Patents Issued in June 12, 2018
  • Patent number: 9995814
    Abstract: A method for compensating for the propagation inhomogeneities in a time-domain reflectogram measured for a given cable comprises the following steps, executed in an iterative manner: injecting a test signal into the cable, measuring the reflection of the test signal to form a time-domain reflectogram, identifying at least a time portion of the time-domain reflectogram comprising at least one amplitude peak corresponding to a propagation inhomogeneity, subtracting the identified time portion of the reflectogram, divided by the signal reflection coefficient at the injection point, from the test signal, and replacing the test signal with the result of the subtraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Fabrice Auzanneau, Lola El Sahmarany, Luca Incarbone
  • Patent number: 9995815
    Abstract: An energy metering system includes a plurality of sensors arranged in proximity to circuit breakers of a distribution panel for sensing a magnetic field in the area of the circuit breakers and providing corresponding sensor data. The system further includes a data processing system for converting the sensor data of the plurality of sensors into electrical load information for a plurality of electrical circuits protected by corresponding circuit breakers. The system further includes a calibration unit configured to determine at least a reference voltage and a reference current of at least one circuit. The data processing system is configured to calibrate a relationship between the sensor data and the load information based on the reference voltage and reference current determined by the calibration device in a calibration mode of the energy metering system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: ENERGYBOX LTD.
    Inventors: Dirk Beiner, Mihail Mastroyiannis, Wing Kin Louie
  • Patent number: 9995816
    Abstract: The invention introduces a method for indoor positioning, executed by a processing unit of a first reference node, which contains at least the following steps. Broadcast signals of second reference nodes are listened. Signal measurements of the broadcast signals are obtained. Identification information is obtained from broadcast messages sent by the second reference nodes. A distance associated with each identification information is obtained. A MLM (Machine Learning Model) is updated according to the signal measurements and the distances, where the MLM describes a linear function between signal measurements and distances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Wistron Corp.
    Inventor: Chih-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 9995817
    Abstract: A tracking computer system may track a target using a single linear array. The system may receive first sensor measurements and one or more additional sensor measurements from the linear array. The system may determine whether a location of the target can be identified based on a cone intersection algorithm. When the target location can be identified based on the cone intersection algorithm, the first and the one or more additional sensor measurements may be applied to the cone intersection algorithm to identify the target location. When target location cannot be identified based on the cone intersection algorithm, the first and the one or more additional sensor measurements may be applied to an angular motion model to determine a best fit arc path corresponding to the target. A true target angle estimate and a target angular velocity may be determined based on the determined best fit arc path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: David M. Mittiga
  • Patent number: 9995818
    Abstract: An example disclosed system for locating a signal source includes a receiver; and a plurality of node devices, wherein the receiver includes processing circuitry configured to perform operations including generating signal timing information including one or more pulses corresponding to a correlation with one or more frequencies based on each of a plurality of wireless signal streams, each of the wireless signal streams including a signal of interest; applying times and one or more determined gains for the signal of interest to permit estimate of a phase of the received signal; obtaining, from a memory device that stores the wireless signal streams, symbols of the signal of interest based on window periods associated with the pulses; formatting the symbols; and determining time-of-arrival information based on the formatted symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: ZIH Corp.
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, Jerald W. English, Thomas L. Richardson, Michael A. Wohl
  • Patent number: 9995819
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for processing radar return signals to identify spherical objects from within a cluster of objects, collects by a radar receiver, a plurality of radar return signals over N-point measurement windows corresponding to objects within the cluster of objects, the radar return signals corresponding to electronic pulses transmitted by a radar transmitter. The radar processor extracts radar cross section data from the collected plurality of radar return signals, and computes, based on the radar cross section data, a plurality of standard deviation values, each standard deviation value based on the radar cross section data corresponding to one of the N-point windows. The radar processor determines, based on analysis of the sequence of standard deviation values of the return signals, whether the object is a spherical object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Yusif K. Akhund, Felice DiAntonio, Daniel J. Barrot
  • Patent number: 9995820
    Abstract: A distance-measuring sensor (10) is provided for detecting and determining the distance of objects (18) in a monitored zone comprising a transmitter (12) for transmitting transmitted pulses; a receiver (20) for generating a received signal from the transmitted pulses remitted in the monitored zone; a first comparator unit (36a) for digitizing the received signal with reference to a first threshold; and a control and evaluation unit (30) which is configured to transmit a plurality of transmitted pulses via the transmitter (12), to collect the received signals thereupon generated by the receiver (20) in a histogram and to determine a received time point from the histogram and thus to determine a measured value for the signal transit time from the sensor (10) to the object (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventors: Fabian Jachmann, Michael Engler, Bernd Rothenberger, Thomas Dollmann
  • Patent number: 9995821
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an array of pixels, each pixel including in-cell pixel logic and a piezoelectric micromechanical ultrasonic transducer (PMUT) element, each in-cell pixel logic being communicatively coupled with at least one adjacent pixel in the array. Transceiver electronics may operate the array in a selectable one of a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode, the array may generate a substantially plane ultrasonic wave. In the second mode, the array may generate, from at least one superpixel region, a focused beam of relatively high acoustic pressure, each superpixel region including at least one inner pixel disposed in a central portion of the superpixel region and at least a first group of outer pixels disposed in an outer portion of the superpixel region. The transceiver electronics may be configured to operate the array by configuring at least one in-cell pixel logic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Hao-Yen Tang, Yipeng Lu, Hrishikesh Vijaykumar Panchawagh
  • Patent number: 9995822
    Abstract: A disclosed collision detection system for a vehicle includes a radar sensor mounted to the vehicle proximate that is capable of detecting objects in proximity to the vehicle, and at least one component at least partially defining a cavity. The cavity is at least partially filled by a material that modifies a portion of radar energy emitted from the radar sensor and transmitted back to the radar sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Irfan Baftiu, Frank Gruson
  • Patent number: 9995823
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for using compressed sensing for imaging an object for use in combination with an entertainment or infotainment device. For example, the system may utilize a few—(e.g., 1, 2, 3 . . . ) pixel imaging sensor to obtain coarse image data from each of a plurality of subregions of a region of interest. Compressed sensing techniques may then be used to estimate a higher resolution image of the region of interest using the coarse image data from the plurality of subregions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: ELWHA LLC
    Inventors: Jesse R. Cheatham, III, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, Craig J. Mundie, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Robert C. Petroski, Eric D. Rudder, Desney S. Tan, Clarence T. Tegreene, Charles Whitmer, Andrew Wilson, Jeannette M. Wing, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y. H. Wood
  • Patent number: 9995824
    Abstract: Devices and methods for aiding a large area search for submerged objects such as aircraft. A searcher transmits interrogation signals to be received by a device at the target object. The interrogation signals have a long range relative to that of returned signals. The target device responds with a ping signal modified to be more easily found by means of information contained in the interrogation signal. The information may be inherent in the nature of the received signal or data encoded and embedded by the searching device. The target device may use a microprocessor to do complex operations using the information from the interrogation signal and other information. Detection of a weak ping is facilitated by such means as being beamed in the direction of the interrogation, arriving at a predictable time, or having parameters adapted to values requested by the searcher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Inventor: Thomas Danaher Harvey
  • Patent number: 9995825
    Abstract: A distance measurement device includes an imaging unit, an emission unit, a light receiving unit, a derivation unit which derives a distance to the subject based on a timing at which directional light is emitted and a timing at which reflected light is received, an execution unit which executes at least one of focus adjustment of an imaging optical system with respect to the subject or exposure adjustment prior to imaging by the imaging unit, and a control unit which performs control such that the timing at which at least one of focus adjustment or exposure adjustment is executed by the execution unit and the timing of a distance measurement by the emission unit, the light receiving unit, and the derivation unit are synchronized and performs control such that transition is performed to a state where actual exposure by the imaging unit is possible after the distance measurement is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomonori Masuda, Hiroshi Tamayama
  • Patent number: 9995826
    Abstract: An electronic distance meter includes an optical unit which emits light to a target object and receives the light reflected by the target object with a light receiving element, a measuring unit which calculates a length of round-trip time taken for the light to make a round trip to the target object and measures a distance to the target object according to the round-trip time of the received light, a light receiving system which receives and condenses the light reflected by the target object, and an optical guide which guides the light condensed by the light receiving element to the light receiving system, including a multi-mode graded index fiber and a multi-mode step index fiber coupled with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Topcon
    Inventors: Shigenori Nagano, Yasushi Tanaka, Kenichiro Yoshino
  • Patent number: 9995827
    Abstract: A mobile vehicle comprising: an electric undercarriage including a wheel that can travel; and a distance detection unit and a protruding structure which are mounted on the electric undercarriage, wherein the distance detection unit is configured to emit light horizontally in a range of a predetermined center angle around the electric undercarriage and to be capable of detecting a distance to an object present within the range of the predetermined center angle, the protruding structure includes one or more of an antenna, a warning light, an imaging device, and a lift mechanism unit, and the protruding structure is placed on the electric undercarriage at a position outside the range of the predetermined center angle, whose mobile vehicle can reliably recognize an obstacle without creating a blind spot in a traveling direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Matsuyama
  • Patent number: 9995828
    Abstract: A quiet zone generation technique for acoustic/audio signals is proposed for mitigation of selected noise or interferences over limited areas in free space by injecting the very acoustic noise, interference, or audio feedback signals via iterative processing, generating quiet zones dynamically. This creates undesired noise-free quiet zones. Optimization loops operating iteratively to electronically process cancellation signals consist of three interconnected functional blocks: (1) an acoustic injection array, consisting of pick-up arrays to obtain the interference signals, beam forming networks for element weighting and/or re-positioning, and array elements for noise injections, (2) a diagnostic network with strategically located probes, and (3) an optimization processor with cost minimization algorithms to calculate element weights for updating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Spatial Digital Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald C. D. Chang, Steve Chen
  • Patent number: 9995829
    Abstract: When detecting scintillation events in a nuclear imaging system, time-stamping and energy-gating processing is incorporated into autonomous detection modules (ADM) (14) to reduce downstream processing. Each ADM (14) is removably coupled to a detector fixture (13), and comprises a scintillation crystal array (66) and associated light detect or (s) (64), such as a silicon photomultiplier or the like. The light detector(s) (64) is coupled to a processing module (62) in or on the ADM (14), which performs the energy gating and time-stamping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Carsten Degenhardt, Thomas Frach, Gordian Prescher
  • Patent number: 9995830
    Abstract: A method for scintillation event localization in a radiation particle detector includes providing a plurality of scintillator element locations (2?) configured to emit a burst of photons responsive to a radiation particle being absorbed at the scintillator element location (2?). A burst of photons emitted by the scintillator element location (2?) is detected with a photosensor (5). The photosensor (5) includes an array of single photon avalanche diodes configured to break down responsive to impingement of a photon. Breakdown data (30) is acquired indicative of which of the single photon avalanche diodes are in breakdown. Predetermined photosensor sensitivity data (20, 40) assigns single photon avalanche diodes to groups. Each group is assigned to exactly one scintillator element location (2?). Finally the number of single photon avalanche diodes in breakdown is determined for each group individually to identify the scintillator element location (2?) that emitted the burst of photons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Volkmar Schulz
  • Patent number: 9995831
    Abstract: An X-ray detector (1) includes a light detection arrangement (3) such as a CMOS photodetector, a scintillator layer (5) such as a CsI:Tl layer, a reflector layer (9) and a light emission layer (7) interposed between the scintillator layer (5) and the reflector layer (9). The light emission layer (7) may include an OLED and may have a thickness of less than 50 ?m. Thereby, a sensitivity and resolution of the X-ray detector may be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Coen Adrianus Verschuren, Heidrun Steinhauser, Tiemen Poorter, Hugo Johan Cornelissen
  • Patent number: 9995832
    Abstract: A radiation detector includes: a radiation detecting module including a photoconductive layer containing at least one heavy metal; a voltage controller configured to detect current flowing through the photoconductive layer and control application of a voltage to the photoconductive layer based on the detected current; and a sealing part configured to seal the photoconductive layer and surround a portion of the radiation detecting module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Young Kim, Jae-Chul Park
  • Patent number: 9995833
    Abstract: Nuclear medicine (NM) imaging system includes a detector assembly coupled to a gantry. The NM imaging system also includes a positioning sub-system having a motion controller and a detector motor. The positioning sub-system also includes a proximity sensor device (PSD) coupled to a detector head of the detector assembly. The PSD is configured to be activated. In response to being activated, the PSD is configured to transmit an output signal to stop the detector motor from moving the detector head toward the object. The NM imaging system also includes a secondary circuit that, in response to the PSD being activated, is configured to determine whether the detector head has stopped moving toward the object and, if the detector head has not stopped moving toward the object, is configured to disable the detector motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ilan Levin, Noam Perlis, Refael Dayan, Moty Levy, Roee Khen, Raed Khamaisi
  • Patent number: 9995834
    Abstract: Embodiments related to addition of a variable mass load to the shell of a marine vibrator to compensate for air spring effects. An embodiment provides a marine vibrator, comprising: an outer shell; a driver disposed at least partially within the outer shell and coupled thereto; and a mass load coupled to an exterior surface of the outer shell; wherein the marine vibrator has a resonance frequency selectable based at least in part on the mass load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: PGS Geophysical AS
    Inventor: Stig Rune Lennart Tenghamn
  • Patent number: 9995835
    Abstract: Embodiments of a method for implementing a finite difference time domain modeling with multiple APCs are disclosed herein. The disclosed methods and systems overcome the memory capacity limitation of APCs by having each APC perform multiple timesteps on a small piece of the computational domain or data volume in a APC queued manner. The cost of transferring data between host and compute accelerator can then be amortized over multiple timesteps, greatly reducing the amount of PCI bandwidth required to sustain high propagation speeds. The APC queued nature of the algorithm achieves linear scaling of PCI throughput with increasing number of APCs, allowing the algorithm to scale up to many dozens of APCs in some embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Thor Johnsen, Alexander Loddoch, Wei Liu
  • Patent number: 9995836
    Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for deploying and retrieving a plurality of autonomous seismic nodes from the back deck of a marine vessel using an overboard node deployment and retrieval system are presented. The overboard system may comprise one or more overboard wheels that are actively powered to move in response to changes in movement of the deployed cable. The overboard system may comprise a first overboard wheel with a plurality of rollers and a second overboard wheel configured to detect movement and/or changes in a position of the deployment line. The overboard system may be configured to move the first overboard wheel in response to movement of the second overboard wheel. In addition, the first overboard wheel may comprise at least one opening or pocket configured to hold a node while the node passes across the wheel. Other seismic devices may also pass through the overboard system, such as transponders and weights attached to the deployment cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Seabed Geosolutions B.V.
    Inventors: Arne Henning Rokkan, Richard Edward Henman, Leif Johan Larsen, Johan Fredrik Naes, Mariann Ervik, Ole-Fredrik Semb
  • Patent number: 9995837
    Abstract: Various embodiments include apparatus and methods to extract reflections from acoustic array data collected from a receiver array. A beam-former can be generated to detect a reflection wave in the presence of a direct wave identified from collected waveforms, where the beam-former can be correlated to receiver and depth for the array. The direct wave and the reflection wave can be separated to extract the reflection wave, where the separation is correlated to receiver and depth for the array. The extracted reflected wave can be used to image and/or analyze entities associated with the borehole. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark V. Collins
  • Patent number: 9995838
    Abstract: A system for measuring geological data is disclosed. The system includes several transceivers distributed over a geographical area. Each of the transceivers has at least one transmitter and at least one receiver. The transceivers are in communication with each other. The receivers are adapted to measure at least one electrical signal. The transmitters are adapted to inject an electrical current into a subsurface area. The transmitters operate simultaneously to inject the electrical current into the subsurface area simultaneously from a number of locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: MULTI-PHASE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Douglas John LaBrecque
  • Patent number: 9995839
    Abstract: In a method for determining at least one physical parameter, a sensor unit which is activated by at least one periodic excitation (1.4) is provided, wherein the sensor unit has at least one detection region in which changes of the parameter in the surroundings of the sensor unit lead to output signal (1.7) from the sensor unit. The sensor unit is wired such that if there are no changes of the parameter in the detection region the output signal (1.7) is a zero signal or virtually a zero signal at the output of the sensor unit, whereas if there are changes of the parameter in the detection region the output signal (1.7) is a signal that is not zero and has a specific amplitude and phase. In a closed control loop, the non-zero signal in the receive path is adjusted to zero using a control signal to achieve an adjusted state even in the presence of changes of the parameter in the detection region. The control signal is evaluated in order to determine the physical parameter. The output signal (1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Inventor: Gerd Reime
  • Patent number: 9995840
    Abstract: A drilling rig apparatus is disclosed for improving geosteering control by reducing the amount of bandwidth necessary to convey log data to the surface in real time. A bottom hole assembly receives measurement data from azimuthal measurement sensors. The BHA sorts the measurement data into appropriate bins in a radial plot. The BHA selects a hemisphere for transmission of the measurement data in those bins for the selected hemisphere, instead of transmitting the data for all bins in the plot. The BHA may average the data in the bins for the selected hemisphere with the data of the mirroring bins in the non-selected hemisphere. The BHA transmits the measurement data to a surface controller, which mirrors the data transmitted to the corresponding bins in the non-selected hemisphere to reconstitute the full set of data for the radial plot, which is used for image log generation, geosteering and other control functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Nabors Drilling Technologies USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Viens
  • Patent number: 9995841
    Abstract: Devices may include a scintillation detection device including a scintillator, a photon detector at least partially enclosed by the scintillator, and at least one reflector at least partially enclosing the scintillator. In another aspect, an oilfield wellbore device may include an oilfield string with at least one scintillation detection device on the string and a pressure housing enclosing the one or more scintillation detection devices. In another aspect, a method of measuring radiation in an oil and gas well may include conveying at least one scintillation detection device to at least one zone of interest in the oil and gas well and recording data from at least one scintillation detection device as a function of location in the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Markus Berheide, Wolfgang Ziegler, Timothy Spillane
  • Patent number: 9995842
    Abstract: A method for determining hydrogen index includes using measurements of gamma rays detected during operation of a pulsed neutron source and numbers of thermal neutron capture gamma rays made at at least two different axial spacings from a pulsed neutron source. Either a first ratio of or a first logarithm of the first ratio of the burst gamma rays is determined for a first and second axial distance from the neutron source. A second logarithm is determined of a second ratio of the thermal neutron capture gamma rays detected at a first axial spacing with respect to the numbers detected at a second axial spacing. A corrected second ratio of the numbers of thermal neutron capture gamma rays is determined using either (i) the first logarithm and (ii) the first ratio, and the second logarithm. The corrected second ratio is used to determine the hydrogen index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tong Zhou
  • Patent number: 9995843
    Abstract: Blasting video analysis techniques and systems are presented using vibration compensated background analysis with automated determination of blast origin coordinates and highest point coordinates using blast outline coordinates for post-origin frames. Blast expansion trajectories of the highest particle are estimated in frames preceding the highest point frame, and estimated blast parameters including maximum height and initial blast velocity are computed independent of blast data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Austin Star Detonator Company
    Inventors: Bryan E. Papillon, Cameron K. McKenzie, Igor Kharitonenko, Pavel Popov, William Mckenzie Hillhouse
  • Patent number: 9995844
    Abstract: Method and system are described for modeling one or more geophysical properties of a subsurface volume (102). The present disclosure provides method of modeling the subsurface comprising obtaining one or more subsurface volumes and performing at least two operations (104) on the subsurface volumes. A graph of operations is determined (106) based on each of the at least two operations in which the graph of operations includes a description of each of the at least two operations and a flow path for the each of the at least two operations (108). The graph of operation is stored (110). A specific operation within the graph of operations may then be identified (112). An additional operation may be created and connected to the graph of operations at a node associated with the specific operation to provide an additional branch to the graph of operations (114).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Pavel Dimitrov, Matthias Imhof, Martin Terrell
  • Patent number: 9995845
    Abstract: A method of optimizing the cross-sectional shape of a logging tool sensor includes the step of, for a given major axis dimension, selecting the minor axis dimension such that for a circular borehole geometry the cross-sectional area of the space between the sensor and a said circular borehole with which the sensor is pressed into contact is minimized. Logging tools optimized according to this technique exhibit beneficial sensor stand-off characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: REEVES WIRELINE TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventor: Darren Chaney
  • Patent number: 9995846
    Abstract: Various methods and apparatuses for facilitating cleaning of submerged geophysical equipment using sound waves transmitted at ultrasonic frequencies are disclosed. In some embodiments, one or more transducers may be configured to transmit sound at one or more ultrasonic frequencies. The sound at ultrasonic frequencies may be transmitted in the vicinity of submerged geophysical equipment, such as a sensor streamer towed behind a survey vessel. Obstructions (e.g., barnacle larvae) adhering to surfaces of the geophysical equipment may be loosened or removed altogether when ultrasonic transmissions occur within its vicinity. The transducers used to transmit the ultrasonic frequencies may be implemented in various ways, such as being attached to a remote operated vehicle, a cleaning unit, or as being an integral component of the geophysical equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: PGS Geophysical AS
    Inventor: Michael Bo Erneland
  • Patent number: 9995847
    Abstract: A method comprises receiving data associated with a detection of the odor, the data associated with the detection of the odor comprising a location of the detection of the odor and a time of the detection of the odor, retrieving weather data corresponding to the detection of the odor, the weather data including a wind speed and direction in the location of the detection of the odor at the time of the detection of the odor, calculating a location of the source of the odor as a function of the location of the detection of the odor, the time of the location of the odor and the wind speed and direction in the location of the detection of the odor, and outputting to a user on a display a graphical representation of a likely area that includes the location of the source of the odor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jayant Kalagnanam, Liu Xiao, Kyong Min Yeo, Yinsheng Zhou
  • Patent number: 9995848
    Abstract: One example of a computer-implemented method for adaptively placing weather sensors in response to dynamic local conditions includes obtaining a set of data indicating a dynamic local condition in a geographic location of interest and adaptively modifying a placement of a plurality of weather sensors in the geographic location of interest in response to the dynamic local condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Renato Fontoura de Gusmao Cerqueira, Kiran Mantripragada, Igor Cerqueira Oliveira, Marcelo Nery dos Santos, Vinícius Costa Villas Boas Segura
  • Patent number: 9995849
    Abstract: A method comprises receiving data associated with a detection of the odor, the data associated with the detection of the odor comprising a location of the detection of the odor and a time of the detection of the odor, retrieving weather data corresponding to the detection of the odor, the weather data including a wind speed and direction in the location of the detection of the odor at the time of the detection of the odor, calculating a location of the source of the odor as a function of the location of the detection of the odor, the time of the location of the odor and the wind speed and direction in the location of the detection of the odor, and outputting to a user on a display a graphical representation of a likely area that includes the location of the source of the odor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jayant Kalagnanam, Liu Xiao, Kyong Min Yeo, Yinsheng Zhou
  • Patent number: 9995850
    Abstract: A polarization control device includes a first wave plate having a first surface profile and a second wave plate having a second surface profile complementary to the first surface profile. The optical axis of the first wave plate is orthogonal to the optical axis of the second wave plate. The first wave plate and the second wave plate are positioned to align the first surface profile with the second surface profile and maintain a constant thickness across the polarization control device. The first wave plate and the second wave plate may control polarization rotation as a continuous function of transverse position across a pupil plane of an optical system. The first wave plate and the second wave plate are separated by a sufficiently small distance so as to limit wave front distortion below a selected level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Ivan Maleev, Donald Pettibone
  • Patent number: 9995851
    Abstract: A lithography-free, mold-free, single-step method of fabricating high quality optical lenses by curing polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) droplets on a pre-heated smooth surface allows lenses with different focal lengths to be made by varying the droplet volume and surface temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
    Inventors: Wei-Chuan Shih, Yu-Lung Sung
  • Patent number: 9995852
    Abstract: Provided is a cover member for an exhibit or display element which makes an exhibit or display element visible as if nothing existed between the exhibit or display element and the viewer and can protect the exhibit or display element. The cover member (3) for an exhibit or display element includes a transparent substrate (31a) and an antireflection film (31b) formed on at least one surface of the transparent substrate. The cover member (3) for an exhibit or display element has a luminous reflectance of 0.5% or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: NIPPON ELECTRIC GLASS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Imamura, Takayoshi Saitoh, Koji Ikegami, Toshiyuki Kajioka
  • Patent number: 9995853
    Abstract: A method for producing a polarizing plate is provided, which includes the steps of obtaining a laminated film by forming a polyvinyl alcohol-based resin layer on a surface of a substrate film, obtaining a stretched film by stretching the laminated film, obtaining a polarizing laminated film by forming a polarizing layer by dyeing the polyvinyl alcohol-based resin layer of the stretched film with a dichroic dye, bonding a protective film composed of a thermoplastic resin to a surface of the polarizing layer opposite to the substrate film with an adhesive layer being interposed, peeling off the substrate film, and forming a protective layer having a thickness not smaller than 3 ?m and composed of a cured product of a photo-curable compound on a surface which appears as a result of peeling off of the substrate film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventor: Yuichiro Kunai
  • Patent number: 9995854
    Abstract: A rearview assembly for use in a vehicle. The rearview assembly includes a rearview device operably coupled with a carrier. The rearview device includes a first substrate and a second substrate. The first substrate is disposed in front of the second substrate and includes a first surface and a second surface. The second substrate includes a third surface and a fourth surface. A bezel extends around a peripheral edge of the rearview device. A portion of the bezel extends behind the fourth surface of the second substrate. An applique is disposed over a front surface of the rearview device proximate the peripheral edge thereof. The applique includes an aesthetic design configured to closely match trim styling of an interior of the vehicle. A protective layer is disposed over the applique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bradley R. Hamlin, Danny L. Minikey, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9995855
    Abstract: A device for producing a lens wafer with a plurality of microlenses with an upper die and a lower die for embossing of the lens wafer from a fluid embossing mass which has been delivered between the dies, curing means for curing of the embossed lens wafer, characterized in that at least one release element for detachment of the cured lens wafer prior to curing can be located between the lower die and the upper die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: EV GROUP E. THALLNER GMBH
    Inventor: Michael Kast
  • Patent number: 9995856
    Abstract: A lens array fabrication method for fabricating a lens array includes: receiving pins (16) of a film attaching instrument (jig) in second guide holes (10) of a film-containing base plate; bonding a placement area and an adhesion layer (F); removing the pins (16); causing a detachment between a first detachment film (C) and a pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film (D); separating three layers (D) to (F) from two layers (B) and (C); receiving the pins (16) in first guide holes (7) of a lens array main unit; fitting a film holding protrusion (15) in a depression part (6); bonding the film (D) to a bonding region (i); removing the pins (16); and causing a detachment between the film (D) and a second detachment film (E).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: ENPLAS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Tanazawa, Shimpei Morioka, Makoto Goto, Nobuhiro Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 9995857
    Abstract: A system (100), apparatus (110), and method (900) for displaying an image (880). The light (800) in the image (880) is modified by a tuning assembly (700) to possess more than one focal point (870). Thus a single image (880) can include multiple depth regions (860). Each depth region (860) can be comprised of light (800) possessing a distinct focal point (870). The tuning assembly (700) can be implemented in the form a tunable lens (710), a tunable lens array (720), a movable lens (730), or a deformable mirror (740).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Avegant Corp.
    Inventors: Allan Thomas Evans, Andrew John Gross
  • Patent number: 9995858
    Abstract: IR emission devices comprising an array of polaritonic IR emitters arranged on a substrate, where the emitters are coupled to a heater configured to provide heat to one or more of the emitters. When the emitters are heated, they produce an infrared emission that can be polarized and whose spectral emission range, emission wavelength, and/or emission linewidth can be tuned by the polaritonic material used to form the elements of the array and/or by the size and/or shape of the emitters. The IR emission can be modulated by the induction of a strain into a ferroelectric, a change in the crystalline phase of a phase change material and/or by quickly applying and dissipating heat applied to the polaritonic nanostructure. The IR emission can be designed to be hidden in the thermal background so that it can be observed only under the appropriate filtering and/or demodulation conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Joshua D. Caldwell, Virginia D. Wheeler, Marc Currie, Igor Vurgaftman, Jon-paul Maria
  • Patent number: 9995859
    Abstract: Structures for scattering light at multiple wavelengths are disclosed. Scattering elements are fabricated with different geometric dimensions and arrangements, to scatter or focus light at the the same focal distance for each wavelength, or at different focal distances according to the desired application. The scattering elements fabricated on a substrate can be peeled off with a polymer matrix and attached to a lens to modify the optical properties of the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Seyedeh Mahsa Kamali, Ehsan Arbabi, Amir Arbabi, Andrei Faraon
  • Patent number: 9995860
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a highly reflective multiband mirror that is reflective in the VIS-NIR-SWIR-MWIR-LWIR bands, the mirror being a complete thin film stack that consists of a plurality of layers on a selected substrate. In order from substrate to the final layer, the mirror consists of (a) substrate, (b) barrier layer, (c) first interface layer, (d) a reflective layer, (e) a second interface layer, (f) tuning layer(s) and (g) a protective layer. In some embodiments the tuning layer and the protective layer are combined into a single layer using a single coating material. The multiband mirror is more durable than existing mirrors on light weight metal substrates, for example 6061-Al, designed for similar applications. In each of the five layer types methods and materials are used to process each layer so as to achieve the desired layer characteristics, which aid to enhancing the durability performance of the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Jason S Ballou, Frederick J Gagliardi, Gary Allen Hart, Timothy R Soucy, Robin Merchant Walton, Leonard Gerard Wamboldt, Jue Wang
  • Patent number: 9995861
    Abstract: Low loss, high reflectivity wide band mirror films provide a desired mix of specular reflection and diffuse reflection or scattering to provide semi-specular reflectivity. The mirror films generally include both a specularly reflective multilayer optical film (MOF) having a wide reflection band, and a scattering layer. In some cases a low refractive index TIR layer is sandwiched between the MOF and the scattering layer. In other cases the scattering layer contacts the MOF directly. In embodiments that include the TIR layer, the TIR layer preferably has a nanovoided morphology and includes a plurality of particles and a polymer binder. In embodiments wherein the scattering layer contacts the MOF directly, the scattering layer preferably also has a nanovoided morphology and includes a plurality of particles and a polymer binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: William D. Coggio, William B. Black, Michael F. Weber, Huiwen Tai
  • Patent number: 9995862
    Abstract: An optical filter includes: a first variable wavelength bandpass filter that can extract light of a first wavelength band (400 to 460 nm), the first wavelength band having a first spectral band having a central wavelength equal to a first wavelength in the first wavelength band and a second spectral band having a central wavelength equal to a second wavelength in the first wavelength band; and a second variable wavelength bandpass filter that can extract light of a second wavelength band (480 to 540 nm) adjacent to the first wavelength band, the second wavelength band having a third spectral band having a central wavelength equal to a third wavelength in the second wavelength band and a fourth spectral band having a central wavelength equal to a fourth wavelength in the second wavelength band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tomonori Matsushita, Tatsuo Urushidani
  • Patent number: 9995863
    Abstract: A polarizing plate includes a polarizer, and a polyester film formed on one or both surfaces of the polarizer. The polyester film has a tensile strength ratio of about 3 or greater, as calculated by Equation 4, and an orientation displacement (°) of about ?5° to about +5° with respect to a transverse direction (slow axis) of the polyester film at a wavelength of 550 nm. A liquid crystal display apparatus includes the polarizing plate Tensile strength ratio=TD tensile strength/MD tensile strength??Equation 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kwang Ho Shin, Eun Su Park, Dong Yoon Shin, Hae Ryong Chung