Patents Issued in December 11, 2018
  • Patent number: 10151600
    Abstract: As part of a technique for positioning viewports over interactive digital maps, a digital map of a geographic area is provided via a user interface of a computing device. The currently visible portion of the digital map is displayed in a viewport. A user gesture is detected, where the user gesture communicates a particular acceleration to the viewport, along a particular direction, to move the viewport from its current position to a target position over the digital map. A current user context for the digital map is determined. A new position of the viewport over the digital map is determined in accordance with (i) the user gesture and (ii) the current user context, such that the new position is different from the target position, and the viewport is moved from its current position to the new position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: David X. Wang, Stephen Broadfoot, Fabian Tamp, Robertus Christianus Elisabeth Mariet, Taylah Hasaballah
  • Patent number: 10151601
    Abstract: A route guidance method and system using smart signages is disclosed. The route guidance method may include obtaining user information of a user or an object from a first smart signage detecting an access of the user, searching a database for route information about a route to a stored destination corresponding to the user information, identifying a second smart signage being separate from the first smart signage by a distance in a direction of the destination among a plurality of smart signages being on the route of the route information, and extracting, from the route information, a partial route from the first smart signage to the second smart signage and providing the extracted partial route to the first smart signage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institue
    Inventor: Sunghee Lee
  • Patent number: 10151602
    Abstract: An electronic device and method for calibrating a gyro sensor thereof is disclosed. The electronic device includes an acceleration sensor configured to measure an acceleration of the electronic device, a gyro sensor configured to measure an angular velocity of the electronic device, and a sensor control module configured to set a calibration period of the gyro sensor based on a state of the electronic device, to determine a stop state of the electronic device using the acceleration sensor if the set calibration period arrives, and to calibrate the gyro sensor if the electronic device is determined to be at a stop state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chan Hyoung Park, Jung Won Suh, Jeong Min Park
  • Patent number: 10151603
    Abstract: The explosion-proof housing for a sensor, in particular, for a rotary encoder having a shaft rotatably situated in the rotary encoder and axially aligned to detect a rotary angle, having a flameproof interior vis-a-vis the atmosphere, in which at least one sensor part is situated, and an at least two-part, approximately cylindrical overall housing is made up of a cover having a cable inlet, which is releasably coupled to a possibly multi-part housing by a plurality of fastening screws distributed around the circumference, and the contacting fastening planes of the cover and housing are designed as explosion-proof ex-joints, and at least the fastening screws between the cover and the possibly multi-piece housing create the separation between the flameproof interior and the atmosphere by forming ex-joints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: HENGSTLER GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Wöhrstein, Peter Elbel
  • Patent number: 10151604
    Abstract: A sensor system including a clock generation module, a sensor, a conditioning module, and an output module. The clock generation module is configured to generate a modulation signal and an output sampling signal. The modulation signal has a modulation frequency, and the sampling signal has a sampling frequency. The sensor is configured to generate an output signal having an output value. The output signal is modulated by the modulation signal, and the output value includes a sensor output value and an offset value. The conditioning module is configured to receive the output signal, condition the output signal, and generate a conditioned output signal including the sensor output value and the offset value. The output module is configured to receive the conditioned output signal and the output sampling signal. The output sampling signal is operable to sample the conditioned output signal at a value that corresponds to the sensor output value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: The Timken Company
    Inventors: Alfred J. Santos, Lei Wang, Mark E. Lacroix
  • Patent number: 10151605
    Abstract: In a rotation angle detection device for detecting a rotation angle and a rotation speed of a motor generator by using a resolver, a resolver detection accuracy is improved by raising the amplitude or frequency of an excitation signal when the motor generator is performing a driving operation. Furthermore, by reducing the amplitude or frequency of the excitation signal when the motor generator is not performing a driving operation, it is possible to suppress the amount of heat generated by the excitation circuit and the resolver, while maintaining a resolver detection accuracy that enables information about the rotation speed of the motor generator to be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Fujie, Katsuya Tsujimoto, Isao Tottori, Naruki Suetake
  • Patent number: 10151606
    Abstract: In a general aspect, a position tracking system includes a sphere magnet that produces a magnetic field in a space. A magnetic field control system is configured to change the magnetic field by rotating the sphere magnet through a time-series of rotations over a time period. A position marker includes a magnetic field sensor that is configured to measure the magnetic field in the space during the time period. A data processing apparatus is configured to determine the position of the position marker based on magnetic field measurements obtained by the magnetic field sensor in the space during the time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Ommo Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Fathollah Memarzanjany, Minjie Zheng
  • Patent number: 10151607
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device having a first wall that includes a first opening having a first edge, and a first aperture through the first wall. The first edge may be positioned at least partially within a first plane, the first wall and the first plane may define a first space positioned within the first wall, and the first aperture may have a second edge with at least a portion of the second edge positioned outside of the first plane. The device may be utilized to shield one or more sensors from radiation, to insure measurements made by the one or more sensors more accurately represent the actual environmental conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Jason A. Lustbader, Cory James Kreutzer
  • Patent number: 10151608
    Abstract: A sensor system has an acquisition unit comprising an analog to digital converter generating a series of digital sensor signals, a first evaluation unit receiving the series of digital sensor signals for evaluation, wherein the first evaluation unit generates output signals that correspond to a sensor event, and a second evaluation unit independent from said first evaluation unit receiving the series of digital sensor signals. At least a first and second series of digital sensor signals is processed by the second evaluation unit to generate a control signal that is configured to select a sampling frequency controlling the analog-to-digital converter, wherein the first and second series of digital sensor signals are sampled at different sampling frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Ruben Fontes, Lionel Portmann
  • Patent number: 10151609
    Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring device for measuring a flow rate of an electrically conducting medium in a volume which is permeated by a magnetic field, comprising a device for producing the magnetic field, at least one resistor, at least two electrodes, the at least two electrodes being electrically interconnected via the at least one resistor, and an evaluation unit for evaluating the measurement signal of the electrodes measured in parallel to the at least one resistor, and for calculating the flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: EICON GmbH
    Inventors: Marcus Wolff, Henry Buhns
  • Patent number: 10151610
    Abstract: A flow rate measurement device is configured to measure a flow rate of a gas flowing inside of a pipeline, and includes an ultrasonic transducer installed so as to be in contact with the pipeline, and a flow rate calculation part configured to calculate the flow rate of the gas according to a result of reception of ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic transducer, wherein the ultrasonic transducer includes an ultrasonic oscillation part configured to emit the ultrasonic wave toward the inside of the pipeline and an ultrasonic reception part configured to receive the ultrasonic wave, and at least the ultrasonic oscillation part has a focusing part configured to focus the ultrasonic wave on a center of the pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignees: TOKYO ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY HOLDINGS, INCORPORATED, TOKYO INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Shuichi Umezawa, Katsuhiko Tanaka, Masaki Yokosaka, Ryoji Miyauchi, Tatsuya Kawaguchi, Hiroshige Kikura, Nobuyoshi Tsuzuki, Keisuke Tsukada
  • Patent number: 10151611
    Abstract: A flow meter for determining the flow rate of a fluid through a conduit, including an upper body having an inlet chamber, an acoustic channel, an outlet chamber, a sound wave generator, and a sound wave receiver. The inlet chamber, acoustic channel, and outlet chamber are fluidly connected together. The acoustic channel is a non-linear pathway that is symmetrically dimensioned. The sound wave generator is configured to create a sound wave that moves along the liquid pathway formed by the acoustic channel. The receiver detects that sound wave that has moved through the acoustic channel and such information is used to determine the flow rate of the fluid through the flow meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Johann Reinhold Zipperer, Peter Wongeun Chung, Hans Martin Hilbig
  • Patent number: 10151612
    Abstract: A flow sensor package comprises a chip comprising a sensitive structure for sensing the flow of a fluid and an encapsulation at least partly encapsulating the chip. A recess in the encapsulation contributes to a flow channel for guiding the fluid, which recess exposes at least the sensitive structure of the chip from the encapsulation, and which recess extends beyond an edge of the chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Sensirion AG
    Inventors: Werner Hunziker, Mark Hornung, Eric Monnin
  • Patent number: 10151613
    Abstract: A device and method to generate digital serial frequency outputs in a Coriolis flow meter is provided. The present invention provides the theoretically lowest jitter for a given input clock, the highest possible pulse count accuracy, the highest possible absolute accuracy, easily implementable other aspects (including Quadrature, pulse width, etc.) and requires no specialized external hardware, and is, therefore, implemented with commonly available serial output hardware found in most microcontrollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul J Hays
  • Patent number: 10151614
    Abstract: A self-filling graduated cylinder system for efficiently filling a graduated cylinder with a chemical solution. The self-filling graduated cylinder system generally includes a graduated cylinder having an interior, an upper end, an upper opening in the upper end a lower end opposite of the upper end, and a check valve attached to the graduated cylinder near the lower end of the graduated cylinder. The check valve is adapted to allow a liquid chemical to flow upwardly through the check valve into the graduated cylinder and to prevent the liquid chemical within the interior of the graduated cylinder from flowing downwardly through the check valve. A vacuum device is fluidly connected to the graduated cylinder to draw the liquid chemical upwardly to an upper level within the graduated cylinder. Alternatively, a pump device pumps liquid chemical into the graduated cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Cleaning Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Krause, Patrick A. Fredrickson, Kenneth R. Smith
  • Patent number: 10151615
    Abstract: A liquid level sensor, a method for controlling the same, and a reactor with the same are provided. The liquid level sensor includes a first mounting base and a cable assembly. The cable assembly includes a metal shell disposed on the first mounting base; a heating element for heating the metal shell; and a temperature detector for detecting a temperature of the metal shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems Ltd. Shanghai
    Inventors: Wei Wang, Bin Liu, Peng Chen
  • Patent number: 10151616
    Abstract: Level sensing designs and techniques that inherently compensate for physical variations in the flowable material. An illustrative container includes an electrode arrangement having two electrodes along a vertical span creating corresponding capacitances indicative of a level of the material within that vertical span. Differing electrode shapes or positions provide the capacitances with different dependences on the level. A level detection method includes: (i) measuring a first capacitance between a drive electrode and a first sensing electrode; (ii) measuring a second capacitance between the drive electrode and a second sensing electrode; and (iii) determining a ratio of variances in the first and second capacitances, the variances being relative to first and second capacitances for a container empty of the material. The ratio is indicative of said level and insensitive to temperature and permittivity of the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Takayasu Otagaki, Kazuyoshi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 10151617
    Abstract: A method for monitoring an oil level in a machine includes transmitting a light beam into an optical system to be reflected or refracted to a receiver to generate a reception signal. The light beam is emitted at a set transmission power, and an oil deficiency is recognized when the reception signal exceeds a predefined level value. The transmission power of the light beam is settable between a minimum and a maximum transmission power, and contamination of the optical system is analyzed by: (a) the transmitter transmits a first light beam at the maximum transmission power to generate a first reception signal, and (b) analyzing the difference between the first reception signal and a second reception signal generated by a light beam at less than the maximum transmission power, the magnitude of the difference representing a measure of the degree of contamination of the optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: KRIWAN INDUSTRIE-ELEKTRONIK GMBH
    Inventors: Christian Ellwein, Christoph Leja, Franz Stoll
  • Patent number: 10151618
    Abstract: An ultrasonic probe having ultrasonic sensors (e.g., piezoelectric crystals) for measuring the level of liquid within a sealed container and having features that make the probe more reliable and enable more precise liquid level readings as the container nears an empty state. Embodiments include spacing the ultrasonic sensors more closely at the lower end of the probe, offsetting the sensors to enable tighter vertical spacing, matched pairs of sensors for redundancy, and a downward facing sensor located at the lower end of the probe to decrease the minimum liquid level that can be accurately measured by the probe. A sump may also be provided to further decrease the minimum liquid level that can be accurately measured by the probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Versum Materials US, LLC
    Inventors: Charles Michael Birtcher, Thomas Andrew Steidl
  • Patent number: 10151619
    Abstract: A testing method for testing a liquid flowmeter, the method including introducing a test liquid and a sealant having a specific gravity smaller than that of the test liquid into a weighing tank until an outlet of a pipe is submerged in the test liquid; causing the test liquid to pass through the pipe; acquiring readings of a weighing scale configured to measure a weight of the weighing tank at multiple time points, and time information representing the time points; acquiring readings of the liquid flowmeter; calculating a standard flow rate of the test liquid based on the readings of the weighing scale at the multiple time points and the time information; and calculating an instrumental error between a measured flow rate based on the readings of the liquid flowmeter and the standard flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: AZBIL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshio Yamasaki, Toru Yamaguchi, Nobuyuki Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 10151620
    Abstract: A device for weighing micro- and nano-sized particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventors: Cagri Abdullah Savran, Bin-Da Chan, Kutay Icoz
  • Patent number: 10151621
    Abstract: A dispensing system is disclosed for dispensing material from multiple hoppers to a convey line. As disclosed, material is dispensed from the hoppers via operation of a variable rate feed device. The application discloses a controller device configured to utilize input from a first load cell for a first hopper and a second load cell for a second hopper to determine a mass flow rate to increase or decrease the feed rate so that the flow rate of material dispensed into the convey line matches a set mass flow rate of material. In the embodiments disclosed, the hoppers include hoppers connected in series to the convey line and hoppers connected in parallel to the convey line. The controller device determines the mass flow rate based upon input from one of the first or second load cells during a first time period and both the first and second loads cells during a second time period for different operating phases of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Inventors: Erik W. Johnson, Michael G Thiel
  • Patent number: 10151622
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a combination weighing device in which supply of articles at an article conveyance part is controlled with good precision. A combination weighing device (100) is provided with article conveyance parts (10, 20) having loading parts (11, 21) of articles and driving parts (12, 22) for driving the loading parts, the article conveyance parts (10, 20) driving the driving parts and thereby causing the articles to be conveyed to hoppers (30) arranged downstream in a conveyance direction, a sensing part (60) for sensing, in non-contact manner, a state of the articles on the loading parts, and a supply control part (82c) for controlling supply of the articles by controlling driving of the article conveyance parts based on a sensing result of the sensing part. The sensing part sense, for a plurality of regions along the conveyance direction, the state of the articles for each of the regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: ISHIDA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu Hirose, Toshiharu Kageyama, Takuyu Kubo, Yoshito Inazumi, Shinya Ikeda, Satoshi Konishi
  • Patent number: 10151623
    Abstract: A thin scale apparatus for measuring body weight includes 5 or more force sensors within a total thickness of between 0.4 inches and 0.004 inches measured between a bottom surface and a top surface of the thin scale apparatus. The thin scale is designed to be thin enough to be non-intrusive or not recognized by a user. A weight of a toilet user may be determined as a combination of additive force of force sensors in a thin scale and force sensor associated with a toilet seat of a toilet. The force sensors may be positioned in one or more cavities on a bottom side of a substrate material of the thin scale or be embedded within a substrate material. Embodiments of a standalone thin scale and a thin scale with a toilet are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Hall Labs, LLC
    Inventors: David R. Hall, Jared Reynolds, Joshua Larsen, Jared Wagner, Dan Allen, Nathan Hopkins, Justin Robinson, Kevin Cheatham
  • Patent number: 10151624
    Abstract: A virtual weight value is set, and a dummy run mode is set and activated. Then, a zero point, reference value used to calculate the weight value of articles to be weighed in each weighing hopper, is corrected based on the virtual weight value. This enables a dummy run of a combination scale to be performed with the actually empty weighing hopper being assumed to contain the articles equivalent to the virtual weight value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Yamamoto Scale Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Nagai, Masafumi Takimoto
  • Patent number: 10151625
    Abstract: An inspection system includes a first ultrasonic probe positioned on and configured to move along a surface of a component. The first ultrasonic probe transmits ultrasonic energy. The inspection system also includes a second ultrasonic probe positioned on and configured to move along the surface of the component opposite the first probe. The second ultrasonic probe receives the ultrasonic energy transmitted by the first ultrasonic probe. Additionally, the inspection system includes a probe alignment system in communication with the first ultrasonic probe and the second ultrasonic probe. The probe alignment system is configured to analyze an energy characteristic for the ultrasonic energy received by the second ultrasonic probe to determine if a displacement characteristic for at least one of the first ultrasonic probe and the second ultrasonic probe requires adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Robert William Bergman
  • Patent number: 10151626
    Abstract: This application describes method and apparatus for fiber optic distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) that allow for quantitative estimation of relatively large and continuous stimuli acting on the sensing fiber. An optical fiber (101) is interrogated with optical pulse and the Rayleigh backscatter detected to provide a DAS sensor. The method involves identifying a first stimulus acting on at least one sensing portion of the optical fiber, which results in an effective optical path length change within said sensing portion of at least the wavelength of the optical radiation. Such a path length change will result in signal wrapping leading to an observed variation (401) in backscatter intensity. The frequency of variation is detected and can be used to estimate the rate of change of path length. The method can be used to estimate strain rate and/or rate of change of temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Optasense Holdings Limited
    Inventors: Alastair Godfrey, Roger Ian Crickmore
  • Patent number: 10151627
    Abstract: A photonics system includes a transmit photonics module and a receive photonics module. The photonics system also includes a transmit waveguide coupled to the transmit photonics module, a first optical switch integrated with the transmit waveguide, and a diagnostics waveguide optically coupled to the first optical switch. The photonics system further includes a receive waveguide coupled to the receive photonics module and a second optical switch integrated with the receive waveguide and optically coupled to the diagnostics waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Skorpios Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Stone, Stephen B. Krasulick
  • Patent number: 10151628
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for testing the operability of a motor vehicle (10) with a headlamp (12) which comprises a laser (14) for generating by means of which a converter (16) for emitting converted light is excited, which is emitted by the headlamp (12) for generating a predeterminable light distribution (18) on a surface area (20) in a surrounding area of the motor vehicle (10), wherein the predeterminable light distribution (18) is set by a control device (22) of the headlamp (12). The object of the invention is to check the condition of the converter (16). A test pattern (26, 30) is set by the control device (22) as light distribution (18). The test pattern (26, 30) is detected on the surface area (20) by means of an optical detection device (24) of the motor vehicle (10). The detected test pattern (26, 30) is compared with at a predetermined reference pattern by an evaluation device (28) of the motor vehicle (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Carsten Gut
  • Patent number: 10151629
    Abstract: Spectral imaging sensors and methods are disclosed. One spectral imaging sensor includes a light source, an array of coded apertures, one or more optical elements, and a photodetector. The light source is configured to emit a plurality of pulses of light toward an object to be imaged. The array of coded apertures is positioned to spatially modulate light received from the object to be imaged. The optical elements are configured to redirect light from the array of coded apertures. The photodetector is positioned to receive light from the one or more optical elements. The photodetector comprise a plurality of light sensing elements. The plurality of light sensing elements are operable to sense the light from the one or more optical elements in a plurality of time periods. The plurality of time periods have a same frequency as the plurality of pulses of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: University Of Delaware
    Inventors: Daniel L. Lau, Gonzalo R. Arce
  • Patent number: 10151630
    Abstract: An optical spectrometer for use in a COOx analyzer includes a spectrometer housing having an optical fiber housing end, a light-receiving input slit positioned adjacent the optical fiber housing end, a light dispersing element mounted to but spaced from the optical fiber housing end and positioned within an optical path along which light travels from the light-receiving input slit. The light dispersing element receives the light transmitted through the input slit and separates the light into a plurality of light beams, a light-array detector capable of receiving the plurality of light beams and converting the plurality of light beams into the electrical signal, an achromatic lens positioned in the optical path to direct the light from the input slit to the light dispersing element and to direct the plurality of light beams reflected from the light dispersing element onto the light-array detector, and a thermal-compensating means for the spectrometer housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Nova Biomedical Corporation
    Inventors: Michael S. Cafferty, Scott P. Cionek
  • Patent number: 10151631
    Abstract: A spectrometer for tailored spectral sampling includes a dispersive element for spatially dispersing a spectrum of a light beam, a detector including a plurality of pixels distributed along a sampling direction, and a spectrum reshaping element including at least one of a reflective surface or a transmissive surface for reshaping the spatially-dispersed spectrum of the light beam from the dispersive element along the sampling direction to provide a selected distribution of the spectrum to the detector. The detector may spatially sample the spectrum of incident light with the plurality of pixels at selected spectral intervals based on the selected distribution of the spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Mark A. Neil, Johannes D. de Veer
  • Patent number: 10151632
    Abstract: An imaging spectrometer and method are provided. In one example, the imaging spectrometer includes foreoptics positioned to receive electromagnetic radiation from a scene, a diffraction grating positioned to receive the electromagnetic radiation from the foreoptics and configured to disperse the electromagnetic radiation into a plurality of spectral bands, each spectral band corresponding to a diffraction grating order of the diffraction grating, and a single-band focal plane array configured to simultaneously receive from the diffraction grating overlapping spectra corresponding to at least two diffraction grating orders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: John F. Silny, Bradley A. Flanders
  • Patent number: 10151633
    Abstract: Spectrophotometers and spectroscopy processes are described that can provide for in-line calibration at every spectral acquisition as well as for continuous response correction during sample processing. The spectrophotometers include multiple polychromatic light sources that include characteristic emission spectra for use as an internal wavelength drift calibration system that is independent of environmental factors. Correction functions provided by the internal calibration process can be applied continuously and across an entire sample spectrum. The intensity response of each spectrometer in a spectrophotometer can also be monitored and continuously corrected for stray light, dark current, readout noise, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick E. O'Rourke, Robert J. Lascola, David Immel, Edward A. Kyser, III, Jean R. Plummer
  • Patent number: 10151634
    Abstract: A system is described that combines spectropolarimetry with scatterometry. The system uses an annular mirror and liquid crystal devices to control the angle of the incident light cone, the polarization and wavelength, an imaging setup and one or more video cameras so that spectroseopic-polarimetric-scatterometric images can be grabbed rapidly. The system is also designed to incorporate additional imaging modes such as interference, phase contrast, fluorescence and Raman spectropolarimetric imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Inventor: Ibrahim Abdulhalim
  • Patent number: 10151635
    Abstract: A thermal detection system for detecting a thermal profile of an optical window may be used in an airborne body that contains a sensor system. The system may include a thermal imager arranged within the airborne body for imaging a portion of the optical window and the portion may coincide with an optical path of the sensor system. The system may further include a processor in communication with the thermal imager for receiving images of the portion and determining a thermal gradient of the portion. The processor may be configured to apply corrections to active optical elements of the sensor system to accommodate for adverse thermal effects on the optical sensor that interferes with the sensor system performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Catherine Trent, Gary A. Frazier, David J. Knapp
  • Patent number: 10151636
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for detecting a physiological response based on thermal measurements while accounting for effects of the environment. In one embodiment, a system includes an inward-facing head-mounted thermal camera (CAMin) that takes thermal measurements of a region of interest (THROI) on a user's face, and an outward-facing head-mounted thermal camera (CAMout) that takes thermal measurements of the environment (THENV). CAMin does not occlude the region of interest, and the system further includes a computer that detects the physiological response based on THROI and THENV. Optionally, the computer generates feature values based on sets of THROI and THENV, and utilizes a machine learning-based model to detect, based on the feature values, the physiological response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Facense Ltd.
    Inventors: Arie Tzvieli, Gil Thieberger, Ari M Frank
  • Patent number: 10151637
    Abstract: A film forming apparatus includes: a support, a rotator, a gas supplier, and a radiation thermometer configured to measure a temperature of a surface of a substrate, wherein the radiation thermometer includes: a light source of an irradiation light to be irradiated to the surface of the substrate; a first light receiver configured to receive a reflected light from a first measurement region at a predetermined distance from the rotation center on the surface of the substrate; and a second light receiver configured to receive a heat radiation light from a second measurement region extending in a rotation direction of the substrate at the predetermined distance from the rotation center on the surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: NuFlare Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yasushi Iyechika, Masato Akita
  • Patent number: 10151638
    Abstract: Various aspects of this disclosure provide a bolometer including a substrate and a ring resonator structure over the substrate. The bolometer may also include a silicon oxide layer in thermal contact with the ring resonator structure. The bolometer may further include a first waveguide over the substrate and coupled to the ring resonator structure, the first waveguide configured to couple an infrared light to the ring resonator structure so that the infrared light generates a temperature increase in the silicon oxide layer. The bolometer may additionally include a second waveguide over the substrate and coupled to the ring resonator structure, the second waveguide configured to couple a probe light input to the ring resonator structure so that a probe light output is generated from the probe light input, the probe light output having a change in a characteristic from the probe light input based on the temperature increase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Agency for Science, Technology and Research
    Inventors: Jifang Tao, Hong Cai, Yuandong Alex Gu, Guoqiang Wu
  • Patent number: 10151639
    Abstract: A method for characterizing a light beam includes separating the light beam by a separator optic into first and second sub-beams; propagating the first and second sub-beams over first and second optics, respectively, said first and second optics being respectively arranged so that the sub-beams on leaving the optics are separated by a time delay ?; recombining the sub-beams so that they spatially interfere and form a two-dimensional interference pattern; measuring the frequency spectrum of at least part of the interference pattern; calculating the Fourier transform in the time domain of at least one spatial point of the frequency spectrum, the Fourier transform in the time domain having a time central peak and first and second time side peaks; calculating the Fourier transform in the frequency domain for one of the side peaks; calculating the spectral amplitude AR(?) and the spatial-spectral phase ?R(x,y,?) for the Fourier transform in the frequency domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Fabien Quere, Valentin Gallet, Gustave Pariente
  • Patent number: 10151640
    Abstract: A light beam measurement device includes: a polarization measurement unit including a first measurement beam splitter provided on an optical path of a laser beam and configured to measure a polarization state of the laser beam having been partially reflected by the first measurement beam splitter; a beam profile measurement unit including a second measurement beam splitter provided on the optical path of the laser beam and configured to measure a beam profile of the laser beam having been partially reflected by the second measurement beam splitter; and a laser beam-directional stability measurement unit configured to measure a stability in a traveling direction of the laser beam, while the first measurement beam splitter and the second measurement beam splitter are made of a material containing CaF2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Gigaphoton Inc.
    Inventors: Masato Moriya, Osamu Wakabayashi, Yoshinobu Watabe
  • Patent number: 10151641
    Abstract: A total air temperature probe includes a probe head having an airflow inlet, a main airflow outlet, a main probe head wall extending from the airflow inlet to the main airflow outlet, and a flow separation bend wall positioned between the airflow inlet and the main airflow outlet. The flow separation bend wall is opposite the main probe head wall across a primary flow passage defined through the probe head from the airflow inlet to the main airflow outlet. A flow separation trip feature is defined on an interior surface of the main probe head wall for tripping a boundary layer flow separation in flow in the primary flow passage, e.g., for reduction of deicing heater error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Rosemount Aerospace Inc.
    Inventors: Chad James Herman, Howard Earl Larson
  • Patent number: 10151642
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of an apparatus according to the present disclosure comprise a radiative heating system with a radiation source configured to generate radiation for absorption by an object. A magnetic resonance system is provided with one or more coils configured to transmit and receive radio frequency energy to and from the object. A processor is configured to determine at least one of a temperature of the object and a change in the temperature of the object, based on the radio frequency energy received. A magnetic field source can be configured to generate a magnetic field within the object, and the radio frequency of the energy can be selected for magnetic resonance interactions in the object, based on a strength of the magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Leeor Alon, Daniel K. Sodickson, Assaf Tal, Christopher M. Collins
  • Patent number: 10151643
    Abstract: A method for monitoring thermal events in an aircraft engine compartment includes obtaining first sensor data from a first sensor located within an engine compartment of an aircraft. The method also includes determining a time series moving average based at least in part on a subset of the first sensor data. The time series moving average is indicative of an average temperature rate-of-change of the engine compartment. The method further includes determining a standard deviation of the time series moving average and detecting a trend of temperature rates-of-change that satisfy a rate-of-change criterion. The rate-of-change criterion is based on a multiple of the standard deviation, and the temperature rates-of-change are based on temperatures of the engine compartment. The method also includes generating an alert in response to detecting the trend. The alert is indicative of a thermal event associated with the engine compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Eric B. Gilbert
  • Patent number: 10151644
    Abstract: One embodiment of the instant disclosure provides a compact lower power thermal sensor that comprises a combination current generator configured to selectively generate a PTAT and a CTAT current; a convertor configured to generate digital output corresponding to the current mirrored by the current-reuse charge pump; and a current-reuse charge pump coupled between the combination current generator and the convertor, configured to mirror the current generated by the combination current generator and selectively establish a charging/discharging path to/from the convertor. The combination current generator selectively generates the PTAT and the CTAT current in accordance with an output state of the convertor, and the current-reuse charge pump selectively charges and discharges a capacitor of the convertor with the PTAT and the CTAT current in accordance with the output state of the convertor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Ying-Chih Hsu, Alan Roth, Eric Soenen
  • Patent number: 10151645
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement and to a method for the synchronous determination of the shear modulus and of the Poisson's number on samples of elastically isotropic and anisotropic materials. In the arrangement, an indenter is movable in parallel with its longitudinal axis (A) in the direction of the surface of a sample such that a force action is exerted on the material by its tip. The force can be determined by a device for measuring this force and the indenter is additionally deflected in translation along at least one further axis. The longitudinal axis (A) of the indenter is aligned at an angle ?90° with respect to the surface of the sample and the indenter carries out an upward movement and a downward movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V.
    Inventors: Kong Boon Yeap, Malgorzata Kopycinska-Mueller, Ehrenfried Zschech, Martin Gall
  • Patent number: 10151646
    Abstract: Disclosed is a force sensor and an apparatus having the sensor for measuring weight. The force sensor and apparatus can enhance detection sensitivity by amplifying a displacement of an elastic body having high strength, thereby measuring weight. The sensor includes: a base; an elastic structure provided as a housing disposed on the base, and downwardly deformed when weight is applied to the elastic structure; an adjusting member coupled to an upper surface of the elastic structure by penetrating the upper surface; a lever disposed below the elastic structure, and amplifying a displacement of the elastic structure transferred via the adjusting member by being in contact with the adjusting member; a sensor disposed above the base, and generating an electric signal indicative of a distance from the sensor to the lever; and a circuit board disposed between an upper surface of the base and a lower surface of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: i2A SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Pilwon Heo, Gwangmin Gu
  • Patent number: 10151647
    Abstract: In one embodiment a pressure sensor is provided. The pressure sensor includes a housing having an input port configured to allow a media to enter the housing. A support is mounted within the housing, the support defining a first aperture extending therethrough. A stress isolation member is mounted within the first aperture of the support, the stress isolation member defining a second aperture extending therethrough, wherein the stress isolation member is composed of silicon. sensor die bonded to the stress isolation member. The sensor die includes a silicon substrate having an insulator layer on a first side of the silicon substrate; and sensing circuitry disposed in the insulator layer on the first side, wherein a second side of the silicon substrate is exposed to the second aperture of the stress isolation member and the second side is reverse of the first side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory C. Brown, Curtis Rahn
  • Patent number: 10151648
    Abstract: A sensor system is adapted for use with an article of footwear and includes an insert member including a first layer and a second layer, a port connected to the insert and configured for communication with an electronic module, a plurality of force and/or compression sensors on the insert member, and a plurality of leads connecting the sensors to the port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven H. Walker
  • Patent number: 10151649
    Abstract: A printed stretchable strain sensor comprises a seamless elastomeric body and a strain-sensitive conductive structure embedded in the seamless elastomeric body. The strain-sensitive conductive structure comprises one or more conductive filaments arranged in a continuous pattern. A method of printing a stretchable strain sensor comprises depositing one or more conductive filaments in a predetermined continuous pattern into or onto a support matrix. After the depositing, the support matrix is cured to embed a strain-sensitive conductive structure in a seamless elastomeric body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE
    Inventors: Jennifer A. Lewis, Joseph T. Muth, Daniel M. Vogt, Ryan L. Truby, Yigit Menguc, David B. Kolesky, Robert J. Wood