With Means To Analyze Uncontained Fluent Material Patents (Class 250/338.5)
  • Patent number: 10726640
    Abstract: A smart communications hub can enable management of driverless and/or autonomous vehicles. Separating current wireless data from driverless vehicle sensor data can allow for quicker resolutions involving driverless vehicles. The smart communications hub can communicate to other groups such as driverless vehicle providers, service providers, vehicle management, law enforcement, etc. The smart communications hub can also process request from both mobile applications and micro-service applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: AT&T MOBILITY II LLC
    Inventor: Kaveri Raman
  • Patent number: 10722154
    Abstract: A medical photometer includes a processor and a memory that stores an instruction readable by a computer. When the instruction is executed by the processor, the medical photometer acquires a first light attenuation of a first light beam that is transmitted through or reflected from a tissue of a living body, and that has a first wavelength, based on a first intensity signal corresponding to an intensity of the first light beam, acquires a second light attenuation of a second light beam that is transmitted through or reflected from the tissue, and that has a second wavelength, based on a second intensity signal corresponding to an intensity of the second light beam, calculates a tissue thickness based on a ratio of the first light attenuation and the second light attenuation, and detects an artifact of the living body based on a temporal variation of the tissue thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: NIHON KOHDEN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshinori Ueda, Teiji Ukawa, Kazumasa Ito, Hideki Fujisaki
  • Patent number: 10722153
    Abstract: A medical photometer includes a processor and a memory that stores an instruction readable by a computer. When the instruction is executed by the processor, the medical photometer acquires an intensity of one of a first intensity signal and a second intensity signal, the first intensity signal corresponding to an intensity of a first light beam that has a first wavelength and that is transmitted through or reflected from a tissue of a living body, and a second intensity signal corresponding to an intensity of a second light beam that has a second wavelength and that is transmitted through or reflected from the tissue of the living body acquires an intensity ratio of the first intensity signal and the second intensity signal, and detects an artifact of the living body based on the acquired intensity and the acquired intensity ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Nihon Kohden Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshinori Ueda, Teiji Ukawa, Kazumasa Ito, Hideki Fujisaki
  • Patent number: 10712204
    Abstract: A method includes detecting, with a passive infrared sensor (PIR), a level of infrared radiation in a field of view (FOV) of the PIR, generating a signal based on detected levels over a period of time, the signal having values that exhibit a change in the detected levels, extracting a local feature from a sample of the signal, wherein the local feature indicates a probability that a human in the FOV caused the change in the detected levels, extracting a global feature from the sample of the signal, wherein the global feature indicates a probability that an environmental radiation source caused the change in the detected levels, determining a score based on the local feature and the global feature, and determining that a human motion has been detected in the FOV based on the score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Yash Modi, Mark Rajan Malhotra, Gwendolyn van der Linden, Dongeek Shin, Michael Dixon
  • Patent number: 10690562
    Abstract: A system for detecting gas leaks and determining their location and size. A data gathering portion of the system utilizes a chosen geometrical configuration to collect path-integrated spectroscopic data over multiple paths around an area. A processing portion of the system applies a transport model together with meteorological data of the area to generate an influence function of possible leak locations on gas detector measurement paths, and applies an inversion model to the influence function, prior data, and the spectroscopic data to generate gas source size and location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignees: The Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate, Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Commerce
    Inventors: Gregory B. Rieker, Kuldeep Prasad, Caroline B. Alden, Sean C. Coburn, Robert J. Wright
  • Patent number: 10685296
    Abstract: A method for establishing and using a pollutant emission scavenging forecasting (PESF) model to calculate a purgeable pollutant emission to dynamically control an emitted pollutant at any target concentration. The dynamic control considers the initial pollutant concentration and pollutant scavenging ability of atmosphere. The method further takes into account the constraint conditions specified by a user, and employs a dynamic emission correction system to quickly calculate an optimal pollutant emission scheme. If the emission is lower than minimum acceptable value for a current time instance (a moment), the method corrects the emission intensity before (prior to) this moment by changing the initial concentration at this time. This initial concentration is the final pollutant concentration of a prior moment. Since the method makes full use of the atmospheric pollutants scavenging ability, the dynamic emission control scheme can provide the most effective and lowest economic losses solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hui Du, Yu Du, Si Huang, Yu Jia Tang, Bao Guo Xie, Wen Jun Yin, Meng Zhang, Xin Zhang, Shuai Zhu
  • Patent number: 10648901
    Abstract: An off-gas analyzer for analyzing H2O vapor, CO, O2, CO2 and/or H2 in a furnace gas stream is fluidically coupled to a gas extraction probe. The analyzer includes an optical measurement cell having multiple sampling chambers, optically coupled to a laser. The analyzer measuring cell is housed within a heated cabinet having a heater operable to heat the interior thereof so as to maintain the extracted gas sample therein at a temperature about the condensation point of water. The analyzer allows for the analysis of the gas water vapour of wet off-gas samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Inventors: Vittorio Scipolo, Douglas J. Zuliani, Avishekh Pal, Ovidiu Negru
  • Patent number: 10578597
    Abstract: A spectral radiation gas detector has at least one lenslet with a circular blazed grating for diffraction of radiation to a focal plane. A detector is located at the focal plane receiving radiation passing through the at least one lenslet for detection at a predetermined diffraction order. A plurality of order filters are associated with the at least one lenslet to pass radiation at wavelengths corresponding to the predetermined diffraction order, each filter blocking a selected set of higher orders. A controller is adapted to compare intensity at pixels in the detector associated with each of the plurality of order filters and further adapted to determine a change in intensity exceeding a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: UVIA GROUP LLC
    Inventor: Michele Hinnrichs
  • Patent number: 10545238
    Abstract: A light ranging and detection (LiDAR) device may combine the transmission of laser pulses. Different trains of pulses from different transmitters may be combined and transmitted to an environment via a common optical path. The laser pulses transmitted from one train of pulses may be in a polarization state that is orthogonal to a polarization state for the laser pulses of the other train of pulses. Reflections for the different trains of pulses may be received via the common optical path and separated according to polarization state. Reflections of the train of pulses may be directed to one receiver and reflections of the other train of pulses may be directed to a different receiver. The transmission delta between the different trains of pulses may be dynamically configured. The pulse repetition rate of each train of pulses may also be configured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mina A. Rezk, Jean-Marie Bussat
  • Patent number: 10527412
    Abstract: Measurement approaches and data analysis methods are disclosed for combining 3D topographic data with spatially-registered gas concentration data to increase the efficiency of gas monitoring and leak detection tasks. Here, the metric for efficiency is defined as reducing the measurement time required to achieve the detection, or non-detection, of a gas leak with a desired confidence level. Methods are presented for localizing and quantifying detected gas leaks. Particular attention is paid to the combination of 3D spatial data with path-integrated gas concentration measurements acquired using remote gas sensing technologies, as this data can be used to determine the path-averaged gas concentration between the sensor and points in the measurement scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Bridger Photonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Thorpe, Aaron Kreitinger, Stephen Crouch
  • Patent number: 10520480
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of correcting a response of an instrument. The method includes determining an inverse convolution function, the inverse convolution function being in the time domain. A response of an instrument to an exhaust sample is recorded as a function of time. The recorded response is then convolved with the inverse convolution function, the result being a convolution corrected instrument response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: AVL TEST SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Frank Berghof
  • Patent number: 10416081
    Abstract: Optical systems and methods for spectroscopy are described. The optical system may be particularly suitable for Raman spectroscopy and includes a multispectral excitation source, designed to emit monochromatic excitation radiation successively at at least two different excitation wavelengths along a common beam axis; an elongated flow volume with a longitudinal axis, designed to direct a particle flow along the longitudinal axis; an excitation beam path, designed to irradiate the monochromatic excitation radiation into the flow volume at a first position and the second position that are located in the flow volume and the first position is spaced apart from the second position; and a detection device, designed to wavelength-selectively filter and detect a portion of a radiation scattered from the first position at a first filter wavelength and to wavelength-selectively filter and detect a portion of a radiation scattered from the second position at a second filter wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V.
    Inventors: Bernd Sumpf, Martin Maiwald
  • Patent number: 10408742
    Abstract: To provide a concentration measurement method with which the concentrations of predetermined chemical components can be measured non-destructively, accurately, and rapidly by a simple means, up to the concentrations in trace amount ranges, as well as a concentration measurement method with which the concentrations of chemical components in a measurement target can be accurately and rapidly measured in real time up to the concentrations in nano-order trace amount ranges, and which is endowed with a versatility that can be realized in a variety of embodiments and modes. In the present invention, a measurement target is irradiated, in a time sharing manner, with light of a first wavelength and light of a second wavelength that have different optical absorption rates with respect to the measurement target. The light of each wavelength, arriving optically via the measurement target as a result of irradiation with the light of each wavelength, is received at a shared light-receiving sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignees: FUJIKIN INCORPORATED, TOHOKU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Masaaki Nagase, Kouji Nishino, Nobukazu Ikeda, Michio Yamaji, Shigetoshi Sugawa, Rihito Kuroda
  • Patent number: 10401341
    Abstract: A gas concentration image (i.e., concentration vs. position data) in a cross section through a gas plume is obtained. Such measurements can be obtained by using a 2D array of gas sample inlets, or by moving a 1D array of gas sample inlets through the gas plume. By combining a gas concentration image with ambient flow information through the surface of the gas concentration image, the leak rate (i.e., gas flux) from the leak source can be estimated. Gas samples are simultaneously acquired by filling two or more gas sample storage chambers. This is the default operation mode, which is convenient to regard as recording mode. The other operating mode is a playback mode, where the gas samples in the gas sample storage chamber are sequentially provided to a gas analysis instrument. Gas collection via line pixels can be used to compensate for vertical wind speed variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Picarro, Inc.
    Inventor: Chris W. Rella
  • Patent number: 10352865
    Abstract: A flow cell and method for photometric transmission measurements are disclosed in which a folded optical path provides for co-located, collinear fiber optic read and illumination cables that can be bundled together. Light passes through a fluid sample, is reflected off a pair of right-angle turning mirrors and returns through the fluid for a second pass. A center divider separates fluid passages on the first pass of the light through the fluid and the second pass of the light through the fluid to block any undesired backscattered light from reaching a detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: MAINSTREAM ENGINEERING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Paul E. Yelvington, Andrew L. Carpenter, Andrew L. Wagner
  • Patent number: 10337989
    Abstract: A system and method to rapidly perform emissions measurements of in-use vehicles being driven by the general public under normal driving use for determining whether the vehicles are performing in accordance to the regulatory standards by which they were certified. The system and method require no recruitment testing of in-use vehicles with potentially detectable connections, but instead incorporate a vehicle emissions remote sensing device that does not require mechanical or electrical connection to the vehicle, with the measured values being recorded and the vehicles identified, including based on, for example, make and model, engine size, engine combustion management technology and/or pollution control technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Opus Inspection, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter M. McClintock, Thomas J. Fournier, Niranjan Vescio
  • Patent number: 10295464
    Abstract: A gas sensor system is provided, comprising: a gas cell operable so as to receive a sample gas; a vacuum system fluidically coupled to the gas cell operable to maintain the sample gas within the gas cell at a sub-ambient pressure; a pressure sensor operable to sense a pressure of the sample gas; a thermally insulated enclosure having the gas cell therein; a heat source or heat exchanger operable to influence an interior temperature of the thermally insulated enclosure; a light source within the thermally insulated enclosure operable to provide a mid-infrared (mid-IR) light into and through the gas cell; a photodetector within the thermally insulated enclosure operable to receive the attenuated mid-IR; and a control system electronically coupled to the vacuum system and to the pressure sensor operable to maintain the sample gas within the gas cell at the predetermined pressure to within one torr (1 Torr).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Thermo Fisher Scientific (Bremen) GmbH
    Inventors: James J. Scherer, Joshua B. Paul, Hans-Juerg Jost
  • Patent number: 10274423
    Abstract: The gas detection device according to the present invention is provided with: a first image processing unit for generating a first binary image for indicating in binary fashion the inside and outside of a first region indicating water vapor and a gas to be detected, on the basis of a first image generated using an optical filter having a first pass wavelength band including at least an absorption wavelength band of the gas; a second image processing unit for generating a second binary image indicating in binary fashion the inside and outside of a second region indicating the water vapor, on the basis of a second image generated using an optical filter having a second pass wavelength band different from the absorption wavelength band; and a third image processing unit for calculating a difference between the first binary image and the second binary image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Akihiro Suzuki, Motohiro Asano, Hiroshi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10261061
    Abstract: Embodiments relate generally to systems and methods for improving the safety of work areas, especially in industries where there is a high probability of exposure to hazardous gases. The system may comprise an Intelligence System, wherein the system may generate a gas health indicator (GHI) value using quantified data received from a plurality of gas detectors within the workplace. This GHI may be used to compare sites within a workplace and suggest improvements, as well as predicting risk levels for areas of the workplace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Gowrisankar Mr
  • Patent number: 10228322
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for and method of measuring the concentration of F2 in the laser gas used in an excimer laser. Quartz Enhanced Photoacoustic Spectroscopy is used to obtain a direct measurement of F2 concentration quickly and using only a small sample volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: CYMER LLC
    Inventor: Thomas Patrick Duffey
  • Patent number: 10217210
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention generally relate to illumination gas imaging and detection. Camera systems can illuminate a target scene with light sources configured to emit absorbing and non-absorbing wavelengths with respect to a target gas. An image of the target scene illuminated with a non-absorbing wavelength can be compared to a non-illuminated image of the target scene in order to determine information about the background of the target scene. If sufficient light of the non-absorbing wavelength is scattered by the scene toward a detector, the target scene comprises an adequate background for performing a gas imaging process. A camera system can alert a user of portions of the target scene suitable or unsuitable for performing a gas imaging process. If necessary, the user can reposition the system until sufficient portions of the target scene are recognized as suitable for performing the gas imaging process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew F. Schmidt, Tyler B. Evans, Derek Hutton
  • Patent number: 10215691
    Abstract: A gas sensor includes a transmitter that may transmit a first radar signal, associated with a resonance peak corresponding to a first gas, through a space including the first gas and a second gas. The first gas may absorb a portion of the first radar signal to create a second radar signal. The transmitter may transmit a first infrared (IR) signal, associated with a second resonance peak corresponding to the second gas, through the space. The first gas or the second gas may absorb a portion of the first IR signal to create a second IR signal. The gas sensor may include a controller to determine a concentration of the second gas based on the second radar signal and the second IR signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Dirk Hammerschmidt, Robert Hermann
  • Patent number: 10197470
    Abstract: This invention consists of sensors and algorithms to image, detect, and quantify the presence of hydrocarbon gas (for example from leaks) using a short-wave infrared radiation detector array with multiple spectral filters under natural sunlight or artificial illumination, in combination with the hydrodynamics of turbulent gas jets and buoyant plumes. Multiple embodiments are recited and address detection and quantification of methane gas leaks. Quantification includes gas column densities, gas concentration estimates, total mass, hole size estimates, and estimated emission flux (leak rate) of gas from holes and cracks in pressurized vessels, pipes, components, and general gas infrastructure, and from surface patches (for example due to gas leaks in underground pipes) under the action of buoyancy and wind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: MultiSensor Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen M. Waxman, Jason M. Bylsma, Allan Vaitses
  • Patent number: 10190976
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for rapidly detecting, localizing, imaging, and quantifying leaks of natural gas and other hydrocarbon and greenhouse gases. Scanning sensors, scan patterns, and data processing algorithms enable monitoring a site to rapidly detect, localize, image, and quantify amounts and rates of hydrocarbon leaks. Multispectral short-wave infrared detectors sense non-thermal infrared radiation from natural solar or artificial illumination sources by differential absorption spectroscopy. A multispectral sensor is scanned to envelop an area of interest, detect the presence and location of a leak, and raster scan the area around the leak to create an image of the leak. The resulting absorption image related to differential spectral optical depth is color mapped to render the degree of gas absorption across the scene. Analysis of this optical depth image, with factors including known inline pressures and/or surface wind speed measurements, enable estimation of the leak rate, i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: MultiSensor Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen M. Waxman, Jason M. Bylsma, Allan Vaitses
  • Patent number: 10138873
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for recalibrating nacelle-positions of a plurality of wind turbines in a wind park is implemented by a nacelle calibration computing device including a processor and a memory device coupled to the processor. The method includes identifying at least two associated wind turbines included within the wind park wherein each associated wind turbine includes location information, determining a plurality of predicted wake features for the associated wind turbines based at least partially on the location information of each associated wind turbine, retrieving a plurality of historical performance data related to the associated wind turbines, determining a plurality of current wake features based on the plurality of historical performance data, identifying a variance between the predicted wake features and the current wake features, and determining a recalibration factor for at least one of the associated wind turbines based on the identified variance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Peter Alan Gregg, Megan Michela Wilson, Siddhanth Chandrashekar, Vineel Chandrakanth Gujjar, Manisha Srivastava, Colin Craig McCulloch
  • Patent number: 10120076
    Abstract: An array lidar system on a platform and a method of operating an array lidar system comprising a plurality of illuminators on a platform include controlling a first set of the plurality of illuminators to transmit for a first duration, and controlling a second set of the plurality of illuminators to transmit for a second duration. The method also includes receiving and processing reflections resulting from the first set of the plurality of illuminators and the second set of the plurality of illuminators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Kobi J. Scheim, Ariel Lipson, Ran Y. Gazit, Oded Bialer
  • Patent number: 10013661
    Abstract: A monitoring system is disclosed for acquiring output activity, utilization capacity and/or effluent data from an facility on a facility-by-facility and/or an industry-by-industry basis. The system is designed to generate a plant and/or industry output activity database that is updated on a continuous, near continuous, periodic and/or intermittent basis so that subscribers are apprised of changes in plant or overall industry output. A clearing house is also disclosed for distributing the acquired data to subscribers to aid in analyzing, predicting trends, pricing, maintaining, adjusting, minimizing, and/or maximizing individual plant or overall industry output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Nuvo Ventures, LLC
    Inventors: Jack Nuszen, Thomas Vo
  • Patent number: 9964487
    Abstract: The invention relates to a detection apparatus (1) for detecting particles on or close to a particles detection surface (5) in a first optical detection mode and in a second optical detection mode, wherein a component of a light detection system (8) and/or a component of an optical system (9) of the detection apparatus is arranged to be used in the first detection mode and in the second detection mode. Since a component of the light detection system and/or a component of the optical system is arranged to be used in the first detection mode and in the second detection mode, this component does not need to be provided twice, i.e. for being used in the first detection mode and for being used in the second detection mode. This can lead to a reduced number of components and can make the detection apparatus technically less complex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Jacobus Hermanus Maria Neijzen, Johannes Joseph Hubertina Barbara Schleipen
  • Patent number: 9963251
    Abstract: A parameter of an actual spacecraft can be estimated based on a spectroscopic image of an emission from an atomic or molecular product of an interaction between an atmospheric gas and an atomic or molecular species in a plume from the actual spacecraft. The actual spacecraft can be characterized by a set of values of at least N parameters. An N-dimensional lookup table can store information about a plurality of simulated emissions, each being from the atomic or molecular product of a simulated interaction between the atmospheric gas and the atomic or molecular species in a plume from a simulated spacecraft characterized by a corresponding set of values of the N parameters. A simulated emission can be selected based on comparisons between the information about the simulated emissions and the spectroscopic image. A value of at least one of the N parameters of the actual spacecraft can be estimated based on the selected simulated emission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: The Aerospace Corporation
    Inventor: William L. Dimpfl
  • Patent number: 9958257
    Abstract: A system includes a first beam splitter, a second beam splitter, and a mirror. The second beam splitter can produce two lines of light, which are received by at least one sensor. The two lines of light have different focal heights on the wafer. A distance between the second beam splitter and the mirror can be configured to change a focal height on the wafer. A height of an illuminated region on a surface of the wafer relative to a normal surface of the wafer can be determined using the two lines of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventor: Shifang Li
  • Patent number: 9927356
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting gases, airborne compounds, and other particulates, are provided. The system detects materials of interest, including but not limited to, volatile organic compounds, aerosols, particulates, and biological and other pathogens in a three dimensional volume over an area of interest. The system detects the concentration of analytes of interest in the presence of atmospheric contaminants. Data points form a three-dimensional “point cloud” to which particle swarm optimization and feature extraction algorithms are applied, providing leak detection, mapping of chemical plumes, and short-term and long-term flux measurements, among other functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: SMS Sensors Incorporated
    Inventor: Richard J. Skibo
  • Patent number: 9880267
    Abstract: A scanning display system includes hybrid data acquisition. Data can be acquired in a time-of-flight mode, or in a non-time-of-flight mode. Infrared light pulses may be used in both modes. The infrared light pulses may have different characteristics. Time-of-flight data acquisition and non-time-of-flight data acquisition may be used sequentially or simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
    Inventors: P. Selvan Viswanathan, Jari Honkanen, Bharath Rajagopalan, Alexander Tokman
  • Patent number: 9857295
    Abstract: A comparative discrimination spectral detection (CDSD) system for the identification of chemicals with overlapping spectral signatures, including: a radiation source for delivering radiation to a sample; a radiation collector for collecting radiation from the sample; a plurality of beam splitters for splitting the radiation collected from the sample into a plurality of radiation beams; a plurality of low-resolution optical filters for filtering the plurality of radiation beams; a plurality of radiation detectors for detecting the plurality filtered radiation beams; and a processor for: receiving a set of reference spectra related to a set of target chemicals and generating a set of base vectors for the set of target chemicals from the set of reference spectra, wherein the set of base vectors define a geometrical shape in a configuration space; receiving a set of filtered test spectra from the plurality of radiation detectors and generating a set of test vectors in the configuration space from the set of filte
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: The University Of North Carolina At Charlotte
    Inventors: Menelaos K. Poutous, Ishwar D. Aggarwal, Kevin J. Major, Jas S. Sanghera, Ken Ewing
  • Patent number: 9851427
    Abstract: A large-caliber telescope non-linear interference detecting and filtering method is provided. The measure of the oil pad interference is accomplished with one of the following two methods, accelerometer and encoder, or using both of the said methods simultaneously. The filtering of the oil pad interference: set a NOTCH frequency as the main interfering frequency by using NOTCH filter to filter the interference and distinctly improve the telescope performance. The telescope and method is specific to a large-caliber telescope with an oil pad, by using an acceleration sensor and an encoder to precisely measure the non-linear interfering frequency of the telescope oil pad system, by using a NOTCH digital filter to accurately filter the interference due to the oil pad system, and through adjusting parameters of the digital filter to change the filter frequency band on the basis of the change of the oil pad interfering frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: NANJING INSTITUTE OF ASTRONOMICAL OPTICS & TECHNOLOGY, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
    Inventor: Shihai Yang
  • Patent number: 9810624
    Abstract: A spectroscopic sensor device comprising an absorption path for receiving at least one fluid medium that is to be analyzed, an infrared radiation source for sending out infrared radiation into the absorption path, an infrared sensor array that has a multiplicity of pixels that can be individually evaluated, which are fashioned to detect the infrared radiation propagated from the infrared radiation source through the fluid medium as individual pixel measurement signals, and comprising an evaluation device that is fashioned to combine a multiplicity of pixel measurement signals of the pixels and to output them via an individual measurement channel. Furthermore, a method for operating a spectroscopic sensor device is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Paul Koop
  • Patent number: 9769459
    Abstract: A voltage mode laser diode driver selectively turns on and off a laser diode. An output stage has an output node configured to be connected to one of the terminals of the laser diode. Depending upon implementation, an active swing controller drives the output stage in a manner that substantially prevents inductive kickback from causing the output node voltage to swinging above the voltage level at the voltage output of the power supply, or swing below ground. The output stage provides a discharge path around the laser diode to shunt current associated with the inductive kickback, and substantially eliminates ringing on the output node of the output stage while the laser diode is off. A power supply controller adjusts the voltage level of the voltage output of the power supply so that current through the laser diode when on and emitting light is substantially equal to a predetermined desired current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Barry Thompson, Stefan Wurster, Lawrence A. Prather, Dane Snow, Richard McCauley
  • Patent number: 9769445
    Abstract: In a display device, a light amount of laser light directed from an optical filter to a combiner is controlled through control of a temperature of a light source using temperature dependence of a wavelength of the light source. Further, in the display device, since the adjustment of the light amount is performed using the temperature dependence of the wavelength of the light source instead of adjusting a power supply voltage of the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventor: Yuichi Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 9746454
    Abstract: A multifunctional breath analyzer includes a receptor unit for receiving a breath sample from a test subject, a sensing unit providing a signal corresponding to the concentration of at least one volatile substance within the sample, elements for providing a signal indicative of the dilution of the breath sample, and an analyzing unit/processing unit for the identification and quantification of the volatile substance of the breath sample. The signal processing unit is configured to perform at least two different calculations for the quantification, and the signal processing unit is also configured to automatically display the result of a selected calculation, the selection being based on the signal indicating dilution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: HOK INSTRUMENT AB
    Inventors: Bertil Hok, Lars Tenerz, Leif Smith, Annika Kaisdotter Andersson
  • Patent number: 9733155
    Abstract: In an apparatus and system for monitoring and communicating emissions data for a diesel engine, an exhaust gas analyzer uses laser light passed through a diffuser to measure the quantity of trace gases and particulates in an exhaust gas outlet from a diesel engine. The analysis chamber possesses superhydrophobic, superhydrophilic, and/or superoleophobic properties to reduce VOC-occlusion of the transparent chamber walls. A radio transmitter, cellular data transmitter, or Smartphone transmits measurement data. In a diagnostic and monitoring system for a diesel engine, the exhaust gas analyzer is in contact with the exhaust gases from the diesel engine, preferably in the tailpipe. A data receiver receives the transmitted measurement data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Inventor: Serge V. Monros
  • Patent number: 9625383
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement for determining a concentration of a substance in an open sample in the presence of an interfering material is disclosed. The sensor arrangement comprises a first light source emitting pulsed light at a first wavelength being absorbed by said substance, a second light source emitting pulsed light at a second wavelength being transmitted through said substance, optical means for directing at least a part of the emitted pulsed light of said first and second wavelengths through the open sample along the same optical path, and a sample detector arranged at an end of the optical path for receiving the emitted light of said first and second wavelengths being transmitted through the sample. The interfering material is formed as deposits on at least one of said optical means being exposed to said substance, and said first wavelength and said second wavelength are absorbed by said interfering material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE S.A.
    Inventors: Andrea Maselli, Bo Runnberg, Eugenio Sighinolfi, Hans Hallstadius, Sylvain Debaecker
  • Patent number: 9574995
    Abstract: Device for measuring the concentration of a predetermined gas, in particular CO2, comprising a cavity, a light source emitting light rays within a basic spectral range including visible and infrared, a detector configured to receive a portion of the light rays within a first predefined spectral range corresponding to high absorption of the predetermined gas, a photodiode configured to receive a portion of the light rays within a second predefined spectral range corresponding to low absorption of the predetermined gas, a control unit configured to calculate the concentration of the predetermined gas by comparing the radiant power received by the detector to the radiant power received by the photodiode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: WITHINGS
    Inventors: Cédric Hutchings, Nadine Buard, David Campo, Brice Brac de la Perriere, Pierre Barrochin, Xavier Debreuil
  • Patent number: 9551652
    Abstract: A measuring apparatus is capable of measuring chlorine dioxide gas concentration by correcting for changes in light emission of an LED due to heating and passage of time, and applying the correction to the optical absorption rate of chlorine dioxide gas at a photodetector. The measuring apparatus includes a main body with a measuring passage surrounded by a pair of transparent bodies, into which specimen gas or fresh air is fed and then discharged, and a comparing passage arranged in the vicinity of the measuring passage, into which no specimen gas is fed, first and second LEDs for emitting ultraviolet light which both have identical properties and are mounted at one end of the measuring passage and at one end of the comparing passage, respectively, and first and second photodetectors for receiving light respectively from the first and second LEDs and detecting a light emission amount thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignees: TAKIMOTOGIKEN KOGYO CO., LTD., C.S.D. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masateru Takimoto, Katsuji Hotta
  • Patent number: 9518919
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a hemoglobin concentration includes a reference light source unit, a light and heat light source unit configured to emit a light and heat beam for generating a light and heat effect, an accommodation unit configured to accommodate obtained blood samples, an image acquisition unit configured to write a primary pattern formed after the reference beam emitted by the reference light source unit is incident on the accommodation unit and a secondary pattern formed under an influence of a light and heat effect after the light and heat beam emitted by the light and heat light source unit is incident on the accommodation unit, and a concentration calculation unit electrically connected to the image acquisition unit and configured to calculate a hemoglobin concentration based on a difference between the primary pattern and the secondary pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: INDUSTRY-ACADEMIC COOPERATION FOUNDATION YONSEI UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Chulmin Joo, Dong Hak Lee, Ui Han Kim
  • Patent number: 9503696
    Abstract: A system for detecting volcanic plumes using a camera on an aircraft, a distant point-like source of light, and a computerized method of processing images acquired by the camera to detect phenomena indicative of the presence of volcanic plumes in a volume of space intersected by light from the light source. A computer system is programmed to determine whether the image data from the camera has characteristics indicating that the imaged light had passed through a volcanic plume or not. In response to detection of a volcanic plume in the flight path of an aircraft, the computer system outputs an alert activation signal to an alert device that produces a visible or audible alert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Brian J. Tillotson
  • Patent number: 9483951
    Abstract: An airborne system for detecting and avoiding atmospheric particulates, which include a sensor coupled with an aircraft and configured to capture electromagnetic signals from a flight path of the aircraft, including infrared wavelengths, an output device configured to provide visual and an aural messages to a flight crew, and a processor coupled with sensor, the output device, and a non-transitory processor-readable medium storing processor-executable instructions for causing the processor to: receive a signal from the sensor via an input port; calculate a temperature difference between a first and second infrared wavelengths; determine a presence of atmospheric particulates in the flight path based on the temperature difference; generate an aural message and/or a visual message indicative of the presence of atmospheric particulates; and provide the message to a flight crew. The processor may calculate an alternate flight path and provide the alternate flight path to the flight crew.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick D. McCusker
  • Patent number: 9396403
    Abstract: A method for vehicle identification to determine at least one vehicle characteristic, comprising: obtaining an input image (301) of the vehicle from an image source (101); normalization of the input image (301) of the vehicle in a normalization unit (103, 104) to obtain a normalized image; determining the vehicle characteristic in a classification unit (111, 112) by comparing parameters of a normalized image obtained in a parametrization unit (107, 108) with parameters of reference images obtained from a reference database (113, 114).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Instytut Badawczy Drog i Mostow
    Inventors: Michal Karkowski, Tadeusz Dzienis, Cezary Dolega, Pawel Mrowka
  • Patent number: 9395516
    Abstract: Provided is an imaging device (1) having: a front optical system (10) that transmits light from an object; a spectral filter array (20) that transmits light from the front optical system (10) via a plurality of spectral filters; a small lens array (30) that transmits the light from the plurality of spectral filters via a plurality of small lenses respectively, and forms a plurality of object images; a picture element (50) that captures the plurality of object images respectively; and an image processor (60) that determines two-dimensional spectral information on the object images based on image signals output from the picture element (50). The front optical system (10) is configured to transmit the light from the focused object to collimate the light into a parallel luminous flux.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Katsunuma, Kenichi Kodama
  • Patent number: 9291576
    Abstract: Generally discussed herein are systems, apparatuses, and methods that can detect a defect in a die. According to an example, a method can include transmitting a first beam of light with a wavelength and optical power configured to produce a reflected beam with at least one milli-Watt of power, linearly polarizing the first beam of light in a specific direction, circularly polarizing the linearly polarized light by a quarter wavelength to create circularly polarized light, directing the circularly polarized light to a device under test, linearly polarizing light reflected off the device under test by a quarter wavelength, or creating an image of the linearly polarized light reflected off the device under test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Mario Pacheco, Deepak Goyal
  • Patent number: 9267841
    Abstract: The color measurement device and an image forming apparatus using the same includes a light source for irradiating a color measurement object with white light; a diffraction grating for dispersing the light reflected from the color measurement object; and a line sensor formed of multiple pixels that generate an electric signal corresponding to the intensity of the light dispersed by the diffraction grating, wherein the light source includes a light-emitting diode having a peak value of emission intensity in a wavelength zone of 380 nm to 420 nm, and a plural types of fluorescent members each having a peak value of fluorescence intensity in a wavelength zone of 420 nm to 730 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shun-ichi Ebihara, Hiroshi Kita, Tatsuya Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9228938
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention are directed to a device and method for detecting characteristics of a gas. The gas includes an exhausted plume from a vehicle or factory plant, leaked gas from an oil well or gas resource, or unidentified gas from an unknown source. The method includes sweepingly directing a beam of light through the gas to a target surface on which the beam of light is scattered, acquiring the scattered light scattered from the target surface, and processing the acquired scattered light to determine the characteristics of the gas, where the characteristics of the gas comprise at least one of a temperature of the gas and an amount of at least one ingredient of the gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: HAGER ENVIRONMENTAL AND ATMOSPHERIC TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: J. Stewart Hager, Geoffrey Yerem