With Means For Temperature Or Pressure Compensation Patents (Class 204/408)
  • Patent number: 11874242
    Abstract: Evaluation arrangement for a thermal gas sensor with at least one heater and at least one detector. The evaluation arrangement is configured to obtain information about an amplitude of a detector signal of a first detector, and information about a first phase difference between a heater signal and the detector signal of the first detector. In addition, the evaluation arrangement is configured to form as an intermediate quantity, dependent on the information about the amplitudes of the detector signal and dependent on the information about the first phase difference, a combination signal, and to determine information about a gas concentration or information about a thermal diffusivity of a fluid on the basis of the combination signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignees: Habn-Schickard-Gesellschaft für angewandte Forschung e.V., GS Elektromedizinische Geräte G. Stemple GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Hedrich, Bernd Ehrbrecht, Gerhard Kattinger, Kurt Kliche
  • Patent number: 11860117
    Abstract: A pH sensor for detecting a pH of a sample includes a reference electrode and a glass electrode. The reference electrode includes a hollow tubular housing, and at least one water absorbing unit disposed in the housing and including a porous junction member configured to contact the sample, and a water absorbing member disposed on one side of the porous junction member that is opposite to the sample. The water absorbing member is made by soaking a superabsorbent polymer in potassium chloride solution. The glass electrode is inserted into the water absorbing member, and protrudes from the junction member toward the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: LUH CHERNG ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wen-Feng Tsai, Ke-Fu Lin
  • Patent number: 11782017
    Abstract: On a cross sectional surface X1 of a pump electrode 3 in a gas sensor element forming a gas sensor, a noble metal area 31 having Pt—Au aggregations, a solid electrolyte area 32 having solid electrolyte aggregations, a mixture area in which Pt—Au alloy and solid electrolyte are distributed, and pores 34. The mixture area 33 is formed within a range of 30 to 90% in an overall area of the cross sectional surface X1, excepting the pores 34. The pores are formed adjacent to the mixture area 33.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, KABUSHIKIKAISHA TOYOTA CHUO KENKYUSHO
    Inventors: Mitsunobu Nakatou, Keigo Mizutani, Takashi Araki, Tadashi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11733203
    Abstract: A sensing cell includes: a first electrode coupled to a gate of a transistor, a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode; a protective layer covering sidewalls of the first electrode and the second electrode and having a first opening and a second opening exposing a first part of the first electrode and a second part of the second electrode, respectively; a first well located on the protective layer and surrounding the first electrode and the second electrode and having a third opening exposing the first part of the first electrode, the second part of the second electrode, and the protective layer between the first opening and the second opening; a second well located on the protective layer surrounding the first well and having a fourth opening to limit a flow of a liquid to be tested; and an ion selective membrane located in the third opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: National Tsing Hua University
    Inventors: Yu-Lin Wang, Shin-Li Wang
  • Patent number: 11579112
    Abstract: A sensor element includes an element base made of an oxygen-ion conductive solid electrolyte, an internal space provided inside the element base, an electrochemical pump cell that pumps oxygen in and out between the internal space and outside, and a porous thermal shock resistant layer provided to an outermost peripheral part in a predetermined range at one end part of the element base, at which a gas inlet is provided. A thermal diffusion time in a thickness direction of the thermal shock resistant layer is 0.4 sec to 1.0 sec inclusive. A thermal diffusion time at a leading end part of the thermal shock resistant layer covering the gas inlet at a farthest leading end position at the one end part is longest, and a thermal diffusion time at a pump surface is longer than a thermal diffusion time at a heater surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventor: Takashi Hino
  • Patent number: 11579113
    Abstract: A sensor element includes: an element base made of an oxygen-ion conductive solid electrolyte; an internal space provided inside the element base; an electrochemical pump cell configured to pump oxygen in and out between the internal space and outside; a porous thermal shock resistant layer provided to an outermost peripheral part in a predetermined range at one end part of the element base, at which a gas inlet is provided; and a buffer layer adjacent to the thermal shock resistant layer on a pump surface and a heater surface. A thermal diffusion time in a thickness direction of the thermal shock resistant layer is 0.4 sec to 1.0 sec inclusive, and a total thermal diffusion time in a stacking direction of the thermal shock resistant layer and the buffer layer is 0.2 sec to 1.0 sec inclusive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventor: Takashi Hino
  • Patent number: 11555463
    Abstract: A gas sensor element comprising a long plate-like element body and a porous protective layer protecting a surface of the element body, wherein the element body has a gas detection part at an end thereof on one end face side in a longitudinal direction, and the protective layer includes an end face part covering the one end face in laminate, side face parts covering side faces connected to the one end face in laminate, and corner parts where two adjacent ones of the end face part and the side face parts meet. An outer surface of one or more of the end face part and the side face parts has a concave shape that is smoothly continuous with the corner parts and configured such that a layer thickness increases toward the corner parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shota Imada, Tomotaka Mouri, Toru Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 11204336
    Abstract: A sensor element 101 includes an element main body 101a that includes oxygen ion-conductive solid electrolyte layers (1 to 6), and a porous protective layer 90 that covers at least part of the element main body 101a. The porous protective layer 90 includes a porous inner protective layer 92 and a porous outer protective layer 91 disposed on the outer side of the inner protective layer 92 and having a smaller average pore diameter than the inner protective layer 92.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Watanabe, Takashi Suzuki, Shuichi Ozawa, Hirohito Kiyota, Satoko Moriyama, Shiho Iwai
  • Patent number: 11199474
    Abstract: Disclosed is a sensor, including: a sensor body having a cylindrical case and a sensor element accommodated in the case; a seal member disposed in a rear end part of the case; lead wires electrically connected to the sensor element and extending from inside to outside of the casing through the seal member; and a cylindrical heat shield tube retained to an outer surface of the case and extending rearward from the case so as to circumferentially surround the seal member and parts of the lead wires, characterized in that: the sensor further includes a cylindrical tube cap made of an elastic material and arranged to restrict a rearward movement of the heat shield tube; the tube cap has formed therein at least one lead wire insertion hole through which the lead wires are inserted; and the tube cap is reduced in diameter and held to the lead wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keiichi Nodo, Keiichi Noda, Ryuta Fukano, Yasuhiro Ishiguro, Shoji Akatsuka
  • Patent number: 11139256
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods related to tamper-resistant integrated circuits are described. The tamper-resistant integrated circuits include tamper-resistant features including a tamper-resistant material formulated or configured to exhibit a change in at least one electrical property responsive to exposure to oxygen, electromagnetic radiation, or other environmental conditions. Data located within the integrated circuit may be erased, or at least a portion of the integrated circuit may be destroyed, responsive to a change in the at least one electrical property. In some examples, one or more electrical properties of a tamper-resistant feature may be measured. A change in an electrical property may be an indication that the associated integrated circuit has been tampered with.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Diana C. Majerus, Scott D. Van De Graaff, Matthew N. Rocklein
  • Patent number: 11047825
    Abstract: A heater unit includes a heater 72 having first bend portions 95 (95a to 95d) and second bend portions 96 (96a to 96f). The first bend portions 95 are turns present in a maximum-temperature area (first area 90a) where the maximum temperature is reached during heating among areas 88 where the turns have a narrower pitch and having apexes facing each other in the short-length direction (left-right direction) of a ceramic substrate. The second bend portions 96 are turns present in areas 89 where the turns have a wider pitch and having apexes facing each other in the short-length direction. The distance X1 [mm] between the first bend portions 95 facing each other is larger than the distance X2 [mm] between the second bend portions 96 facing each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventor: Rui Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 11035792
    Abstract: A nanohole array (NHA)-based plasmonic sensor (e.g., gas/condensed phase sensor), their preparation, and their use to detect and analyze samples, especially mixtures of chemicals/bio-chemicals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignees: The George Washington University, GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Yangyang Zhao, Mona Zaghloul, Stephen Semancik, Kurt D. Benkstein
  • Patent number: 10913967
    Abstract: A system that can assess red blood cell AChE activity to provide warning of exposure and possibly inform treatment with medical countermeasures is disclosed. A portable, ideally hand-held, in vitro diagnostic point of care system capable of electrochemically-based detection of red blood cell acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity from an undiluted whole blood sample provides a real-time pre-symptomatic warning of exposure to organophosphorus nerve agent or other poison, such as a pesticide, which informs treatment with medical countermeasures. One preferred version of the invention provides a system that uses highly stable test strips and a lightweight, low power hand-held potentiostat detector. The disclosed invention provides a real-time quantitative assessment of cholinesterase (ChE) enzymatic activity directly from a small whole blood sample for indication of exposure to ChE inhibiting substances (i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: The Government of the United States, as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Shane Aaron Kasten
  • Patent number: 10890624
    Abstract: A testing fixture for a cell temperature probe includes a microcomputer, a temperature probe, a measurement case, a temperature instrument and heaters. The microcomputer configured to receive a control command for executing a testing process. The measurement case has an outer surface and an inner surface. The outer surface includes a probe-contacting area used for being contacted by the cell temperature probe within a formation device in the testing process. The temperature instrument is electrically connected to the microcomputer and has a sensing terminal disposed on the inner surface of the measurement case. The location of the sensing terminal is aligned with the probe-contacting area in a direction of a thickness of the measurement case. The heaters are electrically connected to the microcomputer and thermally to the measurement case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: CHROMA ATE INC.
    Inventors: Chuan-Tse Lin, Ming-Tsung Liu, Kuan-Chen Chen, Chien-Po Lin
  • Patent number: 10845323
    Abstract: An electronic component includes a field effect transistor that functions as a working electrode of an ion sensor and a driving circuit that causes a potential difference between a source electrode and a drain electrode of the field effect transistor. A reference electrode potential of the field effect transistor is fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignees: WASEDA UNIVERSITY, YOKOGAWA ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kawarada, Masafumi Inaba, Mohd Sukri Shaili Falina Binti, Takuro Naramura, Keisuke Igarashi, Yukihiro Shintani, Kotaro Ogawa
  • Patent number: 10768153
    Abstract: A gas sensing device that includes a (a) gas reactive element that has a gas dependent temperature parameter; and (b) a semiconductor temperature sensing element that is spaced apart from the gas reactive element and is configured to sense radiation emitted from the gas reactive element and generate detection signals that are responsive to a temperature of the gas reactive element; wherein the gas reactive element and the semiconductor temperature sensing element are of microscopic scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignees: TODOS TECHNOLOGIES LTD., TECHNION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION LTD.
    Inventors: Yael Nemirovsky, Amikam Nemirovsky, Shmuel Melman
  • Patent number: 10760980
    Abstract: An Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) temperature sensor correction apparatus includes an Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT); a temperature sensor having a sensing diode; and a process variation sensor having an internal resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Ji Woong Jang, Kang Ho Jeong, Ki Jong Lee, Sang Cheol Shin
  • Patent number: 10697920
    Abstract: Disclosed is a gas sensor having high detection sensitivity, capable of detecting a gas at a low concentration and achieving lower power consumption. In the gas sensor including a gas detection element disposed on a thin-film insulator layer, the gas detection element includes: a heater layer provided on the thin-film insulator layer; and a gas detection layer having a thin-film thermistor part and an electrode part in contact with the thin-film, thermistor part, the gas detection layer being provided on the heater layer so as to be electrically insulated from the heater layer. The gas sensor is configured to detect a temperature change due to contact of a gas with the gas detection element on the basis of a change in resistance value in the thin-film thermistor part. The thin-film thermistor part preferably comprises a composite metal oxide containing Fe2O3, TiO2 and MgO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: RIKEN KEIKI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Shibasaki, Hirotaka Obata
  • Patent number: 10619097
    Abstract: This present invention relates to a Room Temperature Wet Chemical Growth (RTWCG) formulations, methods and processes. In one embodiment, the present invention further relates to RTWCG formulations, methods and processes that utilize a low-[HF]. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to RTWCG formulations with improved bath life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: SPECMAT, Inc.
    Inventors: Horia M. Faur, Maria Faur
  • Patent number: 10548209
    Abstract: In a chamber apparatus that includes a chamber and a target generation device configured to supply tin as a target material to a certain region in the chamber, oxidation of molten tin is prevented. A chamber apparatus includes: a chamber (1); a target generation device including a tank part (32) configured to store tin T, a variable temperature device (33, 38) configured to change a temperature of the tin T in the tank part (32), a pressure regulator (31) configured to change a pressure in the tank part (32), and a nozzle part (34) configured to eject liquefied tin T; a gas source (40) configured to supply gas containing hydrogen gas into the chamber (1); an evacuation device (46) configured to evacuate gaseous body in the chamber (1); and a controller (2) configured to control generation of a target, in which the controller (2) controls the evacuation device (46) to maintain an oxygen partial pressure in the chamber (1) at 4×10?5 Pa or lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Gigaphoton Inc.
    Inventor: Takanobu Ishihara
  • Patent number: 10516346
    Abstract: A power converter is provided with an inverter unit for converting DC power from a DC power supply into AC power, and a control unit that generates a control signal for controlling the inverter unit. The control unit includes an impedance estimation unit that injects a disturbance signal into a load and derives an estimated value of an impedance of the load based on a voltage signal from the load into which the disturbance signal is injected, the impedance compensator unit whose control parameters are set based on the estimated value of the impedance, and that corrects an output current signal in accordance with the control parameters, a command value unit that outputs a command value indicating a control target value, and a control compensator unit that generates a control signal, based on the command value from the command value unit and the current signal from the impedance compensator unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Yuhki Kamatani, Takeo Nishikawa, Hironori Nakada
  • Patent number: 10514355
    Abstract: A mixed-potential gas sensor for measuring a concentration of a predetermined gas component of a measurement gas includes sensing electrodes mainly made of an oxygen-ion conductive solid electrolyte and located on a surface of a sensor element, and at least one reference electrode including a cermet including Pt and an oxygen-ion conductive solid electrolyte. The sensing electrodes each include a cermet including a noble metal and an oxygen-ion conductive solid electrolyte. The noble metal includes Pt and Au. A Au abundance ratio, which is an area ratio of a portion covered with the Au to a portion at which the Pt is exposed in a surface of noble metal particles forming each of the sensing electrodes, differs among the sensing electrodes. The gas sensor determines a concentration of the predetermined gas component based on a potential difference between each of the sensing electrodes and the at least one reference electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Taku Okamoto, Noriko Hirata, Yuki Nakayama, Osamu Nakasone
  • Patent number: 10508608
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to detect deterioration of dead time characteristics of an air-fuel ratio sensor with high accuracy without causing running performance and exhaust performance to worsen. The present invention provides a control device for an engine, characterized by being equipped with: a means for detecting an air-fuel ratio; a means for changing the air-fuel ratio in a predetermined cycle; and a means for sending a notification of an abnormality in the air-fuel ratio detection means or causing at least a portion of the engine control to run in a fail-safe mode when the amplitude of an output signal of the air-fuel ratio detection means at a predetermined frequency is within a predetermined range and the required time or required angle to arrive at a predetermined value of the output signal of the air-fuel ratio detection means from a reference position or reference time point of an engine-related parameter is equal to a predetermined value or higher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Nakagawa, Toshio Hori, Akihito Numata
  • Patent number: 10471266
    Abstract: A hermetic feedthrough for an implantable medical device includes a sheet having a hole defined therethrough, wherein the sheet comprises a first material that is an electrically insulative ceramic comprising alumina. The feedthrough further includes a second material substantially filling the hole so as to form a conduit, the second material having platinum and an additive that includes alumina. The second material does not include SiO2, MgO, or CaO. The first and second materials have a co-fired bond therebetween, the co-fired bond hermetically sealing the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignees: MEDTRONIC, INC., KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kengo Morioka, Keiichi Fujii, Arne Knudsen, Shingo Satou, Hidekazu Otomaru, Hiroshi Makino, Andrew Thom, Markus Reiterer, Gordon Munns, Thomas Miltich, Joyce Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10436735
    Abstract: The present invention relates to diagnostic devices incorporating electrode modules and fluidics for performing chemical analyses. The invented devices consist of at least one component sensor formed on an electrode module, the sensor being contained within a fluidic housing. The electrode module is a laminate of a perforated epoxy foil and a photo-formed metal foil with sensor membranes deposited into the perforations. The fluidic housing is a diagnostic card consisting of a plastic card-like body, the at least one component sensor, a sealed chamber defined in the card body for containing a fluid, a fluid conduit for fluidically connecting the chamber with the sensor region, a valve for fluidically connecting the chamber to the fluid conduit, and a delivery structure separate and distinct from the valve for forcing fluid from the chamber and into the fluid conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc.
    Inventors: Imants Lauks, Andrzej Maczuszenko
  • Patent number: 10352159
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring drilling operations by dividing a flow of fluid into at least one discrete fluid unit, circulating the fluid unit through a wellbore, and comparing a measured change to a property of the fluid unit to a predicted change in the property of the fluid unit. In addition to measuring the change to the property of the fluid unit, the fluid unit may be tracked by iteratively calculating the location of the fluid unit as it passes through the wellbore. Data collected for the fluid unit by a control system may be analyzed and used by the control system or an operator to diagnose problems or improve overall efficiency of drilling operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Mathew Dennis Rowe
  • Patent number: 10273593
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell that allows for in-situ structural characterization of amorphous thin film materials during the course of electrolysis using high-energy X-ray scattering (>50 keV). The compact and versatile cell employs a three-electrode configuration and minimizes X-ray scattering contributions from the cell, reference and counter electrodes, as well as the working electrode support. A large surface area working electrode has a physically robust support and is largely transparent to X-rays. This design, which utilizes a three-dimensional working electrode, also greatly improves the intensity and quality of the scattered signal compared to a two-dimensional working electrode. The in-situ cell can be used not only to investigate structural evolution during electrolysis using X-ray scattering (e.g. pair distribution function), but also to perform electrochemical potential-dependent structural analysis by extended X-ray absorption fine structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Gihan Kwon, Jonathan D. Emery, In Soo Kim, Alex B. Martinson, David M. Tiede
  • Patent number: 10197519
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for sensing the amount of a gas in a fluid are disclosed. The apparatus may include a gas sensor, a temperature sensor, a first temperature adjusting unit, or a second temperature adjusting unit. The first and second temperature adjusting units may control the temperature of the gas sensor. The first and second temperature adjusting units may each be used to control the temperature of the gas sensor. According to one technique, they may be used simultaneously to control the temperature of the gas sensor. The temperature sensor may be used to sense the temperature of the gas when it has stabilized to the fluid temperature in which it is being used and the temperature of the gas sensor when it is being controlled by at least one of the first or second temperature adjusting units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: H2Scan Corporation
    Inventors: Vikas Lakhotia, An Trong Nguyen Le, Timothy Wayne Howard, Matthew Robert Phillipps
  • Patent number: 10072594
    Abstract: An exhaust sensor 1 comprises a sensor cell 51, a voltage application circuit 61, a current detection circuit 62 and a concentration calculating part 80a. The current detection circuit detects a first current flowing through the sensor cell when fuel cut control is being performed in the internal combustion engine and a predetermined voltage is applied from the voltage application circuit to the sensor cell, and detect a second current flowing through the sensor cell when normal control is being performed in the internal combustion engine and the predetermined voltage is applied from the voltage application circuit to the sensor cell. The concentration calculating part is configured to calculate the concentration higher with respect to the second current when the first current is relatively low compared with when the first current is relatively high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keiichiro Aoki, Yoshihisa Serizawa
  • Patent number: 10031066
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for monitoring corrosion of a structure by using the structure itself as part of the electrochemical measurement. According to some implementations, linear polarization resistance (LPR) sensor devices for direct monitoring of corrosion on a structure are presented. According to certain innovations herein, a sensor device may include three electrodes, such as a counter electrode, a reference electrode, and a working electrode comprised of the structure being monitored. In further embodiments, each electrode may be configured on a polymer flexible substrate cable such as polyimide, with each electrode fabricated from a noble metal, for example, gold-plated copper, or metal systems in which the exterior surface will not oxidize from environmental exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: ANALATOM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Douglas W. Brown, Richard J. Connolly, Duane R. Darr, Vinod S. Agarwala
  • Patent number: 10017379
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) transducer includes a substrate with a first cavity that passes through the substrate from a backside of the substrate. The MEMS transducer also includes a perforated first electrode plate overlying the first cavity on a topside of the substrate, a second electrode plate overlying the first cavity on the topside of the substrate and spaced apart from the perforated first electrode plate by a spacing region, and a gas sensitive material in the spacing region between the perforated first electrode plate and the second electrode plate. The gas sensitive material has an electrical property that is dependent on a concentration of a target gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Vijaye Kumar Rajaraman, Yonsuang Arnanthigo, Alfons Dehe, Stefan Kolb
  • Patent number: 10018556
    Abstract: A device includes a light emitting element, a light receiving element, an electronic part capable of processing a signal output from the light receiving element, an optical member covering the light emitting element and the light receiving element, and a board on which the light emitting element, the light receiving element, the electronic part, and the optical member are mounted. The board includes conductor wiring electrically connected to the light receiving element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Sakai, Naoya Matsuo, Narutoshi Hoshino, Tsutomu Shimomura
  • Patent number: 9995705
    Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to an amperometric gas sensor for measuring the concentration of an analyte, comprising: a solid support; and a working electrode in contact with the solid support; wherein the analyte comprises a dopant which when in contact with the solid support increases the electrical conductivity of the solid support. A sterilization process employing the amperometric gas sensor is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Steris Corporation
    Inventors: Elizabeth H. Schenk, Peter A. Burke, Michael A. Centanni
  • Patent number: 9958381
    Abstract: A device includes a light emitting element, a light receiving element, an electronic part capable of processing a signal output from the light receiving element, an optical member covering the light emitting element and the light receiving element, and a board on which the light emitting element, the light receiving element, the electronic part, and the optical member are mounted. The board includes conductor wiring electrically connected to the light receiving element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Sakai, Naoya Matsuo, Narutoshi Hoshino, Tsutomu Shimomura
  • Patent number: 9958336
    Abstract: The invention relates to a temperature probe which comprises a functional ceramic probe element and a ceramic housing. The probe element is mounted in the ceramic housing so that at a face of the probe element has direct and form-fitting contact with the ceramic housing. The invention further relates to a method for producing a temperature probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: EPCOS AG
    Inventors: Jan Ihle, Gerald Kloiber
  • Patent number: 9910023
    Abstract: A gas sensor having a heater layer; and a gas detector that is heated by the heater layer to detect a measurement target gas. The gas detector has a gas sensing layer, a diffusion layer that covers a surface of the gas sensing layer, and an absorption layer that covers a surface of the diffusion layer. The absorption layer has greater absorption of the measurement target gas than the diffusion layer, and the diffusion layer has greater diffusion of the measurement target gas than the absorption layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignees: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD., THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO
    Inventors: Fumi Ui, Takuya Suzuki, Jean-Jacques Delaunay
  • Patent number: 9851337
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a water condition monitoring device and related methods of use that significantly reduce the cost of the water condition monitoring devices by replacing the expensive and bulky multiple sensor electrodes of currently available devices with a single set of two or three metal electrodes to detect and/or measure such water quality parameters as pH, electric conductivity, temperature, and dissolved oxygen content. A microcontroller activates each sensor one at a time in a continuous loop, processing the sensor signals into near real time water condition data, which may be stored, displayed, or sent to a remote location for storage or display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: The University of Akron
    Inventors: Kye-Shin Lee, Ajay Mahajan
  • Patent number: 9829461
    Abstract: A measuring device comprises a guard electrode that is arranged around a cathode, reduces oxygen that is not from an oxygen permeable membrane, and inhibits the oxygen from reaching the cathode. The guard electrode is electrically connected to an anode through a resistor having a prescribed resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: HORIBA Advanced Techno, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Riichiro Suzuki, Kentaro Inoue
  • Patent number: 9791426
    Abstract: A sensor apparatus for analyzing a gas in a process chamber, having a housing, a gas sensor for analyzing at least a part of the gas, the gas sensor being arranged at a determined position in the housing, a gas feed for connecting the housing to the process chamber to feed the part of the gas from the process chamber into the housing and to the determined position, and a gas discharge for discharging the gas from the housing, wherein the gas feed and the gas discharge are configured as tubes lying inside one another, characterized by a closure cap at the combustion chamber-side end of the tubes lying inside one another, the closure cap including an even number of at least four openings with the same area, which are connected alternately as a gas inlet and a gas outlet to the tubes lying inside one another is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Gerit Ebelsberger, Holger Hackstein, Erhard Magori
  • Patent number: 9733208
    Abstract: A gas sensor according to the present invention includes a sensor element made of a solid electrolyte and having at least a cylindrical portion arranged coaxially with an axis of the sensor element and a front end portion closing a front end of the cylindrical portion and a heater formed into either a cylindrical shape or a cylindrical column shape and located inside the sensor element to heat the sensor element by heat generation thereof, wherein a front end portion of the heater is in contact with an inner surface of the front end portion of the sensor element; and wherein a lateral portion of the heater is in contact with an inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion of the sensor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Isomura
  • Patent number: 9726630
    Abstract: For measuring concentrations of fluid-soluble gases with improved drift stability and low production costs, thus dispensing with tedious calibration and/or drift correction routines and re-membraning procedures, a sensor and a system are provided, comprising at least two electrodes, which are covered by sensor fluid at at least one detection site; and an ion-balancing means (50), for example a mixed-bed ion-exchange resin, in contact with the sensor fluid for removing polluting ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Niek Lambert, Laurentina Johanna Huijbreghts, Joost Kahlman, Hans Willem Van Kesteren, Anton Vink
  • Patent number: 9709560
    Abstract: Devices capable applying microwave and RF electromagnetic radiation to specific molecular interactions between a capture molecule and a target analyte and capable of sensing the specific molecular interaction are provided. Specific molecular interactions include, for example, specific recognition events such as, receptor-ligand, antigen-antibody, DNA-protein, sugar-lectin, RNA-ribosome, and enzyme substrate interactions and nucleic acid-nucleic acid hybridizations. Additionally, methods are provided for detecting the presence or absence of a target analyte in a sample. The presence or absence of the target analyte is detected, in part, through the detection of a binding complex between the target analyte and a capture molecule in the presence of microwave and or RF electromagnetic radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Moran Horesh
  • Patent number: 9594050
    Abstract: An A/F sensor element includes a substrate made of an insulating ceramic having a bottomed cylindrical shape, an electrolyte part made of a solid electrolyte, and a pair of electrode portions. The electrolyte part is embedded in at least a portion of the side wall of the substrate. The A/F sensor element is used by inserting a rod-like heater in the substrate having the bottomed cylindrical shape. The substrate is formed of the insulating ceramic at a contact position to the heater within the substrate. In a manufacturing of the substrate, a molded body having a space for a forming position of the electrolyte part is formed by using substrate-forming clay, and then the molded body is molded by filling electrolyte-forming clay into the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masami Saitou, Namitsugu Fujii, Norikazu Kajiyama
  • Patent number: 9557751
    Abstract: A sensor temperature control apparatus (1) includes switching device (51); energization control means S1 and S2 for controlling duty ratio DT to maintain sensor element section (3) at a target temperature; storage means (75) for storing a first duty ratio DT1 in advance; element temperature judgment means S3 for determining whether the temperature of the sensor element section falls within a first temperature range including the target temperature; and semi-shorted state detection means S4 to S6 for comparing a present duty ratio DT2 with the first duty ratio in a state in which the temperature of the sensor element section falls within the first temperature range, to thereby determine whether a semi-shorted first temperature range state has arisen in which only a portion of the current flowing through switching device flows through heater section (4) and the temperature of the sensor element section falls within the first temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomonori Uemura
  • Patent number: 9353452
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method of separating and recovering metals whereby a mixture containing at least a first metal and a second metal, the second metal having a higher standard electrode potential than that of the first metal, is connected to an anode in a molten salt, and the first metal and the second metal are precipitated on a cathode in the molten salt by electrolysis, the method of separating and recovering metals comprising: a detection step of detecting a concentration change in each of a first metal ion and a second metal ion in the molten salt by a concentration change detection unit; a first electrolysis step of electrolyzing the first metal; a first recovery step of recovering a precipitated substance according to a detection in which a concentration decrease of the first metal ion, which is predefined in the concentration change detection unit, is detected in the detection step; a second electrolysis step of electrolyzing the second metal; and a second recovery step of recovering a pre
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Yuya Takahashi, Hitoshi Nakamura, Shohei Kanamura, Akira Yamada, Koji Mizuguchi, Takashi Oomori
  • Patent number: 9293843
    Abstract: The non-polarized geophysical electrode has an electrically conductive metal disk mounted at its bottom opening. A mixture of an adhesive such as epoxy, inorganic binder, or RTV silicone, and fine particles in micron or nano size of graphene, nickel, nanotube, or graphite is applied on the outer bottom surface of the conductive metal disk. A lead wire of the electrode is connected to the inner surface of the conductive metal disk and extends outward through a liquid-tight strain relief mounted at a cap provided at the top of the housing of the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Inventor: Yi Lu
  • Patent number: 9222911
    Abstract: A method for detecting at least one property of a gas in a measuring gas chamber, in particular for detecting at least one gas component of the gas. The at least one property is determined using at least one electrochemical measuring cell of a sensor element. Temperatures are detected at at least two different locations of the sensor element and used in determining the at least one property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Dirk Liemersdorf, Benjamin Sillmann
  • Patent number: 9140660
    Abstract: A method for preventing the formation of gas bubbles inside a high pressure reference electrode in the electrolyte-filled section, and thus eliminating the gas bobble effect on the electrical continuity, was disclosed. One or more thin solid rods or tubes are inserted into the internal electrolyte-housing tube and the thin rods or tubes alter the surface tension of the gas bubbles so that the bubbles are unstable in the middle of the liquid electrolyte. Compared with the fiber wicks or porous powder used by previous researchers to ensure the electrical continuity, the thin tubes or rods are easy to handle and easy to clean. This method may also be used in other systems that contain a liquid-filled vertical or sloped tube (e.g., a pH electrode) to prevent the formation of gas bubbles in the liquid-filled section of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Inventors: Lietai Yang, Xiaodong Sun Yang
  • Publication number: 20150076006
    Abstract: A system and process for determining and analyzing surface property parameters of a substance based on kinetic method is provided. The system comprises a sample processing system and a detection system. The sample processing system includes a reactor (3), a collector for liquid to be tested (5), and a container for liquid to be tested (6). The detection system includes a detecting electrode (13), a concentration and activity operator, a kinetic data processor, a surface property operation module, and a result output module. The process comprises: having the substance to be tested to be treated with an electrolyte solution, measuring activity of liquid to be tested upon reaction at a pre-set time interval, and processing with the kinetic data processor and the surface property operation module, so as to obtain surface property parameters of the substance to be tested.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: SOUTHWEST UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Rui Li, Hang Li, Xinmin Liu, Zhenlun Li, Jie Hou, Hualing Zhu, Laosheng Wu
  • Patent number: 8926811
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for performing heat-exchanging reactions on an electro wetting-based micro fluidic device. The apparatus provides one or multiple thermal contacts to an electro wetting-based device, where each thermal contact controls the part of the electro wetting-based device it communicates with to a designed temperature. The electrowetting-based device can be used to create, merge and mix liquids in the format of droplets and transport them to different temperature zones on the micro fluidic device. The apparatus and methods of the invention can be used for heat-exchanging chemical processes such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and other DNA reactions, such as ligase chain reactions, for DNA amplification and synthesis, and for real-time PCR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Digital Biosystems
    Inventor: Chuanyong Wu