With Recorder, Register, Indicator, Signal Or Exhibitor Patents (Class 222/23)
  • Patent number: 11615389
    Abstract: A system for managing and processing a consumer transaction is provided, comprising a product delivery system adapted to provide a product to a consumer; a point of sale (POS) system in communication with the product delivery system; and a consumer interface screen in communication with the POS system, wherein the consumer interface screen is adapted to display information to the consumer about a proposed transaction, prompt the consumer to engage in the proposed transaction, and receive input from the consumer required to complete the proposed transaction. The system further comprises a consumer recognition system having sensors capable of recognizing consumer attributes related to the consumer; and a media distribution unit in communication with the consumer recognition system to deliver information about the proposed transaction to the consumer interface screen based on recognition of the consumer attributes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Inventor: Werlien Prosperie, III
  • Patent number: 11610510
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a metered dose inhaler (MDI) training device is provided herein. The MDI training device may include a housing having an inhalation port, an opening for receiving ambient air, the inhalation port and the opening are fluidly connected to provide an air flow channel, and a valve associated with the air flow channel, the valve having an opened state and a closed state, and an actuation member, wherein the valve is not allowed to enter the opened state if the actuation member is actuated prior to inhalation through the inhalation port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: NOBLE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Jeff Baker, Christopher Wai Yin Chung, Francis Michael Siemer
  • Patent number: 11577951
    Abstract: A self-service wine tasting system includes automatic wine dispensers, a cloud server and user terminals. The automatic wine dispenser includes wine dispensing stations, a machine identity and a first telecommunication module. The first telecommunication module is connected to a control chip of the automatic wine dispenser. The cloud server includes a storage and a second telecommunication module. The second telecommunication module is in communication connection with the first telecommunication module. The storage stores wine storage information associated with the machine code of each automatic wine dispenser. The user terminal includes an identification device and a third telecommunication module. The third telecommunication module is in communication connection with the second telecommunication module. The self-service wine tasting system facilitates the wine taster to record the tasting behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Information Processing Consultants, Ltd.
    Inventor: Chun Wai Yuen
  • Patent number: 11517678
    Abstract: A stopper is disclosed herein. The stopper is configured to be disposed within a medical cartridge. The stopper includes a shell defining a cavity, a core arranged within the cavity, and at least one electronic device embedded within the core, wherein the at least one electronic device includes a sensor and wherein the shell is configured to pass a sensing signal therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Sanofi
    Inventors: Michael Schabbach, Alexander Allerdings, Christoph Dette, Martin Otten, Christian Pommereau, Dietmar Hammen, Paul Edward Jansen, Ulrich Brueggemann
  • Patent number: 11383965
    Abstract: Ingredient dispensing systems and methods are disclosed. A disclosed system includes an ingredient reservoir and an electromechanical valve configured so that, when the electromechanical valve is activated, an ingredient is dispensed from the ingredient reservoir. The disclosed system also includes a current sensor configured to measure a current draw of the electromechanical valve. The disclosed system also includes a controller programmed to sample the current draw from the current sensor and to detect a dispense error of the electromechanical valve based on the sampled current draw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Cana Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Allen Springer, Sean McCommons, Jeffery Lance Kizer, Matthew Ambauen, Stephan Weidi Tai, Erik James Shahoian, David Friedberg, Andrés Ornelas Vargas, Simon Spence, Peter Delmenico, Andrew Christopher Jenkins, Nathan Andrew Ray
  • Patent number: 11331429
    Abstract: An injection device is provided, comprising a cartridge configured to hold a volume of fluid, the cartridge having a proximal end and a distal end through which the fluid is dispensed; a first stopper disposed in the cartridge and configured to move from the proximal end toward the distal end to cause the fluid to be dispensed through the distal end of the cartridge; a second stopper disposed at the distal end of the cartridge, the second stopper including an aperture through which the fluid is dispensed; a reflector disposed at the distal end of the cartridge; and a transmitter and a receiver disposed in the first stopper, the transmitter configured to transmit one or more waves toward the reflector and the receiver configured to receive reflections of the one or more waves from at least the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Sanofi
    Inventors: Michael Schabbach, Alexander Allerdings, Christoph Dette, Martin Otten, Christian Pommereau, Dietmar Hammen, Paul Edward Jansen, Ulrich Brueggemann
  • Patent number: 11274030
    Abstract: Liquid dispenser and method for operating such a liquid dispenser, such as a dispenser for tinting pastes. The dispenser comprises at least one liquid container and at least one reciprocating pump. First, a suction stroke is carried out at a set pump speed. After the suction stroke, the pump is closed off. Then, a pressure stroke is started while the pump is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Fast & Fluid Management B.V.
    Inventors: Martinus E. J. L. Driessen, Ronald P. Krom, Mark Baak, Bob Leonard Honsbeek
  • Patent number: 11126111
    Abstract: A toner amount detector detects an amount of toner in a toner bottle. The toner amount detector includes at least one pair of electrodes disposed opposite each other via the toner bottle, grounding members disposed outboard of the at least one pair of electrodes and electrically grounded, circuitry to switch a first detection processing and a second detection processing, and an indicator to indicate that a positional deviation of the at least one pair of electrodes has occurred. The grounding members face the at least one pair of electrodes. The first detection processing detects the amount of toner based on a first capacitance between the at least one pair of electrodes, and the second detection processing detects a positional deviation based on a second capacitance between each of the grounding members and a corresponding one of the at least one pair of electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuusuke Tomura, Masashi Hommi, Tetsuya Hara, Yuki Osato, Yuji Ieiri, Takumi Miyagawa
  • Patent number: 11009822
    Abstract: A toner detection device includes sensor cases, optical sensors, a cleaning member, a motor, and a control unit. The sensor cases include detection surfaces and are placed on wall surfaces of a hopper container. The optical sensors are housed in the sensor cases and detect presence or absence of toner at a specified elevation through the detection surfaces. The cleaning member slides and rubs on the detection surfaces. The motor moves the cleaning member. In case where the cleaning member is to be stopped, the control unit controls the motor so as to stop the cleaning member in a region in which the cleaning member does not come into contact with the detection surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Motoyuki Itoyama
  • Patent number: 10994070
    Abstract: A device and method for testing and inspecting the integrity of an autoinjector device is disclosed. The autoinjector devices includes a medication container, a housing that receives the medication container, the housing including a plurality of electrodes arranged circumferentially relative to the medication container, and a plurality of electrical contacts corresponding to the plurality of electrodes and in electrical communication therewith, the electrical contacts being accessible from the exterior of the autoinjector device, wherein a circuit between at least one pair of electrodes, measured at the electrical contacts, indicates a defect in the medication container. A method of testing the integrity of the autoinjector device is also disclose, wherein a voltage is applied to the electrical contacts in order to determine the integrity of the medication container in the autoinjector device. Accordingly, defects in the pre-packaged medication container in the autoinjector device may be detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Packaging Technologies & Inspection, LLC
    Inventors: Oliver Stauffer, Anton Stauffer
  • Patent number: 10988886
    Abstract: A water inlet box assembly comprises a manual dispenser and a liquid storage cartridge, wherein the latter can be removed in a vertical direction. The water inlet box assembly consists of a water inlet box, a shower assembly, a storage cartridge, decorative cover, pumps and pipeline assembly, etc. The water inlet box assembly is installed on the left front area of the top of a washing machine. In front of the water inlet box, a chamber is designed for manual dispensing; and behind the water inlet box, there is a chamber used for receiving the storage cartridge. The storage cartridge has two chambers, and they are used to store detergent and softener respectively; inside the storage cartridge, a floater is installed to detect the height of the liquid. Users can add detergent and softener from the top of the washing machine, and remove the storage cartridge in a vertical direction and clean it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Whirlpool China Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Wenqiang Jiang, Guang Yang, Huaijun Tong, Xiaoqian Yao, Yujin Mao
  • Patent number: 10894272
    Abstract: A dispensing control system includes a dispensing device and a remote device. The dispensing device includes a dispenser configured to dispense material from a cartridge disposed in the dispensing device, a first receiver configured to receive information related to the cartridge, a transmitter configured to transmit the information related to the cartridge, and an electronic controller configured to cause the transmitter of the dispensing device to transmit the information related to the cartridge. The remote device includes an electronic controller, a receiver and a transmitter, the receiver of the remote device is configured to receive the information related to the cartridge, the controller of the remote device is configured to monitor the information related to the cartridge and to cause the transmitter of the remote device to transmit the information related to the cartridge to a remote server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: SULZER MIXPAC AG
    Inventors: Hayden Turner, Victor Clemens
  • Patent number: 10889480
    Abstract: A dispensing system for dispensing a precise or controlled volume of fluid to a downstream assembly of an appliance is provided. As one example, the downstream assembly may be an ice making assembly and the appliance may be refrigerator appliance. In one example aspect, a dispensing system includes a housing that defines a chamber. A piston is movable within the chamber. The dispensing system also includes a plurality of valves that may be moved between various positions to move the piston between various positions. When the piston is moved within the chamber, the piston displaces a precise or controlled volume to the downstream assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Joseph Mitchell, John Keith Besore, Brent Alden Junge, Stephanos Kyriacou
  • Patent number: 10883664
    Abstract: Fuel gas distribution method where residual fuel gas in a mobile fuel gas storage vessel being transported by a transport vehicle is transferred from the mobile fuel gas storage vessel to the transport vehicle for generating power. The fuel gas may be natural gas or hydrogen. The transport vehicle may be a fuel cell vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Clyde Heydorn, Brian Bernard Bonner
  • Patent number: 10750839
    Abstract: A Replaceable Manual Pump Heating Personal Fluid Dispenser that instantaneously heats personal fluid as the fluid flows through a tube or tubes integral to the dispenser, replacing the off-the-shelf personal fluid plastic bottle or container's actuator, closure, pump, and intake assembly to one that mimics the same yet allows heating of the personal fluid, uses the standard mass produced off-the-shelf plastic bottle or container for the storage of the personal fluid, and thereby is inexpensive to the user, safe, and eliminates the need for any special apparatus, or cartridge, to hold the personal fluid, or require the personal fluid to be removed from the plastic bottle or container in order for the personal fluid to be heated, and ensures no chemical leaching into the personal fluid from prolonged heating of the personal fluid when in contact with the plastic personal fluid bottle or container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Inventor: Ronald G. Havlovick
  • Patent number: 10724791
    Abstract: A refrigerator and a display for a refrigerator are provided. The display may include a display plate defining an outer appearance of a front surface of the display, a plurality of display portions that displays information of the refrigerator and is formed by an arrangement of a plurality of fine through-holes that pass through the display plate, a plurality of operational interfaces formed on a front surface of the display plate and operated by a touch input, a touch PCB provided on a rear surface of the display plate and including a plurality of touch sensors at positions corresponding to the plurality of operational interfaces, a display PCB on which a LED that radiates light toward the plurality of fine through-holes is mounted, and a display cover provided close to the rear surface of the display plate and on which the touch PCB and the display PCB are mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Youl Kwon
  • Patent number: 10726409
    Abstract: A point-of-sale (POS) system includes a counter, a cash processing machine, and a register machine. The cash processing machine has a cash receiving port and a cash dispensing port that are accessible from a first lateral side of the counter but not a second lateral side of the counter that is opposite to the first lateral side. The register machine has a display and an operational panel and coupled with the cash processing machine such that the display and the operational panel face the second lateral side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tadashi Nakayama, Kazuyuki Matsumura, Ryohei Miyoshi
  • Patent number: 10695731
    Abstract: An apparatus for dye dispensing is disclosed herein. The apparatus includes a controller and a tray. The tray communicates with the controller and is configured with at least one opening. At least one canister is configured with an identifier and a dye. The dye is associated with the identifier. A reader communicates with the controller. A dispenser comprises an actuator communicating with the controller and a lever arm. The lever arm is coupled to the actuator and configured with a projection. The reader, based on the identifier, identifies a selected dye in a selected canister associated with a dye formulation. When the selected canister is aligned with a dispensing area, the dispenser applies a downward force on the selected canister and dispenses the selected dye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: CliCS, LLC
    Inventors: Leilani M. Macedo, Charles D. Brown, Jeffrey F. Macedo, Stuart D'Alessandro, Christopher Munz
  • Patent number: 10683198
    Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a beverage dispensing apparatus comprising at least one beverage dispensing module and a base unit upon or within which the or each module is positioned. Each module comprises a container housing a beverage reservoir and a beverage dispensing arrangement comprising a dispensing valve operable to be selectively opened to dispense beverage from the reservoir. Each module further comprises valve sensing means operable to determine when the dispensing valve is opened and provide a valve status signal indicative of whether the dispensing valve is opened. Each module further comprises communication means in communication with the valve sensing means and arranged to receive the valve status signal. The base unit comprises a base-module receiver operable to communicate with the communication means of one or more modules to receive the valve status signal therefrom. The apparatus is particularly suitable for alcoholic beverages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Pernod Ricard SA
    Inventors: Steven John Kelly, James Ashley Gadd
  • Patent number: 10598538
    Abstract: Provided are a system and a method for measuring a liquid level of a vehicle fuel tank, and more particularly, to a system for measuring a liquid level of a vehicle fuel tank including an ultrasonic sensor unit provided on a bottom surface in the vehicle fuel tank to acquire measurement data for calculating a distance from the bottom surface in the fuel tank to a fuel surface and a central processing unit using the measurement data transmitted from the ultrasonic sensor unit by a preset number of times for a preset time to calculate liquid level information of the fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: COAVIS
    Inventors: Se Jin Kim, In Gon Kim, Jong Hyuk Yoon
  • Patent number: 10561262
    Abstract: A lid assembly configured to close an opening in a vessel holding a liquid. The lid assembly includes a drinking port, plunger member, and drive assembly. The plunger member is moveable between closed and open positions with respect to the drinking port. The plunger member prevents the liquid from flowing through the drinking port when the plunger member is in the closed position and allows the liquid to flow through the drinking port when the plunger member is in the open position. The drive assembly includes drive circuitry that automatically directs the drive assembly to move the plunger member to the open position when the drive circuitry detects the lid assembly is in a drinking position. The drive circuitry automatically directs the drive assembly to move the plunger member to the closed position when the drive circuitry detects the lid assembly is in other than the drinking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Pacific Market International, LLC
    Inventors: Ping Phan, Evan Michael Choltco-Devlin, Naiqiang Zhang, Mark Freeman, Scott Jarnagin
  • Patent number: 10459460
    Abstract: A system and method of authenticating a replaceable product reservoir for use in a product dispenser includes incorporating a data storage device into the replaceable product reservoir where the dispenser control reads data from the storage device to verify that the correct replaceable product reservoir has been installed in the product dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: GOJO Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Grant Benjamin Carlson
  • Patent number: 10429765
    Abstract: A toner container according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for storing toner. A rotatable shaft is positioned within the reservoir and has an axis of rotation. A first magnet is rotatable with the shaft around the axis of rotation. An arm connected to the shaft leads the first magnet around the axis of rotation in an operative rotational direction of the shaft. A second magnet connected to the shaft trails the first magnet around the axis of rotation in the operative rotational direction. The arm is operatively connected to the second magnet such that an angular offset between the first magnet and the second magnet increases as an angular offset between the first magnet and the arm increases and the angular offset between the first magnet and the second magnet decreases as the angular offset between the first magnet and the arm decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Michael Craig Leemhuis
  • Patent number: 10392242
    Abstract: A fluid product dispenser is sized to removably receive a product package containing a supply of the fluid product. The product package includes an internally integrated fluid pump, and the dispenser includes a drive unit powered by flow of a fluid. Flow of the fluid powers the drive unit, which in turn drives the pump internal to the product package, resulting in dispensation of the fluid product in a product/fluid ratio that is independent of the fluid flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Paul R. Kraus, Keith E. Olson, Sherri L. Tischler
  • Patent number: 10294678
    Abstract: A device suitable for finishing and sealing the joints and openings of different surfaces is described here. The device includes a base, which is conical in its essence. The base has a collar to connect the device to the gun of sealant of finishing material; a holder is integrated with the base at an angle, a movable smoothing pad with a carriage is fitted in the holder, and the carriage is installed in a casing inside holder. In the working position, there is a space between the smoothing pad and the tip of the nozzle of the tube, so that the material which is applied from the tube to the surface can visually be monitored and thus the desirable quantity dosed during the performance of the works.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Okei Meistrid OĂœ
    Inventor: Silver Kensap
  • Patent number: 10251385
    Abstract: An improved system of determining the speed at which an agricultural vehicle is traveling is disclosed. A control system for the sprayer receives feedback signals from multiple sensors, where each feedback signal may be utilized to determine the speed at which the sprayer is traveling. An operator interface, such as a touch-screen terminal, is provided to receive input from the operator for selecting one of the feedback signals. Each of the feedback signals has certain operating conditions under which they are more or less reliable. The operator may select one of the feedback signals from which the speed of the sprayer is determined according to the present operating conditions. The speed determined from the selected feedback signal is then used by the sprayer to control and record application of product to the field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Nathan Paul Brooks, Roy A. Bittner
  • Patent number: 10245407
    Abstract: A humidification system can include a heater base, a humidification chamber, and a breathing circuit. A cartridge can be removably coupled to the heater base. The cartridge can include various sensors, probes, sensor wire connectors, heater wire connectors, and/or other features. The cartridge can include features configured to mate with corresponding features on the humidification chamber and the heater base. The cartridge includes a memory, such as an EEPROM, or other suitable storage device. When the cartridge is installed on the heater base, the memory is electrically connected to a processor and/or memory of the heater base. Various models of cartridges can be produced for use with different humidification chambers, breathing circuits, and/or therapies. A connector can couple an inspiratory conduit to an outlet port of the humidification chamber. The connector can provide a pneumatic connection to the outlet port and an electrical connection to the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: FISHER & PAYKEL HEALTHCARE LIMITED
    Inventors: Hamish Adrian Osborne, Gavin Walsh Millar, Stephen David Evans, Bruce Gordon Holyoake, James William Stanton, David Leon McCauley, Gareth Thomas McDermott, Nicholas James Michael McKenna, Myfanwy Jane Antica Norton, Adrian John Elsworth, Michael John Andresen, Jonathan Andrew George Lambert, Sandeep Singh Gurm, Tessa Hazel Paris, Joseph Nathaniel Griffiths, Ping Si, Christopher Gareth Sims, Elmo Benson Stoks, Dexter Chi Lun Cheung, Peter Alan Seekup, Po-Yen Liu, Richard Edward Lang, Paul James Tonkin, Ian Lee Wai Kwan
  • Patent number: 10225979
    Abstract: A system and method for dispensing a liquid product from a mobile machine includes opening and closing a plurality of valves of a plumbing circuit, the plumbing circuit having a first fluid circuit and a second fluid circuit. Under influence of a pressurized gas, a flow of liquid product flows through plumbing of the first fluid circuit that has a temporarily inactive centrifugal pump and a flow of liquid product through plumbing of the second fluid circuit that has a boom plumbing assembly with plural nozzles coupled to the boom plumbing assembly. The flow of the liquid product through the first and second fluid circuits is controlled by the opening and closing of the plurality of valves and dispensing the liquid product of the first and second fluid circuits to either a product tank or through the plurality of nozzles based on the flows through the first and second fluid circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventor: Dean L. Trask
  • Patent number: 10201398
    Abstract: Devices and methods for dispensing material from a dental handpiece. In one example, the method includes receiving an input that indicates that an amount of the material is to be dispensed from the container of the dental handpiece. The method also includes rotating an electric motor to rotate an imbalanced mass to vibrate a vibration transmission element that vibrates the material in the container. The method also includes dispensing the amount of the material from the container with a piston based on the input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignees: Kaltenbach & Voigt GmbH, KaVo Dental Technologies, LLC, Kerr Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Aaron Fisher, Robert Thomas St. Louis, Gopikrishnan Soundararajan, Matteo Riccardo Bosisio, Michael Carl Dunaway
  • Patent number: 10194581
    Abstract: An agricultural implement for applying an active ingredient to a geographic area includes a chassis, and at least one active ingredient tank. Each active ingredient tank is removably positioned on and carried by the chassis. Each active ingredient tank contains an active ingredient therein which is to be applied to the geographic area. Each active ingredient tank has an identification (ID) tag representing data associated with the active ingredient. An electrical reader carried by the chassis is configured for reading the ID tag and providing an output signal. An electrical processing circuit is coupled with the reader and receives the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Lyle P. Mangen, Aaron R. Tollefsrud, Todd T. Taylor
  • Patent number: 10190901
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to devices, systems and methods for measuring the dose remaining in a drug delivery device that is used for delivering a dose to a patient. In some embodiments, a dose measurement system for measuring the liquid volume in a container includes a plurality of light sources which are disposed and configured to emit electromagnetic radiation toward the container. A plurality of sensors are located in the apparatus that are optically coupleable to the plurality of light sources and are disposed and configured to detect the electromagnetic radiation emitted by at least a portion of the light sources. The apparatus also includes a processing unit configured to receive data representing the portion of the detected electromagnetic radiation from each of the plurality of sensors. The processing unit is further operable to convert the received data into a signature representative of the electromagnetic radiation detected by the plurality of sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Common Sensing Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Whalley, James White
  • Patent number: 10175079
    Abstract: An encoder device and a fluid meter incorporating the encoder device is disclosed herein, wherein the fluid meter can embody a gas meter that monitors supply of gas to a consumer. The encoder device is configured to generate a signal with information that quantifies the supply of gas, for example, by associating the movement of a moveable element with a volume of fluid that flows through the gas meter The gas meter can include a metrological part with a housing that forms an interior space that wholly encloses the encoder device therein and can also be configured with an input/output member that conducts the signal from inside of the interior space to outside of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Dresser, LLC
    Inventors: Giuseppe Triaca, Gary Martin Lawlor, Franco Morosini
  • Patent number: 10112399
    Abstract: A liquid jet apparatus comprises a liquid jet head, a carriage carrying the liquid jet head in a side-to-side direction, a liquid flow channel, and a liquid container in fluid communication with the liquid jet head through the liquid flow channel. The liquid container includes a liquid containing chamber arranged along a front/back direction orthogonal to the side-to-side direction; a liquid outlet port, from which the liquid contained in the liquid containing chamber flows to the liquid flow channel; and a liquid inlet port, through which the liquid is injected into the liquid containing chamber. The liquid inlet port has an end surface that does not face in a vertical direction relative to a normal posture of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shoma Kudo, Takashi Koase, Toshiya Okada, Yasunori Koike, Tetsuya Takamoto, Nobutaka Suzuki, Satoshi Tamai, Toru Nakazawa, Katsutomo Tsukahara, Masayuki Kanazawa, Naofumi Mimura, Keigo Iizawa, Yutaka Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10080844
    Abstract: The subject matter described herein relates to a supplementary device for attachment to an injection device, the supplementary device comprising: a first imaging arrangement and a second imaging arrangement each configured to capture an image of a moveable number sleeve of the injection device from different respective angles. The supplementary device also comprises a plurality of light sources and a processor arrangement configured to control operation of the first imaging arrangement and the second imaging arrangement and the plurality of light sources and to receive image data from each of the imaging arrangements, wherein the processor arrangement is configured to combine images captured by the first imaging arrangement and the second imaging arrangement into a single image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GMBH
    Inventors: Theresa Kunz, Mario Bock, Gertrud Blei, Matthew Jones, Samuel Steel, Barry Yates, Anthony Paul Morris
  • Patent number: 9962946
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting system has a liquid ejecting apparatus, a liquid storing container, and a conduit. When the liquid storing container is pulled out from the case of the liquid ejecting apparatus, the visual recognition portion provided on the liquid storing container is exposed from the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Munehide Kanaya, Tokujiro Okuno, Hideo Shimamura
  • Patent number: 9962080
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for qualifying an alarm among the alarms stemming from a first supervision system supervising the activity of an individual, the system being adapted to compute an activity index that is representative of the activity of the individual, alarms being triggered by the supervision system in the event of a drift in the activity index, a drift corresponding to a difference in the value of the index in relation to a reference value, the method being such that it is implemented in a management server connected to at least one second supervision system, and that it has, on reception of an alarm triggered by the first supervision system, steps of obtainment of a drift in the activity index of the at least one second supervision system, comparison of the drift in the activity index of the first supervision system and a value that is representative of the drift in the activity index of the at least one second system, and qualification of the alarm according to the result of the comparison
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Orange
    Inventors: Marc Berenguer, Marie-Jeanne Bouzid
  • Patent number: 9945882
    Abstract: ABSTRACT The present invention lies in the field of automated analysis apparatuses and relates to a method for transferring a liquid volume from a first liquid vessel into a second liquid vessel. The method ensures increased pipetting accuracy, even from liquid vessels which have foam on the surface of the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Products GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Korn, Kristin Moser, Holger Pufahl, David Solbach, Christian Verhalen
  • Patent number: 9907902
    Abstract: A dosage control system includes a syringe and a dosage control module. The syringe includes a barrel and a plunger. The plunger includes a plunger seal located within the barrel and the barrel includes an end configured to connect to a needle. The dosage control module measures a first distance between the plunger seal and the end of the barrel, measures at least one second distance between the plunger seal and the end of the barrel, determines whether a predetermined amount of medication has been administered from the syringe based on a difference between the first distance and the at least one second distance, and selectively activates at least one of a visual indication and an audio indication if the predetermined amount of medication has been administered from the syringe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim Mitrosky, Roberto Amadio, Mike Lander
  • Patent number: 9909601
    Abstract: A motor control system includes a piston chamber and a piston assembly disposed within the piston chamber to move therein between first and second positions. A magnet is coupled to the piston assembly to move therewith and a sensor is axially mounted with respect to the piston assembly to generate a continuous output signal corresponding to a position of the magnet relative to the sensor. The motor control system also includes a controller for processing the output signal from the sensor to monitor continuously the position of the piston assembly within the piston chamber and for actuating the piston assembly to move in an upstroke toward the first position and in a downstroke toward the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Dieter Bernhard Heerdt, David Michael Folmer
  • Patent number: 9886708
    Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to wirelessly instruct fuel dispensation initiation over a direct wireless connection between a vehicle and a refueling truck, responsive to a wireless request made by the refueling truck, the request including a valid token and a refueling truck MAC ID with which the wireless connection is established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Omar Makke, Joseph Wisniewski, Kevin Lee Helpingstine, Perry Robinson MacNeille, Nicholas Colella, David Hamilton, Matthew S. Blackburn, Aiswarya Kolisetty
  • Patent number: 9861226
    Abstract: A brewer, system and method for heating water and dispensing heated water for producing a brewed beverage The brewer includes a water reservoir with a heating element associated with the reservoir for heating water retained in the reservoir A brewing substance holder is associated with the reservoir for receiving heated water from the reservoir A temperature sensitive control valve is provided in communication with the reservoir for controllably dispensing heated water from the reservoir to the brewing substance holder The temperature sensitive control valve may be in the form of a passive control valve which uses a bimetallic, magnetic or other material which is responsive to heat The water is placed in the reservoir and heated The elevated temperature of the water will result in operating the heat sensitive control valve to open the control valve and allow water to pass from the reservoir to the brewing substance holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Bunn-O-Matic Corporation
    Inventors: Suresh Radhakrishnan, Charles H. Clark, Kent Morman, John T. Knepler
  • Patent number: 9849237
    Abstract: A powerhead (50) of a power injector is disclosed that includes a syringe housing (110) that contains a capacitive fluid detector (112). The capacitive fluid detector (112) may be operable to detect fluid within a syringe (116) installed on the syringe housing (110). The output of the capacitive fluid detector (112) may be used to estimate the volume of fluid within the syringe (116). The capacitive fluid detector (112) may include a plurality of discrete capacitors (118a-118h) arranged serially along a longitudinal axis (120) of the syringe (116). Each of the plurality of capacitors (118a-118h) may be operable to produce an electric field extending into the syringe (116). Each of the plurality of capacitors (118a-118h) may be formed on a printed circuit board (130).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: LIEBEL-FLARSHEIM COMPANY LLC
    Inventors: Chad M. Gibson, Charles S. Neer
  • Patent number: 9836036
    Abstract: An agricultural implement arrangement includes a container of seed having an ID tag associated therewith; an implement for applying a product to a geographic area; an electrical reader configured for reading the ID tag and providing an output signal; and an electrical processing circuit coupled with the reader and the implement. The ID tag has data representing at least one attribute associated with the seed. The electrical processing circuit receives the output signal and controls the implement, dependent upon the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Blair J. Johnson, John Stratton, Andrew Meyer, Scott Andrew Elkins, Todd T. Taylor
  • Patent number: 9836950
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are different embodiments of a hand hygiene compliance system, beacon, wearable monitor and kit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: University Health Network
    Inventors: Oleksandr Igorovich Levchenko, Steven Michael Pong, Geoffrey Roy Fernie
  • Patent number: 9776612
    Abstract: A method for checking a functional state of an automatic parking brake system having a control unit and an actuator configured to generate an electromagnetic braking force includes actuating the actuator, using the control unit, at a first frequency higher than a second frequency. The second frequency is able to cause a rotation of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Oliver Leibfried
  • Patent number: 9761117
    Abstract: Methods to perform an operation comprising receiving, based on a unique identifier of an identification device in a room, clinical information of a first patient present in the room, receiving a unique identifier from an identification device associated with a garment worn by a health care professional in the room, receiving a history of the garment based on the unique identifier, and upon determining that the history of the garment violates a predefined rule, outputting a notification of the violation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gary D. Cudak, Christopher J. Hardee, Sarbajit K. Rakshit, Adam Roberts
  • Patent number: 9752570
    Abstract: A variable displacement piston assembly including a plurality of cylinders, each cylinder having an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the other cylinders, a plurality of pistons, one piston in each cylinder, and each piston and corresponding cylinder having a displacement. The assembly also including a transition arm having a connector pin for each piston, each connector pin connecting each piston to said transition arm, a drive shaft connected to the transition arm and a control shaft rotatably coupled to the drive shaft, the control shaft being movable to adjust the displacement of the piston assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: S-RAM Dynamics
    Inventors: Ricardo Conde, Richard Kruse, Lee Jestings
  • Patent number: 9713685
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a dose counter. Particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a dose counter for use with a Metered Dose Inhaler (MDI). The dose counter comprises a rotary counting element (26) and an actuator (2). The actuator (2) is movable relative to the rotary counting element (26) and comprises a shaped part (17) which can move into and out of engagement with a complementary feature (33) of the rotary counting element (26) when the actuator (2) moves between first and second positions. When the shaped part (17) of the actuator (2) is engaged with the complementary feature (33) of the rotary counter element (26), rotation of the rotary counter element (26) is resisted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Cipla Limited
    Inventors: Geena Malhotra, Xerxes Rao, Shrinivas Madhukar Purandare
  • Patent number: 9669167
    Abstract: A multifunctional glucose monitoring system and method of measuring glucose level, determining insulin dosage, and indicating insulin dosage on a syringe is disclosed. The multifunctional glucose monitoring system includes standard functionality with respect to acquiring a blood glucose reading. However, in addition, the multifunctional glucose monitoring system includes a dosage algorithm for calculating an insulin dosage based on the blood glucose reading and any other useful parameters, and includes a built-in marking device for marking the calculated dosage level on the barrel of an insulin syringe that is installed in the body of the multifunctional glucose monitoring system. A method includes the steps of measuring the glucose level, determining an insulin dosage, and indicating the insulin dosage on a syringe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Artis Lockhart, Lawrence Monahan
  • Patent number: 9655355
    Abstract: An improved system of determining the speed at which an agricultural vehicle is traveling is disclosed. A control system for the sprayer receives feedback signals from multiple sensors, where each feedback signal may be utilized to determine the speed at which the sprayer is traveling. An operator interface, such as a touch-screen terminal, is provided to receive input from the operator for selecting one of the feedback signals. Each of the feedback signals has certain operating conditions under which they are more or less reliable. The operator may select one of the feedback signals from which the speed of the sprayer is determined according to the present operating conditions. The speed determined from the selected feedback signal is then used by the sprayer to control and record application of product to the field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Nathan Paul Brooks, Roy A. Bittner