camera mounted on the toilet seat or in the toilet bowl. In other embodiments the optical sensor is a water level sensor. In varying embodiments, strain gauges are located in the toilet seat or in an attached footscale or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Inventors: David R. Hall, Dan Allen, Cameron Price
  • Patent number: 9927303
    Abstract: In order to solve a technical problem of a temperature sensor for high temperature, in which platinum lead wires may be broken when used at a high temperature, an inner frame (8) made of ceramic is provided inside an outer frame (7) made of metal, the inner frame (8) is fixed, only at the upper end portion thereof, to the outer frame (7), and an insulating filler (9) made of a ceramic adhesive or a ceramic powder tightly filled at a high density is filled inside the inner frame (8) and a portion inside the outer frame (7) where the inner frame (8) is not present. According to this configuration, the occurrence of a break in platinum lead wires (6) can be significantly lowered compared with that of conventional examples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: OKAZAKI MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Mochizuki, Takashi Mihara
  • Patent number: 9927304
    Abstract: The invention proposes a method of determining core temperature of food in a closed container, the method including the steps of: adjusting heating power supplied to the container to allow internal temperature of the container to change within a predetermined duration; obtaining information related to the change of internal temperature of the container; and determining the core temperature of the food based on the information related to the change of internal temperature and predetermined relationships between information related to change of internal temperature of the container and core temperatures of the food. The invention also proposes an apparatus for determining core temperature of food and a food processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Bin Yin, Ling Ling Cao
  • Patent number: 9927305
    Abstract: The present invention relates to more accurate indication of fever. Temperature data from a large population of individuals are obtained and the temperature data are processed to determine a threshold, at a fever bump, above a normal range of distribution. The fever threshold, along with an individual's temperature, is used to indicate if the individual has a fever. Further, circadian information may be utilized to adjust the temperature data for an individual or the population of individuals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Exergen Corporation
    Inventors: Francesco Pompei, Janette H. Lee, Jason N. Jarboe
  • Patent number: 9927306
    Abstract: The apparatus for monitoring the delivery of fuel oil through a fuel oil delivery pipe including a flow meter and property sensor associated with the oil delivery pipe for measuring the flow rate, temperature, viscosity, density and dielectric constant of the fuel oil as it moves through the delivery pipe. The digital output signals from the flow meter and property sensor are used to generate data signals which are a function of the measured parameters. A memory records the data signals. The actual total quantity of fuel oil delivered through the pipe is calculated based upon the data signals. A clock circuit generates a timing signal reflecting the date and time the measurements were taken. A transmission signal formed of the calculated actual total quantity of fuel oil delivered and time signal may be sent to a remote location by a WiFi transmitter or through the internet using a modem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Inventors: Greg Haber, Craig Kirsch
  • Patent number: 9927307
    Abstract: A temperature and pressure probe (40) comprising an elongate outer tube (42) and elongate inner tube (56). Each tube having a peripheral wall (44, 58), a first open end (46, 60) and a second closed end (48, 62); the outer tube thereby defining an outer cavity (52) and the inner tube defining an inner cavity (66). The inner tube is located wholly within the outer cavity and is spaced from the outer peripheral wall (44) and second end (48). A temperature sensor (70) is located in the inner cavity. A pressure sensor (68) is located in the outer cavity. A vent pipe (76) is coupled between the inner peripheral wall and the outer peripheral wall, the vent pipe having a first end open to the inner cavity (66) and a second end open to vent outside the probe (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: Mark N. Erlund