Patents Issued in May 12, 2020
  • Patent number: 10648929
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a trailed multiple-viewing-angle item inspection system and method of operating the same. The inspection system includes: a trailer vehicle, a radiation inspection device, a power supply device and a power grid connection device. The trailer vehicle is mounted with a power supply chamber within which a power supply device and a power grid connection device are mounted and an inspection chamber within which a radiation inspection device is mounted. The radiation inspection device includes: ray radiation source configured to emit X-rays from various positions, detectors, a body frame, a transfer device, a data and image process system and a display and operation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: NUCTECH COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Huaping Tang, Zhiqiang Chen, Yuanjing Li, Xin Jin, Zhuoyan Liu, Yonggang Wang, Hua Peng, Zhanfeng Qin
  • Patent number: 10648930
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for determining an effective energy spectrum of an X-ray tube. It is described to provide (210) a temporally varying acceleration voltage of an X-ray tube for a time period. A temporally varying X-ray tube current is also provided (220) for the time period. At least one product of the temporally varying X-ray tube current and a time interval is determined (230). An effective energy spectrum of the X-ray tube processing the X-ray tube is determined (250) as a function of the at least one product of the temporally varying X-ray tube current and the time interval and as a function of the voltage of the X-ray tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Klaus Jürgen Engel, Gereon Vogtmeier, Rolf Karl Otto Behling
  • Patent number: 10648931
    Abstract: A method, a system, and an apparatus for scanning an elongate structure. A scanner in a scanning system is moved on a helical path around the elongate structure. The scanner is moved on the helical path around the elongate structure using a helical track system attached to the elongate structure using a translating structure. An x-ray beam is emitted from the scanner while the scanner moves on the helical path. Backscatter is detected from the x-ray beam encountering the elongate structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Morteza Safai, Gary Ernest Georgeson
  • Patent number: 10648932
    Abstract: A high resolution grazing incidence X-ray diffraction technique for measuring residual stresses and their gradients as a function of depth in thin film materials on substrates or in bulk materials is disclosed. The technique includes positioning a material relative to an X-ray source and an X-ray detector, performing an Omega scan to determine an Omega offset, setting the incidence angle at a first target incidence angle based on the Omega offset and greater than the critical angle of the material, performing a grazing incidence X-ray diffraction scan, analyzing the results to identify diffraction peaks, selecting a diffraction peak, setting the incidence angle at a second target incidence angle based on the Omega offset and a desired penetration depth, performing two theta scanning on a range of two theta values around the selected diffraction peak, performing refraction correction, and determining residual stress values for the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Madhana Sunder
  • Patent number: 10648933
    Abstract: A light-trapping geometry enhances the sensitivity of strain, temperature, and/or electromagnetic field measurements using nitrogen vacancies in bulk diamond, which have exterior dimensions on the order of millimeters. In an example light-trapping geometry, a laser beam enters the bulk diamond, which may be at room temperature, through a facet or notch. The beam propagates along a path inside the bulk diamond that includes many total internal reflections off the diamond's surfaces. The NVs inside the bulk diamonds absorb the beam as it propagates. Photodetectors measure the transmitted beam or fluorescence emitted by the NVs. The resulting transmission or emission spectrum represents the NVs' quantum mechanical states, which in turn vary with temperature, magnetic field strength, electric field strength, strain/pressure, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Hannah A. Clevenson, Dirk Robert Englund
  • Patent number: 10648934
    Abstract: A method includes applying, to a sample exhibiting optical scattering and having a emission particles distributed therein that exhibit spin-dependent fluorescence, a magnetic field to shift a resonance frequency of each emission particle in a position-dependent manner. The method also includes exciting the sample with an excitation beam that causes at least one emission particle to emit spin-dependent fluorescence and detecting the emitted spin-dependent fluorescence. The method also includes estimating a position of the emission particle(s) within the sample based on the spin-dependent fluorescence, the resonance frequency, and the magnetic field. The method also includes estimating optical transmission information for the sample based on a wavefront of the excitation beam and the estimated position. The optical transmission information including a measure of an optical field at each position of an emission particle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Donggyu Kim, Dirk Robert Englund
  • Patent number: 10648935
    Abstract: The invention relates to a flow measurement system for determining a flow of a medium, comprising a Coriolis flow sensor, a thermal flow sensor and a processing unit connected thereto. According to the invention, the processing unit is arranged for determining, based on the output signals of both the Coriolis flow sensor and the thermal sensor, at least one of the thermal conductivity and the specific heat capacity of a medium in the flow measurement system. The invention further relates to a method of determining at least one of the thermal conductivity and the specific heat capacity of a medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Berkin B.V.
    Inventors: Joost Conrad Lötters, Egbert Jan Van Der Wouden, Jarno Groenesteijn, Wouter Sparreboom, Theodorus Simon Josef Lammerink, Remco John Wiegerink
  • Patent number: 10648936
    Abstract: There is provided a blood condition analyzing device including an erythrocyte quantitative evaluation unit configured to evaluate a hematocrit value and/or a hemoglobin amount on the basis of an electrical characteristic of a blood sample at a frequency of 2 to 25 MHz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihito Hayashi, Marcaurele Brun, Yoichi Katsumoto
  • Patent number: 10648937
    Abstract: A method for nondestructive inspection of ceramic structures present as either a ceramic matrix composite structure or a ceramic based coating. Such non-metallic structures are used to provide thermal protection or weight reduction or both to aircraft and their components. The nonmetallic structure is scanned with an electromagnetic pulse in the range of 200 GHz to 4 THz. The electromagnetic pulse includes a plurality of frequencies within the Terahertz range and is not restricted to a single designated frequency. The frequency range is sensitive to changes in impedances and refractive index within the structure. After the electromagnetic pulse passes through the nonmetallic structure, it may be evaluated for changes in impedance in the nonmetallic structure at different locations, and, when present, whether the changes in impedance impact the ability of the structure to perform the function for which it was designed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Russell Craig Baucke, Glen David Hilderbrand, Timothy Francis Decker, Benjamin Reid Crowgey
  • Patent number: 10648938
    Abstract: A method for determining optimum parameters with respect to transmission and/or reflection of a surface is provided. The method comprises the steps of applying the surface to a transformer material in order to form a sample arrangement, and obtaining at least one measurement parameter of electromagnetic relevance with respect to the surface of the sample arrangement with the aid of an electromagnetic excitation signal generated by a measurement equipment. In this context, the transformer material comprises at least two dimensions for varying a contribution of at least one sample parameter of electromagnetic relevance over the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: ROHDE & SCHWARZ GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Tobias Koeppel, Frank Gumbmann
  • Patent number: 10648939
    Abstract: A method of determining if unstable asphaltenes are present in a crude oil sample includes obtaining a crude oil sample and performing a fractional analysis of the crude oil sample. In one embodiment, the method further includes measuring, via a cylindrical capacitor, a dielectric constant of the crude oil sample. Responsive to the measured dielectric constant, presence of unstable asphaltenes within the crude oil sample is determined. Responsive to the determined presence of unstable asphaltenes in an amount above a predetermined value, asphaltene precipitation is mitigated by addition of a chemical additive to the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: The Texas A&M University System
    Inventors: Berna Hascakir, Abhishek Punase
  • Patent number: 10648940
    Abstract: An electrochemical biosensor includes a substrate, a plurality of layered active metal parts, a plurality of layered electrodes, a reaction confinement layer, an electrochemical reactive layer and a cover piece. The substrate is formed with through holes each of which is defined by an interior wall surface and penetrates top and bottom surfaces. Each of the layered active metal parts is formed at least upon a respective one of the interior wall surfaces. The layered electrodes are formed on the layered active metal parts. The reaction confinement layer confines a reactor space over a region where the through holes are formed. The electrochemical reactive layer is disposed in the reactor space and is electrically coupled to the layered electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Green Point Enterprises Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Chuan Lin, Sung-Yi Yang, Yi-Cheng Lin
  • Patent number: 10648941
    Abstract: In various embodiments a molecular circuit is disclosed. The circuit comprises a negative electrode, a positive electrode spaced apart from the negative electrode, and a binding probe molecule conductively attached to both the positive and negative electrodes to form a circuit having a conduction pathway through the binding probe. In various examples, the binding probe is an antibody, the Fab domain of an antibody, a protein, a nucleic acid oligomer hybridization probe, or an aptamer. The circuit may further comprise molecular arms used to wire the binding probe to the electrodes. In various embodiments, the circuit functions as a sensor wherein electrical signals, such as changes to voltage, current, impedance, conductance, or resistance in the circuit, are measured as targets interact with the binding probe. In various embodiments, the circuit provides a means to measure the presence, absence, or concentration of an analyte in a solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Roswell Biotechnologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry L. Merriman, Venkatesh Alagarswamy Govindaraj, Paul Mola, Tim Geiser, Gina Costa
  • Patent number: 10648942
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell for detecting a gas from the surrounding environment. The cell comprises an electrolyte and a sensing electrode which is in fluid communication with the electrolyte and the gas to be detected, when present. The cell further comprises a counter electrode in fluid communication with said electrolyte, and also a source of reactant gas provided in a cavity adjacent to the counter electrode, wherein reaction of the gas to be detected at the sensing electrode results in reaction of the reactant gas at the counter electrode and wherein the cavity is formed of or comprises a membrane. The cell may also have a wick extending between the sensing electrode and the counter electrode in an axial direction and a reservoir surrounding the wick.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Sprue Safety Products Ltd.
    Inventors: Mario Zanon, Ian Robins
  • Patent number: 10648943
    Abstract: A refrigerant analyzer including a pump, a filtering device, a temperature/humidity regulator, an electrochemical sensor, and a control device, wherein the refrigerant analyzer is configured to circulate conditioned air through the sensing chamber for an initialization duration of time to obtain an initial output value, determine whether the initial output value is stabilized below a predetermined initial limit, circulate a refrigerant through the sensing chamber for a sensing duration of time, operate the control device to measure a sensed output value, and operate the control device to determine a measured concentration of at least one contaminant within the refrigerant based on the sensed output value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lei Chen, Zhiwei Yang, Warren Clough, Ivan Rydkin
  • Patent number: 10648944
    Abstract: According to at least one aspect of the present disclosure, a method includes applying an alternating current at a selected voltage to a sensor, wherein the voltage is applied between a working electrode and/or reference electrode of the sensor and a temperature sensor integrated into the sensor, varying the frequency of the alternating current between a lower frequency and an upper frequency, measuring an impedance of the sensor between the working electrode and/or reference electrode and the temperature sensor as a function of the frequency of the alternating current, and determining whether, based on the total impedance at the low frequency end of the sensor and on the real and imaginary components of the impedance, the insulations between working electrode and/or reference electrode and temperature sensor have a defect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Conducta Inc.
    Inventor: Jinshan Huo
  • Patent number: 10648945
    Abstract: In one general aspect, an electrophoretic measurement method is disclosed that includes providing a vessel that holds a dispersant, providing a first electrode immersed in the dispersant, and providing a second electrode immersed in the dispersant. A sample is placed at a location within the dispersant between the first and second electrodes with the sample being separated from the electrodes, an alternating electric field is applied across the electrodes, and the sample is illuminated with temporally coherent light. A frequency shift is detected in light from the step of illuminating that has interacted with the sample during the step of applying an alternating electric field, and a property of the sample is derived based on results of the step of detecting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Malvern Panalytical Limited
    Inventors: Jason Cecil William Corbett, Malcolm Connah, Kevin Mattison
  • Patent number: 10648946
    Abstract: The invention relates to the material, design and manufacture of a drift tube with an ion source region, particularly a miniaturized drift tube, for an ion mobility spectrometer to measure mobility spectra, particularly at atmospheric pressure. The invention proposes to use a high-performance plastic which can be injection-molded for the insulating main body for the drift tube and the ion source region. Polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) can be used for this purpose, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Inventor: Michael Blaschke
  • Patent number: 10648947
    Abstract: A micro-magnetic detecting method includes the steps of: detecting a magnetic induction intensity along a first direction on a surface of a detected object to generate a detection signal, determining whether an amplitude of the detection signal is an anomalous value at a first position of the surface of the detected object, wherein the anomalous value is a value which is inconsistent with a linear value of the detection signal at the first position, and the linear value is a value that satisfies a linear relationship of the detection signal, and determining there is a defect at the first position of the detected object in case that the amplitude of the detection signal is the anomalous value. Accordingly, it detects the magnetic induction intensity on the surface of the detected object so as to detect its surface and internal defects when it remains in its original status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: NINGBO YINZHOU CITAI ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Runqiao Yu, Bin Zhang, Bo Hu, Guisuo Xia, Dongfang Cheng, Qiangqiang Cheng
  • Patent number: 10648948
    Abstract: A system for diagnosing performance degradation of a machine element includes an AE sensor that generates an AE waveform signal; a vibration sensor that generates an acceleration signal; a signal processing unit including an AE signal processing system that performs predetermined signal processing on the plurality of AE waveform signals, a vibration signal processing system that performs predetermined signal processing on the acceleration signal, and a switching parameter generating section that generates a predetermined numeric parameter to switch a measuring mode from the AE method to the vibration method; and controlling unit that selects a result of the processing in performed by the AE signal processing system at the initial stage and selects, after the numeric parameter successively turns from increasing to decreasing, a result of the processing by the vibration signal processing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Shoichi Aoki, Hiroshi Ishibuchi, Takafumi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 10648949
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a structure evaluation system includes a plurality of sensors, a position locator, a velocity calculator, and an evaluator. The sensors detect an elastic wave generated from a structure. The position locator derives a wave source distribution of the elastic waves generated from the structure, on the basis of the elastic waves. The velocity calculator derives a propagation velocity of the elastic wave generated from the structure, on the basis of the elastic waves. The evaluator evaluates the soundness of the structure on the basis of the wave source distribution and the propagation velocity of the elastic waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Kyoto University
    Inventors: Kazuo Watabe, Hidefumi Takamine, Tomoki Shiotani
  • Patent number: 10648950
    Abstract: The invention relates to a turbine blade comprising a platform edge surface including an ultrasonic wave scattering feature comprising surface irregularities adapted to alter a reflection path of an ultrasonic pulse wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Luca Marie Ripamonti, Andreas Kaiser, Christophe Udell, Marcin Wielgat
  • Patent number: 10648951
    Abstract: A pattern recognizing ultrasonic testing system and methods for using the same are provided. The system can include an ultrasonic probe and an analyzer. The ultrasonic probe can be configured to acquire ultrasonic measurements from target, where the ultrasonic measurements can contain one or more ultrasonic patterns representing a target characteristic. The analyzer can be in communication with the ultrasonic probe. The analyzer can also be configured to receive the ultrasonic measurements, receive a first classifier configured to identify a predetermined target characteristic based upon one or more predetermined first ultrasonic patterns, examine the received ultrasonic measurements using the first classifier, and identify ultrasonic patterns of the received ultrasonic measurements that correspond to the predetermined ultrasonic patterns as representing the predetermined target characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies GmbH
    Inventor: Matthias Jobst
  • Patent number: 10648952
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the compressive strength of masonry units based on airborne sonic signals generated by stimulating the samples with short duration, mechanical impulses are described. The non-destructive testing apparatus consists of a specimen support unit which mechanically isolates the masonry unit from the environment and from the support, a mechanical stimulator, and an acoustic response detector. The signals recorded are analyzed to extract the pertinent features which are then used to compute the compressive strength of the sample. The pertinent signals are deduced through a calibration of the masonry type being analyzed (material and shape) based on physical analysis of the sample's normal modes of vibration, or through Finite Element Analysis of the vibrations, or through direct empirical calibration. This non-destructive testing method is low-cost, readily implemented and provides a reliable technique for compressive strength estimation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Sound QA Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Neil Cox, James Booth, Svetlana Brzev, Diane Kennedy, Bill McEwen
  • Patent number: 10648953
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a technique are provided for determining the quality of a weld for a battery contact using audio signals. In some embodiments, a system for determining the quality of a weld for a battery contact comprises a processor configured to receive a snapshot that includes a rendering of an audio signal obtained during a welding process by monitoring a device being welded. A weld-quality indicator for the device being welded is determined based at least in part on features extracted from the snapshot and a weld-quality score for the device being welded is determined in response to the weld-quality indicator. In this case, the weld-quality score is indicative of a quality of the weld. The system also includes a memory coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: WISK AERO LLC
    Inventors: Sampson Lau, Nihal Murthy
  • Patent number: 10648954
    Abstract: An object of the present disclosure is to find a method in which a result of liquid chromatography can be predicted with high accuracy for a wide range of a mixing ratio of solvents by utilizing a result of thin-layer chromatography. A liquid chromatography method for separating a mixture of two or more kinds of compounds, comprising the following steps: (1) performing thin-layer chromatography or column chromatography in a mixed solvent of two or more kinds of solvents having a different mixing ratio from each other or a single solvent; (2) creating a relational expression between a mixing ratio and an elution degree of a solvent for each compound in a sample based on a result of the step (1); and (3) determining an optimum condition based on the relational expression, and performing liquid chromatography.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: YAMAZEN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kihachiro Okura
  • Patent number: 10648955
    Abstract: A method of detecting an analyte by: providing a derivatizing agent that is reactive with the analyte; delivering the derivatizing agent into a chamber; delivering a sample of a gas suspected of containing the analyte into the chamber before or after delivering the derivatizing agent, while the chamber is maintained at a temperature that retains the derivatizing agent and any analyte and that allows reaction between the derivatizing agent and any analyte in the chamber to form a derivatized analyte; warming the chamber to cause evaporation of any derivatized analyte; and delivering the derivatized analyte in the chamber into a gas chromatograph column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Lauryn E. DeGreeff, Christopher J. Katilie
  • Patent number: 10648956
    Abstract: A capillary column includes a fused silica tubing and a polyimide coating over the fusing silica tubing. Additionally, the capillary column further includes a first plurality of integrated ferrules positioned along at least a first portion of the fused silica tubing and spaced apart from one another by a first fixed interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: THERMO FINNIGAN LLC
    Inventor: Edward B. McCauley
  • Patent number: 10648957
    Abstract: A benchtop device flow setup for determining the effectiveness of magnetic treatment of feed water for reducing mineral scaling includes two similar branches, both equipped with a reverse osmosis membrane and a pump that operate in the transient regime at the same flow rate and transmembrane pressure. The flow setup is further fed with a solution at the same level of supersaturation measured in a stirred reactor, however, only one branch exposes the feed to a magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignees: Government of the United States of America, The Bureau of Reclamation, New Jersey Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Boris Khusid, Katherine L. Guerra, Frank Leitz, Yueyang Shen, Ezinwa O. Elele, Qian Lei
  • Patent number: 10648958
    Abstract: An interconnected corrugated carbon-based network comprising a plurality of expanded and interconnected carbon layers is disclosed. In one embodiment, each of the expanded and interconnected carbon layers is made up of at least one corrugated carbon sheet that is one atom thick. In another embodiment, each of the expanded and interconnected carbon layers is made up of a plurality of corrugated carbon sheets that are each one atom thick. The interconnected corrugated carbon-based network is characterized by a high surface area with highly tunable electrical conductivity and electrochemical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Veronica A. Strong, Maher F. El-Kady, Richard Barry Kaner
  • Patent number: 10648959
    Abstract: The inventors experimentally demonstrated NO2 gas sensing performance of multilayer black phosphorous (BP) field effect transistors. The BP sensors were sensitive to NO2 concentration down to 5 ppb making them comparable in sensitivity to the best 2D material based sensors. Raman spectroscopy comparison revealed no apparent change in the spectra before and after exposure to NO2, which shows that thick BP flakes can maintain their relative stability after sensing. Moreover, the BP device sensing performance fitted well with the Langmuir Isotherm for molecules adsorbed on a surface, which confirms charge transfer as the dominant mechanism for sensing. The systematic increase in conductance with increasing NO2 concentrations suggests NO2 molecules withdraw electrons and dope BP flakes with holes. These results lay the ground work for BP to be applied to various sensing applications including chemical, gas, and bio-sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Chongwu Zhou, Ahmad Abbas
  • Patent number: 10648960
    Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein describe an infrared (IR) imaging system for detecting a gas. The imaging system can include an optical filter that selectively passes light having a wavelength in a range of 1585 nm to 1595 nm while attenuating light at wavelengths above 1600 nm and below 1580 nm. The system can include an optical detector array sensitive to light having a wavelength of 1590 that is positioned rear of the optical filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: REBELLION PHOTONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Timothy Kester, Nathan Adrian Hagen
  • Patent number: 10648961
    Abstract: A core-shell structure (a diameter is about 5 nm) is located on an Al2O3 catalyst support. Platinum (Pt metal) is a core, and a shell that surrounds the core has a solid solution structure (A1-xBxOY) (where X is a composition that composes A and B, and Y is a composition of oxygen (O)) that is composed of platinum, palladium, and oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoyoshi Murata, Yukari Shibuta, Takuya Suzuki, Makoto Okamura
  • Patent number: 10648962
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for monitoring a vehicle for inhibiting substances comprising detecting, using a movement detector, movement of a vehicle, collecting, using an air sampler, an initial air sample of air within a cabin of the vehicle, analyzing, using an inhibiting substance detector, the air sample to determine whether an inhibiting substance is detected in the air sample, in response to determining that an inhibiting substance is detected in the air sample, increasing the sampling rate of the air sampler, until a predetermined number of samples are collected that also have been analyzed and an inhibiting substance detected therein and sending an alert to an administrator of the vehicle indicating that inhibited driving is occurring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: TEXT FREE ENTERPRISES, LLC
    Inventors: Todd M. Davis, Thomas DeGasperi, Gary Hancock
  • Patent number: 10648963
    Abstract: A testing device (1) is configured for testing a gas guide element (3). A control unit (70) carries out a sequence of steps with two operating states. A test gas (91) is delivered by a pumping device (7) through the gas guide element (3) to a remotely located measuring location (80) and is subsequently delivered from the remotely located measuring location (80) to the gas sensor system (5). Measured values (77) are detected and analyzed during the delivery from the remotely located measuring location (80) to the gas sensor system (5) by a sensor (6, 90), which indicates a state of flow in the gas guide element (3) or an operating state of the pumping device (7). Changes occurring in the measured values (77) during the delivery from the remotely located measuring location (80) to the gas sensor system (5) indicate the operational capability of the gas guide element (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: DRÄGERWERK AG & CO. KGAA
    Inventors: Hans-Ullrich Hansmann, Henning Gerder
  • Patent number: 10648964
    Abstract: In some embodiments, alerts are sent to appropriate parties if an insulated container is not properly packed out to insure the approximate safe temperature of the materials. In other embodiments, a countdown timer is used to keep track of the time that the biologic has been in transit, and ensure that the amount of time does not exceed the known shelf life of the biologic. In still other embodiments, the payload container is equipped with its own sensors, such as temperature sensors, and communications devices, such as a close range communication device, capable of transmitting information regarding a range of parameters, including, but not limited to, temperature, humidity, location and time, from the payload container to an end user. In other embodiments, shielding and/or radiation sensors are included in insulated shipping or storage containers, or payload containers, to shield and monitor the radiation exposure of the payload.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Biologistex CCM, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Rice, Bruce McCormick, Aby J. Mathew, Kevin O'Donnell
  • Patent number: 10648965
    Abstract: Molecular sensing system including: a sensing device (5) comprising at least one support layer (10), and an active layer (6) mounted on said support layer and having at least one nano-pore (12) configured for translocation of a molecular analyte (18) therethrough; an electrically conducting liquid (4) in contact with the active layer in a region around said nano-pore; and a signal processing circuit (7) comprising an ionic current circuit (8) configured to generate and measure an ionic current (Ii) in the electrically conducting liquid influenced by the translocation of the molecular analyte through the nano-pore. The molecular sensing device of the invention allows for single-nucleotide discrimination and detection of the specific sequence within ssDNA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
    Inventors: Jiandong Feng, Ke Liu, Aleksandra Radenovic
  • Patent number: 10648966
    Abstract: A conductive channel-containing membrane includes a membrane layer, and a SPP1 connector polypeptide variant that is incorporated into the membrane layer to form an aperture through which conductance can occur when an electrical potential is applied across the membrane. A method of sensing a molecule, such as a polypeptide or nucleic acid molecule, makes use of the conductive channel-containing membrane. A method of DNA sequence makes use of the conductive channel-containing membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Peixuan Guo, Shaoying Wang
  • Patent number: 10648967
    Abstract: The system for use with a breath tester includes a computing facility. In a learning mode, the facility is adapted to: receive the weight of a user; receive the details of each drink consumed by a user and the time of consumption of said each drink; receive measurements of breath alcohol content produced by the breath tester; and calculate the elimination rate of the user. In a predictive mode, the facility is adapted to: receive the details of each drink consumed by a user, and the time of consumption of said each drink; and calculate the expected breath alcohol content of the user based on the weight of the user, the calculated elimination rate of the user and said details of each drink consumed by the user and said time of consumption of said each drink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Alcohol Countermeasure Systems (International) Inc.
    Inventor: Steven H. Leach
  • Patent number: 10648968
    Abstract: A method for evaluating in vitro the effect of a xenobiotic (e.g., a drug) on drug metabolism in hepatocytes. The kit comprises a first culture of hepatocytes, a portion of in vitro xenobiotic-stimulated biological sample, and instructions for incubating the first culture of hepatocytes with the portion of in vitro xenobiotic-stimulated biological sample, and analyzing the activity, expression, or a combination thereof of a biomarker in the hepatocytes to evaluate the effect of the xenobiotic on drug metabolism in the hepatocytes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: XenoTech, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Maciej Czerwinski, David Benjamin Buckley, Faraz Kazmi
  • Patent number: 10648969
    Abstract: A method and device for quality controlling a blood-based product. In order to control the quality of a blood-based product which comprises an erythrocyte concentrate, a thrombocyte concentrate, a granulocyte concentrate, a leukocyte concentrate, whole blood and/or blood plasma, a Raman spectrum is recorded. By means of evaluating the Raman spectrum, it is determined whether the blood-based product can be used for a transfusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: CellTool GmbH
    Inventors: Raimund Schütze, Karin Schütze
  • Patent number: 10648970
    Abstract: The present invention lies in the field of visualization and quantification of immobilized targets in samples using immunochemical means. In particular, the invention relates to a method and reagents for detection, visualization and quantification of a molecular target in immunostained histological samples using particular compositions of the target specific binding agent. Methods and compositions of the invention are suitable for any assay that uses a target visualization system in histological samples based on detection of the target by the target specific binding agent. The methods and compositions are useful for evaluation of targets that are biomarkers of diseases in medical diagnostic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jesper Lohse, Kristian Jensen, Rikke Malene Krusenst Jerna-Hafstrom, Kirsten Damgaard Hoff, Lars Christian Jacobsen
  • Patent number: 10648971
    Abstract: Provided herein are compositions and methods for the assembly of a bioluminescent complex from two or more non-luminescent (e.g., substantially non-luminescent) peptide and/or polypeptide units. In particular, bioluminescent activity is conferred upon a non-luminescent polypeptide via structural complementation with another, complementary non-luminescent peptide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Promega Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew S. Dixon, Lance Encell, Mary Hall, Keith Wood, Monika Wood, Marie Schwinn, Brock F. Binkowski, Hicham Zegzouti, Nidhi Nath, Subhanjan Mondal, Said Goueli, Poncho Meisenheimer, Thomas Kirkland, James Unch, Dileep K. Pulukkunat, Matthew Robers, Melanie Dart, Thomas Machleidt
  • Patent number: 10648972
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods, devices, reagents, and kits for the detection of one or more target molecules that may be present in a test sample. In one embodiment, a test sample is contacted with an aptamer that includes a tag and has a specific affinity for a target molecule. An aptamer affinity complex that includes an aptamer bound to its target molecule is allowed to form. If the test sample contains the target molecule, an aptamer affinity complex will generally form in the test sample. The aptamer affinity complex is optionally converted to an aptamer covalent complex that includes an aptamer covalently bound to its target molecule. The aptamer affinity complex (or optional aptamer covalent complex) can then be detected and/or quantified using any of a variety of methods known to one skilled in the art, including using a solid support, using mass spectrometry, and using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: SomaLogic, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Heil, Daniel J. Schneider, Daniel T. Nieuwlandt, Sheri K. Wilcox, Dominic Zichi, Todd Gander, Bruce Eaton, Larry Gold
  • Patent number: 10648973
    Abstract: An immunoassay apparatus may include: a sample dispenser part that dispenses a sample into a first reaction container; a reagent dispenser part that dispenses, into the first reaction container,: a solid-phase reagent containing a solid-phase carrier; a labeled reagent; and a releasing reagent that releases, from the solid-phase carrier, an immune complex including a target substance and a labeled substance; a measurement part that measures a signal based on the labeled substance in the immune complex in a second reaction container; a container supply part that stores a plurality of reaction containers; a transfer part that transfers the first reaction container so that the sample dispenser part and the reagent dispenser part perform a dispensing operation to the first reaction container, and that transfers the second reaction container so that the immune complex dispended from the first reaction container is dispensed into the second container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: SYSMEX CORPROATION
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Sato, Toshikatsu Fukuju, Shuhei Kaneko, Atsushi Aoki, Tomohiro Okuzaki, Yasuhiro Takeuchi, Yutaka Kawamoto
  • Patent number: 10648974
    Abstract: Ethyl glucuronide (EtG) lateral flow immunoassay test strips, devices, and methods, useful for testing for alcohol ingestion for alcohol abuse or related diseases and treatment monitoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: CAREHEALTH AMERICA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Paul Kenneth Johnson, Jacqueline Ann Gale
  • Patent number: 10648975
    Abstract: Provided is a single-channel chemiluminescent micro-fluidic chip, including a chip body with a quantification-reaction cavity and a waste liquid cavity. The quantification-reaction cavity is composed of a quantification-reaction pool on a lower portion and a reaction pool cover plate, the quantification-reaction pool is equally divided into three cavities by two partition plates, a labeled antibody is placed in the middle cavity, coated antibodies are placed in the others, a surface, facing the quantification-reaction pool, of the reaction pool cover plate is equally divided into two parts. In result, the coated antibodies and the labeled antibodies are physically separated to effectively avoid nonspecific binding. Due to a special structure of the reaction tank, wavy fluid flow is generated to fully mix the coated antibodies and the labeled antibodies, which improves testing efficiency and sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: LANSION BIOTECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xingshang Xu, Jeffery Chen, Long Wang, Weiyan Sun, Qilu Wan, Shen Yang
  • Patent number: 10648976
    Abstract: Lateral flow immunoassay devices for determining the concentration of an analyte in a sample and methods for measuring analyte concentration in sample using such lateral flow immunoassay devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Sam Kavusi, Frederik Kotz
  • Patent number: 10648977
    Abstract: The invention described herein provides methods for treating a disease or disorder associated with angiotensin receptor signaling in a patient exhibiting elevated levels of ATIR autoantibodies. The invention also provides methods of identifying a patient suffering from a disease or disorder associated with angiotensin receptor signaling that may benefit from treatment with an angiotensin receptor blocker. Patients with elevated levels of ATIR autoantibodies are identified as candidates that particularly benefit from treatment with an angiotensin receptor blocker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Jeremy D. Walston, Peter M. Abadir, Alka Jain, Neal Fedarko
  • Patent number: 10648978
    Abstract: Identification of autoantibodies associated with Crohn's disease useful in diagnosis and management using an innovative protein array technology, namely nucleic acid programmable protein arrays (NAPPA) and applications relating thereto. Overall, reactivity of IgG autoantibodies was stronger than that of IgA autoantibodies; however, IgA autoantibodies showed greater differential reactivity between cases and controls. Four IgA autoantibodies against SNRPB, PRPH, PTTG1 and SNAI1 were newly identified with sensitivities above 15% at 95% specificity, among which anti-SNRPB-IgA had the highest sensitivity of 24.0%. Autoantibodies associated with specific disease subtypes were also found.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignees: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University
    Inventors: Haoyu Wang, Ji Qiu, Joshua LaBaer, Jonathan Leighton, Shabana Pasha