Patents Issued in June 12, 2018
  • Patent number: 9995564
    Abstract: A method of estimating a location of a terminal includes measuring a magnetic field value at a location of the terminal, estimating the location of the terminal using the measured magnetic field value, and transmitting the measured magnetic field value and information associated with the estimated location to a server. A method of modifying a magnetic field map includes receiving, from a terminal, a magnetic field value estimated at a location of the terminal, and information associated with a location of the terminal estimated based on the magnetic field value, and modifying a magnetic field map using the measured magnetic field value and the information associated with the estimated location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seong Eun Kim, Yong Kim, Eung Sun Kim, Hyun Gi Ahn, Ji Hyun Yoon
  • Patent number: 9995565
    Abstract: The optical coherence tomography includes a processor, wherein the processor is configured to: vectorize the Jones matrix and then convert the vectorized Jones matrix into an expanded matrix; calculate at least an eigenvalue and at least an eigenvector of the expanded matrix by performing an eigenvalue decomposition to the expanded matrix; and estimate the polarization characteristic of the subject by using at least an eigenvalue and at least an eigenvector of the Jones matrix acquired based on the at least eigenvalue and the at least eigenvector of the expanded matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: TOMEY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masahiro Yamanari
  • Patent number: 9995566
    Abstract: An eyeline sighting device includes a base portion for placing the device on a working surface and a top portion for visual alignment. The top portion includes a frame, at least one level for adjusting the position of the frame relative to a horizontal plane, a first sighting element, and a second sighting element. The pilot's position is adjusted until the second sighting element is brought into alignment with the first sighting element along the pilot's line of sight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Inventor: Alfred G. Wacker, III
  • Patent number: 9995567
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining 3D coordinates of an object (2) by a handheld laser-based distance measuring device (1), the method comprising determining an object point (20) at the object (2); measuring a distance (100) from the handheld laser-based distance measuring device (1) to the determined object point (20) by means of an EDM (10); capturing a 3D image (110) of the object (2), the 3D image (110) includes the determined object point (20); identifying the determined object point (20) in the captured 3D image (110); and linking the measured distance (100) with the identified object point (20) in the 3D image (110). The invention also relates to a handheld laser-based distance measuring device (1) and a computer program product for execution of said method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: HEXAGON TECHNOLOGY CENTER GMBH
    Inventors: Bo Pettersson, Knut Siercks, Eugen Voit, Jürg Hinderling, Benedikt Zebhauser, Klaus Schneider
  • Patent number: 9995568
    Abstract: A job site monitoring system includes a tower-mounted scanner that is situated to monitor all or substantially all of a particular construction site. The scanner is configured to provide data to a processor configured to determine the height of fill material deposited at a job site. The processor is adapted to communicate with a remote client who can review the data collected at the job site. The processor may also be configured to compare the live fill height data to predetermined parameters to determine whether an error condition exists. An alert may be issued upon detection of such an error to enable corrective action to be taken before construction continues at the site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Inventor: Mark E. Sanders
  • Patent number: 9995569
    Abstract: A six-degree-of-freedom displacement measurement method for an exposure region on a wafer stage, the wafer stage comprises a coil array and a movable platform. A planar grating is fixed below a permanent magnet array of the movable platform. A reading head is fixed in a gap of the coil array. A measurement region is formed on the planar grating by an incident measurement light beam of the reading head. The reading head measures the six-degree-of-freedom displacement of the measurement region, so that the six-degree-of-freedom displacement of the exposure region is obtained through calculation. In the method, the six-degree-of-freedom displacement of the exposure region at any time is measured; the measurement complexity is reduced and the measurement precision is improved, and especially, the six-degree-of-freedom displacement of the exposure region can be precisely measured at any time even if the movable platform has high flexibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignees: TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY, BEIJING U-PRECISION TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yu Zhu, Ming Zhang, Anlin Chen, Rong Cheng, Kaiming Yang, Feng Liu, Yujing Song, Fan Zhi, Jinchun Hu, Dengfeng Xu, Haihua Mu, Chuxiong Hu
  • Patent number: 9995570
    Abstract: Disclosed are in-line apparatuses, systems and methods for measuring a physical characteristic of a constant supply of an ophthalmic device, the apparatuses including: an interferometer; an automatic alignment system that positions the interferometer or ophthalmic device; and a central processing unit in communication with the automatic alignment system and receiving measurements from the interferometer. The in-line apparatus measures the desired physical dimensions of the ophthalmic device in real time. In-line systems, apparatuses and methods for measuring a physical characteristic of an ophthalmic device can include: a camera imaging an actual position of a feature of the ophthalmic device; a vibration resistant interferometer projecting a surface measurement beam having a wavelength that transmits through a beam splitter onto the ophthalmic device; and an automatic alignment system positioning the interferometer and the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Catie A. Morley, Leslie A. Voss, Magnus Akerstrom, Kenneth L. Cagle, Charles Albanese
  • Patent number: 9995571
    Abstract: Measuring surface features of a plurality of sliders including capturing an image of a surface of a slider bar using a large aperture interferometer, where the slider bar includes at least one slider of the plurality of sliders, and where the image includes surface height data for the slider bar surface and the included at least one slider. A bar height map is created of the slider bar based upon the surface height data of the captured image. Individual slider surfaces having individual slider height maps are identified, based at least in part of the number of sliders included on the slider bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Kurtis Dean Loken, Andrew Habermas
  • Patent number: 9995572
    Abstract: A device and method for estimating the elevation angle of one or more objects surrounding a user terminal include a convex image-reflecting surface, a transparent sighting surface disposed above the convex image-reflecting surface, and an elevation limit marking formed on or in the sighting surface. The elevation limit marking generates a reflected image in the convex image-reflecting surface that defines an elevation angle above a horizon of the earth that the one or more objects in a field of view of the convex image-reflecting surface must remain below so that the user terminal has an unobstructed view of the sky in all azimuthal directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: World Vu Satellites Limited
    Inventor: Melvin S. Ni
  • Patent number: 9995573
    Abstract: The present application discloses a probe placement module for placing probes on a virtual object depicted in an image. The probe placement module is configured to place probes on interest points of an image so that the probes can accurately represent a pattern depicted in the image. The probe placement module can be configured to place the probes so that the probes can extract balanced information on all degrees of freedom associated with the pattern's movement, which improves the accuracy of the model generated from the probes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Cognex Corporation
    Inventors: Simon Barker, David J. Michael, William M. Silver
  • Patent number: 9995574
    Abstract: A method is provided to assist adjustment for a movement path of a probe. A coordinate measuring machine includes a probe having a tip for detecting a surface of an object, and a movement mechanism for moving the probe, and measures a shape of the object by allowing the probe tip to scan the surface. A controller controls operation of the coordinate measuring machine by calculating a scanning path for allowing the probe tip to perform scanning movement and the movement path followed by the probe when the probe tip moves along the scanning path, setting control points on a line connecting each position of the probe tip and each corresponding position of the probe accepting a change in position of the control points by a user, and changing the movement path accordingly. An adjustment guide unit in the controller allows the control points to move collectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Liming Li
  • Patent number: 9995575
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to computing technologies. In particular, aspects of the disclosure relate to mobile computing device technologies, such as systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable media for improving orientation data. In one embodiment, techniques are described for filtering data associated with a sensor coupled to a computing device, by receiving a signal from the sensor, detecting a change in a variability of a first signal parameter from a plurality of signal parameters from the signal, and adjusting, based at least in part on the detected change in the variability of the first signal parameter, at least one filter parameter of a filter used to filter a second signal parameter from the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Victor Kulik
  • Patent number: 9995576
    Abstract: A laser distance measuring device and a control method for the same are disclosed. More specifically, disclosed herein are a laser distance measuring device capable of quickly measuring horizontal and vertical distances using laser and a control method for the same. The laser distance measuring device may include a light transmitter, a light receiver, a sensing unit, and a controller configured to perform an control operation to emit split laser through the light transmitter, acquire time difference information indicating a difference between a time to emit the split laser and a time to sense, through the sensing unit, the split laser reflected from a target position, and calculate a distance to the target position using the time difference information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jejong Lee, Sungjin Cho, Gyeongeon Lee, Sunghoon Cha
  • Patent number: 9995577
    Abstract: A measuring system includes a smart terminal and a measuring device. The smart terminal includes a first power source module, a first processor, a first wireless communication unit and a memory. The measuring device includes a measuring module, a second power source module and a second wireless communication unit. The measuring system may include one or more applications to provide a rich set of functionalities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Chervon (HK) Limited
    Inventors: Qiwei Zhou, Guigong Ni
  • Patent number: 9995578
    Abstract: In view of the active vision model based on structured light, a hardware structure of a depth perception device (a chip or an IP core) for high-precision images is disclosed. Simultaneously, the module is not only capable of serving as an independent chip, but also an embedded IP core in application. Main principle of the module is as follows. Speckle image sequence (obtained from an external image sensor and unknown depth information) is processed by adaptive and uniform pre-processing sub-module, then is inputted to the module to be compared with the standard speckle image (known depth information), then motion-vector information of the inputted speckle image is obtained by pattern matching of image blocks (similarity calculation) by the block-matching motion estimation sub-module, then depth image is obtained by depth calculation, and finally high-resolution sequence of depth image is outputted by post-processing the depth image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Inventors: Chenyang Ge, Yanhui Zhou
  • Patent number: 9995579
    Abstract: A tiltmeter to measure a variation in inclination of a structure from a given starting position. The tiltmeter has two pots, each pot contains an identical volume and identical height of an identical liquid. A communication device connects the two pots and allows the liquid to flow between the two pots by the principle of communicating vessels. Two optical measuring devices are provided, one optical measuring device per pot. Each optical measuring device measures a variation in height of the level of liquid in the associated pot. The optical measuring devices are fiber optic devices coupled to a common light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignees: CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIC, UNIVERSITE DE MONTPELLIER
    Inventor: Frederick Boudin
  • Patent number: 9995580
    Abstract: A level includes a top surface, a bottom surface parallel with the top surface, and a body accommodating at least one vial. The body has at least one through hole, at least one portion of the vial is exposed through the through hole, a close-ended locating hole is mounted at a side of the through hole, an opened-ended locating hole is mounted at another side of the through hole, and two sides of the vial are accommodated in the two locating holes respectively. A side of the opened-ended locating hole is mounted with a locating aperture so that a magnet is positioned in the locating aperture so as to fix the vial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Inventor: Cheng-Hsiung Huang
  • Patent number: 9995581
    Abstract: A system that performs heterodyne optical imaging across multiple platforms gathers an optical signal from an optical sensor at each of the multiple platforms. At the same time, an optical frequency comb local oscillator (LO) at each of the platforms generates a reference comb signal comprising a set of optical frequency comb lines at different frequencies, wherein each optical frequency comb LO is locked to a local atomic clock at each of the platforms. Next, a mixer, at each of the platforms, is used to mix the optical signal gathered from the optical sensor with the reference comb signal generated by the optical frequency comb LO to generate a mixed signal. The system then communicates the mixed signals generated at each of the platforms to a central location. Finally, the system correlates the mixed signals received from each of the platforms and generates a reconstructed optical image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventor: Sung-Joo Ben Yoo
  • Patent number: 9995582
    Abstract: A vibrating element includes a base part, drive arms containing first surfaces and second surfaces having front-back relations with the first surfaces, having groove portions provided on the first surface sides, and extended from the base part in extension directions, and drive parts provided to contain piezoelectric layers on the second surfaces, and section shapes of the drive arms orthogonal to the extension directions contain asymmetric section shapes with respect to virtual center lines passing through centers of widths in directions orthogonal to the extension directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiro Ishii
  • Patent number: 9995583
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention allow for increased shock robustness in gyroscopes. In certain embodiments, immunity against undesired forces that corrupt signal output is provided by a chessboard-pattern architecture of proof masses that provides a second layer of differential signals not present in existing designs. Masses are aligned parallel to each other in a two-by-two configuration with two orthogonal symmetry axes. The masses are driven to oscillate in such a way that each mass moves anti-parallel to an adjacent proof mass. In some embodiments of the invention, a mechanical joint system interconnects proof masses to suppress displacements due to mechanical disturbances, while permitting displacements due to Coriolis forces to prevented erroneous sensor signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Hanking Electronics, Ltd.
    Inventors: Alessandro Rocchi, Lorenzo Bertini, Eleonora Marchetti
  • Patent number: 9995584
    Abstract: One or more devices in a data analysis computing system may be configured to receive and analyze acceleration data corresponding to driving data, analyze the acceleration data, and determine driving patterns and associated drivers based on the data. Acceleration data may be collected by one or more mobile devices, such as smartphones, tablet computers, and/or on-board vehicle systems. Drivers associated with driving trips may be identified based on the acceleration data collected by the mobile devices. In some cases, driving patterns may be determined based on the acceleration data before and after stopping points during driving trips, and the driving patterns may be compared to a set of previously stored driving patterns associated with various different drivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company
    Inventor: Valery Alexander Kanevsky
  • Patent number: 9995585
    Abstract: A method for navigating a user between a first position within a building and a second position, or vice versa, includes creating, by a motor vehicle, map information describing at least one partial area of the building based on vehicle environment information created at the motor vehicle that describes objects in the environment around the motor vehicle. The method further includes providing, by the motor vehicle, parking information including a park position of the motor vehicle within the building and transferring the map information and the parking information to a mobile communication device. The mobile communication device is configured to create navigation information containing at least one navigation route between the first position and the second position, based on the transferred map information and the transferred parking information. The mobile communication device is configured to navigate the user between the first position and the second position using the navigation information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Harald Altinger, Florian Schuller
  • Patent number: 9995586
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a computer-implemented method for assigning identifiers to geographic locations within digital map data, comprising selecting a region within the map data, dividing the region into a first plurality of cells each uniquely addressable by an identifier of a first length, selecting a portion of the region and dividing the portion into a second plurality of cells each uniquely addressable by an identifier of a second length, wherein the second length is shorter length than the first length and a geographic location within the portion of the region may be uniquely identified by an identifier of the first length and an identifier of the second length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: STICHTING MAPCODE FOUNDATION
    Inventor: Pieter Andreas Geelen
  • Patent number: 9995587
    Abstract: A system to develop topographical data in a mapping database is herein presented. The system includes: a memory including one or more executable instructions and the mapping database; a controller configured to read and execute the one or more executable instructions; a sensor configured to determine when the vehicle encounters a road surface feature and subsequently send a surface-variation signal including a topographic coordinate update corresponding to the road surface feature. The executable instructions enable the controller to: receive the surface-variation signal from the sensor; and collaborate with the mapping database to develop the topographical data with the topographic coordinate update.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Samuel T. Haberl
  • Patent number: 9995588
    Abstract: Methods and arrangements for identifying at least one anomaly in a path taken by a plurality of objects. A plurality of trajectories are input, wherein each trajectory comprises a data set indicative of a path taken by a plurality of objects from a starting point to an ending point, wherein the starting point and ending point are substantially similar for each trajectory. A plurality of sub-trajectories within the input trajectories are identified. There are identified, within the plurality of sub-trajectories, a set of sub-trajectories that are anomalous when compared to other sub-trajectories within the plurality of sub-trajectories, wherein the anomalous sub-trajectories deviate from a predetermined standard. A maximal anomalous sub-trajectory is identified from among the identified set of anomalous sub-trajectories. Other variants and embodiments are broadly contemplated herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Prithu Banerjee, Biplav Srivastava, Srikanth Govindaraj Tamilselvam
  • Patent number: 9995589
    Abstract: A path plan generating apparatus 10 corrects an RRT path plan that an RRT path plan generating section 22 has generated by processing based on the RRT algorithm, by a path plan correcting section 23 by processing based on the potential method. If the corrected path plan becomes a path plan with which interference between the mobile body 1 and an obstacle A is unavoidable, the apparatus 10 causes the RRT path plan generating section 22 to generate a new RRT path plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Taizo Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 9995590
    Abstract: A computing device detects that an ignition switch of the vehicle was activated, wherein the vehicle includes a navigation device. The computing device requests a destination from the navigation device. The computing device interlocking, an operation of the vehicle based on determining that the destination is not valid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel J. Buvid, Eric J. Campbell, Tyler Jandt, Joseph Kuczynski
  • Patent number: 9995591
    Abstract: The disclosure includes a system and method for determining a departure time for a Plug-in Electric Vehicle (“PEV”). The method may include analyzing power meter data to determine that a connector of a control device is coupled to an inlet of the PEV. The method may include charging a battery set of the PEV with electricity. The method may include determining a next day of a next journey for the PEV based on clock data provided by a clock. The clock data may describe time information describing a present day and a category of the next day. The method may include analyzing history data associated with the category of the next day to determine a habitual time associated with the category of the next day. The method may include estimating that a departure time for the next journey is substantially equal to the habitual time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Inventors: Takayuki Shimizu, Kenichi Murakami, Kunihiko Kumita, Tomoya Ohno
  • Patent number: 9995592
    Abstract: Sealed device for calibrating an altitude measurement device comprising an atmospheric pressure sensor whose movements of deformation are converted, via a transmission system, into a pivoting motion of an activation system that drives the pivoting of an indicator hand, wherein a sensing element bearing on the atmospheric pressure sensor is rigidly fixed to a transmission shaft movable along its longitudinal axis of symmetry, wherein the calibration device includes an air intake that can adjust the pressure inside the calibration device as required, and also includes a first button via which the axial position of the transmission shaft can be adjusted, and a second button via which it is possible to move the atmospheric pressure sensor up or down. The invention also concerns a method for calibrating the altitude measurement device using the sealed calibration device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Yvan Ferri, Nicolas Rebeaud
  • Patent number: 9995593
    Abstract: A sensor array and a method are provided for operating a sensor array with a first sensor and a second sensor, the second sensor being designed for an operation at an ambient temperature, the first sensor representing a heated sensor, which is designed for being operated at an operating temperature that is above the ambient temperature, the first and the second sensor being connected to each other via a carrier, the carrier bringing about thermal coupling between the first and the second sensor, the first sensor being heated to the operating temperature during a first phase, and a measurement being carried out by the first sensor during the first phase, the heating being switched off or at least being reduced in a second phase, and a measurement being carried out by the second sensor during the second phase, an increased temperature of the second sensor as a result of the heating during the first phase being taken into account when evaluating the measurement of the second sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Badeja, Andreas Krauss, Richard Fix
  • Patent number: 9995594
    Abstract: A facility is connected to an electricity utility and includes a plurality of control computer controlled devices and a plurality of devices that is uncontrolled by control computers. An operational status of each of the control computer controlled devices is monitored by a server. The facility has a power meter that provides data representing actual power consumption to the server which is connected via a network to the control computer. The server is configured to determine power consumption of each device in the plurality of controlled devices from operational status data and power consumption data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
    Inventors: Ayman Fawaz, Ned Cox
  • Patent number: 9995595
    Abstract: A method for detecting the reciprocal position between a cylinder and a piston in a cylinder-piston unit, including the following phases: setup of a cylinder-piston unit featuring at least one tubular body (2) presenting at least one passing accommodation host (6); at least one moving body (5) which can be longitudinally shifted in the tubular body (2), featuring at least one reference area (5c) extending for a portion (5d) on the surface of the moving body (5); a detector (7) which can be accommodated in such passing accommodation host (6), oriented towards the moving body (5) and detecting the presence or absence of the reference area (5c) at one detection area (7c), and to generate at least one corresponding output electrical signal (s7), in response to detection of the reference area (5c); at least one elaboration and program control unit (8) receives as an input at least one of the output electrical signals (s7) and generates at least one electrical signal (s8) of detection; activation of the detector (7
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignees: OPTOELETTRONICA ITALIA SRL, GIULIANI SRL
    Inventors: Nicola Battisti, Alfredo Maglione
  • Patent number: 9995596
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a circuit, a code modulator, and an actuator. The circuit is operable to detect displacements of a rotating object while in motion. The circuit is operable to detect a position of the displacements and to generate a signal associated therewith. The code modulator is operable to generate a modulated signal based on the position and the displacements. The actuator is operable to apply a force to the rotating object, wherein the force is based on the modulated signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Hans Leuthold
  • Patent number: 9995597
    Abstract: The present invention enables to obtain an approximate position of a zero crossing point in a shorter time period. A magnetic position sensor detects, with an array in which multiple magnetic detection elements are arranged in a straight line, the zero crossing point at which the magnetic flux density from a pair of magnetic poles is zero in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the array. The magnetic detection elements are elements whose output changes in polarity when the direction of the magnetic flux density is inverted, and detect an approximate position of the zero crossing point by reading an output of every k-th magnetic detection element of the array (where k is an integer of 2 or greater). Then, the position of the zero crossing point is detected according to outputs of at least two magnetic detection elements on both sides of the zero crossing point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Murata Machinery, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Shimizu, Satoshi Hanaka, Tatsuo Ota, Shogo Terada
  • Patent number: 9995598
    Abstract: A method for measuring a position using a magnet and a sensor for detecting the magnetic field strength of the magnet. The magnet and/or the sensor interact with a movable element so that a relative movement between the sensor and the magnet can be effected. The position of the movable element in accordance with the coordinates in a system of coordinates can be ascertained on the basis of the magnetic field having a predetermined shape generated by the magnet and detected by the sensor. The sensor ascertains three linearly independent spatial direction components of the magnetic field strength of the magnetic field acting at the location of the sensor. Each coordinate along a coordinate axis of the system coordinates of the magnetic field is determined individually and unambiguously by the combination of the three linearly independent spatial direction components of the magnetic field strength detected by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Marquardt Mechatronik GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Allmendinger, Eberhard Binder
  • Patent number: 9995599
    Abstract: A motor includes a rotating shaft, a rotor that surrounds the rotating shaft, rotates along with the rotating shaft, and includes a drive magnet, and a sensing unit that surrounds the rotating shaft, is disposed over the rotor, and detects rotation of the rotor, wherein the sensing unit includes a sensing plate that includes a plurality of holes that are formed along with an edge of the sensing plate, a sensing magnet that is mounted on the sensing plate and is disposed closer to the rotating shaft than the plurality of holes, a first sensor that is disposed over the sensing plate and detects a change in the sensing plate, and a second sensor that is disposed over the sensing magnet and detects a change in the sensing magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jae Hyun Park
  • Patent number: 9995600
    Abstract: A system and method for providing a position and orientation sensor package having a reduced size in at least one dimension is disclosed. The position and orientation sensor package includes a dielectric substrate and a first magneto-resistance sensor chip attached to the dielectric substrate, the first magneto-resistance sensor chip including at least one magneto-resistance sensor circuit. The position and orientation sensor package also includes a second magneto-resistance sensor chip attached to the dielectric substrate and positioned adjacent the first magneto-resistance sensor chip, the second magneto-resistance sensor chip including at least one magneto-resistance sensor circuit. The position and orientation sensor package is constructed such that the at least one magneto-resistance sensor circuit of the first magneto-resistance sensor chip is oriented in a different direction than the at least one magneto-resistance sensor circuit of the second magneto-resistance sensor chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kaustubh Ravindra Nagarkar, Peter William Lorraine
  • Patent number: 9995601
    Abstract: A capacitive proximity sensor for a motor vehicle contains a transmission electrode for producing a measurement field and a reception electrode for detecting at least part of the measurement field. Furthermore, the proximity sensor contains a screen electrode that is disposed to form the measurement field between the transmission electrode and the reception electrode. The proximity sensor is in particular provided for use in a collision protection device for the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: BROSE Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Hallstadt
    Inventors: Holger Wuerstlein, Florian Pohl
  • Patent number: 9995602
    Abstract: A time grating linear displacement sensor based on an alternating light field, comprising a fixed pole plate and a movable pole plate, wherein the upper part and the lower part of the fixed pole plate are respectively provided with a row of square fixed pole plate light-transmitting surfaces which are uniformly distributed; the upper part and the lower part at the rear of the fixed pole plate are respectively provided with one group of light-emitting devices; the upper part and the lower part of the movable pole plate are respectively provided with two semi-sinusoidal movable pole plate light-transmitting surfaces; and four light-sensitive receiving units are fixed on the movable pole plate, the photoelectric receiving surfaces of the light-sensitive receiving units covering the movable pole plate light-transmitting surfaces. The two groups of light-emitting devices respectively provide an alternating light field. The movable pole plate moves relative to the fixed pole plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: CHONGQING UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Donglin Peng, Xiaokang Liu, Min Fu, Haojie Xia, Ge Zhu
  • Patent number: 9995603
    Abstract: A position detector, including: a scale including a pattern array formed cyclically in a movement direction, the scale being provided to a fixed member or a movable member; a detector including detection elements arranged in the movement direction, the detector being provided to the other; a generating unit that selectively generates, from signals received from the detection elements, a first signal obtained by a first combination of the signals or a second signal obtained by a second combination of the signals; an output unit that outputs the first or second signal received from the generating unit; and a switcher that switches over between the first and second signals as a signal to be generated, wherein the first signal changes within a first range, corresponding to a relative position; and the second signal does not change beyond a second range smaller than the first range, corresponding to the relative position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takeshi Yonezawa
  • Patent number: 9995604
    Abstract: An optical sensor (10) comprises an optical cavity defined by a dielectric body and responsive to one or more physical environmental conditions, and a waveguide (70) having a terminal end spaced apart from the optical cavity such that light is optically coupled from the terminal end of the waveguide (70) to the optical cavity. The waveguide (70) is arranged such that, in use, it is maintained at a first temperature that would not damage the optical coupling to the optical cavity when the dielectric body is maintained at a second temperature sufficient to damage the optical coupling to the optical cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: OXSENSIS LIMITED
    Inventors: Arnold Peter Roscoe Harpin, John Paul Drake, Stephen Geoffrey Tyler
  • Patent number: 9995605
    Abstract: A Bourdon tube pressure gauge includes: a Bourdon tube; a rotary piece rotatably attached to a first shaft arranged near a tip of the Bourdon tube; a pointer including a second shaft arranged on a side facing an outer periphery of the fan-shaped portion of the rotary piece; a first permanent magnet provided on an outer peripheral surface side of a fan-shaped portion of the rotary piece; a second permanent magnet provided at the second shaft. An outer peripheral surface of the first permanent magnet and an outer peripheral surface of the second permanent magnet each has N pole and S pole alternately magnetized at equal pitches. A magnetic member configured to relax force by which the second permanent magnet is attracted to the first permanent magnet is provided across the second permanent magnet from the first permanent magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignees: PROSPINE Co., Ltd., OKADA KEIKI MFG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Konno, Manabu Oonuma, Nobutaka Okada
  • Patent number: 9995606
    Abstract: To provide an inexpensive indicator member which can prevent a dark area from being formed at a location above a reflection part, an indicator unit having the indicator member and an indicator instrument having the indicator unit. A hollow reflection part provided to an indicator part of an indicator main body of a light-emitting indicator includes a plurality of partial reflection parts having at least an pointing direction reflection face, a rear end direction reflection face and a corner formed at an intersection of the pointing direction reflection face and the rear end direction reflection face and arranged at a location opposed to the base part. The corners of the respective partial reflection parts adjacent to each other are displaced in a pointing direction or in a rear end direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Miyazawa, Masayuki Ogawa
  • Patent number: 9995607
    Abstract: A flow rate measuring unit, comprising a housing, which is composed of at least two housing parts that can be connected to one another and in which a flow passage extends, which branches off into a measuring channel branch and at least one bypass channel branch, wherein a substrate comprising a sensor system is disposed in the measuring channel branch. According to the invention, the flow passage includes a channel widening chamber in which an insert plate stack composed of at least two insert plates is disposed, which each include at least one plate-longitudinal recess extending in the longitudinal direction as the measuring channel branch and/or as the bypass channel branch. The insert plates are provided as insert parts for the channel widening chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Axetris AG
    Inventors: Stefan Bürgi, Adrian Dänzer, Christoph Bächler
  • Patent number: 9995608
    Abstract: The pitot-static tester kit is adapted for use with pitot based measurement equipment. The pitot-static tester kit tests the static pressure pitot static tube for leaks in situ. The pitot-static tester kit is a kit that simultaneously tests the pitot tube and the hose of a tube assembly selected from the group consisting of the stagnation pressure pitot static tube assembly and the static pressure pitot static tube assembly. The selected tube assembly is placed under pressure from an externally provided test set and the pitot-static tester kit then tests the pitot tube and the hose of a selected tube assembly for leaks. The pitot-static tester kit comprises a first adapter plug, a second adapter plug, a cleaning medium, a surfactant solution, a flashlight, and a cloth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Inventor: Brent Shintaku
  • Patent number: 9995609
    Abstract: A signal processor receives a signal containing information about a sensor that is spirally wrapped at a known pitch or separation down a pipe having a flow; and determines a flow velocity based at least partly on the information contained in the signal received by applying an autocorrelation function that depends on a relationship between the time between a repeating pattern and the known pitch or separation of the spirally wrapped sensor. The signal processor provides a corresponding signal containing information about the flow velocity. The sensor includes a strain sensor, including a piezo-electric polymer strain sensor fabricated from PVDF, and/or two or more equally spaced spirally wound sensors. The determining includes correlating output signals of two or more equally spaced spirally wound sensors to determine a time delay, and determining the flow velocity based on the time delay and the known pitch or separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: CiDRA CORPORATE SERVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Mark R. Fernald
  • Patent number: 9995610
    Abstract: A method for operating a nuclear magnetic flowmeter having a measuring device for determining the flow of the medium through the measuring tube, the measuring device having a magnetic field generator for generating a magnetic field permeating the medium and the measuring tube and for carrying out nuclear magnetic measurements of measuring volumes that are adjustable in position and size in the magnetic field. The nuclear magnetic measurements involve adjusting the size of the measuring volume, positioning the measuring volume, generating excitation signals for exciting the medium, transmitting excitation signals into the measuring volume and measuring echo signals caused by the excitation signals. Deposits on the inner wall of the measuring tube are determined from echo signals of all nuclear magnetic measurements assigned to the position of the measuring volume of the respective nuclear magnetic measurement and at least one abrupt change in the echo signals detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Krohne AG
    Inventors: Cornelis Johannes Hogendoorn, Rutger Reinout Tromp
  • Patent number: 9995611
    Abstract: Various systems and methods for detecting air in a chamber of an infusion system are disclosed. In one embodiment, a determination is made that air is contained in the chamber on the basis of a change in the average force exerted against the plunger utilizing a derivative spike for event detection and a systematic reduction in the average force to confirm the nature of the change. In another embodiment, a determination is made that the chamber contains air when a difference between the current force profile and a baseline force profile crosses a threshold. In an additional embodiment, a force profile is classified as being an air force profile or a liquid force profile based on extracted features of the force profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: ICU Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy L. Ruchti, Brian G. Markey, Anatoly S. Belkin, Paul T. Kotnik, Mohammad M. Khair
  • Patent number: 9995612
    Abstract: A locking portion is attached on a curved tube portion of a measurement tube, and a hole portion is formed at a distal end of the locking portion in a vertical direction, and a conical depression is provided on an inner wall surface on outside of the hole portion. A coupling ring of a coupling portion engages the hole portion, and a pivot needle, coming into abutment with the conical depression abuts from an inner wall surface of the coupling ring which faces the conical depression. The other end of the coupling ring is elastically attracted toward a fixing portion via an elastic member formed of an extension spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: ATSUDEN CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Eiichi Murakami
  • Patent number: 9995613
    Abstract: Motion is induced in a conduit such that the conduit vibrates in a major mode of vibration having a major amplitude and a minor mode of vibration having a minor amplitude. The major amplitude is larger than the minor amplitude, the major mode of vibration has a first frequency of vibration and the minor mode of vibration has a second frequency of vibration, and the minor mode of vibration interferes with the major mode of vibration to cause a beat signal having a frequency related to the first frequency of vibration and the second frequency of vibration. The frequency of the beat signal is determined, and the second frequency of vibration is determined based on the determined frequency of the beat signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Systems USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Manus P. Henry, Mihaela D. Duta, Michael S. Tombs