Patents Issued in May 1, 2018
  • Patent number: 9958372
    Abstract: A particle detection apparatus includes a plurality of photodetectors that detect reaction light generated at a particle irradiated with inspection light and generate electric signals in respective channels; pulse detectors that detect pulses of the electric signals in the respective channels; a correlating unit that correlates the pulse of the electric signal in a reference channel being a channel having a highest signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio, with the pulse of the electric signal in a channel other than the reference channel generated within a predetermined time difference range with respect to the pulse of the electric signal in the reference channel; and an attribute specifying unit that specifies an attribute of the particle on the basis of the correlated pulses of the electric signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: AZBIL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuho Matsuura
  • Patent number: 9958373
    Abstract: A protocol adaptive, computer controlled target-analyte permeation testing instrument, capable of self-adaptive adjustments to measurement interval, rezero frequency and independent zero go-no-go.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: MOCON, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy A Ascheman, Stephen D. Tuomela
  • Patent number: 9958374
    Abstract: In a method for determining charge and/or size of an object (15) suspended in a fluid, the object (15) is introduced, together with the fluid, into an electrostatic trap (1) defining an electrostatic confining potential. The thermal motion of the object (15) in the fluid is observed under influence of the confining potential, and charge and/or size are determined from the observed thermal motion. In particular, the viscous drag on the object yields a measure of its size, while the stiffness of its confinement can be compared with a potential model to reveal the total charge it carries. Also disclosed are an apparatus and software for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: UNIVERSITAT ZURICH
    Inventor: Madhavi Krishnan
  • Patent number: 9958375
    Abstract: A microparticle sorting apparatus includes a detection unit which detects microparticles flowing through a flow path; an imaging device which images a droplet containing the microparticles which is discharged from an orifice provided on an edge portion of the flow path; a charge unit which applies a charge to the droplets; and a control unit which determines a delay time as from a time that the microparticles are detected by the detection unit to the time at which a number of bright spots in a standard region, which is set beforehand, of image information imaged by the imaging device reaches the maximum, making it possible for the charge unit to apply a charge to the microparticles once the delay time has lapsed after the microparticles are detected by the detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yosuke Muraki, Akiko Tsuji, Takashi Miyata
  • Patent number: 9958376
    Abstract: A floating particle detection device 1 is capable of accurately identifying the type of a floating particle while achieving simplification of a configuration of the device, the device includes: a laser light irradiator (10) that includes a laser light emitting element (11) and a back-monitor-use light receiving element (12); a scattered light receiver (20) that selectively receives light of a predetermined polarization component among scattered light generated when a floating particle (50) is irradiated and that generates a second detection signal; and an identification processor (30) that identifies the type of the floating particle on the basis of a first detection signal and the second detection signal. Incident light entering the back-monitor-use light receiving element (12) includes: a back-monitor-use laser beam (L0); and backscattered light (Lbs) travelling toward the laser light irradiator (10) among the scattered light (Ls).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kenya Nakai, Nobuo Takeshita
  • Patent number: 9958377
    Abstract: A method for testing the adhesion of elastic adhesives or elastic sealing materials on surfaces of components including: a) applying the adhesive/sealing material to a component surface, b) attempting by exerting a peeling force to detach the applied adhesive/sealing material from the component surface, and c) assessing the adhesion of the adhesive/sealing material on the basis of fractures caused in the adhesive/sealing material and the detachment of the adhesive/sealing material from the component surface by the exertion of the peeling force. Prior to and/or during step a), an anti-adhesion material layer is applied to at least one first part of the component surface, which causes poorer adhesion of the adhesive/sealing material to the component surface and therefore can be detached from the component surface with less peeling force than directly from the component surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Bombardier Transportation GmbH
    Inventors: Waissi Tello, Helmuth Kleinoeder
  • Patent number: 9958378
    Abstract: A body fluid test system includes a test chip, an image capturing device, a moving mechanism for test tube and at least one fluid transfer device. The image capturing device is for capturing image of the test chip. The moving mechanism includes a base and a test tube carrier. The test tube carrier is movably disposed on the base. The test tube carrier is for carrying at least one test tube. One end of the fluid transfer device corresponds to the top of the test tube carrier, and another end of the fluid transfer device corresponds to the test chip. The test tube carrier is movable upwardly from a pre-testing position to a testing position. When the test tube carrier is at the testing position, the fluid transfer device is for transferring a body fluid sample contained in the at least one test tube to the test chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: WISTRON CORP.
    Inventors: Chuan-Sheng Li, Yu-Jung Chu
  • Patent number: 9958379
    Abstract: A light detection and ranging device associated with an autonomous vehicle scans through a scanning zone while emitting light pulses and receives reflected signals corresponding to the light pulses. The reflected signals indicate a three-dimensional point map of the distribution of reflective points in the scanning zone. A hyperspectral sensor images a region of the scanning zone corresponding to a reflective feature indicated by the three-dimensional point map. The output from the hyperspectral sensor includes spectral information characterizing a spectral distribution of radiation received from the reflective feature. The spectral characteristics of the reflective feature allow for distinguishing solid objects from non-solid reflective features, and a map of solid objects is provided to inform real time navigation decisions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Jiajun Zhu, David I. Ferguson, Dmitri A. Dolgov, Jonathan Baldwin Dowdall
  • Patent number: 9958380
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to spectroscopic systems and spectrometers configured for hydrocarbon gas composition monitoring which provides compound speciation capability and function. In certain embodiments, the system identifies two or more bands of spectral data—e.g., including a band in each of (i) the near infrared and (ii) mid infrared wavelength regions, though bands covering subsets from about 800 nm to about 12 ?m can be used—from the signal corresponding to the hydrocarbon fluid in the gas flow cell, where the two or more bands are not contiguous (e.g., there is at least a 50 nm separation between the nearest ends of two bands). A combined spectrum is then formed from the two or more non-contiguous bands of spectral data and processed to identify and/or quantify the constituents of the hydrocarbon fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignees: MKS Instruments, Inc., Pason Systems Corp.
    Inventor: Vidi Saptari
  • Patent number: 9958381
    Abstract: A device includes a light emitting element, a light receiving element, an electronic part capable of processing a signal output from the light receiving element, an optical member covering the light emitting element and the light receiving element, and a board on which the light emitting element, the light receiving element, the electronic part, and the optical member are mounted. The board includes conductor wiring electrically connected to the light receiving element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Sakai, Naoya Matsuo, Narutoshi Hoshino, Tsutomu Shimomura
  • Patent number: 9958382
    Abstract: A method for determining the abrasion resistance of at least one wear layer arranged on a carrier plate, including: capturing at least one NIR spectrum of the wear layer arranged on the at least one carrier plate using at least one NIR detector and determining the abrasion resistance of the at least one wear layer by comparing the NIR spectrum for the abrasion resistance that is to be determined with at least one NIR spectrum ascertained for at least one reference sample by multivariant data analysis (MDA).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Flooring Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Andre Denk, Norbert Kalwa
  • Patent number: 9958383
    Abstract: An active illumination range camera that acquires a range and a picture image of a scene and provides a reflectance for a feature in the scene responsive to a distance for the feature provided by the range image, a registered irradiance for the feature provided by the picture image and registered irradiance for a region of a calibration surface corresponding to the feature provided by an image of the calibration surface acquired by the range camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC.
    Inventors: Michael Anthony Hall, Kameron Rausch, Abdelrehim Ahmed, Beibei Cheng, Ben Walker, Jonathan Hoof, Daniel Kennett
  • Patent number: 9958384
    Abstract: A method for detecting and counting particles suspended in fluids, such as bacteria suspended in urine, utilizing dynamic features of the suspended particles and employing light scattering measurements. The disclosed method is suitable for determining the susceptibility of bacteria to antibiotics. A cuvette for detecting bacteria in fluids, which is especially suited for the light scattering measurements, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: BacterioScan LTD.
    Inventor: Amnon Weichselbaum
  • Patent number: 9958385
    Abstract: Angle-resolved reflectometers and reflectometry methods are provided, which comprise a coherent light source, an optical system arranged to scan a test pattern using a spot of coherent light from the light source to yield realizations of the light distribution in the collected pupil, wherein the spot covers a part of the test pattern and the scanning is carried out optically or mechanically according to a scanning pattern, and a processing unit arranged to generate a composite image of the collected pupil distribution by combining the pupil images. Metrology systems and methods are provided, which reduce diffraction errors by estimating, quantitatively, a functional dependency of measurement parameters on aperture sizes and deriving, from identified diffraction components of the functional dependency which relate to the aperture sizes, correction terms for the measurement parameters with respect to the measurement conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Amnon Manassen, Andrew Hill, Daniel Kandel, Ilan Sela, Ohad Bachar, Barak Bringoltz
  • Patent number: 9958386
    Abstract: [Object] To provide a chemical sensor provided with a spectral filter excellent in spectral characteristic, a chemical sensor module, a chemical substance detection apparatus, and a chemical substance detection method. [Solving Means] A chemical sensor according to the present technology is provided with a substrate and a plasmon absorption layer. On the substrate, the photodetection unit is formed. The plasmon absorption layer is laminated on the substrate and has a metal nanostructure that generates plasmon absorbency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yusuke Moriya, Nobuyuki Matsuzawa, Kensaku Maeda
  • Patent number: 9958387
    Abstract: In a computer-implemented method and system for capturing the condition of a structure, the structure is scanned with a three-dimensional (3D) scanner. The 3D scanner generates 3D data. A point cloud or 3D model is constructed from the 3D data. The point cloud or 3D model is then analyzed to determine the condition of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: James M. Freeman, Roger D. Schmidgall, Patrick H. Boyer, Nicholas U. Christopulos, Jonathan D. Maurer, Nathan L. Tofte, Jackie O. Jordan, II
  • Patent number: 9958388
    Abstract: A lighting unit illuminates an object with at least one type of excitation light and illumination light. An imaging unit captures images with at least one type of fluorescent light generated by the object illuminated with the excitation light, and with reflected light caused when the object reflects the illumination light. A fluorescent light detector generates a delay time distribution image of fluorescent light from a fluorescent light image captured by the imaging unit. A distance measuring unit generates a range image from a reflected light image captured by the imaging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Taro Imagawa
  • Patent number: 9958389
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining a scale inhibitor concentration in a sample comprising at least a first scale inhibitor, which is a synthetic organic compound comprising at least one ionized group. The method comprises optionally diluting and/or purifying the sample, and allowing the sample to interact with a reagent comprising a lanthanide(III) ion. The sample is excited at a first excitation wavelength and a sample signal deriving from the lanthanide(III) ion is detected at a signal wavelength by using time-resolved luminescence measurement, and the concentration of the at least first scale inhibitor in the sample is determined by using the detected sample signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: KEMIRA OYJ
    Inventors: Vesa Nuutinen, Susanna Toivonen, James Johnstone, Harri Härmä, Paul Mundill
  • Patent number: 9958390
    Abstract: A semiconductor device used for fluorescent-based molecule detection and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The semiconductor device has a fluid channel layer defining a fluid channel through which a sample stream flows. A target cell coupled with a fluorescent source is contained by the sample stream. The semiconductor device also has an excitation light source for generating excitation light that reaches the target cell coupled with the fluorescent source to generate fluorescent light. The semiconductor device also has a light filter layer for permitting the fluorescent light to pass through and to block the excitation light and a light detection layer for detecting the fluorescent light. The functional components of the device are highly integrated. Leakage of the excitation light and background noise into the light detection component can be minimized to improve the quality of detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yann Astier, Stephen W. Bedell, Ning Li, Devendra K. Sadana, William T. Spratt, Chao Wang
  • Patent number: 9958391
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a lighting device is provided. The lighting device includes a phosphor volume for at least partial wavelength conversion of primary light into secondary light, a primary light semiconductor light source for irradiating the phosphor volume with primary light, a measurement light generating arrangement for generating measurement light having a spectral composition outside the primary light and the secondary light, a measurement light detector sensitive to the measurement light, and a measurement light filter, which is fixedly connected to the phosphor volume and is optically arranged between the measurement light generating arrangement and the measurement light detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: OSRAM GMBH
    Inventors: Jan Oliver Drumm, Jens Richter
  • Patent number: 9958392
    Abstract: An optical filter system for florescence observation comprises an illumination light filter (I) and an observation light filter (O). The observation light filter has plural transmitting regions (D1O,D2O) allowing fluorescent light to traverse the observation light filter. Blocking regions (S0O,S1O) separate the transmitting regions. The illumination light filter has transmitting regions (D0I,D1I) where the observation light filter has a corresponding blocking region. The illumination light filter has blocking regions (S1I,S2I) where the observation light filter has a corresponding transmitting region. The plural transmitting regions of the illumination light filter hallow for an improved color impression in the normal light observation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: CARL ZEISS MEDITEC AG
    Inventors: Christoph Hauger, Roland Guckler, Marco Wilzbach, Helge Jess, Selamawit Getachew Kelemu, Holger Matz
  • Patent number: 9958393
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for acquiring discontinuous emission spectra data, whereby the data is analyzed by a multivariate statistic model or equivalent model, such as principal component analysis and the use of the system for flow cytometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: DEUTSCHES RHEUMA-FORSCHUNGSZENTRUM BERLIN
    Inventors: Toralf Kaiser, Jenny Kirsch, Andreas Gruetzkau
  • Patent number: 9958394
    Abstract: A system and method for estimating a concentration of monoethanolamine (MEA) in a fluid. A substrate for supporting a sample of the fluid during testing includes a carbon nanotube mat layer, a silver nanowire layer disposed on the carbon nanotube mat layer, and a chemical enhancer layer disposed on the silver nanowire layer. A sample of the fluid is placed on the substrate, and the fluid sample is radiated with electromagnetic radiation at a selected energy level. A detector measures a Raman spectrum emitted from the sample in response to the electromagnetic radiation. A processor estimates the concentration of MEA in the sample from the Raman spectrum and adds a corrosion inhibitor to the fluid in an amount based on the estimated concentration of MEA to reduce the concentration of MEA in the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Sankaran Murugesan, Radhika Suresh, Darryl N. Ventura, Bradley G. Harrell, Valery N. Khabashesku, Qusai A. Darugar
  • Patent number: 9958395
    Abstract: This invention discloses an improved laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) apparatus and method for the detection of mineral and metal contamination in liquid samples. The mineral and metal contaminant is first collected by filtering the liquid sample with a membrane filter. The membrane filter with the mineral and metal contaminant is then measured by a LIBS apparatus. The LIBS apparatus is based on a high repetition rate pulsed laser. The laser produces a train of laser pulses at a high repetition rate in the kHz (or even higher) range. When the laser beam hits the surface of the membrane filter, it generates several thousands of micro-plasma emissions per second. Synchronized miniature CCD array optical spectrometer modules collect the LIBS signal from these micro-plasma emissions. By adjusting the integration time of the spectrometer to cover a plurality of periods of the laser pulse train, the spectrometer integrates the LIBS signal produced by this plurality of laser pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: BWT Property, Inc.
    Inventors: Xin Jack Zhou, Sean Xiaolu Wang, Qun Li
  • Patent number: 9958396
    Abstract: A sensing device applied to an analyte molecule of a liquid sample and a buffer flow has at least one first inlet, at least one second inlet, a micro-flow channel, and at least one immobilization element. The first inlet is for inputting the liquid sample. The second inlet is for inputting the buffer flow. The micro-flow channel communicates with the first inlet and the second inlet. The immobilization element is for immobilizing sensing molecules for the analyte molecules. The analyte sample flow and the buffer flow, in the reverse direction, in the micro-flow channel enable the association and disassociation kinetics to be obtained. The present invention further provides a sensing system and a sensing method using the sensing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignees: Academia Sinica, Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Chia-Fu Chou, Thierry Leichle, Yii-Lih Lin, Pattamon Teerapanich
  • Patent number: 9958397
    Abstract: Processes for sensing a variety of toxic chemicals and/or processes for determining the residual life of a filter or filtration system are provided. Exemplary process for sensing a toxic chemical include contacting a toxic chemical, or byproduct thereof, with a sorbent that includes a porous metal hydroxide and a transition metal reactant suitable to react with a toxic chemical or byproduct thereof. The sorbent is contacted with the toxic chemical or byproduct thereof for a sampling time. A difference between a post-exposure colorimetric state of the sorbent and a pre-exposure colorimetric state of the sorbent or control is determined to thereby sense exposure to, or the presence of, the toxic chemical or byproduct thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Gregory W. Peterson, Joseph A. Rossin, Jennifer R. Soliz, Kathryn L Killops
  • Patent number: 9958398
    Abstract: Apparatus and corresponding methods for measuring a plurality of parameters of a cut gemstone while it is positioned at a single measurement location. Apparatus comprise a plurality of light sources, each configured to emit light at a different one of a plurality of emission wavelengths or ranges of wavelengths such that the emitted light illuminates at least part of the measurement location. Apparatus further comprise a sensor assembly configured to sense light at a plurality of sensing wavelengths or ranges of wavelengths for measuring the plurality of parameters. The sensed light is received at the sensor assembly from the measurement location as a result of illumination of a cut gemstone located at the measurement location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: De Beers UK Ltd.
    Inventors: Nicholas Matthew Davies, Siobhan D'Gama, Peter Stanley Rose, Maxwell Ralph Willis
  • Patent number: 9958399
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an imaging apparatus includes a light source for illumination, a stage on which an imaging object illuminated by illumination light from the light source is to be placed, a critical illumination optical system configured to supply the illumination light to the imaging object placed on the stage, and to have a greater magnification in a first axis direction than in a second axis direction, an imaging optical system configured to form an image of the imaging object placed on the stage and illuminated using the critical illumination optical system, and a detector configured to detect the image of the imaging object formed by the imaging optical system, and to have a detection area longer in the first axis direction than in the second axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takeshi Yamane, Tsuneo Terasawa
  • Patent number: 9958400
    Abstract: A pill inspection apparatus of the present invention includes: an illumination portion 30 for irradiating light to a medical envelope 20 in which at least a translucent pill 22 is enclosed; an imaging portion 11 for acquiring a transmission image of the irradiated medical envelope 20; and an image processing portion 12 for detecting, as the translucent pill 22, a pill having a brightness value of its outer periphery lower than that of its center using the transmission image, the illumination portion 30 includes a light emitting portion 31, and a light-collecting portion 33 for collecting light is provided between the light emitting portion 31 and the medical envelope 20. By obtaining a uniform outline of the translucent pill 22 irrespective of a shooting position, it is possible to inspect the translucent pill 22 irrespective of a permeation rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC HEALTHCARE HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takanobu Tanimoto, Hitoshi Yamashita, Hiroshi Ehara
  • Patent number: 9958401
    Abstract: The present embodiments relate to a device and a method for determining at least one concentration of coal particles in a gas flow flowing through a channel, wherein at least part of the gas flow having coal particles contained therein is measured by at least one microwave sensor and at least one measurement signal characterizing the concentration of the coal particles is provided, wherein an autocorrelation function of the measurement signal is determined and at least one distance value characterizing a distance of a point of the gas flow belonging to the concentration from the microwave sensor is determined in dependence on the autocorrelation function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Holger Hackstein, Christian Morhart, Dominikus Joachim Müller, Florian Poprawa, Andreas Ziroff
  • Patent number: 9958402
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for performing Quality Assurance of complex beams of penetrating radiation inside a patient. A detector with a transverse scintillating screen images the radiation inside a tissue phantom with high spatial resolution. The scintillator is comprised of a mixture of two or more scintillators emitting different spectra of light and having different characteristic responses as a function of the beam LET value. The optics relaying the scintillation output have variable transmission with wavelength, further shaping the spectrum of light transmitted to the imaging sensor which also has spectrally varying sensitivity. Parameters of the scintillator construction, the optics, and the imaging sensor are chosen so the output of the composite detector is proportional to a characteristic of the input beam, for example the dose deposited as a function of depth inside the tissue phantom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Inventor: Steven M. Ebstein
  • Patent number: 9958403
    Abstract: A method of investigating a specimen using X-ray tomography, comprising (a) mounting the specimen to a specimen holder, (b) irradiating the specimen with a beam of X-rays along a first line of sight through the specimen, and (c) detecting a flux of X-rays transmitted through the specimen and forming a first image. Then (d) repeating the steps (b) and (c) for a series of different lines of sight through the specimen, thereby producing a corresponding series of images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: FEI Company
    Inventors: Pavel Stejskal, Marek Un{hacek over (c)}ovský, Tomá{hacek over (s)} Vystav{hacek over (e)}l, Alan Frank de Jong, Bart Buijsse, Pierre Bleuet
  • Patent number: 9958404
    Abstract: An X-ray analyzing system for x-ray scattering analysis having an x-ray source for generating a beam of x-rays propagating along a transmission axis (3), at least one hybrid slit (5b) with an aperture which defines the shape of the cross section of the beam, a sample on which the beam shaped by the hybrid slit (5b) is directed and an X-ray detector for detecting x-rays originating from the sample. The hybrid slit (5b) has at least three hybrid slit elements (7), each hybrid slit element (7) having a single crystal substrate (8) bonded to a base (9) with a taper angle ??0. The single crystal substrates (8) of the hybrid slit elements (7) limit the aperture and the hybrid slit elements (7) are staggered with an offset along the transmission axis (3). The X-ray analyzing system has improved resolution and signal to noise ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Bruker AXS GmbH
    Inventor: Jan Skov Pedersen
  • Patent number: 9958405
    Abstract: A drop-in probe includes a measurement head having an immersion end and an opposing second end having an end face. The measurement head is formed of first and second body halves configured to mate together along a parting line. A sample chamber, arranged within the measurement head, is thermally isolated from a cooling mass thereof and includes a metal wall having a thickness of 2.5 mm or less. An inlet tube has an inlet opening to the sample chamber. The inlet opening has a diameter Dinlet and is spaced apart from the end face of the measurement head at a distance of at least D inlet 2 . When the sample chamber is filled with a sample of the molten metal, a ratio of a mass of the metal sample to a mass of the metal wall of the sample chamber is greater than 2.6 and less than 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Heraeus Electro-Nite International N.V.
    Inventors: Dries Beyens, Guido Jacobus Neyens
  • Patent number: 9958406
    Abstract: Methods and systems for measuring and/or estimating a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of a component of a fuel cell system. A CTE measurement technique includes securing a measurement member over a surface of the component via a seal having a melting point, heating the seal above its melting point of the seal, cooling the component, measurement member and seal to a second temperature below the melting point of the seal, and determining the CTE of the component based on the change in the span of the measurement member after cooling. A fuel cell component characterization technique includes measuring an electrical resistivity (ER), conductivity (EC), resistance or conductance of the component, measuring at least one additional property of the component which, together with ER, EC, resistance or conductance, correlates to the CTE of the component, and sorting the component based on the measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Cheng-Yu Lin, Daniel Darga, Michael Groesch, Harald Herchen, Vijay Srivatsan
  • Patent number: 9958407
    Abstract: A method of analyzing minerals received within a mining shovel bucket includes collecting data associated with ore received in the bucket, where the bucket includes at least one active sensor, where the ore includes one or more mineral, and where the ore is within a field of the active sensor. The method further includes determining a content of the minerals using the data, transmitting information relating to the content of the minerals to a decision support system, and sorting or processing the ore based on an output of the decision support system. Collecting data associated with the ores may include generating source signals, applying the source signals to the active sensor, collecting a response from the active sensor, and comparing the response with a reference or threshold. Other features are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: MineSense Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Andrew Sherliker Bamber, Darcy James Houlahan
  • Patent number: 9958408
    Abstract: A stretchable capacitance sensor having multiple components for communicating signals to a data acquisition system for reconstructing an image of an area or object located in a subject being sensed, and for calculating the shape or conformity that it is in. The stretchable sensor consists of an inner layer of plates that provide the capacitance data, a middle layer of plates that provide the geometry-sensing data, and an outer layer of plates that serves as the shielding ground layer. The configuration of all three components can be variably changed to increase the capacitance data channels, increase or decrease flexibility and stretchability of the sensor, and increase the spatial resolution of the geometry sensing feature. The sensor is adapted to communicate signals to a data acquisition system for providing an image of the area or object between the capacitance plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: TECH4IMAGING LLC
    Inventors: Qussai Marashdeh, Yousef Alghothani, Christopher Zuccarelli
  • Patent number: 9958409
    Abstract: Systems and methods for multiple analyte analysis are provided. In one embodiment, a method includes determining concentrations of first and second analytes in a sample. The first and second analytes may be, for example, glucose and hydroxybutyrate. In this form, an indication related to the measured concentration of hydroxybutyrate is provided in response to determining that the concentration of hydroxybutyrate is above a predetermined value. In a further aspect of this form, a quantitative indication representative of the measured glucose concentration is automatically provided regardless of the value of the measured glucose concentration. In another embodiment, a system includes a meter configured to interact with a test element to assess first and second analytes in a sample. Further embodiments, forms, objects, features, advantages, aspects, and benefits shall become apparent from the description and drawings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin T. Gerber, Eric Diebold
  • Patent number: 9958410
    Abstract: Biosensor system measurement devices used to determine the presence and/or concentration of an analyte in a sample include normalized calibration information relating output signal or signals the device generates in response to the analyte concentration of the sample to previously determined reference sample analyte concentrations. The measurement devices use this normalized calibration information to relate one or more output signals from an electrochemical or optical analysis of a sample to the presence and/or concentration of one or more analytes in the sample. The normalized calibration information includes a normalization relationship to normalize output signals measured by the measurement device of the biosensor system and at least one normalized reference correlation relating normalized output signals to reference sample analyte concentrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG
    Inventor: Huan-Ping Wu
  • Patent number: 9958411
    Abstract: Provided is a sensor chip for electrochemically measuring a concentration of an analyte in a blood sample. In one embodiment of the sensor, the sensor chip includes a substrate, and a preliminary measurement analyzer and a hematocrit value analyzer disposed on the substrate. The preliminary measurement analyzer includes a preliminary working electrode and a preliminary counter electrode. The hematocrit value analyzer includes a working electrode and a counter electrode. An oxidant of a redox substance is disposed on the preliminary measurement analyzer and the counter electrode. A reductant of a redox substance is disposed on the working electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Healthcare Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Fujiwara, Shin Ikeda, Takahiro Nakaminami
  • Patent number: 9958412
    Abstract: A gas sensor element having a porous protective layer with excellent water repellency. Provided is a gas sensor element having a detection portion, which has a stack of a solid electrolyte body having a pair of electrodes on opposite sides thereof and a heat generating body including a heat generating source, and a porous protective layer formed around the detection portion. The porous protective layer has thermal conductivity ? in the range of 0.2 to 5 W/mK, and has ?Cp?, which is the product of the thermal conductivity ?(W/mK), density ?(g/m3), and specific heat Cp(J/gK), in the range of 5.3×105 to 2.1×107 WJ/m4K2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroki Nishijima, Yoshiharu Miyake, Haruki Kondo, Makoto Nakae, Tooru Takeuchi, Masayuki Tamura, Atsushi Murai
  • Patent number: 9958413
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a gas sensor includes: disposing a tubular holder and a tubular compact in a tubular metallic shell defining a through hole, the tubular holder defining a first insertion hole, and the tubular compact defining a second insertion hole; preparing a preliminary assembly in which a pin is inserted into the first insertion hole and the second insertion hole; pulling out the pin from the first insertion hole and the second insertion hole and inserting a sensor element into the first insertion hole and the second insertion hole such that a forward end of the pin will come into contact with an end of the sensor element; compressing the compact to thereby fix the sensor element inside of the metallic shell; welding a protection sleeve to the metallic shell to thereby form a semi-assembly; and combining the semi-assembly with another semi-assembly to thereby form the gas sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke Tahira, Keiichi Noda, Shingo Ito, Atsunori Okada, Yuichi Yamada
  • Patent number: 9958414
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus relating to FET arrays including large FET arrays for monitoring chemical and/or biological reactions such as nucleic acid sequencing-by-synthesis reactions. Some methods provided herein relate to improving signal (and also signal to noise ratio) from released hydrogen ions during nucleic acid sequencing reactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jonathan Rothberg, Todd Rearick
  • Patent number: 9958415
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus relating to FET arrays including large FET arrays for monitoring chemical and/or biological reactions such as nucleic acid sequencing-by-synthesis reactions. Some methods provided herein relate to improving signal (and also signal to noise ratio) from released hydrogen ions during nucleic acid sequencing reactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jonathan M. Rothberg, Todd Rearick
  • Patent number: 9958416
    Abstract: Determining a presence of a target analyte in a fluid sample includes mixing multiple magnetic particles with the fluid sample, in which the magnetic particles are each bound to one or more binding moieties that specifically bind to the target analyte, flowing the fluid sample containing the magnetic particles through a fluidic channel, exposing the fluid sample in the fluidic channel to a magnetic field, measuring a signal from a Hall effect sensor while the fluid sample flows through the fluidic channel, and determining whether the target analyte is present in the fluid sample when the measured signal is in a first range of values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph Weissleder, Hakho Lee, David Issadore
  • Patent number: 9958417
    Abstract: Tube inspections are performed by combining the use of APR technology with GW technology. The reflections measured by both technologies are compared to each other and used to more specifically identify the type and location of a flaw or anomaly that appears in the interior of the tube. Further, embodiments of novel probes to be used in GW technique for inspecting tubes with mechanical waves having bandwidth that is equal to 150 KHz or more are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: ARISE GLOBAL PTE. LTD
    Inventors: Noam Amir, Dov Furman, Harel Primack, Silviu Zilberman
  • Patent number: 9958418
    Abstract: A touch detection device capable of operation by a light touch, and of preventing false operations even when used in water handling equipment includes a sensing portion for sensing contact by a target object; a vibration excitation element attached to this sensing portion, a drive circuit for exciting vibration in the sensing portion, and a contact determining circuit for determining whether a target object is contacting a sensing portion based on vibration of the sensing portion after stopping the application of an AC voltage to the vibration excitation element by this drive circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: TOTO LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Kaneko
  • Patent number: 9958419
    Abstract: It is desirable to more stably and efficiently transmit light in a housing of a light source unit. A light source unit 13, which emits a laser beam L to a light guide part 40, includes: a unit housing 13b that includes a connector receiving portion 51b detachably connected to a connector portion 51a; a light source 30 that is installed in the unit housing 13b and outputs the laser beam L; a diffusion part 80 that diffuses the laser beam L output from the light source 30; a condensing lens system 81 that condenses the laser beam L diffused by the diffusion part 80; and an optical fiber 82a that transmits the laser beam L, which is condensed by the condensing lens system 81, to the connector receiving portion 51b. The connector receiving portion 51b optically connects the optical fiber 82a to the light guide part 40.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kaku Irisawa
  • Patent number: 9958420
    Abstract: A method for efficiently achieving full-matrix ultrasonic data capture which includes the steps of providing an ultrasound array apparatus, the ultrasound array apparatus further comprising a probe, collecting data over a plurality of inspection locations, generating a plurality of data matrices, each of the data matrices reflecting data collected at the locations, and collecting, initially, a subset of a quantity of data needed for reconstruction of each of the inspection locations. In the method, as the probe moves from collection location to collection location, a data matrix at a prior collection location is gradually filled in as the probe moves to subsequent collection locations. In certain embodiments physical scanning of a probe with few elements is replaced by electronically scanning using an array with many elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: BWXT Technical Services Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J Younghouse, Daniel T MacLauchlan, Nicholas J Borchers
  • Patent number: 9958421
    Abstract: The invention provides a packing method for high efficiency chromatography columns starting from dry swellable particles, as well as columns packed by the method and the use of the columns in separation of biomolecules. In the packing method, an amount of dry swellable particles sufficient to give a swollen volume in a liquid of about 105-120% of the column chamber volume is transferred to the column, the column is closed and the liquid is provided to the column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: GE Healthcare BioProcess R&D AB
    Inventors: Klaus Gebauer, Elisabeth Hallgren, Raf Lemmens, Ola Lind, Bjorn Lundgren, Jamil Shanagar, Kajsa Stridsberg-Friden, Helena Widegren