Patents Issued in July 3, 2018
  • Patent number: 10012509
    Abstract: A method for estimating the location of a mobile device in an indoor facility is disclosed. The method includes receiving a first sequence of image frames captured by a first camera, the first sequence of image frames being captured when the first camera is substantially faced toward a ceiling of the indoor facility; for each pair of consecutive image frames in the first sequence: identifying a transformation between the pair of image frames, and correlating the transformation with an estimated change in position of the mobile device; obtaining a first sequence of displacements based on the estimated changes in position of the mobile device for the pairs of consecutive image frames in the first sequence; and determining the current location of the mobile device within the indoor facility based on an initial location of the mobile device and the first sequence of displacements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Nazih Almalki, Robert George Oliver
  • Patent number: 10012510
    Abstract: Disclosed is a feature for a vehicle that enables taking precautionary actions in response to conditions on the road network around or ahead of the vehicle, in particular, a curved portion of a road where the curvature increases between adjacent curved sections. A database that represents the road network is used to determine locations where curvature between adjacent curved sections increases. Then, precautionary action data is added to the database to indicate a location at which a precautionary action is to be taken about the location where curvature increases. A precautionary action system installed in a vehicle uses this database, or a database derived therefrom, in combination with a positioning system to determine when the vehicle is at a location that corresponds to the location of a precautionary action. When the vehicle is at such a location, a precautionary action is taken by a vehicle system as the vehicle is approaching a location where the curvature increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventor: Robert Denaro
  • Patent number: 10012511
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a computer-implemented method of predicting a destination of a user of a mobile device, comprising selecting one or more geographic locations as a group of possible destinations based on a first location of the mobile device, determining a route from the first location to each of the geographic locations of the group of possible destinations according to one or more route planning criteria and digital map data, and updating the group of possible destinations based upon a second location of the mobile device and a change in an attribute of a route between the second location and each geographic location of the group of possible destinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: TOMTOM NAVIGATION B.V.
    Inventors: Hendrik Sebastian Ziezold, Daan Dirk Oostveen
  • Patent number: 10012512
    Abstract: A method includes receiving an input of a departure point, an arrival point, and a desired arrival time of a specific vehicle to be operated, extracting, from a plurality of route information, a part of route information corresponding to routes that departed from or passed through around the departure point, and arrived at or passed through around the arrival point within a certain time range of the desired arrival time, classifying the part of route information into a plurality of route groups by comparing each other, counting a number of route information classified in each route groups, calculating, for each route groups, a ratio of the number of route information classified in each route groups to total number of the part of route information, and outputting operation information based on the ratio, the operation information including at least one of specific route as candidates for the specific vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Takashi Shimada, Kiyohide Omiya
  • Patent number: 10012513
    Abstract: A computing method for ridesharing paths, a computing apparatus and a recording medium using the same are provided. This invention finds the ridesharing paths out from the target trajectory which have ridesharing relationship with a plurality of candidate trajectories. People on the ridesharing paths can share a ride on a part of or whole target trajectory. In the computing method, a trajectory is transformed into a sequence of blocks. After target trajectory and a plurality of the candidate trajectories are transformed, it is determined whether each of the blocks of the candidate trajectories overlaps with at least one of the blocks of the target trajectory. Then, ridesharing paths are calculated according the screened candidate trajectories. This method is many-to-one method which compares a plurality of the candidate trajectories to one target trajectory at one time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: National Tsing Hua University
    Inventors: Che-Rung Lee, Oscar Li Jen Hsu
  • Patent number: 10012514
    Abstract: A method includes receiving information indicative of a user input, from a user, that designates a subset of contacts from a contact list or social network friend's list as a spatial avoidance list, determining an intended user location, determining a set of spatial avoidance locations such that each spatial avoidance location of the set of spatial avoidance locations corresponds with a contact location of each contact of the spatial avoidance contact list, determining that the intended user location corresponds with at least one spatial avoidance location of the set of spatial avoidance locations, and determining a different intended user location based, at least in part, on the determination that the intended user location corresponds with at least one spatial avoidance location of the set of spatial avoidance locations, such that the different intended user location fails to correspond with any spatial avoidance location of the set of spatial avoidance locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventor: Leon Oliver Stenneth
  • Patent number: 10012515
    Abstract: A vehicle request management system having a server 10 arranged to communicate with a plurality of vehicle requesting devices 12 and a plurality of vehicles 14, each being equipped with a device 200 having route planning and navigation functionality. Upon receipt of a vehicle request, the server 10 selects a suitable vehicle 14 and determines the route that the vehicle should travel to the pick-up location and then onto the drop-off location. The server 10 receives updates as to the position of the selected vehicle 14 as it completes the request, and uses data associated with the calculated route and the position of the selected vehicle 14 to provide enhanced functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: TOMTOM INTERNATIONAL B.V.
    Inventors: Kees Wesselius, Daan Reyer van Dijk, Pieter Andreas Geelen, Harold Goddijn
  • Patent number: 10012516
    Abstract: A navigation system provides lane guidance for a navigation route. The navigation route specifies actions for a user to navigate a route from an originating point to a destination along a set of road segments. The lane guidance at a position along the navigation route scores the lanes and provides the lane scoring for the user. To score the lanes, the navigation system determines a lane distance for each lane indicating how far along the navigation route a user may continue to use this lane, without shifting to another lane. The lane distance may be measured up to a look-ahead distance. The lane distance includes distance along subsequent road segments of the route, such that when a lane turns onto a lane on another road segment according to the navigation route, the distance along the other road may be included in the lane distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Seth Alan Woolley
  • Patent number: 10012517
    Abstract: A method and a system for calibrating an inertial measurement unit (IMU) via images of a calibration target are provided herein. The method may include: measuring parameters via an IMU; capturing a plurality of calibration images of a scene that contains at least one calibration target, wherein the calibration images are taken from different locations and/or orientations, wherein each of the calibration images shares a common calibration target with at least one other calibration image; calculating, based on the at least one common calibration target, a position and orientation of the sensing device relative to the calibration target, for each location of the capturing of the calibration images; and calibrating the IMU by comparing relative motion between two of the calibration images based on the calculated relative position and orientation, to measurements of the parameters taken by the IMU in time ranges corresponding to the at least two calibration images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Infinity Augmented Reality Israel Ltd.
    Inventors: Matan Protter, Motti Kushnir
  • Patent number: 10012518
    Abstract: A back-biased magnetic field sensor uses one or more magnetic field sensing elements upon a substrate, each outside of a substrate region in which magnetic field lines are near perpendicular to the substrate and outside of which magnetic field lines are not to the substrate. The back-biased magnetic field sensor can sense an approaching and/or a retreating ferromagnetic object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Paul A. David, Ravi Vig
  • Patent number: 10012519
    Abstract: A displacement measurement device includes: a light source; a first diffraction grating and a second diffraction grating arranged along a path of light from the light source and movable relative to one another, the first and second diffraction gratings generating diffracted light; an optical sensor that detects interference light produced by interference between ?nth order diffracted light generated as a result of the second diffraction grating diffracting +nth order diffracted light from the first diffraction grating and +nth order diffracted light generated as a result of the second diffraction grating diffracting ?nth order diffracted light from the first diffraction grating, where n is a natural number greater than or equal to 1; and a calculation unit calculating, according to a signal from the optical sensor, a relative displacement between the first and second diffraction gratings in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis of the first and second diffraction gratings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: TAIYO YUDEN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fuyuki Miyazawa, Yasuhito Hagiwara, Takaki Hamamoto, Katsuhiro Oyama
  • Patent number: 10012520
    Abstract: In accordance with certain embodiments, multiple light-emitting elements of a light-emitting device are tested via imaging and image analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: COOLEDGE LIGHTING INC.
    Inventors: Henry Ip, Michael A. Tischler, Chi Wai Ho
  • Patent number: 10012521
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for ultrasonic flow metering of viscous fluids. In one embodiment, an ultrasonic flow metering system includes an ultrasonic flow meter, a flow conditioner, and a reducer. The ultrasonic flow meter includes a pair of ultrasonic transducers arranged to exchange ultrasonic signals through a fluid stream flowing between the transducers. The flow conditioner is disposed upstream of the ultrasonic flow meter. The reducer is disposed between the flow conditioner and the ultrasonic flow meter to reduce the cross sectional area of the fluid stream flowing from the flow conditioner to the ultrasonic flow meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Daniel Measurement and Control, Inc.
    Inventors: Paththage Jayampathi Anuradha Priyadarshana, Drew Shine Weaver, Peter Syrnyk, Dale Goodson
  • Patent number: 10012522
    Abstract: A thermal-type flowmeter includes a chip package. The chip package is formed through encapsulation with a resin of a sensor element, a drive circuit, a metal lead frame adapted to have mounted thereon the sensor element and the drive circuit, and a temperature detecting element. The chip package has an exposed structure in which a surface of the sensor element having the diaphragm is exposed. The temperature detecting element is mounted on the lead frame via an electrically conductive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Tokuyasu, Shinobu Tashiro, Keiji Hanzawa, Takeshi Morino, Ryosuke Doi
  • Patent number: 10012523
    Abstract: A method for operating a Coriolis mass flowmeter having at least one measuring tube, at least one oscillation generator, at least one oscillation sensor and at least one strain sensor. The oscillation generator is actuated with an oscillation excitation signal and the measuring tube is excited to oscillation by the oscillation generator, the oscillation of the measuring tube is detected by the oscillation sensor and an oscillation sensor signal is generated. The strain sensor is mechanically coupled to the measuring tube via a connection. A change of the mechanical coupling via the connection can be determined by the oscillation of the measuring tube being measured by the strain sensor and a strain sensor signal generated representing oscillation of the measuring tube, a correlation between the strain sensor signal and an oscillation signal representing the oscillation of the measuring tube is identified, and a temporal change of the correlation is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: KROHNE Messtechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Kourosh Kolahi, Ralf Storm
  • Patent number: 10012524
    Abstract: A meter box and lid unit has a meter box. The meter box has end walls and opposing side walls, an interior cavity and an opening. A lip extends along the walls. The lip has notches therein. The lid has a first portion and a separate second portion, the first and second portions covering the opening when the lid bears the lip. The first portion has a receptacle for receiving a transmitter. The first portion has retainers depending therefrom. The first portion is capable of moving from a first position to a second position, wherein when the first portion in the first position, the retainer and the notch are aligned and the first portion can be removed from the box. With the first portion in the second position, the retainer cooperates with the lip to retain the first portion on the lip. With the first portion in the second position, the second portion can be removed from the box while the first portion is retained thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Inventor: Jeffrey N. Nielsen
  • Patent number: 10012525
    Abstract: A device for determining the fill level of a medium in a container has at least one electronic device and at least one signal conductor arrangement. The electronic device supplies the signal conductor arrangement with electromagnetic signals. To provide a device for determining the fill level that is advantageous compared to the prior art, the signal conductor arrangement has several emitting devices for emitting the electromagnetic signal. A support element that can be inserted in a wall of the container supports the signal conductor arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: KROHNE Messtechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Baer, Thomas Musch, Michael Deilmann, Attila Bilgic, Stephan Neuburger
  • Patent number: 10012526
    Abstract: A bulk windshield washer fluid vending system. The system includes a storage tank for storing fluid, a controller communicatively connected to the fluid storage tank for managing flow of fluid from the fluid storage tank, a fluid flow line connected to the controller, and a vending mechanism connected to the fluid flow line and disposed at a predetermined location remote from the fluid storage tank for actuation by a customer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Inventor: Chris Willeke
  • Patent number: 10012527
    Abstract: A method for measuring mass of a micro- and nano-sized particle. The method includes placing the micro- or nano-sized particle on a resonator having an oscillator and a first and second cantilevered arms with interdigitating finger, energizing the oscillator at a selective frequency thereby causing mechanical vibration in the first and second cantilevered arms, directing a light beam from a light source onto the interdigitating fingers, sensing intensity of light of the reflected diffraction pattern by at least one photodetector positioned about at least one of the modes, varying the frequency by sweeping a range of frequencies and correlating the sensed intensity to mass to thereby determine the mass of the micro- or nano-sized particle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventors: Cagri Abdullah Savran, Bin-Da Chan, Kutay Icoz
  • Patent number: 10012528
    Abstract: A weighing apparatus includes a first weighing device including a weighing platform and a second weighing device including a weighing platform located adjacent the first weighing platform. A small end fixture assembly is supported on the weighing platform of the first weighing device that supports a small end of a connecting rod thereon at a location spaced above the weighing platform of the first weighing device. A large end fixture assembly is supported on the weighing platform of the second weighing device that supports a large end of the connecting rod thereon at a location spaced above the weighing platform of the second weighing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Evan Paul Sachdeva
  • Patent number: 10012529
    Abstract: Methods of operating an audio device are provided. A method includes measuring sound pressure levels (SPLECM) for acoustic energy received by an ear canal microphone (ECM) during a time increment ?t; and calculating a SPL_Dose?t during the time increment ?t using SPLECM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Staton Techiya, LLC
    Inventors: Steven W. Goldstein, John Usher, Brian Fligor, John P. Keady
  • Patent number: 10012530
    Abstract: A light sensing device for a vehicle. A housing defines a light sensor cavity and a lens cover. A light sensor is positioned in the light sensor cavity and is surrounded by a gasket assembly. A manifold is configured to receive and store a fluid. A first fluid dispensing assembly extends from the manifold through the gasket assembly. The first fluid dispensing assembly is juxtapositioned above the lens cover and is configured to trickle the fluid downwardly over the manifold at a predetermined flow rate. A second fluid dispensing assembly extends from the manifold through the gasket assembly. The second fluid dispensing assembly is juxtapositioned laterally adjacent to the lens cover and is configured to expel fluid that blows across the lens cover as the vehicle moves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Luke W. Koops, Kristopher R. Green
  • Patent number: 10012531
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for estimating the direction of a laser source under non-uniform illumination conditions such as laser speckle. An example system may include a detector array comprising sensors configured to detect the amplitude of the received laser signal. The sensors are disposed on the array at unique orientation angles relative to each other. The sensor size is selected based on the speckle pattern of the laser signal such that the sensors are small enough to be uniformly illuminated by the laser signal in the presence of speckle. The system also includes an amplitude ratio calculation circuit configured to calculate ratios of the amplitudes between each of two sensors of one or more pairs of sensors. The system further includes an angle of arrival calculation circuit configured to estimate the direction of the source of the laser signal based on the calculated ratios and the orientation angles of the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Schorr, Will R. Grigsby, Somit S. Mathur, Bill Alexander
  • Patent number: 10012532
    Abstract: An optical detector (110) is disclosed, the optical detector (110) comprising: at least one spatial light modulator (114) being adapted to modify at least one property of a light beam (136) in a spatially resolved fashion, having a matrix (132) of pixels (134), each pixel (134) being controllable to individually modify the at least one optical property of a portion of the light beam (136) passing the pixel (134); at least one optical sensor (116) adapted to detect the light beam (136) after passing the matrix (132) of pixels (134) of the spatial light modulator (114) and to generate at least one sensor signal; at least one modulator device (118) adapted for periodically controlling at least two of the pixels (134) with different modulation frequencies; and at least one evaluation device (120) adapted for performing a frequency analysis in order to determine signal components of the sensor signal for the modulation frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Robert Send, Ingmar Bruder, Stephan Irle, Erwin Thiel, Henrike Wonneberger
  • Patent number: 10012533
    Abstract: A circuit for readout from for readout from a focal plane array having a number of pixels, includes, for each one pixel, an adaptive photodetector load circuit coupled to a detector for the one pixel, a trans-impedance amplifier, the detector being AC coupled to the trans-impedance amplifier, a comparator component, receiving an AC coupled output of the trans-impedance amplifier and comparing the AC coupled output to a predetermined threshold, a sample and hold ring comprising a number charge storage components connected in parallel, each one charge storage component comprising a capacitor in series with an enabling three point switching component and a pulse detection logic circuit receiving an output of the comparator component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Richard H. Wyles, Michael J. Batinica
  • Patent number: 10012534
    Abstract: A photodetection circuit includes an avalanche photodiode and a mode switching circuit that may be configured to selectively switch an operating mode of the photodetection circuit between linear mode and Geiger mode. The photodetection circuit may further include a quenching circuit configured to quench and reset the avalanche photodiode in response to an avalanche event when the photodetection circuit is operated in Geiger mode. The photodetection circuit may additionally include an integration circuit configured to integrate photocurrent output by the photodiode and generate integrated charge units when the photodetection circuit is operated in linear mode. The photodetection circuit may also include a counter configured to count pulses output by the avalanche photodiode when the photodetection circuit is operated in Geiger mode and to count integrated charge units generated by the integration circuit when the photodetection circuit is operated in linear mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Andreas G. Andreou, Joseph H. Lin, Philippe O. Pouliquen, Charbel G. Rizk
  • Patent number: 10012535
    Abstract: A dispersive element is incorporated with an optical sensor as a spectrometer. The dispersive element includes a guided-mode resonance filter having a plurality of resonance regions. The resonance regions respectively have different filter characteristics, each reflecting a first light beam of a tested light source or transmitting a second light beam of the tested light source light source to the optical sensor, wherein the wavelength of the first light beam is different from that of the second light beam. In one embodiment, the dispersive element is incorporated with an optical sensor to form a miniature, high-resolution and low-cost spectrometer. The spectrometer makes use of the transmission efficiencies of the resonance regions of the guided-mode resonance filter and the light intensity distribution detected by the photosensitive regions of the optical sensor to acquire the spectral data of the tested light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: NATIONAL CHIAO TUNG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Cheng-Sheng Huang, Hsin-An Lin
  • Patent number: 10012536
    Abstract: An optical system design using Morse Taper mounted optical components for improving alignment performance, and more specifically a spectrometer design wherein the components include Morse Taper male tapers and the spectrometer bench include Morse Taper female openings that eases alignment and improves alignment stability, both physical and temperature related, of optical components while simplifying manufacture and maintaining a compact footprint is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Ocean Optics, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth D. White, Warren H. Miller, Reeder N. Ward
  • Patent number: 10012537
    Abstract: A system and method for characterization and/or calibration of performance of a multispectral imaging (MSI) system equipping the MSI system for use with a multitude of different fluorescent specimens while being independent on optical characteristics of a specified specimen and providing an integrated system level test for the MSI system. A system and method are adapted to additionally evaluate and express operational parameters performance of the MSI system in terms of standardized units and/or to determine the acceptable detection range of the MSI system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl Garsha, Michael Otter
  • Patent number: 10012538
    Abstract: A spectrometer includes a light detection element having a substrate made of a semiconductor material, a light passing part provided in the substrate, and a light detection part put in the substrate, a support having a base wall part opposing the light detection element, and side wall parts integrally formed with the base wall part, the light detection element being fixed to the side wall parts, the support being provided with a wiring electrically connected to the light detection part, and a dispersive part provided on a surface of the base wall part on a side of a space. An end part of the wiring is connected to a terminal of the light detection element. An end part of the wiring is positioned on a surface in the base wall part on an opposite side from the side of the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Takafumi Yokino, Katsumi Shibayama
  • Patent number: 10012539
    Abstract: Provided are a Bragg grating and a spectroscopy device including the same. The Bragg grating is disposed at each of opposite ends of a resonator for reflecting light of a certain wavelength band and includes a core member extending from a waveguide of the resonator in a lengthwise direction of the waveguide; a plurality of first refractive members protruding from the core member and spaced apart from each other along the lengthwise direction; and a second refractive member filling spaces between the first refractive members and having a refractive index different from a refractive index of the first refractive members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignees: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., IMEC VZW
    Inventors: Dongho Kim, Jeonghwan Song
  • Patent number: 10012540
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices relating to optical imaging systems for gathering data on atmospheric trace gas emissions from a satellite. An optical system used in the satellite has a Fabry-Perot interferometer coupled to a suitable telescope. The interferometer is a wide angle Fabry-Perot interferometer which creates a fringing pattern in concentric circles with each fringe being a different wavelength on the imaging system. A filter is used with the optical system and allows multiple adjacent modes in a selected spectral range to pass through the interferometer to the imaging system. Each pixel in the imaging system collects light at multiple wavelengths within the selected spectral range. The optical system gathers multiple images of the target area allowing light from the target area to be collected at multiple different wavelengths. Different absorption data for different atmospheric trace gases can be gathered in a single satellite pass over the target area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: GHGSAT INC.
    Inventors: James J. Sloan, Berké Durak, David Gains, Francesco Ricci, Jason McKeever, Joshua Lamorie, Mark Sdao, Vincent Latendresse, Jonathan Lavoie, Roman Kruzelecky
  • Patent number: 10012541
    Abstract: An optical filter element for devices for converting spectral information into location information, uses a connected detector for detecting signals. The element has at least two microresonators, each comprising at least two superposed reflective layer structures of a material layer having a high refractive index and a material layer having a low refractive index in an alternating sequence, and at least one superposed resonance layer arranged between the two superposed reflective layer structures. The filter element comprises at least one transparent plane-parallel substrate for optically decoupling the two microresonators; the first microresonator being located on a first of two opposing surfaces of said substrate, and the second microresonator being located on said substrate on a second surface thereof that lies opposite the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITÄT DRESDEN
    Inventors: Maik Langner, Hartmut Fröb, Vadim G. Lyssenko, Markas Sudzius, Karl Leo
  • Patent number: 10012542
    Abstract: A system for wide-range spectral measurement includes one or more broadband sources, an adjustable Fabry-Perot etalon, and a detector. The one or more broadband sources is to illuminate a sample, wherein the one or more broadband sources have a short broadband source coherence length. The adjustable Fabry-Perot etalon is to optically process the reflected light to extract spectral information with fine spectral resolution. The detector is to detect reflected light from the sample, wherein the reflected light is comprised of multiple narrow-band subsets of the illumination light having long coherence lengths and is optically processed using a plurality of settings for the adjustable Fabry-Perot etalon, and wherein the plurality of settings includes a separation of the Fabry-Perot etalon plates that is greater than the broadband source coherence length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: TruTag Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Learmonth, Hod Finkelstein
  • Patent number: 10012543
    Abstract: An imaging optical system including a plurality of imaging optical sub-systems, each having at least one optical element and receiving light from a source, and a plurality of spectrometer optical sub-systems, each spectrometer optical sub-system receiving light from at least one of the imaging optical sub-systems, each imaging optical sub-system and spectrometer optical sub-system combination having a spatial distortion characteristic, each spatial distortion characteristic having a predetermined relationship to the other spatial distortion characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: WAVEFRONT RESEARCH, INC.
    Inventor: Thomas A. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 10012544
    Abstract: A metrology system is used for measuring a spectral feature of a pulsed light beam. The metrology system includes: a beam homogenizer in the path of the pulsed light beam, the beam homogenizer having an array of wavefront modification cells, with each cell having a surface area that matches a size of at least one of the spatial modes of the light beam; an optical frequency separation apparatus in the path of the pulsed light beam exiting the beam homogenizer, wherein the optical frequency separation apparatus is configured to interact with the pulsed light beam and to output a plurality of spatial components that correspond to the spectral components of the pulsed light beam; and at least one sensor that receives and senses the output spatial components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Cymer, LLC
    Inventors: Zhongquan Zhao, Brian Edward King, Thomas Patrick Duffey
  • Patent number: 10012545
    Abstract: The present invention is a flame detector infrared and/or optical detectors providing a sensed range of flame detection in a flame space outside a shield window, where the improvement includes orienting a proximity sensor to operate to detected objects or obstructions both on an outside surface of the shield window and in the flame space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Inventor: Wing Lam
  • Patent number: 10012546
    Abstract: A temperature detection system for railway applications is provided. The system may include at least one infrared (IR) sensing element configured to detect IR signals emitted by a rail or a railcar, and a controller in communication with the at least one IR sensing element. The controller may be configured to receive the IR signals from the at least one IR sensing element, extract IR data corresponding to at least one of a rail and an undercarriage of the railcar from the IR signals, and generate a characteristic thermal profile of at least one of an ambient temperature and a rail temperature based on the IR data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Progress Rail Services Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Joseph Bartonek, Donald J. Arndt, Steven Conrad Hamerle
  • Patent number: 10012547
    Abstract: Systems that enable observing celestial bodies during daylight or in under cloudy conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: WAVEFRONT RESEARCH, INC.
    Inventor: Thomas W. Stone
  • Patent number: 10012548
    Abstract: A passive infrared sensor having a radiation capture component may be housed within a sensor device. The device may also house radiation emission components, such as light emitting diodes, in proximity to the capture component. Electronic circuitry within the device may generate a signal that causes the emission components to emit radiation that includes wavelengths in the infrared spectrum. The infrared radiation may be captured at the capture component. Characteristics of a signal generated by the capture component may be compared to test characteristics. Based on this comparison, it may be determined that the passive infrared sensor is not operating properly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Evan Witty, Andrew Dai
  • Patent number: 10012549
    Abstract: A device, system and method for remotely determining the temperature and orientation of at least one medium is provided. The device may form a body adapted to penetrate a medium, wherein the body houses a thermal sensor, an accelerometer sensor, a gyroscopic sensor, each electronically connected to a wireless transmitter extending from the body. The plurality of sensors may be adapted to determine the continuous temperature, relative position and orientation of the penetrated medium, all relative to time, while the wireless transmitter is adapted to transmit the plurality such determinations to at least one remote device. The resulting system enables a user to remotely monitoring a level of doneness for a plurality of media in terms of their respective temperatures, orientations, and positioning relative to the time spent on or in at least one heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Inventor: Dennis Alan Mitchell
  • Patent number: 10012550
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with electronic components such as buttons and environmental sensors. An environmental sensor may be temperature sensor for gathering temperature data associated with the environment surrounding the device. The temperature sensor may be mounted to a button member for the button. The button member may be an actuating member that moves within an opening in a device housing and that extends beyond an outer surface of the housing into the surrounding environment. The button member may be arranged so that an internal electronic switch is activated when the button member is moved within the opening. The button member may be thermally isolated from other device structures using insulating material on the button member. The button member may be formed from a thermally conductive material that transmits the temperature of environmental materials that contact the button member to the temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Henry H. Yang, Matthew E. Last
  • Patent number: 10012551
    Abstract: The invention relates to a downhole measurement sensor assembly for an electrical submersible pump that is housed within a rugged, insulated and durable enclosure. The downhole measurement sensor assembly can be manufactured in accordance with the method described herein. The sensor assembly is configured to be inserted into a windings area of a downhole motor of the electrical submersible pump. The sensor assembly includes insulated lead wires that are connected to a thin-film temperature sensing element for monitoring the ESP motor operating temperature. The thin-film sensing element includes thin lead wires that are electrically connected via a connection substrate to the insulated lead wires. The thin-film sensing element is mounted the connection member, and the connection member may include attachment apertures for connecting the insulated lead wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: AUTOMATION SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Alistair G. Smith, Dennis Miles, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10012552
    Abstract: A system for monitoring a component is provided. The system may include a strain sensor configured on the component, an electrical field scanner for analyzing the strain sensor, and a processor in operable communication with the electrical field scanner. The processor may be operable for measuring an electrical field value across the strain sensor along a mutually-orthogonal X-axis and Y-axis to obtain a data point set. The processor may further be operable for assembling a field profile of the strain sensor based on the data point set. Methods of using the system are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas James Batzinger, Bryan J. Germann, William F. Ranson
  • Patent number: 10012553
    Abstract: A method for forming a structural-strain sensor network on a structure is provided. The sensor network has plural nanocomposite sensing elements having high sensitivity, and can be quickly fabricated. The method comprises attaching a molding layer having openings onto the surface, and filling the openings with a coating material made of nanocomposite hybrid material. After immobilizing the coating material in the openings, the sensing elements are formed and the molding layer is removed. Electrical wires are formed on the surface such that two opposite electrodes are formed on each sensing element. The resistance between the two electrodes indicates a strain experienced. The sensor network finds applications in identifying a damaged location or an impact location on the structure for structural health monitoring. Voltage waveforms measured at the sensing elements are analyzed to estimate the damaged location or the impact location according to a guided-wave propagation model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Zhongqing Su, Limin Zhou, Zhihui Zeng, Menglong Liu, Hao Xu
  • Patent number: 10012554
    Abstract: A protective garment contains a projectile detection device, in addition to impact and breach resistant materials for protecting the wearer. An arrangement of force sensitive regions defines a grid arrangement responsive to an incoming projectile. The force sensitive regions include pressure sensitive or piezoelectric characteristics such that an impact varies the electrical response of each region. A detection circuit connects to each region for sampling. A sampling of the regions computes a high velocity impact by a sudden change in the sensed electrical characteristics, such as a sudden drop in resistance between two planer sheets. The grid arrangement identifies the impact placement on the garment, and can be mapped to anatomical regions to evaluate a severity. Placement and impact force, along with GPS coordinates of the wearer, are transmitted by the detection circuit and/or in conjunction with an app on a mobile device of the wearer for alerting first responders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Inventors: Carolyn Keyes, Nicholas Potvin, Zachary Richards, Christopher Tolisano
  • Patent number: 10012555
    Abstract: A method of identifying a cause of springback includes a step of performing a press forming analysis, a step of performing a springback analysis on the basis of information acquired by the press forming analysis, a step of dividing a shape of a press forming product acquired by the press forming analysis into a plurality of regions, a step of changing Young's modulus in a designated direction in any region of the divided regions, a step of performing the springback analysis on the press forming product whose Young's modulus is changed, a step of acquiring springback amount differences on the basis of multiple springback analysis results, and a step of identifying the cause of the springback on the basis of the acquired springback amount differences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Sumikawa, Akinobu Ishiwatari
  • Patent number: 10012556
    Abstract: A method for testing a steering knuckle manufacturing device is provided. The method includes coupling a clamp testing steering knuckle that includes one or more pressure sensors to the steering knuckle manufacturing device using one or more clamps of the steering knuckle manufacturing device. The clamp testing steering knuckle includes a steering knuckle workpiece and the one or more pressure sensors coupled to the steering knuckle workpiece. The one or more clamps apply a clamping pressure to the clamp testing steering knuckle such that the one or more pressure sensors generate a pressure signal corresponding to the clamping pressure applied by the one or more clamps to the clamp testing steering knuckle. The clamping pressure applied by the one or more clamps is determined based on the pressure signal received from the one or more pressure sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Butrum, Michael W. Miller
  • Patent number: 10012557
    Abstract: A pressure sensor which detects variation in pressure, the pressure sensor including a cantilever which bends according to a pressure difference between the inside and the outside of a cavity in a sensor main body, and a first gap, a second gap, and a third gap which are formed on a proximal end portion of the cantilever. The first to third gaps electrically partition the proximal end portion of the cantilever into a first support portion, a second support portion, a first displacement detection portion, and a second displacement portion in a second direction orthogonal to a first direction in which the proximal end portion and a distal end portion of the cantilever are connected to each other in plan view. The first and second displacement detection portions detect displacement according to the bending of the cantilever between the first and second support portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignees: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC., THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO
    Inventors: Isao Shimoyama, Kiyoshi Matsumoto, Hidetoshi Takahashi, Minh-Dung Nguyen, Takeshi Uchiyama, Manabu Oumi, Yoko Shinohara
  • Patent number: 10012558
    Abstract: In a combustion pressure sensor, a sensor holder is installed in a housing. The sensor holder has an end contact surface. A load transfer member is installed in the housing. The load transfer member has a contact surface facing the end contact surface of the sensor holder. The contact surface of the load transfer member is in contact with the end contact surface of the sensor holder. One of the contact surface of the load transfer member and the end contact surface of the sensor holder has a concavely curved shape, and the other thereof has a convexly curved shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shoichi Takemoto, Syuichi Nakano, Nobuyuki Abe, Kenji Ito, Takashi Furukawa