Patents Issued in November 6, 2018
  • Patent number: 10120043
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a magnetic resonance apparatus includes a gradient coil configured to be cylindrically-shaped and to apply a gradient magnetic field to a hollow region into which an object is inserted, the hollow region being formed, the hollow region being formed inside the gradient coil; and an RF coil configured to include a resonance circuit whose plural connecting conductors are folded back at one end side of the gradient coil so that the resonance circuit extends from the hollow region to an outer region of the gradient coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuya Okamoto
  • Patent number: 10120044
    Abstract: An NMR DNP-MAS probe head (10) has an MAS stator (2) for receiving an MAS rotor (3) having a sample substance in a sample volume (4), and a hollow microwave waveguide (5)? for feeding microwave radiation through an opening (5a) of the microwave waveguide into the sample volume, an axially expanded rod-shaped microwave coupler (6) located in the opening made of dielectric material, characterized in that the microwave waveguide has a conically tapered hollow transition piece for coupling in an HE 11 mode, into which the microwave coupler projects at an all-round radial distance to the opening of the microwave waveguide. It is thus possible, in a surprisingly simple manner and by means of readily available technical means, to irradiate a considerably higher microwave energy in the HE 11 mode into the NMR measuring sample than by means of the known arrangements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Bruker BioSpin GmbH
    Inventors: Armin Purea, Frank Engelke, Alexander Krahn
  • Patent number: 10120045
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) radio frequency (RF) coil comprising an LC circuit including at least one series capacitor, and a decoupling circuit connected in parallel to the LC circuit. The decoupling circuit is configured to decouple the MRI RF coil from one or more other MRI RF coils using passive decoupling upon the production of an induced voltage in the decoupling circuit, or to actively decouple the MRI RF coil from one or more other MRI RF coils upon the insertion of a DC bias into the decoupling circuit. The decoupling circuit includes a pair of fast switching PIN diodes including a first PIN diode connected antiparallel with a second PIN diode, the second PIN diode connected in series with a first capacitor. The decoupling circuit further includes an inductor connected in series with the pair of fast switching PIN diodes and the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Quality Electrodynamics, LLC
    Inventors: Xiaoyu Yang, Tsinghua Zheng
  • Patent number: 10120046
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes a magnetostatic field magnet, a gradient coil, and a bore tube. The magnetostatic field magnet is formed to have a cylindrical shape. The gradient coil is formed to have a cylindrical shape, on the inside of the magnetostatic field magnet. The bore tube is formed to have a cylindrical shape, on the inside of the gradient coil. A first space between the gradient coil and the bore tube is configured to be kept in a vacuum state while a second space between the gradient coil and the magnetostatic field magnet is configured to be kept in a state not being a vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Takamori, Kota Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10120047
    Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance apparatus for performing at least one adjusting measurement for the magnetic resonance apparatus, a localizing measurement is performed using the magnetic resonance apparatus and a localization dataset is created, and at least one examination region on the localization dataset. At least one examination region of the localization dataset is selected, and at least one adjusting measurement is performed according to the at least one selected examination region. The at least one adjusting measurement can be the calculation of a radio-frequency pulse amplitude, the calculation of a system frequency and the calculation of at least one current of at least one shim coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wilhelm Horger, Michael Koehler, Dieter Ritter, Michael Wullenweber
  • Patent number: 10120048
    Abstract: Systems and methods for designing a data acquisition scheme to be used in magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) are provided. In particular, the systems and methods include designing efficient, or otherwise optimized, azimuthal equidistant projections for radially sampling k-space. This sampling pattern resulting from this data acquisition scheme minimizes image artifacts, including those attributable to eddy currents. The data acquisition scheme can be computed rapidly and automatically and, thus, is fit for routine use in clinical MRI systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: NORTHSHORE UNIVERSITY HEALTHSYSTEM
    Inventors: Ioannis Koktzoglou, Shivraman Giri, Robert R. Edelman
  • Patent number: 10120049
    Abstract: An NMR method and system for acquiring and reconstructing a value of an NMR parameter spatially localized to a compartment of interest including performing a first MM of a portion of a sample with a first MRI pulse sequence using the NMR system and using a set of k-space spatial encoding gradients or coil sensitivity encoding maps to obtain a first magnetic resonance image to identify a compartment of interest; generating a second MRI pulse sequence that encodes the NMR parameter with a subset of the set of k-space spatial encoding gradients or the coil sensitivity encoding maps; applying the second MRI pulse sequence using the NMR system to acquire spatial information relating to the NMR parameter from the compartment of interest; segmenting the first magnetic resonance image into a plurality of compartments that includes the compartment of interest; and reconstructing a value of the NMR parameter in the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Yi Zhang, Jinyuan Zhou, Paul A. Bottomley
  • Patent number: 10120050
    Abstract: In a method to correct a signal phase in the acquisition of MR signals of an examination subject in a slice multiplexing method, in which MR signals from at least two different slices of the examination subject are detected simultaneously in the acquisition of the MR signals, a linear correction phase in the slice selection direction is determined for each of the at least two slices. An RF excitation pulse with a slice-specific frequency is radiated in each of the at least two different slices. A slice selection gradient is activated during a slice selection time period, during which the different RF excitation pulses are radiated in the at least two different slices, and the slice selection time period has a middle point in time in the middle of the slice selection time period, and the different RF excitation pulses temporally overlap for the at least two different slices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Thorsten Feiweier
  • Patent number: 10120051
    Abstract: The invention is a method for estimating a product of convolution of a measurement function, representing measurements, defined according to first coordinates, with a convolution kernel. The convolution product is estimated at second coordinates, different from said first coordinates. The measurement function represents measurements performed on the basis of a detector, in particular a detector of physical quantities. An exemplary application of the method relates to Magnetic Resonance Imaging, the method allowing a redistributing of measured data, not uniformly distributed, according to a uniform mesh, prior to the application of a fast Fourier transform algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: UNIVERSITE GRENOBLE ALPES
    Inventor: Laurent Lamalle
  • Patent number: 10120052
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a medical image processing apparatus includes a display and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to (a) calculate fluid information including flow-velocity vectors based on three-dimensional image data of plural time phases, which are acquired by a phase contrast method of magnetic resonance imaging, and in which fluid flowing inside a lumen is depicted, (b) identify a branching position where a second lumen branches from a first lumen, based on change in flow volume of fluid flowing inside the first lumen along an extending direction of the first lumen, and (c) cause the display to display an analysis result including fluid information of fluid flowing inside the second lumen, based on the branching position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Shuhei Bannae, Shigeharu Ohyu, Masashi Yoshida, Yoshihiro Ikeda, Fumiki Nakano, Mitsukazu Kamata, Tetsuya Yokota, Tatsuya Kimoto, Masao Yui, Tomohisa Fukunaga, Shigehide Kuhara, Kota Aoyagi
  • Patent number: 10120053
    Abstract: In a magnetic resonance imaging method and apparatus, the scanner is operated with a multi-echo sequence in order to acquire k-space data of a multi-echo magnetic resonance signal, and the k-space data are used to reconstruct a magnetic resonance image. The multi-echo magnetic resonance signal is an asymmetric multi-echo magnetic resonance signal, and the asymmetric multi-echo magnetic resonance signal includes N asymmetric echo magnetic resonance signals, wherein N is greater than or equal to 2. Asymmetric echo magnetic resonance signals can be acquired in a dual-echo steady-state sequence, so that scanning time is reduced and the degree of comfort of a subject is improved because the magnetization process reaches a steady state quickly so the magnetic resonance signal is less affected by inhomogeneities that may exist in the basic magnetic field or a gradient magnetic field, and the intensity of the magnetic resonance signal is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Zhi Guo Sun, Qiong Zhang
  • Patent number: 10120054
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for parallel MR imaging include the steps of: —subjecting a portion of a body (10) to a first imaging sequence (21,22) of RF pulses and switched magnetic field gradients, wherein first MR signals (11,12) are acquired via at least two RF coils having different spatial sensitivity profiles within the examination volume, —deriving the spatial sensitivity profiles of the at least two RF coils from the acquired first MR signals, —subjecting the portion of the body to a second imaging sequence of RF pulses and switched magnetic field gradients, wherein second MR signals are acquired by parallel acquisition via the at least two RF coils with sub-sampling of k-space, and—reconstructing a MR image from the acquired second MR signals and from the spatial sensitivity profiles of the at least two RF coils. A type and/or parameters of the first imaging sequence are selected automatically depending on the presence of a metal implant in the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Johan Michiel Den Harder, Marius Johannes Van Meel
  • Patent number: 10120055
    Abstract: Isolated capacitance line voltage sensing is provided that avoids metal-to-metal contact for voltage sensing of a power signal present on a power wire. An external conductor is positioned by the power wire, creating a capacitor with the power wire conductor, insulation, and external conductor. The capacitance is used to measure the electric field, indicating a voltage level for the powered wire. The impedance mismatch caused by the capacitance is transformed. The impedance transformation circuit may be integrated with the external conductor, allowing voltage sensing by a voltage meter having a lower input impedance. A manual or automatic calibration circuit may be provided to ensure the measured voltage represents the actual voltage on the power wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
    Inventors: Joe White, Robert C. Bartmess
  • Patent number: 10120056
    Abstract: A method of calibrating an impedance-matching current sensor (IMCS) is provided. The IMCS has an equivalent sensing impedance and is connected in parallel to an object under test. The method includes steps of: using an alternating-current (AC) current source to provide a first AC current flowing through the object under test and provide a second AC current flowing through the IMCS; designing the equivalent sensing impedance to make the first AC current much greater than the second AC current; proportionally converting the second AC current into a sense voltage; and adjusting a magnitude of the sense voltage to be proportional to a magnitude of the first AC current. Accordingly, it is to significantly overcome problems of unreliability and instability of the DC-to-DC conversion system caused by temperature, aging, DC bias variation, or parasitic effect, thus maintaining correct sensed results of the current sensor in transient response optimization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: NATIONAL CHENG KUNG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Kuan-Yu Fang, Szu-Yu Huang, Tai-Haur Kuo
  • Patent number: 10120057
    Abstract: Example systems and methods are disclosed for determining the direction of an actor based on sensors within an environment. The method may include receiving point cloud data representative of the actor within the environment. The method may also include generating data segments of the point cloud data corresponding to respective height levels of the actor. The method may further include determining an area value for each data segment. Also, the method may include determining a transition between a first data segment and an adjacent second data segment based on a difference between the corresponding area values. Further, the method may include determining that the first data segment is representative of a head of the actor while the second data segment is representative of a body of the actor. The method may also include providing information indicating a direction of the actor based on the second data segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Paul Vincent Byrne, Greg Joseph Klein
  • Patent number: 10120058
    Abstract: A method for locating a point in a first region based on receipt of a rf signal from the point. An antenna array is in the first region at a first position rotatable about an axis. A series of phase-array patterns is provided for implementation with the antenna array to provide measures of rf signal strength. Each pattern provides a plurality of reference values as a function of angle. A plurality of the phase-array patterns are used to acquire, in the first region, a plurality of rf signal strength values based on reception of the rf signal. A set of correlation values is determined where each value is a correlation between signal strength reference values and rf signal strength values acquired based on reception of the rf signal from the point. The correlation values identify a direction relative to the first position along which the point is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Inventor: Adam Harriman
  • Patent number: 10120059
    Abstract: A laser interferometer that includes a laser interferometer, an position sensitive detector detecting an offset of an optical axis of the laser interferometer, a biaxial rotator turning the laser interferometer toward an arbitrary direction, an angle sensor detecting a rotation angle of the biaxial rotator, a retro reflector reflecting reflected light in a direction parallel to incident light, and a controller performing feedback control of the biaxial rotator so as to track the retro reflector based on signals from the position sensitive detector and the angle sensor. The tracking-type laser interferometer starts tracking control when return light from the retro reflector is returned to a detection range of the position sensitive detector, and changes gain for the feedback control in accordance with a behavior for a position of the return light on the position sensitive detector due to the tracking control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinichi Hara
  • Patent number: 10120060
    Abstract: A user equipment (UE) is preconfigured with Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) configurations for a plurality of base stations. The UE receives a base station almanac including position information and identifies of local base stations. Using the PRS configurations and information from the base station almanac, the UE receives PRS signals from a first set of base stations. The UE may also receive cell-specific reference signals (CRS) from a second set of base stations. The UE performs location determination for the user equipment using the PRS signals from the first set of base stations, the CRS signals from the second set of base stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Inventors: Amit Jain, Dinesh Subramani, Gautam Nirula
  • Patent number: 10120062
    Abstract: A method and apparatus which enables a facility or entity such as ships, airplanes, and land based sites, that transmits and receives radar signals to receive any incoming radar signal, while blocking reception of any signals generated by the facility or entity itself. The method comprises transmitting a primary signal from an rf generator; providing a second signal which is synchronized with the primary signal matching in both phase and amplitude, but with a phase difference of 180 degrees so that the two signals sum to zero. The second signal travels through a voltage controlled attenuator and thru a voltage controlled phase shifter. Combining in a combiner the second signal with a signal radiated by a transmitting antenna and received by a receiving antenna that connects into a transmission enabling mechanism, and then transmitting the combined signal to a detector apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: ANADYNE, INC.
    Inventor: David Elliot Dorfan
  • Patent number: 10120063
    Abstract: A radar system includes a plurality of radiating elements configured to radiate electromagnetic energy and a plurality of feed waveguides defining a common plane and configured to guide electromagnetic energy to the plurality of radiating elements. The radar system also includes a plurality of waveguides arranged as a dividing network. The dividing network is also configured to split the electromagnetic energy from the source among the plurality of feed waveguides, such that each feed waveguide receives a respective portion of the electromagnetic energy. Additionally, the dividing network is configured to adjust a phase of the electromagnetic energy received by each waveguide. The splitting and adjusting of the dividing network may be based on differences in width between the waveguides of the dividing network and the feed waveguides. The dividing network of waveguides is located in the common plane of the feed waveguides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventor: Jamal Izadian
  • Patent number: 10120064
    Abstract: The embodiments described herein provide a radar device and method that can provide improved sensitivity. In general, the embodiments described herein provide a saturation detector and reset mechanism coupled to a radar receiver. The saturation detector is configured to detect saturation events in the radar receiver, and the reset mechanism is configured to reset at least one filter unit in the radar receiver in response to detected saturation events. As such, the embodiments can facilitate improved radar sensitivity by reducing the effects of saturation events in the radar receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Cristian Pavao-Moriera, Dominique Delbecq, Birama Goumballa
  • Patent number: 10120065
    Abstract: An antenna array is provided for monitoring an object. The antenna array includes an emitting antenna module, a first receiving antenna module, a second receiving antenna module and a third receiving antenna module. The emitting antenna module emits a detecting signal, wherein the detecting signal contacts the object, and is reflected by the object as a return signal. The first receiving antenna module receives the return signal. The second receiving antenna module receives the return signal. The third receiving antenna module receives the return signal, wherein any one of the antenna modules has a phase difference of 90 degrees with the nearest neighboring antenna module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: WISTRON CORP.
    Inventor: Chen Yu Chou
  • Patent number: 10120066
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a camera module configured to generate at least one image and a ToF SPAD based range detecting module configured to generate at least one distance determination to an object within a field of view of the camera module. A processor receives the at least one image from the camera module output and receives the at least one distance determination from the ToF SPAD based range detecting module. This data is processed by the processor to determine a depth map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Xiaoyong Yang, Neale Dutton, Kevin Channon
  • Patent number: 10120067
    Abstract: A laser imaging, detection, and ranging (LIDAR) system may include a scanner and a compression module. The scanner may be configured to generate a scan including multiple range values associated with multiple scan points of the scan. The compression module may be configured to map multiple range values to multiple integers. The multiple integers may represent multiple range intervals. The multiple range intervals may include multiple differently sized range intervals. The size of the range intervals may be a function of range according to an interval size function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventor: Gregory Charles Walsh
  • Patent number: 10120068
    Abstract: Automatic calibration of laser sensors carried by a mobile platform, and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. A representative method includes determining an overlapping region of point cloud data generated by laser sensors, comparing surface features of the point clouds within the overlapping region, and generating calibration rules based thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kanzhi Wu, Lu Ma
  • Patent number: 10120069
    Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to multiple ranges for pulse compression radar. In one implementation, a method may include transmitting a first burst for a first range using a pulse compression radar system, where the first burst comprises one or more first pulse signals. The method may also include transmitting a second burst for a second range using the pulse compression radar system after transmitting the first burst, where the second burst comprises one or more second pulse signals. The method may further include repeating a transmission of the first burst using the pulse compression radar system after transmitting the second burst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: NAVICO HOLDING AS
    Inventors: Lindsay Lilburn, Roger Phillips, Ee Chen
  • Patent number: 10120070
    Abstract: A detection device detects a target based on a reception signal obtained from a reflection signal of a transmission signal. The detection device includes a Doppler frequency component generator that acquires a Doppler frequency component that indicates the amplitude level of a reception signal, for at least one Doppler frequency, based on the reception signal, a region identifier that identifies a first region and a second region that is outside the first region, based on the value of the amplitude level and the increase rate in the amplitude level, a second-Doppler frequency component suppressor that suppresses the Doppler frequency component of an unnecessary signal, out of the Doppler frequency component corresponding to the second region, and a combiner that combines the Doppler frequency component corresponding to the first region outputted from the region identifier, and the output of the second Doppler frequency component suppressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: FURUNO ELECTRIC COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Hitoshi Maeno, Sae Takemoto, Akira Okunishi
  • Patent number: 10120071
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus including: a sonic sensor that outputs a sonic wave and receives a reflected wave of the output sonic wave; and a control unit configured to determine whether a person exists on a periphery of the information processing apparatus based on distance data and background data, wherein the distance data indicates intensity of a reflected wave in fixed time units received by the sonic sensor during a predetermined period of time after a sonic wave is output from the sonic sensor, the fixed time units being obtained by dividing the predetermined period of time, and the background data is past distance data prepared in advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yusuke Horishita, Michio Fukushima, Junnosuke Yokoyama, Manabu Hada
  • Patent number: 10120072
    Abstract: A method for determining a distance between a ranging device and target, wherein a valid interference profile, if already available, is subtracted from a frequency-domain echo profile that is analyzed to determine the distance of the target, where to obtain or update the valid interference profile, a low-frequency portion of the frequency-domain echo profile is stored as a temporary interference profile after each measurement, and if the target is not proximal to the ranging device and the valid interference profile is not available, the temporary interference profile is saved as the valid interference profile, otherwise if the valid interference profile is available, the valid interference profile is updated via the temporary interference profile, otherwise if the target is distal and the valid interference profile is not yet available, the temporary interference profile is first subjected to a quality check before being saved as the valid interference profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jean-René Larocque, Jing Liu
  • Patent number: 10120073
    Abstract: A method for operating a surroundings-detection system of a vehicle includes at least one transceiver unit emitting a frequency-modulated signal and receiving echo signals of the emitted frequency-modulated signal. The received echo signals are associated with reflection sources, and a piece of information about the speed of the reflection source relative to the transceiver unit is ascertained on the basis of the received echo signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Schumann, Marcus Schneider, Dirk Schmid
  • Patent number: 10120074
    Abstract: An illumination device to be mounted on a vehicle, includes a light source; a sensor configured to acquire information outside the vehicle based on invisible light; and a cover including a first portion covering the light source and a second portion covering the sensor. The second portion has a lower visible light transmittance than the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yusuke Kasaba, Takashi Hori, Teruaki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10120075
    Abstract: A method and system for generating a three-dimensional (3D) map of an environment is provided. An example method includes receiving, by a processor system, via a 3D scanner, located at a scan position, a 3D scan of the environment. The method further includes receiving via a two-dimensional (2D) scanner accessory, a portion of a 2d map of the environment. The method further includes receiving coordinates of the scan position in the 2d map in response to the 3D scanner initiating the acquisition of the 3D scan. The method further includes associating the coordinates of the scan position with the portion of the 2D map. The method further includes determining a displacement vector for the 2D map using a loop closure algorithm. The method further includes computing a revised scan position based on the scan position and the displacement vector, where the 3D scan is registered using the revised scan position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Aleksej Frank, Oliver Zweigle
  • Patent number: 10120076
    Abstract: An array lidar system on a platform and a method of operating an array lidar system comprising a plurality of illuminators on a platform include controlling a first set of the plurality of illuminators to transmit for a first duration, and controlling a second set of the plurality of illuminators to transmit for a second duration. The method also includes receiving and processing reflections resulting from the first set of the plurality of illuminators and the second set of the plurality of illuminators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Kobi J. Scheim, Ariel Lipson, Ran Y. Gazit, Oded Bialer
  • Patent number: 10120077
    Abstract: The invention relates to a distance measuring method comprising at least the step of emitting at least one measurement signal to a target object, in which at least one start signal is produced, and the measurement signal is back scattered from the target object as a target signal. Said target signal is sampled at a sampling frequency and the relative position of the start signal and the target signal is determined for deriving a distance to the target object from the relative position from the start signal and the target signal. The sampling frequency can be adjusted and is set in accordance with a large distance to the target object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventor: Reto Stutz
  • Patent number: 10120078
    Abstract: A detector having a transversal optical sensor adapted to determine a transversal position of at least one light beam traveling from an object to the detector and a longitudinal optical sensor having at least one sensor region. The longitudinal optical sensor is designed to affect at least one longitudinal sensor signal in a manner dependent on an illumination of the sensor region by the light beam. The longitudinal sensor signal, given the same total power of the illumination, is dependent on a beam cross-section of the light beam in the sensor region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Ingmar Bruder, Simone Christina Spiller, Erwin Thiel, Stephan Irle, Robert Send, Henrike Wonneberger
  • Patent number: 10120079
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided that includes one or more wheels positioned at a bottom side of the vehicle. The vehicle also includes a first light detection and ranging device (LIDAR) positioned at a top side of the vehicle opposite to the bottom side. The first LIDAR is configured to scan an environment around the vehicle based on rotation of the first LIDAR about an axis. The first LIDAR has a first resolution. The vehicle also includes a second LIDAR configured to scan a field-of-view of the environment that extends away from the vehicle along a viewing direction of the second LIDAR. The second LIDAR has a second resolution. The vehicle also includes a controller configured to operate the vehicle based on the scans of the environment by the first LIDAR and the second LIDAR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Gaetan Pennecot, Zachary Morriss, Samuel Lenius, Ionut Iordache, Daniel Gruver, Pierre-Yves Droz, Luke Wachter, Drew Ulrich, William McCann, Rahim Pardhan, Bernard Fidric, Anthony Levandowski, Peter Avram
  • Patent number: 10120080
    Abstract: A technology is provided for detecting spoofed satellite signals. An aircraft may be equipped with a top antenna that is adapted to receive satellite signals and a bottom antenna that is adapted to receive terrestrial signals. A signal may be received on the top antenna and the bottom antenna. Relative signal strength between the top antenna and the bottom antenna may be used to differentiate satellite sourced signals from terrestrial sourced signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Steven P. Davies
  • Patent number: 10120081
    Abstract: A method of selecting a satellite positioning system which is used in positioning by a positioning device capable of performing positioning based on a plurality of satellite positioning systems includes acquiring given support information which is referred to in selecting a satellite positioning system, and selecting a satellite positioning system which is used in positioning from the plurality of satellite positioning systems, on the basis of the support information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Gobara, Naganobu Aoki
  • Patent number: 10120082
    Abstract: A counting X-ray detector for converting X-ray radiation into electrical signal pulses is disclosed. The counting X-ray detector includes, in a stacked arrangement, an illumination layer, a converter element and an evaluation unit. The illumination layer is designed to illuminate the converter element. The evaluation unit includes a measuring device for ascertaining an electrical direct current component in the converter element and a counting device for ascertaining from the signal pulses a number or an energy of events. A measuring electrode is formed on the converter element and an electrically conducting connection is formed between the measuring electrode and the measuring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS HEALTHCARE GMBH
    Inventors: Thorsten Ergler, Edgar Goederer, Michael Hosemann, Kurt Stadlthanner
  • Patent number: 10120083
    Abstract: A storage phosphor panel can include an extruded inorganic storage phosphor layer including a thermoplastic polyolefin and an inorganic storage phosphor material, where the extruded inorganic storage phosphor panel has a DQE comparable to that of a traditional extruded inorganic solvent coated inorganic storage phosphor screen. Also disclosed is an inorganic storage phosphor detection system including an extruded inorganic storage phosphor panel that can include an extruded inorganic storage phosphor layer including a thermoplastic olefin and an inorganic storage phosphor material; and photodetector(s) coupled to the extruded inorganic storage phosphor panel to detect photons generated from the extruded inorganic storage phosphor panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Carestream Dental Technology Topco Limited
    Inventors: Seshadri Jagannathan, Chang-Ying Joseph Yang, Kevin L. Bishop, Mark S. Purdum
  • Patent number: 10120084
    Abstract: An x-ray detector apparatus includes at least one x-ray detector (3) having a position for a material under test (2), an x-ray source (1), and a plurality of structures (4) each configured to perturb an x-ray energy spectrum differently. The structures (4) may be placed in the path of the x-ray energy spectrum sequentially or concurrently. A plurality of x-ray detectors (3) may be formed into a linear array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: IBEX INNOVATIONS LTD.
    Inventors: Gary Gibson, Kurt Scott
  • Patent number: 10120085
    Abstract: An arrangement for detecting neutrons. In an aspect, the arrangement includes a first neutron detector including a neutron-sensitive substance, and the first neutron detector having an associated gain performance. The arrangement includes a second neutron detector including neutron-sensitive substance, and the second neutron detector having an associated gain performance. The gain performance of the second neutron detector matching the gain performance of the first neutron detector. In an aspect, the arrangement includes a first neutron detector including at least some helium. The arrangement includes a second neutron detector including at least some helium and at least some Boron-10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Kevin Scott McKinny, Matthew Thomas McPheeters
  • Patent number: 10120086
    Abstract: There is taught herein a system and method for creating an improved seismic source signal by applying a feedback mechanism, active adaptive control, to perturb a resonator device configuration on the fly so as to ensure that the overall trajectory of the sweep is correctly produced, even though the precise details of each oscillation of the source are still not constrained. An embodiment teaches a method for adjusting the squeeze piston or tow depth of a resonant piston seismic source to bring the resonant frequency to a desired value. As a consequence, the resulting seismic signal is improved as compared with seismic signals acquired via resonators that do not utilize the instant teachings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: BP Corporation North America Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Francis Lucien Harper, Joseph Anthony Dellinger
  • Patent number: 10120087
    Abstract: A marine source element is configured to generate seismic waves. The source element includes a body and a source actuator attached to the body and configured to generate the seismic waves. The body is autonomous from a vessel towing streamers along a pre-plot line associated with a seismic survey.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: CGG SERVICES SAS
    Inventors: Herve Richer De Forges, Karine Desrues, Risto Siliqi
  • Patent number: 10120088
    Abstract: A seismic data acquisition system includes a recording unit to record acquired seismic data and ground equipment containing surface units and wireless field digitizer units. Each surface unit is in communication with the recording unit and contains a first wireless communication module and a power supply mechanism transmitter coil. Each wireless field digitizing unit includes a seismic sensor unit, a second wireless communication module in communication with the seismic sensor unit and one of the first wireless communication modules to exchange digital data between the first and second wireless communication modules and a power supply mechanism receiver coil. The power supply mechanism receiver coil is magnetically coupled to the power supply mechanism transmitter coil in one of the surface units to transmit electrical energy wirelessly from the surface unit to the wireless field digitizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: CGG SERVICES SAS
    Inventors: Jason Jurok, Peter Maxwell, Jonathan Grimsdale
  • Patent number: 10120089
    Abstract: In some aspects, a stimulated reservoir volume (SRV) parameter for a stimulation treatment applied to a subterranean region is identified. A parameter of a fracture-plane network generated by application of the stimulation treatment is identified. A correlation between the SRV parameter and the fracture-plane network parameter is identified. In some implementations, the SRV and the fracture-plane network are computed based on microseismic event data associated with the stimulation treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianfu Ma, Avi Lin, Baidurja Ray
  • Patent number: 10120090
    Abstract: Implementations provide identification of rock boundaries and evaluation of rock interval velocities in subterranean zones. Actions can include receiving acoustic signals associated with sounds produced by a well tool implemented to perform a well operation by contacting a portion of a subterranean zone, the acoustic signals being composed of source acoustic signals and reflected acoustic signals produced in response to the source acoustic signals, processing the acoustic signals to determine the source acoustic signals and the reflected acoustic signals and determining properties of the subterranean zone based on the source acoustic signals and the reflected acoustic signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Maher I. Almarhoon, Yunlai Yang
  • Patent number: 10120091
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for surveying the structure beneath the seabed using a sub-bottom profiler. The system can include a survey vessel and a sub-bottom profiler mounted to travel with the survey vessel. The sub-bottom profiler can comprise a transmitter for transmitting pulses at a predetermined period between pulses towards the seabed, and a first receiver and a second receiver for receiving reflections from the seabed of each transmitted pulse. The system can also include that the transmitter and the first and second receivers are mounted along an axis in the direction of travel of the survey vessel and the transmitter is disposed between the first and second receivers and spaced from each of them by a predetermined separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Fugro N.V.
    Inventor: Angus James Stephen Ogilvie
  • Patent number: 10120092
    Abstract: A method is described for generating an improved digital image for a subsurface volume of interest that allows analysis of the depositional settings of rock facies in a subsurface volume of interest. The method may include identifying at least three different rock facies in the well log data; estimating a compaction trend for each of the at least three rock facies identified in the well log data to create at least three compaction trends; transforming the velocity model to produce a trend-match volume using the at least three compaction trends; and superimposing the trend-match volume and the seismic image to generate a digital image containing information regarding both structural features and stratigraphic features of the subsurface volume of interest. The method may be executed by a computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Mingya Chen, Damian O'Grady, Miguel O. Ascanio Regalado, Dileep K. Tiwary, Reynaldo Cardona, Aygul Kostinovsky
  • Patent number: 10120093
    Abstract: Methods for in-situ reservoir investigation by borehole seismic methods are provided using receiver(s) and a downhole source. The downhole source may be a microseismic event, and may be located relative to the receiver(s) in any configuration. The downhole source may also be a controlled source that is positioned in a reverse vertical seismic profile (RVSP) geometry with respect to the receiver(s). The methods may involve locating the receiver(s) in a first well (which may have any orientation, including vertical or horizontal), and locating the source in a monitoring well (which may have any orientation, including vertical or horizontal), such that the source in the monitoring well is positioned at a greater depth in the formation than the receivers in the first well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joel Herve Le Calvez, Stewart Thomas Taylor