Patents Issued in March 17, 2020
  • Patent number: 10591531
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a circuit, a conductor interconnecting a portion of the circuit, and a processor configured to determine a temperature of the conductor and adjust at least one parameter related to the conductor in response to the determined temperature rising above a threshold. The at least one parameter includes a lifetime estimate for the conductor. A method of operating an apparatus including a circuit and a conductor interconnecting a portion of the circuit is disclosed. The method includes determining a temperature of the conductor, and adjusting at least one parameter related to the conductor in response to the determined temperature rising above a threshold. The parameter includes a lifetime estimate for the conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventors: Rajit Chandra, Melika Roshandell, Niladri Mojumder
  • Patent number: 10591532
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit of the present disclosure includes: first power and second power supply lines that are coupled to a protected circuit; a third power supply line that is supplied with a voltage different from voltages supplied to the first and second power supply lines; a detection circuit that is coupled between the first and second power supply lines and detects a surge occurring in the first power supply line; an inverter circuit that includes one or more inverters coupled in series, and is coupled between the first and second power supply lines; a protection transistor that is coupled between the first and second power supply lines, and is controlled by an output of the detection circuit to cause the surge to flow through the second power supply line; and a time constant circuit that is coupled to at least the third power supply line and the protection transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventor: Takaaki Tatsumi
  • Patent number: 10591533
    Abstract: A display substrate, a display panel including the display substrate and a display device including the display panel are provided. The display substrate comprises a flexible circuit board and test pads, wherein the flexible circuit board covers an area of the test pads. In the aforesaid display substrate, the flexible circuit board covers the area of the test pads, so that test points on the test pads can be prevented from contacting the outside, and corrosion of the test points and signal abnormity in signal lines resulting therefrom during testing are prevented; compared with the prior art, the process of coating the test pads with UV adhesive is omitted, thus the process flow is reduced, and the production efficiency and the productivity are improved; moreover, the thickness of the display substrate can be reduced, which is conducive for the display panel including the display substrate to be lighter and thinner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xue Dong, Lei Ma, Hailin Xue, Haibo Zhu, Yue Li, Wenbo Jiang, Dong Yang, Ming Yang
  • Patent number: 10591534
    Abstract: An electronic component transport apparatus includes: an inspection region in which an inspection portion that inspects the electronic component can be disposed; a supply transport region to which the electronic component before the inspection by the inspection portion is transported; a collect transport region to which the electronic component after the inspection by the inspection portion is transported; and an imaging portion which is capable of imaging the first mounting member or the second mounting member, in which it is possible to determine at least one of the presence or absence of the electronic component and a posture of the electronic component in the first mounting member or the second mounting member based on an imaging result obtained by imaging by the imaging portion, and to notify an operator of a determination result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Noriaki Kotani
  • Patent number: 10591535
    Abstract: A measuring system for performing over-the-air measurements on a device under test is provided. The measuring system comprises an antenna, configured for performing over-the-air measurements, an alignment device and an antenna holder interface, configured for interchangeably holding one of the antenna and the alignment device. The alignment device is configured for aligning the antenna holder interface and the device under test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: ROHDE & SCHWARZ GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Markus Gallhauser, Thomas Hartmann, Nino Voss, Werner Perndl
  • Patent number: 10591536
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a linear analog circuit and data-check circuit. The linear analog circuit receives analog input signals and provides processed analog output signals. The linear analog circuit includes voltage-changing and voltage-impedance circuitry that perform processing of the analog input signals by the linear analog circuit and an analog test bus circuit (ATB) that selectively passes different ones of a plurality of input ports to at least one output port. A data-check circuit is communicatively coupled to the ATB and includes a data-processing circuit that detects an error conveyed by the linear analog circuit by applying a control signal, while the linear analog circuit and the data-check circuit facilitate testing of the linear analog circuit, to cause the ATB to selectively pass the different ones of the plurality of input ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Jan-Peter Schat
  • Patent number: 10591537
    Abstract: Invention achieves reduced amount of terminals to control a test mode, test function and test results of a given standard for at least one “wrapped core” (40,100) (a core 100 surrounded by a wrapper boundary register (40) as “wrapper chain”). Test flexibility and speed of testing the core (100) are also improved. Suggested serial test interface comprises a state machine (210) and an instruction register (213) for wrapper-instructions, supplied through a single physical data input terminal (1a). The state machine (210) reads wrapper-instructions held by the instruction register (213) and generates on-chip wrapper control signals (30) of the given standard for the wrapper boundary register (40) of the core (100). At least one wrapper-instruction read from the Instruction Register (213) provides at least one wrapper control signal (30). The single input terminal (1a) also supplies an input test signal SDI for coupling to the wrapper boundary register (40) as on chip logical input test signal WSI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: X-FAB SEMICONDUCTOR FOUNDRIES GmbH
    Inventor: Ulrike Mueller-Schniek
  • Patent number: 10591538
    Abstract: A data reading device and a data reading method for design-for-testing are provided. The data reading device includes a buffer and a data serialization circuit. The data serialization circuit receives a clock positive edge-triggered signal, a clock negative edge-triggered signal, a trigger mask signal, and test data. The data serialization circuit masks one of the clock positive edge-triggered signal and the clock negative edge-triggered signal according to the trigger mask signal, and provides a part of the test data to an output terminal of the data serialization circuit as an output signal of the data reading device according to the unmasked one of the clock positive edge-triggered signal and the clock negative edge-triggered signal. Thus, a data valid window of the test data can be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventor: Che-Min Lin
  • Patent number: 10591539
    Abstract: A method for automated scan chain diagnostics includes segmenting an image of a device associated with a design layout to allocate pixels to individual design elements, comparing actual emission signatures for the individual design elements to expected emission signatures, and determining whether the actual emission signatures differ from the expected emission signatures by more than a threshold amount to determine if a defect is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Franco Stellari, Peilin Song
  • Patent number: 10591540
    Abstract: Electronic scan circuitry includes a decompressor (510), a plurality of scan chains (520.i) fed by the decompressor (510), a scan circuit (502, 504) coupled to the plurality of scan chains (520.i) to scan them in and out, a masking circuit (590) fed by the scan chains (520.i), and a scannable masking qualification circuit (550, 560, 580) coupled to the masking circuit (590), the masking qualification circuit (550, 560, 580) scannable by scan-in of bits by the decompressor (510) along with scan-in of the scan chains (520.i), and the scannable masking qualification circuit (550, 560, 580) operable to hold such scanned-in bits upon scan-out of the scan chains through the masking circuit (590). Other scan circuitry, processes, circuits, devices and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Prakash Narayanan, Rubin A. Parekhji, Arvind Jain, Sundarrajan Subramanian
  • Patent number: 10591541
    Abstract: A device includes a comparator, a reference signal node electrically coupled to a first input of the comparator, a plurality of test signal nodes, a plurality of first select signal nodes, a first multiplexer coupled between the plurality of test signal nodes and the comparator, a plurality of latches, a plurality of second select signal nodes, and a second multiplexer. Each first select signal node corresponds to a test signal node. The first multiplexer electrically couples one of the plurality of test signal nodes to a second input of the comparator in response to a corresponding first select signal. Each latch corresponds to a test signal node. Each second select signal node corresponds to a latch. The second multiplexer electrically couples the output of the comparator to an input of one of the plurality of latches in response to a corresponding second select signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Shigekazu Yamada
  • Patent number: 10591542
    Abstract: Testing of integrated circuits is achieved by a test architecture utilizing a scan frame input shift register, a scan frame output shift register, a test controller, and a test interface comprising a scan input, a scan clock, a test enable, and a scan output. Scan frames input to the scan frame input shift register contain a test stimulus data section and a test command section. Scan frames output from the scan frame output shift register contain a test response data section and, optionally, a section for outputting other data. The command section of the input scan frame controls the test architecture to execute a desired test operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Patent number: 10591543
    Abstract: Provided are a test board and a test system for efficiently testing a semiconductor package, and a manufacturing method for the semiconductor package using the same. A test apparatus includes a field programmable gate array (FPGA) configured to output a first data signal to be transmitted to the semiconductor device and a second data signal to be transmitted to the semiconductor device and a memory configured to store a test result. The FPGA includes a first input/output block configured to output the first data signal, a second input/output block configured to output the second data signal, a serializer/deserializer (SerDes) circuit configured to generate a strobe signal, and a skew calibration input/output block configured to receive the first data signal from the first input/output block, the second data signal from the second input/output block, and the strobe signal from the SerDes circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joo-sung Yun, Soon-il Kwon, Byeong-min Yu
  • Patent number: 10591544
    Abstract: Integrated circuit packages with multiple integrated circuit dies are provided. A multichip package may include a master die that is coupled to one or more slave dies via inter-die package interconnects. A mixed (i.e., active and passive) interconnect redundancy scheme may be implemented to help repair potentially faulty interconnects to improve assembly yield. Interconnects that carry normal user signals may be repaired using an active redundancy scheme by selectively switching into use a spare driver block when necessary. On the other hand, interconnects that carry power-on-reset signals, initialization signals, and other critical control signals for synchronizing the operation between the master and slave dies may be supported using a passive redundancy scheme by using two or more duplicate wires for each critical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Dana How, Dinesh Patil, Arifur Rahman, Jeffrey Erik Schulz
  • Patent number: 10591545
    Abstract: A ZSI testing apparatus includes a fault generation circuit, a plurality of cable assemblies coupled to the fault generation circuit, wherein the cable assemblies are structured to be selectively coupled to selected circuit interrupters, a human machine interface, and a controller coupled. The controller is configured to: (i) selectively cause a fault current to be provided to a number of the cable assemblies, (ii) receive an input from each circuit interrupter that is coupled to one of the cable assemblies, each input being indicative of a trip signal output of the circuit interrupter, (iii) determine based on the received inputs (a) that an error has occurred with respect to operation of the circuit interrupters and (b) a recommendation for fixing the error, and (iv) cause an output indicative of the error and the recommendation to be provided on the human machine interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventor: Alec Dane Burkle
  • Patent number: 10591546
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for passively monitoring the integrity of current sensing devices and associated circuitry in protective devices such as Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters and Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters are provided. A protection circuit interrupter employs a capacitively coupled noise signal obtained by an arrangement of one or both of the line side arms relative to a Rogowski coil. The noise signal is monitored while the line and load sides of a protective circuit interrupter are disconnected, and the connection of the line and load sides disabled if the noise signal fails to correlate sufficiently to a reference noise cycle. When the line and load sides are connected, the RMS value of the observed current signal is monitored such that the line and load sides are disconnected if the observed current signal fails to meet an RMS threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Gary Michael Miller, William Vernon Miller, III, Edward Shi Chen
  • Patent number: 10591547
    Abstract: A solid state circuit breaker, including a solid state switch, an inductor connected with the solid state switch in series and a fault detection circuit. The solid state switch has a gate electrode, a source electrode and a drain electrode. The fault detection circuit is used for detecting health status of the solid state switch and identifying fault type of the solid state switch in a condition that a fault occurs on the solid state switch based on one or more of a measured voltage between the source electrode and the drain electrode of the solid state switch, a measured voltage of two terminals of the inductor, a reference voltage and a switching control signal provided to the gate electrode of the solid state switch. A motor driving system having the solid state circuit breaker is further disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Tao Wu, Fei Li, Changjin Liu
  • Patent number: 10591548
    Abstract: A controller for driving a motor includes a multiphase driver, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), impedance estimation circuitry, and fault detection circuitry. The multiphase driver is configured to generate drive signals for energizing each motor phase winding. The ADC is configured to digitize voltage and current from each motor phase winding. The impedance estimation circuitry is configured to determine a phasor value for the digitized voltages and for the digitized currents at a predetermined harmonic frequency, and to determine a sequence impedance value based on the phasor values. The fault detection circuitry is configured to identify a fault in the windings of the motor based on the sequence impedance value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Rajan Lakshmi Narasimha, David Patrick Magee
  • Patent number: 10591549
    Abstract: A number of variations may include a product comprising: at least one sensor comprising an optical fiber comprising a first end comprising a semiconductor material, a second end, and a longitudinal midsection comprising a grating, wherein the sensor is constructed and arranged to provide measurements that derive both state of charge and temperature of an electrochemical device simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Shuoqin Wang, Mark W. Verbrugge, Charles W. Wampler, II
  • Patent number: 10591550
    Abstract: A secondary-battery monitoring device includes: a use-state memory device that stores a transition of a load parameter indicating a use state of a secondary battery; and a battery capacity prediction device that predicts a temporal change of a battery capacity of the secondary battery on the basis of a prediction function. The prediction function is derived from a relation between growth of a film formed in an electrode surface of the secondary battery and a reduction of a precursor component of the film which is contained in an electrolyte of the secondary battery. The battery capacity prediction device determines a coefficient of the prediction function on the basis of the transition of the load parameter which is stored in the use-state memory device, and predicts the temporal change of the battery capacity of the secondary battery on the basis of the prediction function which uses the coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: VEHICLE ENERGY JAPAN INC.
    Inventors: Masahiro Yonemoto, Youhei Kawahara, Takeshi Inoue, Keiichiro Ohkawa
  • Patent number: 10591551
    Abstract: A voltage detection apparatus is provided which is suitable for an assembled battery including a series connection of battery cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hayato Mizoguchi
  • Patent number: 10591552
    Abstract: A parameter identification circuit for a digital power converter having an inductor and a capacitor, can include: an inductor parameter circuit that receives an inductor current of the inductor, a capacitor voltage of the capacitor, a duty cycle in a start-up stage, and a predetermined inductor current, where the inductor parameter circuit obtains an inductor parameter according to an integrated value of the capacitor voltage, an integrated value of the duty cycle in the start-up stage, and the predetermined inductor current, when the inductor current rises to a level of the predetermined inductor current; and a capacitor parameter circuit that receives the inductor current, the capacitor voltage, and a predetermined capacitor voltage, where the capacitor parameter circuit obtains a capacitor parameter according to an integrated value of the inductor current and the predetermined capacitor voltage when the capacitor voltage rises to a level of the predetermined capacitor voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) LTD
    Inventors: Zhiyuan Shen, Chen Zhao
  • Patent number: 10591553
    Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit arrangement for establishing compatibility between a field device or an interface device for a field device and a diagnostic system pertaining to a control system, to the output of which the interface device or field device can be connected. The diagnostic system is adapted to send, via the output of the control system, a test signal to the interface device or field device and to emit an error signal when an electrical response at the output of the control system lies outside an expectancy range. The circuit arrangement comprises voltage influencing means for influencing a voltage at the output of the control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: PEPPERL + FUCHS GMBH
    Inventors: Martin Jung, Peter Ball
  • Patent number: 10591554
    Abstract: A graphene structure is provided. The graphene structure comprises a substrate layer and at least two graphene layers disposed on the substrate. The at least two graphene layers comprises a gate voltage tuned layer and an effective graphene layer and the effective graphene layer comprises one or more graphene layers. A magnetoresistance ratio of the graphene structure is determined by a difference in a charge mobility and/or a carrier density between the gate voltage tuned layer and the effective graphene layer. The charge mobility and/or the carrier density of the gate no voltage tuned layer is tunable by a gate voltage applied to the graphene structure. A magnetic field sensor comprising the graphene structure is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE
    Inventors: Gopinadhan Kalon, Hyunsoo Yang, Young Jun Shin, Antonio Helio Castro Neto
  • Patent number: 10591555
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor device includes: a magnet; a magnetic-resistance-effect-element mounted substrate on which a magnetic-resistance-effect-element mounted body is mounted on a surface thereof opposite to a surface thereof facing the magnet, the magnetic-resistance-effect-element mounted body extending in the longitudinal direction of the magnet; a case that accommodates or retains the magnet and the magnetic-resistance-effect-element mounted substrate; and a magnetic shield that covers the case except for the surface of the magnetic-resistance-effect-element mounted substrate on which is mounted the magnetic-resistance-effect-element mounted body. The magnetic shield covers the case at a position corresponding to the surface of the magnetic-resistance-effect-element mounted substrate facing the magnet, or from the position corresponding to the surface of the magnetic-resistance-effect-element mounted substrate facing the magnet to a side of the case opposite to the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Matsui, Tomokazu Ogomi, Masaaki Okada, Kenji Shimohata, Sadaaki Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 10591556
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system for and a method of obtaining a magnetic resonance image by performing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at multiple slices simultaneously. The method comprises generating a multiband pulse sequence for spin-echo imaging, the pulse sequence comprising a multiband excitation pulse and at least one multiband refocusing pulse, wherein the multiband excitation pulse simultaneously excites multiple bands, wherein the at least one multiband refocusing pulse simultaneously refocuses the multiple bands, and wherein the phases of the bands excited by the multiband excitation pulse and the phases of the bands refocused by the at least one multiband refocusing pulse are set according to a single row of an orthogonal encoding matrix. The multiband excitation pulse and the at least one multiband refocusing pulse collectively form a multiband pulse pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: SYNAPTIVE MEDICAL INC.
    Inventors: Charles H. Cunningham, Jeffrey A. Stainsby, Andrew T. Curtis
  • Patent number: 10591557
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method comprising, an airlock chamber; a cryogenic chamber; an equilibrator positioned between the airlock chamber and the cryogenic chamber that is configured to allow for the passage of a sample along to the cryogenic chamber; and a cooling unit that is thermally coupled to the equilibrator. Collectively, the airlock chamber, equilibrator, and the cryogenic chamber define a travel path. A machine-readable medium, comprising instructions which when executed by a controller causes a sample to be cooled, is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andrew Michael Leach, James Richard Trigger, John Arthur Urbahn
  • Patent number: 10591558
    Abstract: An information display device and a control device of medical equipment are provided. The information display device of medical equipment includes at least one projection unit for acquiring display information, and projecting the display information onto a housing of the medical equipment. The information display device includes a host for providing an electrical signal of the display information, an optical fiber converter for converting the electrical signal to an optical signal, and an optical fiber for relaying the optical signal to the projection unit. Various display information about medical equipment is not displayed through an electronic display screen, but the display information is projected onto the housing of the medical equipment by an additional projection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Shun Feng Li
  • Patent number: 10591559
    Abstract: Radio-frequency (RF) coil apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging has a base and an RF coil, wherein the base has a sliding base guide structure and a guide cavity, the RF coil has a sliding coil structure fitting the sliding base guide structure, and an electric cable of the RF coil is accommodated in the guide cavity and can move in the guide cavity. One end of the electric cable is fixed to the RF coil by a first fixing bracket, and another end of the electric cable is fixed to the base by a second fixing bracket so that a predetermined length of the cable projects from the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Jun You, Zeng He He, Stephan Zink, Volker Matschl, Wen Ming Li, Rainer Kurth
  • Patent number: 10591560
    Abstract: Example embodiments include a radio frequency (RF) transmit system for a digital RF current source, the system including a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system control console operably connected to at least one digital RF current source amplifier. The at least one digital RF current source amplifier is operably connected to an RF transmission coil. The MRI system control console provides a digital control signal to the at least one digital RF current source amplifier. The MRI system control console provides a master RF current source clock signal to the at least one digital RF current source amplifier. The digital RF current source amplifier provides an alternating current to the RF transmission coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Quality Electrodynamics, LLC
    Inventor: Xiaoyu Yang
  • Patent number: 10591561
    Abstract: A low-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. The system includes a plurality of magnetics components comprising at least one first magnetics component configured to produce a low-field main magnetic field B0 and at least one second magnetics component configured to acquire magnetic resonance data when operated, and at least one controller configured to operate one or more of the plurality of magnetics components in accordance with at least one low-field zero echo time (LF-ZTE) pulse sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Hyperfine Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Laura Sacolick, Matthew Scot Rosen, Gregory L. Charvat, Jonathan M. Rothberg, Mathieu Sarracanie
  • Patent number: 10591562
    Abstract: The invention provides for a medical instrument (100, 500) comprising a magnetic resonance imaging system (102) for acquiring magnetic resonance data (142) from a subject (118) within an imaging zone (108). The magnetic resonance imaging system comprises: a main magnet (104) for generating a B0 magnetic field within the imaging zone; a memory (134, 136) containing machine executable instructions (160, 162, 164, 166) and pulse sequence commands (140); a processor (130) for controlling the medical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Peter Boernert, Kay Nehrke, Holger Eggers
  • Patent number: 10591563
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment includes sequence control circuitry and processing circuitry. The sequence control circuitry controls execution of a pulse sequence which includes a first segment and a second segment being provided prior to the first segment. The first segment is where signal acquisition is performed. The second segment is where longitudinal magnetization and transverse magnetization are reduced by applying a plurality of RF magnetic field pulses while changing a magnitude and/or a phase thereof and a plurality of spoiler gradient field pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Daiki Tamada, Takashi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10591564
    Abstract: In some aspects, a method of operating a magnetic resonance imaging system comprising a B0 magnet and at least one thermal management component configured to transfer heat away from the B0 magnet during operation is provided. The method comprises providing operating power to the B0 magnet, monitoring a temperature of the B0 magnet to determine a current temperature of the B0 magnet, and operating the at least one thermal management component at less than operational capacity in response to an occurrence of at least one event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Hyperfine Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan M. Rothberg, Jeremy Christopher Jordan, Michael Stephen Poole, Laura Sacolick, Todd Rearick, Gregory L. Charvat
  • Patent number: 10591565
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of MR imaging of an object (10). The problem of the invention is to provide an improved MR imaging technique that enables fast and robust determination of spatial sensitivity profiles of RF receiving antennas (11, 12, 13) used in parallel imaging as well as B1 and/or B0 mapping. The method of the invention comprises subjecting the object (10) to a stimulated echo sequence. Two or more stimulated echo signals (STE, STE*) are acquired, namely a direct stimulated echo signal (STE) and a conjugated stimulated echo signal (STE*), wherein at least one of the stimulated echo signals (STE, STE*) is received in parallel via an array of two or more RF receiving antennas (11, 12, 13) having different spatial sensitivity profiles, and wherein at least another one of the stimulated echo signals (STE, STE*) is received via a body RF coil (9) having an essentially homogeneous spatial sensitivity profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Kay Nehrke, Peter Boernert
  • Patent number: 10591566
    Abstract: A method for acquiring magnetic resonance imaging data from a subject. The method includes performing a series of radio frequency pulses formed of individual RF pulses applied with a constant time interval between each of the individual RF pulses to form a consistent magnetic field about at least of a region of interest in the subject, where the RF pulse has a flip angle of less than 30 degrees. The method also includes performing phase encoding gradients to achieve spatial encoding and performing an imaging acquisition process over an acquisition window to acquire imaging data. The method further includes performing phase encoding rephasing gradients and repeating the preceding steps such that a time between a center of the acquisition window and a center of a first RF pulse in a first RF pulse in a repetition of the RF pulses is equal to the constant pulse interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Naoharu Kobayashi, Djaudat Idiyatullin, Michael Garwood
  • Patent number: 10591567
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes conversion circuitry, magnitude image generating circuitry and phase image generating circuitry. The conversion circuitry is configured to convert time-series k-space data into first time-series x-space data, the x-space representing a spatial position. The magnitude image generating circuitry is configured to generate a magnitude image from second time-series x-space data, the second time-series x-space data being acquired by applying a first filter to the first time-series x-space data. The phase image generating circuitry is configured to generate a phase image from third time-series x-space data, the third time-series x-space data being acquired by applying, to the first time-series x-space data, a second filter that is different from the first filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kanako Saito, Hidenori Takeshima
  • Patent number: 10591568
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging system and method are provided for improved phase-sensitive magnetic resonance imaging of tissues affected by cardiovascular pulsatile motion. A magnetically-prepared image dataset and corresponding reference image dataset (for phase sensitivity) are obtained within the duration of a single cardiac cycle. The paired datasets can be single-shot or segmented datasets and a navigator sequence can optionally be provided with each paired dataset. The system and method take advantage of the shape symmetry of the cardiac cycle to acquire the paired dataset in a shorter time interval, thereby reducing misregistration artifacts. The magnetic preparation can include inversion recovery pulses, FIDDLE sequences, other magnetic preparation sequences, or combinations thereof. The reference dataset can be acquired at a lower resolution than the corresponding magnetically-prepared dataset without compromising image quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignees: Siemens Healthcare GmbH, Duke University
    Inventors: Wolfgang G. Rehwald, David C. Wendell, Elizabeth R. Jenista, Enn-Ling Chen, Raymond J. Kim
  • Patent number: 10591569
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a system and method for correcting inhomogeneity in an MRI image. The method may include the steps of: acquiring a first set of k-space data, acquiring a second set of k-space data, generating the convolution kernel of the first set of k-space data based on the first set of k-space data and the second set of k-space data, performing inverse Fourier transform on the convolution kernel of the first set of k-space data to obtain an inversely transformed convolution kernel of the first set of k-space data, and generating a corrector based on the inversely transformed convolution kernel of the first set of k-space data. The method may be implemented on a machine including at least one processor and storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yu Ding, Renjie He
  • Patent number: 10591570
    Abstract: Wireless markers having predetermined relative positions with respect to each other are employed for motion tracking and/or correction in magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The markers are inductively coupled to the MR receive coil(s). The correspondence between marker signals and markers can be determined by using knowledge of the marker relative positions in various ways. The marker relative positions can be known a priori, or can be obtained from a preliminary scan. This approach is applicable for imaging (both prospective and retrospective motion correction), spectroscopy, and/or intervention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Melvyn B. Ooi, Julian Maclaren, Murat Aksoy, Roland Bammer, Ronald D. Watkins
  • Patent number: 10591571
    Abstract: Coaxial microwave transistor test fixtures provide lowest insertion loss possible and include, as part of the input and output sections, transformer networks either in form of single stage ?/4 segments, or, for larger bandwidth, multiple step transforming segments from 50? to the impedance closer to the internal impedance of the power transistor. The transforming networks are flat or elliptical and can be rotated around the axis of the center conductor and allow adjusting the characteristic impedance of the pre-matching section by a typical ratio of up to 2.3:1, resulting in a DUT presented Max to Min impedance transforming ratio of over 5:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Inventor: Christos Tsironis
  • Patent number: 10591572
    Abstract: Methods and systems disclosed herein may include receiving signals from a transmitter in a receiver; determine a bias of the transmitter and receiver; generating expected observations, based on the bias, corresponding to the received signals; and calculate a building height based on a power level of the received signals and a power level of the expected observations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Henry S. Owen, LLC
    Inventor: Henry S. Owen
  • Patent number: 10591573
    Abstract: A processor may receive an indication form a radio frequency identification (RFID) device that a mobile device is in a predetermined area. The processor may send a private key on a first frequency at a first time to the mobile device. The processor may receive a communication request from the mobile device that may contain a public decryption key. The processor may send encrypted configuration information and encrypted state information to the mobile device. In some embodiments, an RFID device, may identify that a mobile device is within a predetermined area. The RFID device may send a tag to the mobile device. The RFID may send a notification to a communicator that the tag has been sent. The RFID may acquire the encrypted configuration information and encrypted state information form the communicator. The RFID device may push the encrypted configuration information and the encrypted state information to the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gautam K. Bhat, Stacey C. Ramos, Gregory J. Boss, Kevin C. McConnell, Minh Q. Pham
  • Patent number: 10591574
    Abstract: An array antenna includes a plurality of antennas capturing a coming radio wave and outputting a received signal respectively. An A-D converter converts the received signal to a digital signal, and a frequency detector detects a frequency of the received signal. A sparse signal processor calculates complex amplitudes, which are coefficients for base vectors, each of the base vectors expressing phases of the antennas of the array antenna receiving a radio wave coming from each direction in determined directions, used in expressing the received signal as a linear sum of a finite number of the base vectors, separates the received signal into direction signals for each direction, and calculates the phase of the each of the direction signals. A signal synthesizer aligns the phases of the direction signals using phase differences calculated from phases of the complex amplitudes, and synthesizes the direction signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideyuki Furuhashi, Hiroaki Tsukagoshi
  • Patent number: 10591575
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining by a direction finder (DF) the direction to a Target, which comprises (a) providing an antenna at the DF, and an array of antennas at the Target; (b) providing a compass at each of the DF and the Target, for determining the azimuth of the DF Heading and of the Target Heading, respectively, with respect to the North; (c) providing at the DF a look-up table which describes n antenna patterns, one per Transmission Mode that may be used respectively at the Target; (d) sequentially performing x Transmission Modes from the Target, each time using another pair of antennas, and during each of the Transmission Modes intentionally, and in a controlled manner attenuating a reception signal at the DF until a loss of communication, and recording the respective attenuation levels; (e) based on the x recorded attenuations levels and the look up table, determining by the DF the direction from the Target to the DF; and (f) receiving at the DF the azimuth of the Target, and bas
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: HISEP TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventors: Uri Vered, Yariv Erad, Gad Vered, Menachem Erad
  • Patent number: 10591576
    Abstract: Aspects described herein may allow for vehicle tracking. Systems and methods described herein may allow a vehicle to automatically detect the presence of a physical marker at a parking space. An image of the physical marker may be processed to determine the location of the vehicle, which may be stored and/or output for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Capital One Services, LLC
    Inventors: Qiaochu Tang, Micah Price, Jason Hoover, Geoffrey Dagley, Avid Ghamsari
  • Patent number: 10591577
    Abstract: Disclosed is a positioning method. The positioning method includes operations as follows. Multiple pieces of positioning information of various RATs are acquired, each pieces of positioning information among the multiple pieces of positioning information is determined by means of a corresponding RAT, and is representative of a position area of a terminal. Position information of the terminal is determined according to the multiple pieces of positioning information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATION CORP., LTD.
    Inventors: Hai Tang, Yuanqing Zeng
  • Patent number: 10591578
    Abstract: An example for processing location information received from a radio frequency (RF) location tag includes determining a first location of a first RF location tag associated with an asset; determining at least one second location of at least one second RF location tag associated with the asset; determining, using a processor, that the first location is not a valid location based at least in part on a comparison of the first location with the at least one second location using a spatial association model associated with the asset; and identifying the first location as erroneous in response to determining that the first location is not a valid location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: James J. O'Hagan, Rodrigo G. Alonso, Michael A. Wohl
  • Patent number: 10591579
    Abstract: There is provided a method for determining passage of a portable wireless transceiver device along a constrained path. The method comprises acquiring at least one time of flight (ToF) measurement and auxiliary information, the at least one ToF measurement being measured between a portable wireless transceiver device and a single network node. The network node is mounted proximate a constrained path. The method comprises determining whether the portable wireless transceiver device has passed the network node along the constrained path or not based on the at least one ToF measurement and the auxiliary information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Ewa Hansen, Jonas Neander, Krister Landernas, Linus Thrybom
  • Patent number: 10591580
    Abstract: Example implementations relate to determining a location using time difference of arrival (TDOA). For example, a computing device may include a first sensor to receive a signal at a first time, where the signal is generated by a user contact at a particular location on a keyboard associated with the computing device. The computing device also includes a second sensor to receive the signal at a second time and a third sensor to receive the signal at a third time. The computing device may also include a processor. The processor may calculate a set of TDOAs associated with the first time, the second time, and the third time. The processor may determine the particular location of the user contact using a triangulation based on the set of TDOAs and may identify a character on the keyboard, where the character is associated with the particular location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Bowon Lee, Souvik Sen