Patents Issued in April 17, 2018
  • Patent number: 9945758
    Abstract: A device for testing a vehicle includes at least one sound recording device, which is designed for recording the sound emitted by a vehicle to be tested, and an evaluation device, which is designed for evaluating the sound recorded by the at least one sound recording device. The device may include at least one image recording device, which is designed for recording at least one image of the vehicle to be tested, and a display device which is designed for representing the source(s) of the recorded sound in at least one image of the vehicle to be tested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Axel Wendt
  • Patent number: 9945759
    Abstract: A vehicle test system according to the present invention intends to comprehensively manage and operate multiple types of test apparatuses to smoothly perform vehicle development, problem correction, and the like. For this purpose, the vehicle test system includes an actual running data acquisition apparatus that acquires actual running data that is data related to states inside and outside of a vehicle in running on a road; multiple types of test apparatuses each of which performs a drive test or an operation test of a vehicle or a part of the vehicle in accordance with set test conditions; and a test condition data generation apparatus that from the actual running data, generates test condition data indicating test conditions necessary to reproduce a part or all of the running states indicated by the actual running data in a test apparatus specified from among the multiple types of test apparatuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Horiba, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mineyuki Komada, Yasuyuki Sado, Kazuhiro Shiomi, Katsumi Uratani
  • Patent number: 9945760
    Abstract: A tire holding apparatus is provided with a first support part for supporting a tire, a second support part for supporting the tire, and an air supply and removal part for supplying and removing air from the inside of the tire. The second support part has a protrusion that protrudes toward the first support part. The air supply and removal part has a first flow path for allowing air to flow, a second flow path for allowing air to flow from an opening formed at the leading end of the protrusion to the inside of the tire, and a collection part that is attached to the opening and collects foreign matter that has been mixed into the second flow path from the inside of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES MACHINERY SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Ueda, Makoto Tachibana
  • Patent number: 9945761
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a system may function to transfer samples in a controlled environment. The system may include a sample container configured to convey a sample from a first device to a second device. The first device may be under pressure and the second device may be under vacuum. The second device may include a load chamber which functions to accept the sample from the sample container and a pump chamber coupled to the load chamber. The second device may include a high vacuum pump coupled to the pump chamber and a vacuum pump coupled to the pump chamber through the high vacuum pump in sequence. The second device may include an orifice sized to significantly restrict the flow of fluids through the conduit coupling the pump chamber to the load chamber, wherein the orifice is configured to allow for a transition from a viscous into a molecular flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Texas System
    Inventor: Hugo Celio
  • Patent number: 9945762
    Abstract: A method and a system for introducing a sample into a mobile phase of a chromatography system is provided. The method includes initially directing the mobile phase directly into a separation unit of the chromatography system, bypassing a sample loop, the mobile phase including a combined solvent, metered from a pressurized first solvent and a second solvent; loading the sample into the sample loop, while the mobile phase continues to be directed directly into the separation unit; pressurizing the sample in the sample loop with the pressurized first solvent, while the mobile phase continues to be directed directly into the separation unit; and switching the sample loop into the mobile phase, thereby introducing the pressurized sample to the separation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin E. Wikfors, Brian A. Bidlingmeyer, Klaus Witt
  • Patent number: 9945763
    Abstract: Heat induced antigen retrieval systems for biological specimens may include a sealable heating pressure chamber, a programmable process controller, a nonpareil operating element, and perhaps even a substantially user-disencumbering autonomous processing component of a plurality of biological samples perhaps using various user selected protocols, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Biocare Medical, LLC
    Inventors: David Tacha, Thomas Maxwell, Evan Barker, Hoa Nguyen, Ravishankar Melkote
  • Patent number: 9945764
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus (41) for determining the organic carbon content of soil in heated air or gas is forced through a soil sample (36) to burn off or oxidize organic carbon in the sample with the change of weight of the sample (36) indicating the carbon content in the soil sample (36) and thus the soil from which the sample (36) is taken. The apparatus (41) includes a housing (47) in which one or more soil samples (36) may be located, a heater unit (51) for heating the air or gas for passage through the soil samples (36) to burn off organic materials therein including organic carbon. The apparatus (41) also includes a weighing device (76) which enables the change of weight of the soil samples (36) to be determined while the samples (36) remain within the housing (47).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Inventor: Allan James Yeomans
  • Patent number: 9945765
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in determining the relative vapor pressure of a fluid in an environment in which the apparatus is located, the apparatus comprising a first layer (512) configured to enable a flow of charge carriers from a source electrode (505) to a drain electrode (506), a second layer (513) configured to control the conductance of the first layer (512) using an electric field formed between the first (512) and second layers (513) and a third layer (514) positioned between the first and second layers to prevent a flow of charge carriers therebetween to enable formation of the electric field, wherein the second layer (513) is configured to exhibit a charge distribution on interaction with the fluid, the charge distribution giving rise to the electric field between the first (512) and second (513) layers, and wherein the second layer (513) is configured such that the charge distribution and electric field strength are dependent upon the relative vapor pressure of the fluid in the environment (516), thereb
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Provenance Asset Group LLC
    Inventors: Richard White, Stefano Borini
  • Patent number: 9945766
    Abstract: In one example embodiment, an engine flow measurement device features an engine data repository, one or more sensor units, and a measurement unit. The measurement system is configured to identify, from performance data, a maneuver performed during operation of the aircraft and to measure, for the identified maneuver, a plurality of maneuver flow values achieved during performance of the maneuver. The plurality of maneuver flow values correspond to a plurality of maneuver engine power values. Each of the plurality of maneuver flow values represent a volume of air flow through the air filter at a particular moment during performance of the maneuver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Alan H. Steinert
  • Patent number: 9945767
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for determining surface wetting of metallic materials at downhole wellbore condition with fixed or changing well fluids are disclosed. In general, the methods according to the disclosure include carrying out an electrical impedance spectroscopy (“EIS”) for a system simulating downhole conditions for the wetting of a surface by simultaneously dynamically moving electrodes exposed to the well fluid while measuring the changes in electrical characteristics between the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Venkata Gopala Rao Palla, Bhargav Gajji, Sameer Bardapurkar, Sairam KS Pindiprolu
  • Patent number: 9945768
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed at apparatus for portable PM2.5 monitoring including a PM2.5 sampling device including a housing portion for collecting and separating air-borne particulate matter, an inlet port, connected to the housing portion, for receiving the air-borne particulate matter, a core portion, located within the housing portion, the core portion assisting in generating a cyclonic airflow pattern to produce a uniflow system for separating particulate matter below a predetermined size from particulate matter above a predetermined size within the air-borne particulate matter, and an outlet port for receiving the particulate matter below the predetermined size; a particle counter, connected to the outlet port, for receiving the particulate matter smaller than the predetermined size and for determining a mass of the particulate matter below the predetermined size; and a processor for determining a PM2.5 level based on the mass of the particulate matter below the predetermined size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Inventor: Zhongchao Tan
  • Patent number: 9945769
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for analyzing particles in a solution including a unit configured to place a flow cell having a flow path for flowing a sample solution containing the particles; a unit configured to illuminate the sample solution flowing through the flow path of the flow cell; a photodetector that detects a scattered light and/or fluorescence generated from the particles in the sample solution; and a unit configured to analyze the particles based on their signal intensities detected by the photodetector, wherein the flow cell has the flow path formed in a substrate, a reflection plane is formed on the side surface of the flow path, the reflection plane leads the lights generated in the flow path of the flow cell and advancing in the substrate in-plane direction to a specified region of the surface of the flow cell, and the photodetector detects the light exiting from the specified region to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: ON-CHIP BIOTECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuo Takeda
  • Patent number: 9945770
    Abstract: A flow cytometer including a laser, indexing structure, adjustment structure, and sensor structure. The cytometer is conventionally used with a removable microfluidic cassette, which is installed at a first position that is enforced by the indexing structure. The adjustment structure changes a relative position between an interrogation aperture of the cassette and the laser beam. Feedback from the sensor structure is used to optimize propagation of the laser through the interrogation aperture to reduce (and hopefully eliminate) autofluorescence caused by beam impingement onto the cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: E. I. Spectra, LLC
    Inventor: Harold E. Ayliffe
  • Patent number: 9945771
    Abstract: Methods include: forming a first mud filtercake with a first mud; and determining a relationship between an impinging jet of a fluid at varying pressures against a surface of the first mud filtercake to a first erosion characteristic of the first mud filtercake. In various embodiments, the methods can additionally include: using the first erosion characteristic to design an operation to remove a second mud filtercake formed or to be formed in a wellbore with a second mud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Gopal Nevandram Ahuja
  • Patent number: 9945772
    Abstract: A method includes providing a device under test, which includes a lower test layer and an upper test layer that is stacked on the lower test layer and includes an overhang protruding past an edge of the lower test layer by a predetermined length, fixing the lower test layer onto a mounting stage, and measuring adhesive force of an interlayer adhesive layer in a tensile mode by applying a load to a bottom surface of the overhang of the upper test layer in a first direction. An apparatus includes a mounting stage fixing the device under test, a load applying tip applying the load to the bottom surface of the overhang, a location adjuster adjusting a distance between the device under test and the load carrying tip, a load cell detecting a magnitude of the applied load, and a controller controlling the location adjuster and the load cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignees: SK HYNIX INC., INDUSTRY-ACADEMIC COOPERATION FOUNDATION, YEUNGNAM UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Dong Kil Shin, Chul Keun Yoon, Min Kyu Kang, Gyu Jei Lee
  • Patent number: 9945773
    Abstract: A flow cell (2) includes a plate-shaped body 21 that is almost rectangular in a plan view, an introduction portion (22) that is made of a concave portion formed in the upper surface of the body (21), a channel (23) that is formed inside the body (21) and has one end connected to the lower end of the introduction portion (22), and a delivery portion (24) that is made of a concave portion formed in the body (21) and has the lower end connected to the other end of the channel (23). The introduction portion (22) is formed to cause the meniscus of a liquid introduced from an opening to apply, to the liquid, a positive pressure or a negative pressure whose absolute value is smaller than that of a negative pressure applied to the liquid introduced into the channel (23) by the meniscus of the liquid. The channel (23) is formed to cause the meniscus of the liquid introduced into the channel (23) to apply a negative pressure to the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsuyoshi Hayashi, Yuzuru Iwasaki, Suzuyo Inoue, Nobuaki Matsuura, Tsutomu Horiuchi, Emi Tamechika
  • Patent number: 9945774
    Abstract: Disclosed is a multi-channel light measurement system adapted to illuminate and measure a test sample in a vessel. The multi-channel light measurement system has at least one photodetector per channel and a variable integrate and hold circuit coupled to each photodetector, the variable integrate and hold circuit allows adjustment of a sampling factor selected from a group of an integration time, a value of capacitance, an area of a discrete photodetector array, or any combination thereof. The system may readily equilibrate reference intensity output for multiple channels. Methods and apparatus are disclosed, as are other aspects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc.
    Inventor: Frank Krufka
  • Patent number: 9945775
    Abstract: A sensor comprises a pair of mirrors (11, 12) opposed along an optical axis and shaped to provide an optical cavity with stable resonance in at least one mode and having a cavity length of at most 50 ?m. An actuator system is arranged to move the mirrors relative to each other along the length of the optical cavity for tuning the wavelength of the mode of said cavity. A chemical sample is introduced inside the optical cavity using a sample introduction system (21). An EM radiation source (20) illuminates the cavity and a detector (25) detects the EM radiation emitted from, transmitted through, or reflected from the optical cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: ISIS INNOVATION LIMITED
    Inventors: Jason Michael Smith, Claire Vallance
  • Patent number: 9945776
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a mail detection device and method. The device comprises a broad-band terahertz generator, a collimator, a beam splitter, a fixed reflector, a movable reflector, a wave buncher, a matrix detector, an acquisition card and an information processing module; wherein the information processing module is used for generating a terahertz image of a mail to be detected according to the electric signals sent by the acquisition card when the movable reflector is motionless; and when finding suspicious articles according to the terahertz image of a mail to be detected, the information processing module controls the movable reflector to move, and generates spectral information of the suspicious articles according to an electric signal sequence sent by the acquisition card during the movement of the movable reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignees: China Communication Technology Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Victooth Terahertz Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Guangsheng Wu, Yandong Zhang, Qing Ding
  • Patent number: 9945777
    Abstract: Systems and methods for imaging a target object are provided. In one example, an imaging device comprises an objective lens having symmetry around an optical axis. The objective lens is configured to disperse images of a target object in longitudinal chromatic aberrations along the optical axis. The imaging device further includes a sensor configured to obtain multiple images of the target object. Each image corresponds to a specific wavelength within a predetermined spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Alain Gillet
  • Patent number: 9945778
    Abstract: Flexibly deployable, discrete, target-analyte sensitive particulate probes and methods of manufacturing and using. The probes each comprise a porous scaffold particle coated with an optically-active, target-analyte sensitive material. The scaffold particle has at least one of (i) a volume of 0.5 to 500 mm3, and (ii) a largest dimension of 2 to 20 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: LUXCEL BIOSCIENCES, LTD
    Inventors: Dmitri Boris Papkovsky, James Nial Hynes, Richard Fernandes
  • Patent number: 9945779
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a photodetection region configured to receive incident photons. The photodetection region is configured to produce a plurality of charge carriers in response to the incident photons. The integrated circuit also includes at least one charge carrier storage region. The integrated circuit also includes a charge carrier segregation structure configured to selectively direct charge carriers of the plurality of charge carriers into the at least one charge carrier storage region based upon times at which the charge carriers are produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Quantum-Si Incorporated
    Inventors: Jonathan M. Rothberg, Keith G. Fife, David Boisvert
  • Patent number: 9945780
    Abstract: A System and method for self-checking a fluorometer for failure or deteriorated performance includes fluorescent reference standards mounted on a support to move with respect to one or more fixed fluorometers. The intensity of the fluorescent emission of the fluorescent reference standard is initially measured with the fluorometer, and, after a prescribed interval of usage of the fluorometer, a test measurement of the intensity of the fluorescent emission of the fluorescent standard is taken with the fluorometer. The test measurement is compared to the initial measurement, and failure or deteriorated performance of the fluorometer is determined based on a deviation of the test measurement from the initial measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Haitao Li, David Opalsky, R. Eric Heinz, Norbert D. Hagen
  • Patent number: 9945781
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for use in analyzing discrete reactions are provided. The analytical devices of the invention use an array of nanoscale regions (a chip) that has discrete patches, for example, patches of nanoscale regions. In some embodiments an analytical system is provided that has an analysis chip with an array of patches, each of the patches comprising nanoscale regions that emit fluorescent light when illuminated. The system has a two-dimensional (x, y) array of dichroic prisms, each prism comprising a dichroic element that diverts illumination light up in the z dimension of the array to a patch on the analysis chip above it. Each dichroic element transmits fluorescent light emitted by the patch that it illuminates, whereby the emitted light from each patch passes down through each dichroic prism. The analytical system also has a detector below the array of dichroic prisms that detects the transmitted fluorescent light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Rulison, Mark McDonald, Paul Lundquist
  • Patent number: 9945782
    Abstract: An optical sensing module is configured to detect a characteristic of a sample. The optical sensing module includes a light source, a light guide plate, a first cladding layer, a light converging layer, a filter layer, and a plurality of sensors. The light source is configured to provide an exciting beam. Positions of the sensors correspond to positions of the holes. After the exciting beam enters the light guide plate, at least one portion of the exciting beam is transmitted to the sample through a portion of the surface of the light guide plate exposed by the holes, the sample is excited by the exciting beam to emit a signal beam, and the signal beam passes through the light converging layer and the filter layer in an order and travels to the sensors. Another optical sensing module is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Personal Genomics, Inc.
    Inventors: Hsin-Yi Hsieh, Sheng-Fu Lin, Teng-Chien Yu
  • Patent number: 9945783
    Abstract: Provided is a canceration information providing method capable of presenting the information related to canceration of the cells with high reliability. A cell in which the amount of DNA is greater than or equal to the amount of DNA of the normal cell in the S period is extracted from a cell group of V11?N/C ratio?V12 (first counting step). If the number of cells obtained in the first counting step is greater than or equal to the threshold value S1 (S107: YES), “Cancer” is set to a flag 1. A cell in which the amount of DNA is 2C is extracted from a cell group of V13?N/C ratio?V11 (second counting step). A ratio of the number of cells obtained in the second counting step and number of cells obtained in the first counting step is calculated, and “Cancer” is set to a flag 2 if the ratio is greater than or equal to a threshold value S2 (S111: YES). If one of the flags 1, 2 is “Cancer” (S113: YES), the display of retest necessary is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: SYSMEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryuichiro Ebi, Koki Tajima, Shigeki Abe
  • Patent number: 9945784
    Abstract: Provided is a fluorescent protein that has a fast photo-switching speed and a high photostability and that switches from a non-fluorescent state to a fluorescent state by being irradiated with light for fluorescence excitation and switches from a fluorescent state to a non-fluorescent state by being irradiated with light having a specific wavelength that does not cause fluorescence excitation. The present invention relates to (a) A protein having an amino acid sequence of Sequence ID No. 1. (b) A protein that has an amino acid sequence of Sequence ID No. 1 in which one to several amino acids are deleted, substituted, and/or added.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: OSAKA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Takeharu Nagai, Dhermendra Kumar Tiwari, Yoshiyuki Arai
  • Patent number: 9945785
    Abstract: A method for the formation of flexible surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy substrates with filtering capabilities. The method produces thin flexible substrates that have a nanoparticle ink deposited thereon. The nanoparticle ink may be any suitable nanoparticle ink which includes stabilized nanoparticles such as silver, gold or copper nanoparticles. The substrates and nanoparticle ink undergo a thermal treatment for an amount of time sufficient to remove liquid vehicle and a substantial portion of the stabilizer. The thermal treatment provides a fractal aggregate nanoparticle layer on the substrate suitable for Raman spectroscopy. Such flexible SERS substrates may be used to detect trace amounts of analyte in large volume samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Drexel University
    Inventors: Som Tyagi, Manuel Figueroa
  • Patent number: 9945786
    Abstract: Embodiments of this invention include image-based systems and methods for detection of one or more analytes. A surface has identifiable analyte-specific capture particle(s) immobilised thereto at any point of an assay, to which different analytes attach due to the affinity of analyte-specific capture molecule(s) linked to the surface of the capture particle(s) for the analyte. Analyte-specific detector molecules with conjugated detection moieties are then attached to the analyte, and a computer assisted, image-based detection system captures images of the capture particles with or without attached analytes and detector molecules. By using different subsets of analyte-specific capture molecules, each subset having a characteristic identifiable feature; it is now possible to perform capture particle-based, rapid multiplex assays of biological and non-biological analytes without flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: BIMA LIMITED
    Inventors: Stephen Kilfeather, Alberto Taurozzi, Paul Lehmann, Elaine Linglee
  • Patent number: 9945787
    Abstract: An optical device for determining the presence and/or concentration of analytes in a sample is presented. The optical device comprises a detector and a detection unit comprising optical path components. The detection unit has wavelength-dependent responsivity. The optical device further comprises a light source for emitting light of different respective usable wavelength ranges. The light is guidable through the optical path to the detector to generate baseline signals and response signals relative to the baseline signal indicative of the presence and/or concentration of analytes in the optical path. The intensity of the light reaching the detector is adjusted inverse to the wavelength-dependent responsivity with respect to at least two respective usable wavelength ranges so that a reduction of the ratio between the maximum baseline signal at one of the selected usable wavelength ranges and the minimum baseline signal at another of the selected usable wavelength ranges is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Rik Harbers, Kurt Schildknecht
  • Patent number: 9945788
    Abstract: The present teachings relate to a method and system for determining Regions of Interest (ROI) for one or more biological samples in a laboratory instrument. The method can include an optical system capable of imaging florescence emission from a plurality of sample wells. An initial ROI, its center location and size can be estimated from the fluorescence detected from each well. From this information the average size of the ROIs can be determined and global gridding models can be derived to better locate each of the ROIs. The global gridding models can then be applied to the ROIs to improve the precision of the ROI center locations. Sample wells not originally providing fluorescence ROIs can be recovered through the use of mapping functions. The radius of each ROI can then be adjusted to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Yong Chu
  • Patent number: 9945789
    Abstract: A multiple analyte detection system includes a carrier having reagents disposed thereat, with each of the reagents capable of optically changing in response to exposure to a respective analyte. The system further includes a photodetector positioned to collectively detect light interacted with each of the reagents, a processor to determine a presence or an absence of each of the analytes in response to the light collectively-detected, and an indicator to provide an indication of the presence or the absence of each of the analytes. A method of detecting multiple analytes includes exposing reagents capable of optically changing in response to exposure to a respective analyte to a sample. The method further includes collectively detecting light interacted with each of the reagents, determining a presence or an absence of each of the analytes in response to the light collectively detected, and indicating the presence or the absence of each of the analytes determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Alverix, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian Hardcastle, Carol T. Schembri, John Francis Petrilla, Rene B. Helbing, Daniel B. Roitman
  • Patent number: 9945790
    Abstract: Increasing the precision of process monitoring may be improved if the sensors take the form of travelling probes riding along with the flowing materials in the manufacturing process rather than sample only when the process moves passed the sensors fixed location. The probe includes an outer housing hermetically sealed from the flowing materials, and a light source for transmitting light through a window in the housing onto the flowing materials. A spatially variable optical filter (SVF) captures light returning from the flowing materials, and separates the captured light into a spectrum of constituent wavelength signals for transmission to a detector array, which provides a power reading for each constituent wavelength signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: VIAVI Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin F. Catching, Marc K. Von Gunten, Curtis R. Hruska, Paula Smith, Paul G. Coombs
  • Patent number: 9945791
    Abstract: A method of spectroscopic analysis of a diamond for determining whether the diamond has been artificially treated to change its colour may include: generating light emission from a diamond upon optical excitation at a wavelength equal to or smaller than 680 nm; optically producing a dispersed light emission; detecting the dispersed light emission across a collected spectral region including emission wavelengths of from 670 nm to 735 nm; processing the output signals to produce a spectral intensity distribution as a function of emission wavelengths; analysing the spectral intensity distribution to determine the presence or absence of a spectral pattern including either an intensity peak at 681 nm or a combination of intensity peaks at respective wavelengths 705 nm and 725 nm; if a spectral pattern is present, establishing that the diamond has been treated; and if a spectral pattern is absent, establishing that the diamond has not been treated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI DI MILANO—BICOCCA
    Inventors: Alberto Maria Felice Paleari, Roberto Lorenzi, Andrea Zullino
  • Patent number: 9945792
    Abstract: A system which may be used to generate a plurality of spots on a surface is provided. The spots may be aligned with the incident plane of oblique illumination. The system may include a diffractive optical element configured to split a beam into a plurality of beams by generating a plurality of diffraction orders. The system may also include a focusing lens configured to focus at least some of the plurality of beams on the surface in the plurality of spots. At least some of the plurality of beams may be focused on the surface at an oblique illumination angle. The system may also include an illumination source positioned off-axis relative to an optical axis of the diffractive optical element. Using the system, a plurality of spots may be generated on an inclined surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventor: Guoheng Zhao
  • Patent number: 9945793
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer programs encoded on computer-readable media, for monitoring volatile chemicals. A system includes an radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag composed of a patterned metal. The patterned metal is configured to absorb a volatile chemical. The RFID tag includes a non-volatile memory configured to store identification data. The RFID tag also includes a receiver that receives a signal at a frequency in a frequency range. The frequency is based upon an amount of the volatile chemical absorbed in the patterned metal. A transmitter of the RFID tag transmits the identification data in response to receiving the signal. The strength of the transmitted identification data is based upon an amount of the absorbed volatile chemical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: EMPIRE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT LLC
    Inventor: David Max Roundhill
  • Patent number: 9945794
    Abstract: A scanning and imaging apparatus comprises a ray source configured to generate an X-ray and a detection device configured to receive an X-ray transmitted through an inspected object, wherein the ray source is configured to image the inspected object by emitting the X-ray to the inspected object. A radioactivity detector is configured to detect whether the inspected object comprises radioactive material synchronously with the process of scanning implemented by the scanning and imaging apparatus. In a case that the radioactivity detector detects radioactive material, an actual position of the radioactive material in an X-ray image of the inspected object obtained by the scanning and imaging apparatus is marked in the image. The above solutions improve the accuracy of displaying the position of the radioactive source in the X-ray image. Further, inspection of radioactive material can be implemented while scanning an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: NUCTECH COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Lei Zeng, Qiang Wang, Long Du
  • Patent number: 9945795
    Abstract: A system for reflecting and recording x-ray radiation from an x-ray emitting event to characterize the event. A crystal is aligned to receive radiation along a first path from an x-ray emitting event. Upon striking the crystal, the x-ray reflects from the crystal along a second path due to a reflection plane of the crystal defined by one of the following Miller indices: (9,7,3) or (11,3,3). Exemplary crystalline material is germanium. The x-rays are reflected to a detector aligned to receive reflected x-rays that are reflected from the crystal along the second path and the detector generates a detector signal in response to x-rays impacting the detector. The detector may include a CCD electronic detector, film plates, or any other detector type. A processor receives and processes the detector signal to generate reflection data representing the x-rays emitted from the x-ray emitting event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: National Security Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Koch, Michael J. Haugh
  • Patent number: 9945796
    Abstract: An X-ray fluorescence analysis method in which the quantity of a contained component other than the principal component in the sample is determined by using the result of measurement of X-rays emitted from a sample whose principal component is an organic component, includes: setting a quantitative value of the contained component; calculating an area occupancy ratio representing the proportion of X-rays falling onto the sample; recalculating the area occupancy ratio based on a comparison of a measured value of the scattered X-ray intensity with a theoretical value of the scattered X-ray intensity calculated using a recalculated quantitative value of the contained component and the area occupancy ratio; repeating the recalculation of the quantitative value of the contained component and the recalculation of the area occupancy ratio, and determining the quantitative value as the definite quantitative value of the contained component when the quantitative value satisfies a previously set convergence condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Eisaku Terashita
  • Patent number: 9945797
    Abstract: An analysis method includes: acquiring a photoelectron spectrum and an X-ray-excited Auger spectrum, the photoelectron spectrum being obtained by detecting photoelectrons emitted from a specimen by irradiating the specimen with X-rays, and the X-ray-excited Auger spectrum being obtained by detecting Auger electrons emitted from the specimen by irradiating the specimen with X-rays; calculating a quantitative value of each element included in the specimen based on the photoelectron spectrum; and performing a curve fitting process on the X-ray-excited Auger spectrum by using an electron beam-excited Auger electron standard spectrum, and calculating a quantitative value of an analysis target element in each chemical bonding state included in the specimen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: JEOL Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahide Shima
  • Patent number: 9945798
    Abstract: The invention comprises a method for determining degree of modified potency of a medicament. A medicine is a medicament comprising a therapeutic component and a homeopathic, i.e., activated-potentiated, component, wherein the activated-potentiated component has some physical, chemical or biological affect on the therapeutic component and/or the pharmacological efficacy thereof. The therapeutic component is biologically related to the starting substance of the homeopathic component. An analytical measurement of at least one characteristic parameter of the therapeutic form is made prior to its interaction with the activated-potentiated form. The same analytical measurement(s) are made and after interaction between the therapeutic and activated-potentiated forms. This data is used to confirm the presence of any modified potency is caused by the presence of molecular form in the activated-potentiated form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Oleg Illiich Epshtein
    Inventor: Oleg Iliich Epshtein
  • Patent number: 9945799
    Abstract: A thermal displacement correction device for a machine tool is provided with detection result determination unit configured to determine, based on an actual position and a reference position detected by position detection unit, whether or not the actual position is based on correct detection, correction error calculation unit configured to calculate a correction error in the actual position if it is determined that the result of detection is based on correct detection, and correction amount modification unit configured to modify a thermal displacement correction amount based on the correction error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuaki Koyama, Susumu Maekawa
  • Patent number: 9945800
    Abstract: A fuel gas composition sensing system may include a remotely controllable valve, with the valve including a gas inlet port, a gas outlet port, an internal chamber, and at least one actuating mechanism configured for successively opening the inlet port to allow gas to enter the internal chamber, closing the inlet port and the outlet port to retain the gas in the internal chamber for a period of time, and opening the outlet port to release the gas from the internal chamber. One or more micro-sensors may be mounted in the internal chamber of the valve, with each of the micro-sensors being configured to sense a characteristic of a gas introduced into the internal chamber of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas Alexander Rebinsky
  • Patent number: 9945801
    Abstract: A method and system for determining changes in the catalytic activity of reforming catalyst where an outlet temperature of the catalytic reactor is measured and a temperature approach to equilibrium calculated based on the measured outlet temperature. The temperature approach to equilibrium is compared to an empirical model-based temperature approach to equilibrium calculated for the same operating conditions, the comparison showing changes in the catalytic activity of the reforming catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Ali Esmaili, Joshua David Isom, Suyash Singh
  • Patent number: 9945802
    Abstract: The present invention reports a novel microfluidic analyzer for the high-throughput, label-free measurement of particles suspended in a fluid. The present invention employs the resistive pulse technique (RPT) which affords very high electrical bandwidth for the device, which surpasses that of currently available systems and devices. Further, devices in accordance with the present invention are fabricated with very simple microfabrication technologies, making the present invention more cost efficient and easier to manufacture than currently available devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Fraikin, Andrew N. Cleland
  • Patent number: 9945803
    Abstract: A gas detecting method includes heating a gas detector, formed of a gas sensing layer and an adsorption layer, for an oxygen adsorption period t0 at an oxygen adsorption temperature T0; heating the gas detector for a target gas adsorption period t1 at a target gas adsorption temperature T1 at which a target gas is adsorbed to the adsorption layer, heating the gas detector for a target gas desorption period t2 at a target gas desorption temperature T2 at which the target gas adsorbed to the adsorption layer is desorbed to move to the gas sensing layer; and calculating a gas concentration of the target gas from a sensor resistance of the gas sensing layer. A gas detecting device includes the gas detector and a drive processing unit configured to carry out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takuya Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9945804
    Abstract: In one illustrative embodiment, a test strip with a first planar substrate has coplanar electrodes on a first planar surface and a second planar substrate (which opposes the first surface of the first planar substrate) has coplanar electrodes on a second planar surface. The first planar surface of the first planar substrate having a first sensing area electrically connected to a first electrical contact. The second planar surface of the second planar substrate having a second electrical contact electrically connected to the first electrical contact via a conductive element, the conductive element extending between the first surface of the first planar substrate and the second surface of the second planar substrate without passing through the first planar substrate, the second planar substrate, or any intermediate layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc.
    Inventor: Jennifer A. Samproni
  • Patent number: 9945805
    Abstract: An improved alcohol fuel cell sensor and alcohol breath tester assembly where wires for connection to the electrodes are bent to have a generally planar base portion which may be positioned toward the center of the electrodes and an upright that then extends to the outside of the case. The uprights are generally perpendicular to the base allowing the wires to exit the housing toward the center, as opposed to toward an edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Alcotek, Inc.
    Inventors: Joe Fodor, Karl R. Wolf, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9945806
    Abstract: An electrochemical gas sensor includes an electrolyte including at least one ionic liquid which includes an additive portion including at least one organic additive, at least one organometallic additive or at least one inorganic additive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: MSA EUROPE GMBH
    Inventors: Rolf Eckhardt, Martin Weber, Kathrin Keller, Kathrin Tölle, Ralf Warratz
  • Patent number: 9945807
    Abstract: A sensing apparatus for sensing target materials including biological or chemical molecules in a fluid. One such apparatus includes a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) structure having an electrically-insulating layer, a fluidic channel supported by the SOI structure and configured and arranged to receive and pass a fluid including the target materials, and a semiconductor device including at least three electrically-contiguous semiconductor regions doped to exhibit a common polarity. The semiconductor regions include a sandwiched region sandwiched between two of the other semiconductor regions, and configured and arranged adjacent to the fluidic channel with a surface directed toward the fluidic channel for coupling to the target materials in the fluidic channel, and further arranged for responding to a bias voltage. The sensing apparatus also includes an amplification circuit in or on the SOI and that is arranged to facilitate sensing of the target material near the fluidic channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Kosar Baghbani-Parizi, Yoshio Nishi, Hesaam Esfandyarpour