With Means To Transmission-test Contained Fluent Material Patents (Class 250/343)
  • Patent number: 9896333
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the production of hydrogen from a hydrocarbon feedstock and steam comprising: A stage for the production of a synthesis gas in a unit for the steam-reforming of the hydrocarbon feedstock, A stage for shift conversion with steam of the synthesis gas that is obtained in the preceding stage producing a hydrogen stream that contains methane and carbon dioxide, A stage for recovering carbon dioxide and methane, present in the stream that is obtained in the shift conversion stage, in the form of hydrates that produce a stream of pure hydrogen, A stage for regeneration of methane, A stage for recycling methane to steam reforming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: IFP ENERGIES NOUVELLES
    Inventors: Pierre Antoine Bouillon, Raphael Huyghe, Rafael Lugo, Fabrice Giroudiere
  • Patent number: 9897537
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a gas sensor on a substrate and a gas sensor fabricated on a substrate that includes optical and electronic components are described. The method includes fabricating a laser to output light over a range of wavelengths within a waveguide, fabricating a splitter to split the light output by the laser to a reference waveguide and to a detection waveguide, fabricating a reference cell to house the reference waveguide and a reference gas. An output of the reference waveguide is coupled to a first optical detector and an output of the detection waveguide is coupled to a second optical detector to identify or quantify an ambient gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tymon Barwicz, William M. Green, Yves C. Martin, Jason S. Orcutt, Lionel Tombez
  • Patent number: 9885653
    Abstract: A device analyzes an anesthesia ventilation gas with an infrared radiation source and includes a gas cuvette, a Fabry-Perot interferometer with a band pass filter function, adjustable with respect to a central transmission wavelength as a function of a control signal, a detector providing a measured signal and a computing and control unit providing the control signal and detecting the measured signal. The computing and control unit is configured to actuate the Fabry-Perot interferometer in a first operating mode by the control signal such that the central transmission wavelength scans a predefined wavelength range, to detect a presence in the ventilation gas sample potential types of anesthetic gases based on the measured signal. In a second operating mode, the control unit controls the central transmission wavelength within a subrange of the predefined wavelength range and determines a plurality of concentration values at consecutive times for detected types of anesthetic gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Drägerwerk AG & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Ralf Buchtal, Livio Fornasiero, Robert Jahns, Heike Vöhringer
  • Patent number: 9880055
    Abstract: A spectroscopic camera is provided with a pair of reflecting films, and a wavelength variable interference filter including an electrostatic actuator which can change a size of the gap between the pair of reflecting films, an imaging unit which includes a plurality of pixels which is disposed in a two-dimensional array structure, and receives the light transmitted to the wavelength variable interference filter, and a received-light wavelength acquiring unit which acquires a central wavelength of the light which is incident on the pixel with respect to each of the pixels in the imaging unit, in which the received-light wavelength acquiring unit acquires the central wavelength based on an incidence angle in a position where the light which is received in each of the pixels is incident to the pair of reflecting films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Sano, Nozomu Hirokubo
  • Patent number: 9874546
    Abstract: A device for a gas chromatograph system includes an injector, a conduit assembly, a flow restrictor, and a pressure controller. The injector is connected to a carrier gas source and an auxiliary gas source. The conduit assembly surrounds the input end of an analytical column. A carrier gas is supplied at a constant pressure through a flow restrictor to the injector. A pressure controller is configured to control the pressure of an auxiliary gas supplied to the injector from the auxiliary source. The pressure controller is configured to operate in a first mode to provide a first auxiliary gas pressure sufficient to force a flow of the auxiliary gas and a sample onto the analytical column during an inject phase and to operate in a second mode to provide a second auxiliary gas pressure below a threshold necessary to flow auxiliary gas into the analytical column during a resolving phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Thermo Finnigan LLC
    Inventor: Edward B. McCauley
  • Patent number: 9869632
    Abstract: Absorption spectrometer and method for measuring the concentration of a gaseous component of interest in a measurement gas, wherein to compensate influence of changes in an optical path length in the absorption spectrometer on a measured result, light from the laser is modulated with at least one pilot frequency in the MHz range, the measurement signal is analyzed in a phase-sensitive manner for the pilot frequency, phase information obtained during this analysis is compared with phase information obtained during calibration of the absorption spectrometer, where the measured result is corrected as a function of the difference between the two items of phase information. Alternatively, light from the laser is modulated with two pilot frequencies, where signal components contained in the measurement signal with the pilot frequencies are detected in a phase-sensitive manner and the difference between the phase information of the two signal components obtained in this operation is analyzed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Ralf Bitter
  • Patent number: 9857337
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for assessment of a sealed package. Light is emitted from a narrow-band laser source towards said package from outside of said package. An absorption signal of said light scattered in said package is measured, wherein said absorption is caused by said at least one gas when said light is scattered and travels in said sealed package. Measuring is made outside of said package, whereby said assessment is non-intrusive with regard to said package. It is determined if a deviation exists from a predetermined, expected gas composition and/or concentration of said at least one gas within said sealed package based on said measured absorption signal. Thus sealing of said package for said gas is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: GasPorOx AG
    Inventors: Sune Svanberg, Anders Johnsson, Märta Lewander, Annika Olsson
  • Patent number: 9829432
    Abstract: A gas measuring apparatus includes a cell portion, a light source portion, a detection portion, and a control portion. The cell portion includes a space into which a sample gas containing breath containing a first isotope of carbon dioxide and a second isotope of carbon dioxide is introduced. The light source portion changes a wavelength of the light in a band of 4.345 ?m or more and 4.384 ?m or less. The detection portion performs an operation including first detection of an intensity of the light passing through the space and second detection of an intensity of the light passing through the space into which the sample gas is not introduced. The control portion calculates a ratio of an amount of the second isotope to an amount of the first isotope based on a result of the first detection and a result of the second detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Akira Maekawa, Miyuki Kusaba, Shigeyuki Takagi, Hiroshi Hasegawa, Tsutomu Kakuno, Yasutomo Shiomi
  • Patent number: 9823185
    Abstract: For determining concentration of a targeted molecule M in a liquid sample admixed with interfering molecules MJ which overlap its absorption band, a NDIR reflection sampling technique is used. Besides the signal source, a reference and an interference source are added. M is calculated by electronics which use Rave(t) from a pulsed signal and reference channel output and a calibration curve which is validated by use of RJava(t2) from a pulsed interference and reference channel output. Signal, interference and reference sources are pulsed at a frequency which is sufficiently fast so that a given molecule of M or MJ will not pass in and out of the liquid sampling matrix within the pulsing frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: AIRWARE, INC.
    Inventors: Jacob Y Wong, Thomas Campbell
  • Patent number: 9823181
    Abstract: The present invention intends to provide a Cp2Mg concentration measuring device capable of accurately measuring the concentration of Cp2Mg to be supplied to a process chamber without being affected by spontaneous decomposition, and is adapted to measure light intensity in a predetermined wavelength band around 12.8 ?m and on the basis of the light intensity, calculate the concentration of Cp2Mg in a material gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: HORIBA STEC, CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke Hayashi, Yuhei Sakaguchi, Masakazu Minami, Atsuko Teraoka
  • Patent number: 9810627
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating a three-dimensional gas map includes a remote vehicle including reflective material. A positioning stage including multidimensional movement to track the remote vehicle. A light head to reflect light off of the remote vehicle. A controller to analyze received light to determine gas content and generate a three-dimensional gas map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Ming-Fang Huang, Lei Tao, Yue Tian, Ting Wang
  • Patent number: 9804093
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and methods for label-free, chemical specific detection in flow for high throughput characterization of analytes in applications such as flow injection analysis, electrophoresis, and chromatography. A surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) flow detector capable of ultrasensitive optical detection on the millisecond time scale has been developed. The device employs hydrodynamic focusing to improve SERS detection in a flow channel where a sheath flow confines analyte molecules eluted from a capillary over a planar SERS-active substrate. Increased analyte interactions with the SERS substrate significantly improve detection sensitivity. Raman experiments at different sheath flow rates showed increased sensitivity compared with the modeling predictions, indicating increased adsorption. At low analyte concentrations, rapid analyte desorption is observed, enabling repeated and high-throughput SERS detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: University of Notre Dame du Lac
    Inventors: Zachary Schultz, Oluwatosin Dada, Pierre Negri, Kevin Jacobs
  • Patent number: 9797832
    Abstract: Method and gas analyzer for measuring the concentration of a gas component in a sample gas, wherein to measure the concentration of a gas component in a sample gas, a laser diode is actuated by a current and light generated by the laser diode is guided through the sample gas to a detector, the current is simultaneously varied within periodically successive sampling intervals for the wavelength-dependent sampling of an absorption line of interest of the gas component, and the current can be additionally modulated sinusoidally based on wavelength modulation spectroscopy with a low frequency and small amplitude, such that a measuring signal generated by the detector is evaluated to form a measurement result, where to improve the measuring signal-noise ratio and achieve a much lower detection limit with the same measuring distance, the current is modulated with a high (RF) frequency in the GHz range so that no wavelength modulation occurs, and an RF modulation amplitude is selected at the maximum level using the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Franz Steinbacher
  • Patent number: 9772318
    Abstract: An interlock data collection and calibration system has a device computer, a gas delivery system, and a data port. The device computer has a computer processor and a computer memory. The gas delivery system delivers a gas sample to an ignition interlock device. The data port is operably connected with the device computer for enabling sample data from the ignition interlock device to be transmitted to the device computer. A calibration program operably installed on the computer memory receives the sample data, calibrates the ignition interlock device, and generates confirmation data, which is stored in a local database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Inventor: Michael Lyon
  • Patent number: 9766189
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for analyzing a fluid sample comprising loading the sample in a sample space in a sensor with an input and an output for an electromagnetic signal, and measuring an output signal and comparing it against an input signal, and matching the comparison against a set of comparisons for known substances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Liverpool John Moores University
    Inventors: Ahmed Al-Shamma'a, Alex Mason, Olga Korostynska
  • Patent number: 9762021
    Abstract: A laser that emits light at all available frequencies distributed throughout the spectral bandwidth or emission bandwidth of the laser in a single pulse or pulse train is disclosed. The laser is pumped or seeded with photons having frequencies distributed throughout the superunitary gain bandwidth of the gain medium. The source of photons is a frequency modulated photon source, and the frequency modulation is controlled to occur in one or more cycles timed to occur within a time scale for pulsing the laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventor: Stephen Moffatt
  • Patent number: 9759652
    Abstract: A gas detection device comprising a light emitting source including a first plurality of quantum dots of substantially discrete size and made of a semiconductor material a gas cell to contain the gas to be detected and a light detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College
    Inventor: Weiyong Yu
  • Patent number: 9744506
    Abstract: A receptacle having a plurality of interconnected chambers arranged to permit multiple process steps or processes to be performed independently or simultaneously. The receptacles are manufactured to separate liquid from dried reagents and to maintain the stability of the dried reagents. An immiscible liquid is included to control loading of process materials, facilitate mixing and reconstitution of dried reagents, limit evaporation, control heating of reaction materials, concentrate solid support materials to prevent clogging of fluid connections, provide minimum volumes for fluid transfers, and to prevent process materials from sticking to chamber surfaces. The receptacles can be adapted for use in systems having a processing instrument that includes an actuator system for selectively moving fluid substances between chambers and a detector. The actuator system can be arranged to concentrate an analyte in a sample. The detector can be used to detect an optical signal emitted by the contents of the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Sara H. Fan, Richard S. Lee
  • Patent number: 9733180
    Abstract: A bolometric detector including an absorption membrane, for converting an incident electromagnetic radiation into heat; and a reflector, for reflecting to the absorption membrane part of the incident electromagnetic radiation having passed there through, is provided. The bolometric detector includes a non-metallic layer, situated between the absorption membrane and the reflector, having a series of index jumps, so as to form a network resonating at a wavelength of interest ?0; the mean pitch of the network is less than ?0; and the optical distance between the absorption membrane and the reflector is substantially equal to a multiple of ?0/2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Salim Boutami, Fabien Eloi, Jerome Hazart, Jean-Jacques Yon
  • Patent number: 9732624
    Abstract: A turbine is provided and includes an outer duct, a turbine casing formed to define a turbine interior, the turbine casing being disposed within the outer duct to define an annulus, a vane element pivotably coupled to the turbine casing via a spindle to extend spanwise into the turbine interior and a sensor element supportively coupled to the outer duct and configured to sense a characteristic of the spindle within the annulus from which a pivot angle of the vane element is derivable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bhupindar Singh, Gregory DiVincenzo
  • Patent number: 9726601
    Abstract: NDIR is used to determine a concentration of a chosen molecule M in a liquid sample which contains one or more interfering molecules MJ which absorb radiation at the signal wavelength used in the NDIR process by addition of an interference source. M is calculated by electronics which use Rave(t) from a pulsed signal and reference channel output and a calibration curve which is validated by use of RJave(t2) from a pulsed interference and reference channel output. Signal, interference and reference sources are pulsed at a frequency which is sufficiently fast so that a given molecule of M or MJ will not pass in and out of the liquid sampling matrix within the pulsing frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: AIRWARE, INC.
    Inventors: Jacob Y Wong, Thomas Campbell
  • Patent number: 9719810
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an optical detecting device; a movable unit including a rotatable member having a first light-blocking surface and a second light-blocking surface; and a control unit. The movable unit rotates with rotation of the rotatable member so that the second light-blocking surface is movable to a first position where the optical detecting device is light-blocked and a second position where the optical detecting device is not light-blocked, and includes a locking member for locking the second light-blocking surface in the second position. When the first and second light-blocking surfaces pass through a detecting portion of the optical detecting device, the control unit discriminates a state of the movable unit on the basis of a detection result of the optical detecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinichi Ueda
  • Patent number: 9714927
    Abstract: Provided is medical equipment for gas monitoring having a gas treatment system, including a first gas monitoring module and an integrated gas circuit board. A first gas circuit that may be a through passage with both inlet and outlet can be arranged inside the integrated gas circuit board. A gas outlet, at least one gas inlet and at least one monitoring interface can be arranged on a surface of the integrated gas circuit board. The gas inlet may include a first gas inlet, and the first gas inlet and the gas outlet can communicate with two ends of the first gas circuit. The monitoring interface may include a first monitoring interface for communication between the first gas circuit and the first gas monitoring module, and an internal gas inlet interface and an internal gas outlet interface for communication between the first gas circuit and a second internal gas monitoring module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: SHENZHEN MINDRAY BIO-MEDICAL ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xuegang Zhang, Zhonghua Liu, Guangqi Huang, Meng Zhu, Jian Cen
  • Patent number: 9709498
    Abstract: A gas-sensor arrangement for measuring a target-gas concentration has first and second NDIR emitters to one side of a space containing the target gas and projecting respective first and second beams of infrared light through the space. An it receiver on the other side of the space and irradiated by the first and second beams for emitting first and second outputs respectively corresponding to the first and second beams and together forming a receiver signal corresponding to radiation received from the first and second beams. One of the emitters is optically farther from the receiver than the other of the emitters. A filter between the receiver and the space is traversed by the first and second beams and permeable only to radiation of a wavelength range corresponding to the target gas. A controller connected to the radiation receiver calculates the target-gas concentration on the basis of the receiver signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: paragon AG
    Inventor: Ralf Moenkemoeller
  • Patent number: 9709487
    Abstract: A method for measuring the concentration of a gas component in a measuring gas. An absorption line of the gas component is varied as a function of the wavelength of the light of a wavelength-tunable light source within a periodically sequential scanning interval. The absorption line of the gas component is modulated with a frequency (f0). Modulated light is guided through the measuring gas onto a detector. A measurement signal generated by the detector is demodulated upon determining a harmonic (nf0) of the frequency (f0). A measurement result is produced by fitting a setpoint curve to the profile of the demodulated measurement signal. Both demodulated measurement signal and setpoint cure are filtered with the aid of the same filter function. The filter function is operative to suppress noise signal components of the demodulated measurement signal that disturb both signal components of the demodulated measurement signal and the setpoint curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ralf Bitter, Thomas Hankiewicz, Christoph Wolfgang Marquardt, Adrian Mucha, Jan Nygren, Kai-Uwe Pleban, Franz Steinbacher
  • Patent number: 9696283
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a photoacoustic effect measurement instrument for measuring a species (e.g., a species of PM) in a gas employs a pair of differential acoustic cells including a sample cell that receives sample gas including the species, and a reference cell that receives a filtered version of the sample gas from which the species has been substantially removed. An excitation light source provides an amplitude modulated beam to each of the acoustic cells. An array of multiple microphones is mounted to each of the differential acoustic cells, and measures an acoustic wave generated in the respective acoustic cell by absorption of light by sample gas therein to produce a respective signal. The microphones are isolated from sample gas internal to the acoustic cell by a film. A preamplifier determines a differential signal and a controller calculates concentration of the species based on the differential signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Aerodyne Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhenhong Yu, Paul L. Kebabian, William Brown, James Assif
  • Patent number: 9678000
    Abstract: A concentration of glucose in a blood sample is determined through use of a signal channel output/reference channel ratio obtained by use of an NDIR absorption technique in which scattering noise attributable to the liquid phase is reduced by alternately and successively pulsing infrared radiation from signal and reference sources which are multiplexed and collimated into a pulsed beam directed through the sample space containing the liquid phase and the pulse frequency is sufficiently fast so that a given molecule of glucose will not pass in and out of the sample space within the pulse frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: AIRWARE, INC.
    Inventors: Jacob Y Wong, Thomas Campbell
  • Patent number: 9671333
    Abstract: A laser gas analyzer includes a wavelength-variable laser having a wide wavelength-variable width, a light-split module configured to split an output light of the wavelength-variable laser into a measurement light and a reference light, a first gas cell into which gases to be measured are introduced, and the measurement light is made to be incident, and a data processor configured to obtain an absorption spectrum of each of the gases to be measured based on a reference signal related to the reference light and an absorption signal related to an output light of the first gas cell, and to obtain concentrations of the respective gases to be measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: YOKOGAWA ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takaaki Hirata, Yasuhiko Mitsumoto, Masaya Ooyama, Nobuhiko Kanbara, Naoyuki Fujimura, Minoru Maeda, Tadashi Sugiyama, Alan Cowie, Jie Zhu
  • Patent number: 9651532
    Abstract: A gas detection apparatus includes a housing which carries a plurality of light emitting diodes which are coupled in parallel and which emit substantially the same wavelength of radiant energy. A closed loop control circuit maintains the radiant energy output of the diodes at substantially a predetermined value. The radiant light radiant light and a sample of a gas of interest are directed to a sensing position at which a gas responsive tape is positioned. Reflected light from the tape is detected at a sensor displaced from the tape. A light collecting element can be positioned between the coupled diodes and the sensing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Peng Jin, Carlos M. Morales, Daniel Jerzy Paska
  • Patent number: 9645256
    Abstract: Disclosed is a radiation detector, comprising a chamber or cavity that produces charge carriers when radiation is incident thereon. The chamber is defined in part by a deformable plate along one side of the chamber or cavity; and a rigid plate spaced and electrically insulated from the deformable plate. A charging voltage source is present for applying a voltage to the deformable plate; such that wherein the deformable plate is attracted toward the rigid plate by electrostatic forces when charged by the charging voltage source, and moves away from the rigid plate when charge carriers produced in the chamber or cavity by incident radiation reduce the electrostatic forces between the deformable and rigid plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Mirion Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Jukka Kahilainen
  • Patent number: 9638552
    Abstract: A module for a gas sensor module is described herein. The module can include a first portion. The first portion of the module can include a first body and at least one first micro-resonator coupling feature disposed in and traversing the first body. The first body can be configured to be disposed within a cavity of a housing of the gas sensor. The at least one first micro-resonator coupling feature can be configured to align with at least one optical device of the gas sensor when the first body is disposed within the cavity of housing of the gas sensor. The at least one first micro-resonator coupling feature can be configured to have at least one first micro-resonator disposed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Abhijeet Vikram Kshirsagar, Chinmaya Rajiv Dandekar, Amit Barjatya, Shalini Tripathy
  • Patent number: 9638624
    Abstract: A Multi-pass optical cell (1) with an internal space (11) for laser spectroscopy is described, which is able to reduce or eliminate interference fringes appearing by performing laser absorption spectroscopy in the multi-pass optical cells (1) leading to improved absorption spectra. This is achieved by using a multi-pass optical cell (1) comprising an absorption mask (3) which is permanently or removable mountable in the internal space (11) in a rotatably fixed manner, where in a mask wall (30) a plurality of m apertures (300) is formed, in which the position of each aperture (300) is adapted to a predefinable propagation path of a main optical beam and/or the resulting reflection spot pattern (211) defined by the geometry of the multi-pass optical cell (1) and the used angle of incidence of an initial beam (20), so that each aperture (300) is traversable by the main optical beam from a first side (301) to a second side (302).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: EMPA EIDGENÖSSISCHE MATERIALPRÜFUNGS- UND FORSCHUNGSANSTALT
    Inventors: Markus Mangold, Bela Tuzson, Lukas Emmenegger
  • Patent number: 9638630
    Abstract: Devices, assemblies, systems and methods useful in the detection of hydrocarbons in well-related fluids such as drilling fluids during well-related operations are disclosed. Such devices, assemblies, systems and methods may be used for real-time analysis of gas(es) extracted from a fluid associated with an ongoing well-related operation. An exemplary method may comprise: receiving gas extracted from the fluid associated with the well-related operation; analyzing the gas using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy; and generating one or more signals useful in the determination of a composition of the gas extracted from the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: TOTAL GAS DETECTION LTD.
    Inventors: Michael A. Eddy, Frederick G. Haibach, Erik R. Deutsch
  • Patent number: 9638619
    Abstract: The present invention is made focusing on the viscoelasticity of a sample, which is completely different from a conventional idea, and provides an optical analysis cell 100 that in order to easily make the thickness of the sample X uniform as well as making a pair of light transmitting plates 10 parallel to each other without the use of any spacer, includes the pair of light transmitting plates 10 that sandwich and hold the sample X having predetermined viscoelasticity between mutually opposed inward surfaces 10a. In addition, the optical analysis cell 100 further includes a distance fixing member 20 having a pair of opposed surfaces 21a and 22a provided separately from each other by a predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: HORIBA, LTD.
    Inventor: Tetsuji Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9618391
    Abstract: Validation verification data quantifying an intensity of light reaching a detector of a spectrometer from a light source of the spectrometer after the light passes through a validation gas across a known path length can be collected or received. The validation gas can include an amount of an analyte compound and an undisturbed background composition that is representative of a sample gas background composition of a sample gas to be analyzed using a spectrometer. The sample gas background composition can include one or more background components. The validation verification data can be compared with stored calibration data for the spectrometer to calculate a concentration adjustment factor, and sample measurement data collected with the spectrometer can be modified using this adjustment factor to compensate for collisional broadening of a spectral peak of the analyte compound by the background components. Related methods, articles of manufacture, systems, and the like are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: SpectraSensors, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Feitisch, Xiang Liu, Hsu-Hung Huang, Wenhai Ji, Richard L. Cline
  • Patent number: 9618471
    Abstract: A circuit system for measuring a sensor element capacitance of a sensor element, in particular of a capacitive humidity sensor, including: the sensor element, which has the sensor element capacitance; a charge storage element, which is connected directly, or only via a resistor element, in series to the sensor element; and a control unit, which is configured to charge the charge storage element to a reference voltage and to successively transfer the charge via the sensor element capacitance until the charge storage element has reached a particular comparison voltage, the sensor element number of transfer processes thus ascertained representing information about the sensor element capacitance of the sensor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Metin Guerer, Norbert Schneider, Karl Wenzel, Axel-Werner Haag, Rolf Reischl
  • Patent number: 9606053
    Abstract: A concentration of a chosen molecule in a liquid phase in a sample space is determined through use of a signal channel output/reference channel ratio obtained by use of an NDIR absorption technique in which scattering noise attributable to the liquid phase is reduced by alternately and successively pulsing infrared radiation from signal and reference sources which are multiplexed and collimated into a pulsed beam directed through the sample space containing the liquid phase and the pulse frequency is sufficiently fast so that a given molecule of the chosen molecule will not pass in and out of the sample space within the pulse frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: AIRWARE, INC.
    Inventors: Jacob Y Wong, Thomas Campbell
  • Patent number: 9606051
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method are disclosed for performing a light-absorption measurement of a specified amount of sample. A method for performing a light-absorption measurement of a specified amount of sample includes placing the sample on the surface of an apparatus including the surface and a light reflector, the light reflector being mechanically coupled with the surface and separated from the surface by a separation distance, changing the separation distance, while the light reflector remains mechanically coupled with the surface, to a first separation distance, and performing a first light-absorption measurement of the sample via the apparatus, while the separation distance is equal to the first separation distance, and while the sample is subject to pressure force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: METTLER-TOLEDO GMBH
    Inventors: Chun-Hung Kuo, Tomasz Pol, Mario Crevatin
  • Patent number: 9606093
    Abstract: A system and method for cavity ring-down spectroscopy can include a pulsed quantum cascade laser, an optical ring-down cavity, a photodetector, and an oscilloscope. The system and method can produce pulse widths of less than 200 ns with bandwidths greater than 300 pm, as well as provide temporal resolution of greater than 10 ?s.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: KING OF ABDULLAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Awad Bin Saud Alquaity, Aamir Farooq
  • Patent number: 9570659
    Abstract: A semiconductor device for emitting frequency-adjusted infrared light includes a lateral emitter structure and a lateral filter structure. The lateral emitter structure is configured to emit infrared light with an emitter frequency distribution. Further, the lateral filter structure is configured to filter the infrared light emitted by the lateral emitter structure so that frequency-adjusted infrared light is provided with an adjusted frequency distribution. The frequency range of the adjusted frequency distribution is narrower than a frequency range of the emitter frequency distribution. Further, a lateral air gap is located between the lateral emitter structure and the lateral filter structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Alfons Dehe, Stefan Kolb, Horst Theuss, Dirk Meinhold
  • Patent number: 9541498
    Abstract: A diagnostic system for measuring temperature, pressure, CO2 concentration and H2O concentration in a fluid stream is described. The system may include one or more probes that sample the fluid stream spatially, temporally and over ranges of pressure and temperature. Laser light sources are directed down pitch optical cables, through a lens and to a mirror, where the light sources are reflected back, through the lens to catch optical cables. The light travels through the catch optical cables to detectors, which provide electrical signals to a processer. The processer utilizes the signals to calculate CO2 concentration based on the temperatures derived from H2O vapor concentration. A probe for sampling CO2 and H2O vapor concentrations is also disclosed. Various mechanical features interact together to ensure the pitch and catch optical cables are properly aligned with the lens during assembly and use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: William P. Partridge, Jr., Gurneesh Singh Jatana, Ji-Hyung Yoo, James E. Parks, II
  • Patent number: 9534885
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining a vertical position of an interface between a first component and a second component comprising different layers in a sample container comprises a first unit comprising a first emitting light, a first optics, and a first detector; a second unit vertically spaced from the first unit comprising a second emitting light, a second optics, and a second detector; a driving unit to move the first unit and the second unit relative to the sample container; a position sensing unit to output a position sensing signal indicative of a vertical position of the sample container; and a vertical position determining unit to calculate the vertical position of the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Darko Klinec, Michael Koehler
  • Patent number: 9523637
    Abstract: A method of using photoacoustic spectroscopy to determine chemical information about an analyte includes the steps of emitting a light ray for interaction with a sample of an analyte; transmitting the light ray through a fill fluid disposed in a detection cell, the fill fluid having molecules substantially similar to molecules of the analyte to absorb the light ray; producing a thermal wave and oscillation in the fill fluid proportional to an intensity of the light ray; including a pressure oscillation in the fill fluid by the thermal wave; and detecting the pressure oscillation by a microphone to determine information about the analyte sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Myrick, David L. Perkins, Ryan J. Priore
  • Patent number: 9513261
    Abstract: A photoacoustic gas sensor device for analyzing gas includes an emitter module and a pressure-sensitive module. The emitter module is arranged on a carrier substrate and emits light pulses. The pressure-sensitive module is arranged on the carrier substrate within a reference gas volume. The reference gas volume is separated from a volume intended to be filled with a gas to be analyzed. Further, the pressure-sensitive module generates a sensor signal indicating information on an acoustic wave caused by light pulses emitted by the emitter module interacting with a reference gas within the reference gas volume. Additionally, the emitter module is arranged so that light pulses emitted by the emitter module reach the reference gas volume after crossing the volume intended to be filled with the gas to be analyzed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Alfons Dehe, Stefan Kolb, Horst Theuss
  • Patent number: 9510774
    Abstract: Gas within a ventilation circuit is analyzed by a spectrometer included in an airway adaptor that is inserted into the ventilation circuit. The spectrometer is formed from reflective members that process electromagnetic radiation while folding the path of the electromagnetic radiation in such a manner that the form factor of the airway adaptor is enhanced. Further, because of the scale of the spectrometer within the airway adaptor, the cost savings associated with manufacture of the reflective elements instead of refractive elements may significantly reduce the cost of the airway adaptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: James Torrance Russell
  • Patent number: 9500583
    Abstract: A sensing apparatus (and corresponding method) for monitoring carbon dioxide dissolved in a liquid solution employs a crystal surrounded in part by a sample chamber such that, in use, the liquid solution is in direct contact with the crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Inventors: Li Jiang, Terizhandur S. Ramakrishnan, Timothy G. J. Jones, Roy Koveleski, Albert Perez, Jr., Robert Kevin O'Leary
  • Patent number: 9488577
    Abstract: A gas sensor (20) comprising a substrate (231); an objective (211) situated on the substrate (231), adapted to collect a light beam (212, 213) emitted by a light source (210); an eyepiece (250) situated on the substrate (231), adapted to collect an incident light beam to focus it on a detector (251); return reflective surfaces (281, 282), situated facing said substrate; and at least one field lens (221), arranged on an intermediate reflective surface (222) formed on the substrate (231), and adapted to deviate the rays (213) of the light beam emitted by the light source, to bring them closer to the optical axis of the eyepiece (250).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventor: Luc Andre
  • Patent number: 9488570
    Abstract: Described herein is a spectroscopic system and method for measuring and monitoring the chemical composition and/or impurity content of a sample or sample stream using absorption light spectroscopy. Specifically, in certain embodiments, this invention relates to the use of sample pressure variation to alter the magnitude of the absorption spectrum (e.g., wavelength-dependent signal) received for the sample, thereby obviating the need for a reference or ‘zero’ sample. Rather than use a reference or ‘zero’ sample, embodiments described herein obtain a spectrum/signal from a sample-containing cell at both a first pressure and a second (different) pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignees: Pason Systems Corp., MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Vidi A. Saptari
  • Patent number: 9448215
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to an optical gas analyzer device that includes at least one measuring chamber in the form of a tubular measuring cuvette through which measuring gas flows. The measuring chamber is illuminated longitudinally by a radiation source that is arranged at an input end thereof and the light beam of which weakened by absorption losses is detected for gas concentration analysis by at least one detector arranged at an output end. The measuring process is calibrated using a reference spectrum. A special optical filter can be inserted into the measuring process in place of the measuring cuvette. The filter material of the filter generates a plurality of strong absorptions across the entire wavelength range of the measuring spectrum in order to cause attenuations that in the particular spectral position correspond to those of the gaseous measuring medium in greater concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: ABB AG
    Inventors: Carsten Rathke, Gerhard Thielemann, Norbert Will, Werner Rüdiger
  • Patent number: 9423367
    Abstract: A flow-through measuring cell for accommodating measuring means for measuring chemical and/or physical properties of a fluid which is flowing through the measuring cell, the measuring cell having an inlet opening for entry of the fluid, an outlet opening for exit of the fluid, a, especially single, measuring space which is located between the inlet opening and outlet opening, a radiation measurement region for measuring the interaction of the fluid in the measuring cell with electromagnetic radiation from outside the measuring cell, a conductivity measurement receiver for accommodating conductivity measuring means for measuring the conductivity of the fluid in the measuring cell and/or a pH measurement receiver for accommodating the pH value measuring means for measuring the pH value of the fluid in the measuring cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Optek-Danulat GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Platte, Peter Schroeren, Jürgen Danulat, Andreas Reese