Impedance, Admittance Or Other Quantities Representative Of Electrical Stimulus/response Relationships Patents (Class 324/600)
  • Patent number: 12085595
    Abstract: A read-out circuit includes an operational amplifier configured to receive input voltage via a positive input terminal; a feedback capacitor connected between an output terminal of the operational amplifier and a negative input terminal of the operational amplifier; a sensor charging/discharging circuit configured to charge or to discharge a sensor capacitor included in a sensor during a first time; and a switching circuit configured to connect the sensor capacitor and the operational amplifier during a second time after the sensor capacitor is charged or discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignees: Gwanak Analog CO., LTD, Seoul National University R&DB Foundation
    Inventors: Minsung Kim, Suhwan Kim, Hyunjoong Lee
  • Patent number: 11970077
    Abstract: A method for determining a cell voltage of a battery cell of a traction battery of a vehicle includes filtering the cell voltage of the battery cell by a filtering device, sampling the filtered cell voltage by an analogue to digital converter, transferring the filtered and sampled cell voltage as a cell voltage signal to a computing device, evaluating the cell voltage signal by the computing device, determining a ripple value which describes a ripple of the cell voltage, and evaluating the cell voltage signal depending on the ripple value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventor: Andreas Maier
  • Patent number: 11914004
    Abstract: A monitoring system for sensing electrical parameters including current and voltage can comprise a current transformer and an antenna. The current transformer can be configured to sense current passing through a conductor. The antenna can be configured to sense electrical potential of the conductor by sensing an electric field generated by the conductor. The antenna can sense the electrical potential independent of whether current is present in the conductor. The monitoring system can further comprise a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the conductor. A sensing module can include a housing supporting the current transformer, the antenna, and the temperature sensor for monitoring an electrical power circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: ANORD MARDIX (USA) INC.
    Inventor: Alan H. Katz
  • Patent number: 11892327
    Abstract: A read-out circuit includes an operational amplifier configured to receive an input voltage through a positive input terminal; a feedback capacitor connected between an output terminal of the operational amplifier and a negative input terminal of the operational amplifier; a sensor charging and discharging circuit configured to charge or discharge a sensor during a first time; a switching circuit connecting the sensor and the operational amplifier during a second time after the sensor is charged or discharged; and a duty control circuit configured to determine a duty ratio of the first time and the second time according to a capacitance of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Seoul National University R&DB Foundation
    Inventors: Minsung Kim, Hyunjoong Lee, Suhwan Kim
  • Patent number: 11879956
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measurement and management provide complex measurements cost-effectively at very high accuracy. These methods and systems in some cases achieve measurement accuracy exceeding the accuracy of the reference standards they rely on, and eliminate expensive and disadvantageous recalibration procedures. The accurate measurements are integrated with management functions, applying the measurement data to meet objectives of the integrated system and workflow goals of its user. The disclosed systems and methods comprise an explicit or expressly represented model both of themselves and of candidate external systems to be measured and managed. The models may be configured and reconfigured by the owner-user through either local or remote means. The system intelligently reconfigures itself to adapt dynamically to the conditions of measurement and the user's and system's goals at each moment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: HEATHKIT COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew S. Cromarty, Donald J. Peterson, Jasen Levoy, William Charles Calhoun
  • Patent number: 11879924
    Abstract: A system and method are provided to determine at least one of equivalent isotropic radiated power (EIRP) or effective isotropic sensitivity (EIS) of an antenna under test (AUT) in a test chamber, the AUT including an antenna array with an array phase center that is offset from a center of a quiet zone of the test chamber. The method includes performing a local beam peak direction scan of an antenna pattern of the AUT using a probe antenna located at laterally offset positions at a near-field distance from the AUT to determine a beam peak direction; performing EIRP and/or EIS near-field measurements of the AUT in the determined beam peak direction using the probe antenna located at near-field distances from the AUT in a radial direction; deriving a far-field equivalent of the EIRP and/or EIS near-field measurement along the determined beam peak direction; and deriving the beam peak direction of the AUT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: KEYSIGHT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Zhu Wen, Ya Jing, Li Cao, Thorsten Hertel
  • Patent number: 11860205
    Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein for measuring the impedance properties of a load using load analysis signals. In one example embodiment, a transformer is provided which includes at least one primary winding, and at least one secondary winding. The at least one primary winding is coupled in series between a direct-current (DC) power supply and the load. A variable alternating-current (AC) voltage generator is coupled in-series to the at least one secondary winding, and is configured generate at least one load analysis signal for injection into the load. The impedance properties of the load may be determined for different frequencies in the load analysis signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Inventor: Essam Samir Elsahwi
  • Patent number: 11852510
    Abstract: A sensor includes a base member and a sensor sheet, and the sensor sheet includes a sensor main body including sensor electrodes and a tail portion that includes wiring lines electrically connected to the sensor electrodes and that projects and extends with respect to the base member. The base member includes a joint surface portion that is fixed to the sensor main body and a separation portion that is disposed at a position facing a tail support portion of the tail support portion to which the tail portion is connected and that is not fixed to the tail support portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: SEKISUI POLYMATECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Tomooka, Yasushi Sakai
  • Patent number: 11815369
    Abstract: The differential capacitor device includes a differential capacitor sensing component, a calibration capacitor assembly and two output terminals. The differential capacitive sensing element has a common point terminal, a first non-common point terminal and a second non-common point terminal, and the common point terminal is configured to receive an input voltage. The calibration capacitor assembly has a first calibration capacitor and a second calibration capacitor, one terminal of the calibration capacitor assembly is coupled to the first non-common point terminal and the second non-common point terminal, and the other terminal of the calibration capacitor assembly is configured to receive a first calibration voltage and a second calibration voltage. The two output terminals are respectively coupled to the first non-common point terminal and the second non-common point terminal to output a first signal and a second signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Lu-Po Liao, Chin-Fu Kuo, Liang-Ying Liu, Yu-Sheng Lin
  • Patent number: 11796349
    Abstract: Disclosed is a capacitive sensor chip based on a power-aware dynamic charge-domain amplifier array. The capacitive sensor chip is based on a zoom architecture and includes: an architecture having two or more stages for capacitive quantization in which a first stage performs coarse quantization using a successive approximation register (SAR) and a second stage performs fine quantization using a delta-sigma modulator, an amplifier in the capacitive sensor chip is powered by a floating capacitor, the floating capacitor is connected to a power supply to being charged and connected to the amplifier to power the amplifier by controlling switches; a first-order integrator of the delta-sigma modulator includes an amplifier array having a scale of N bits and 2N amplifiers where N is a positive integer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Inventors: Le Ye, Heyi Li, Ru Huang, Yuanxin Bao, Hao Zhang
  • Patent number: 11751372
    Abstract: The present invention provides a component mounting machine -comprising a picking tool for picking electronic components from a source of electronic components and placing them onto a workpiece, a verification unit for measuring an electrical property of an electronic component picked and held by the picking tool. The verification unit comprises a board, a plurality of test electrodes arranged on a surface of said board and a system for measuring an output signal from the test electrodes upon contact between a picked electronic component and at least two of said test electrodes. Further, at least one test electrode arranged on a flexible portion of the board that is configured to flex upon engagement between a picked electronic component and said at least two test electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Mycronic AB
    Inventors: Bobbi Ferm, Olle Betzen
  • Patent number: 11731285
    Abstract: An appliance includes: at least one measurement electrode, for detecting at least one object in a detection zone, by detecting a signal with respect to a coupling capacitance between the object and said the at least one measurement electrode; at least one capacitive detection electronics, connected to the at least one measurement electrode, and an electric line, having at least one electric wire, in the detection zone; the appliance also including a signal conditioner, applying to at least a portion of the electric line, an alternating electrical potential (VG), called guard potential, identical to the detection potential at the detection frequency. The appliance can be a robot, in particular a robotized arm, equipped with an electric line providing a power supply to a component part of the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: FOGALE SENSORS
    Inventors: Yacine Chakour, Didier Roziere, Alain Courteville
  • Patent number: 11727973
    Abstract: A magnetic property measuring system includes coil structures configured to apply a magnetic field to a sample, a light source configured to irradiate incident light to the sample, and a detector configured to detect polarization of light reflected from the sample. The magnetic field is perpendicular to a surface of the sample. Each coil structure includes a pole piece and a coil surrounding an outer circumferential surface of the pole piece. A wavelength of the incident light is equal to or less than about 580 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eunsun Noh, Juhyun Kim, Ung Hwan Pi
  • Patent number: 11726075
    Abstract: Soil moisture monitoring systems and methods for measuring mutual inductance of area of influence using radio frequency stimulus are disclosed herein. An example device includes a master element stacked vertically on top of one or more slave elements. The master element and slave elements can communicate through a 1-wire bus configuration. The master element can determine the presence and location of each of the one or more slave elements using an auto-discovery process. The master element can issue commands to the one or more slave elements to obtain moisture readings and/or temperature readings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: FarmX Inc.
    Inventor: William Eugene Jennings
  • Patent number: 11714056
    Abstract: An in-line rapid impedance measurement device and methods of performing in-line rapid impedance spectroscopy including a switch network operable under a switching algorithm useful to rapidly perform targeted impedance measurements to assess state of health, defect or failure of battery packs or modules having a plurality of electrochemical cells interconnected in series or parallel and to isolate individual cells within a pack or module to distinguish between non-repeatable anomalous impedance measurements from repeatable deviant impedance measurements and identify the source of deviant impedance measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Dynexus Technology, Inc
    Inventor: Jon P. Christophersen
  • Patent number: 11703530
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sensor includes an element part, and a control circuit part. The element part includes first and second elements. Each of the first and second elements includes a first magnetic element and a first conductive member. The control circuit part includes a first current circuit, a differential circuit, and a phase detection circuit. The first current circuit is configured to supply a first current to the first conductive member. The differential circuit is configured to output a differential signal corresponding to a difference of a first signal and a second signal. The first signal corresponds to a change in a first electrical resistance of the first magnetic element of the first element. The second signal corresponds to a change in a second electrical resistance of the first magnetic element of the second element. The phase detection circuit is configured to perform a phase detection of the differential signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Akira Kikitsu, Satoshi Shirotori, Yoshihiro Higashi, Yoshinari Kurosaki
  • Patent number: 11680969
    Abstract: A capacitance to digital converter, CDC, has a first and a second reference terminal for receiving first and second reference voltages, a reference block comprising one or more reference charge stores and being coupled to the first and second reference terminals via a first switching block, a scaling block for providing at third and fourth reference terminals downscaled voltages from the first and second reference voltages depending on a scaling factor, first and second measurement terminals for connecting a capacitive sensor element, the first measurement terminal being coupled to the third and fourth reference terminals via a second switching block, and a processing block coupled to the reference block and to the second measurement terminal and being configured to determine a digital output signal based on a charge distribution between the sensor element and the reference block and based on the scaling factor, the output signal representing a capacitance value of the sensor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: ams AG
    Inventors: Rafael Serrano Gotarredona, José Manuel García González
  • Patent number: 11656256
    Abstract: A method and a photovoltaic inverter determines the system capacitance of a photovoltaic system relative to ground. The voltage required for the measurement can be provided by the intermediate circuit in the form of the intermediate circuit voltage, and the measuring device is designed to actuate an input short-circuit switch for short-circuiting the DC input with the AC disconnector open, as a result of which the intermediate circuit voltage can be applied to the DC input in the reverse direction, and the measuring device is configured to determine the system capacitance from the temporal waveform of the measured voltage after the switch of the voltage divider is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Fronius International GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Fischereder, Andreas Luger, Christoph Pernegger, Juergen Pirchenfellner
  • Patent number: 11656099
    Abstract: A rotation angle detector includes a magnet arranged to rotate, and a magnetic detection circuit provided with a first pair of magnetic detection elements arranged to be in combination sensitive to a first magnetic field in circumferential direction to the first surface and to a second magnetic field in normal direction to the first surface and arranged away from the rotation axis, and configured to detect magnetic flux of the magnet. A second pair of magnetic detection elements are arranged to be in combination sensitive to the first magnetic field in circumferential direction to the first surface and to the second magnetic field in normal direction to the first surface. A signal processing unit is configured to output a signal representative of a rotation angle of the magnet based on outputs of the first and second pair of magnetic detection elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES SA
    Inventor: Takumi Yoshiya
  • Patent number: 11536794
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measurement and management are disclosed that provide complex measurements cost-effectively at very high accuracy. These methods and systems in some cases achieve measurement accuracy exceeding the accuracy of the reference standards they rely on, and eliminate expensive and disadvantageous recalibration procedures. The accurate measurements are integrated with management functions, applying the measurement data to meet objectives of the integrated system and workflow goals of its user. The disclosed systems and methods comprise an explicit or expressly represented model both of themselves and of candidate external systems to be measured and managed. The models may be configured and reconfigured by the owner-user through either local or remote means. The system intelligently reconfigures itself to adapt dynamically to the conditions of measurement and the user's and system's goals at each moment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: HEATHKIT COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew S. Cromarty, Donald J. Peterson, Jasen Levoy, William Charles Calhoun
  • Patent number: 11525794
    Abstract: A uniformity property acquisition apparatus is the uniformity property acquisition apparatus configured to acquires a uniformity property of a mixture in which an insoluble solid matter is mixed in liquid, and the uniformity property acquisition apparatus includes: a pair of electrodes configured to apply the AC signal to the mixture; measurement unit configured to measure impedance of the mixture on the basis of a response signal flowing through the mixture when the AC signal is applied to the mixture; and processing unit configured to acquire the uniformity property of the mixture on the basis of the impedance measured by the measurement unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: HIOKI E.E. Corporation
    Inventors: Naoto Nakayama, Akihiro Shioiri, Yuki Kawamuro
  • Patent number: 11478193
    Abstract: Detecting user contact with one or more electrodes of a physiological signal sensor can be used to ensure physiological signals measured by the physiological signal sensor meet waveform characteristics (e.g., of a clinically accurate physiological signal). In some examples, a mobile and/or wearable device can comprise sensing circuitry, stimulation circuitry, and processing circuitry. The stimulation circuit can drive one or more stimulation signals on one or more electrodes, the resulting signal(s) can be measured (e.g., by the sensing circuitry), and the processing circuitry can determine whether a user is in contact with the electrode(s). Additionally or alternatively, in some examples, mobile and/or wearable device can comprise saturation detection circuitry, and the processing circuitry can determine whether the sensing circuitry is saturated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Chad A. Bossetti, Thomas J. Sullivan, Xiaoyu Guo, Paras Samsukha, Anirban Chatterjee
  • Patent number: 11456118
    Abstract: A voltage division device includes a core region with a capacitor arrangement arranged in the core region and an electrical resistor arranged in the core region. A first electrode of the capacitor arrangement has a coupling member for connection with a voltage-carrying element, and a second electrode of the capacitor arrangement has a grounding member for connection with a grounding element. The first electrode and the second electrode are connected in an electrically conductive manner via the electrical resistor. The first electrode and the second electrode include multiple electrically conductive, substantially finger-shaped or rod-shaped modulation elements. arrangement of such a voltage division device on a connecting part of switchgear of a power grid is further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: GREENWOOD-POWER GMBH
    Inventors: Norbert Juschicz, Willibald Bacher
  • Patent number: 11419550
    Abstract: Detecting user contact with one or more electrodes of a physiological signal sensor can be used to ensure physiological signals measured by the physiological signal sensor meet waveform characteristics (e.g., of a clinically accurate physiological signal). In some examples, a mobile and/or wearable device can comprise sensing circuitry, stimulation circuitry, and processing circuitry. The stimulation circuit can drive one or more stimulation signals on one or more electrodes, the resulting signal(s) can be measured (e.g., by the sensing circuitry), and the processing circuitry can determine whether a user is in contact with the electrode(s). Additionally or alternatively, in some examples, mobile and/or wearable device can comprise saturation detection circuitry, and the processing circuitry can determine whether the sensing circuitry is saturated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Chad A. Bossetti, Thomas J. Sullivan, Xiaoyu Guo, Paras Samsukha, Anirban Chatterjee
  • Patent number: 11411541
    Abstract: A device includes an amplifier for amplifying and supplying a high frequency power supplied to a load, a parameter detector for detecting a parameter of a current, a voltage, or a power from the amplifier to the load, a current supply unit for supplying a driving current for the amplifier, and an output unit for outputting a command signal for changing an amplification degree of the amplifier based on the detected parameter such that the parameter becomes a target value. The device further includes a first abnormality detector for detecting an abnormality by monitoring the command signal, and/or a current detector for detecting the driving current, a current data storage unit storing an upper and a lower limit value of the driving current, and a second abnormality detector for detecting the abnormality based on at least one of the upper limit value or the lower limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Mitsuya Inoue, Mitsutoshi Ashida
  • Patent number: 11402345
    Abstract: A method for continuously determining all of the components of the resistance tensor of thin films, such as thin film resistors and thin film sensors of all types, is disclosed. A continuous determination of all the components of the resistance tensor is facilitated without switching the contact points using a minimum number of contacts. A homogeneous thin film part of any shape is provided with a least three contact points arranged at distances from one another. An input voltage is applied at each of the contact points, the current flowing through the contact points are detected, and the complete resistance tensor of the thin film part is determined from the voltage and current values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: HELMHOLTZ-ZENTRUM DRESDEN—ROSSENDORF E.V.
    Inventor: Tobias Kosub
  • Patent number: 11391716
    Abstract: A resonant sensor probe assembly includes a substrate formed from one or more dielectric materials and free-standing electrodes coupled with the substrate. The free-standing electrodes are configured to be placed into the fluid and to generate an electric field between the free-standing electrodes. A controller measures an impedance response of the sensor to the fluid between the electrodes to determine an aging effect of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: TRANSPORTATION IP HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Radislav Alexandrovich Potyrailo, Craig Mack, Christopher Calvert, Brian Scherer, James Schreiner, Najeeb M Kuzhiyil, Subramani Adhiachari, Partho Kayal, Milan Karunaratne, Nicholas E. Roddy, Janaki Gadiyaram, Steven Go, Victor Manuel Salazar
  • Patent number: 11300536
    Abstract: Technology directed to non-contact liquid sensing is described. One processing device includes a multi-port network, a capacitance measurement circuit, and a digital processing circuit. Processing device measures a first set and a second set of currents associated with a first electrode and a second electrode coupled to an exterior surface of a container holding liquid. Processing device determines independent impedances of the container, the liquid, and the liquid and container using the first set of currents and the second set of currents. Processing device determines an electrical property of the liquid using the independent impedances of the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Igor Kolych, Igor Kravets, Oleksandr Karpin, Andriy Maharyta
  • Patent number: 11035893
    Abstract: The present invention intends to provide a liquid sensor device that achieves both the improvement of durability and the improvement of property determination accuracy. The liquid sensor device includes: an electrode pair 22 that is formed on a sensor board 2 and covered by an insulating protective film 201; a resistance measurement part 302 that supplies AC current to the electrode pair 22 to measure the resistance value of oil 4; a parasitic capacitance storage part 304 that holds the parasitic capacitance Cs of the electrode pair 22; and a property determination part 313 that, on the basis of the resistance value R1 and the parasitic capacitance Cs, determines the deterioration of the oil 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: NIPPON PILLAR PACKING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsunari Koyama, Akira Nakatsu
  • Patent number: 10944259
    Abstract: A system and method of protecting measurement circuits from a potentially energized device under test (DUT). In one embodiment, the DUT is a capacitor that has acquired a charge though some means prior to needing to test it. In this embodiment, a circuit is provided that protects the measurement circuit by both limiting the current to the measurement circuit while simultaneously dissipating the energy stored in the DUT. In a further embodiment, a detection circuit is provided to measure the voltage at the terminal of the DUT. Only when the magnitude of the voltage is lower than a specific threshold will the measurement circuit be switched to and connected with the DUT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Inventor: Cheng Bao
  • Patent number: 10931831
    Abstract: A system and method for adjusting power consumption of a power consumer (e.g., an intercom device) may include a power supply, the power consumer connected to the power supply through a transmitting device, and at least one processor. The at least one processor may be configured to obtain a first voltage associated with the power supply and a second voltage associated with the power consumer, and adjust an operation status of the power consumer at least based on the first voltage and the second voltage. The first voltage may be an output voltage of the power supply, and the second voltage may be an input voltage of the power consumer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG DAHUA TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jiahuan He, Kang Du
  • Patent number: 10930730
    Abstract: A metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) device for radio frequency (RF) applications may include a guard ring. The guard ring may surround the MOS device and at least one other MOS device. The MOS device may further include a level zero contact layer coupled to a first interconnect layer through level zero interconnects and vias. The first interconnect layer may be for routing to the MOS device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Ye Lu, Yun Yue, Phanikumar Konkapaka, Bin Yang, Chuan-Hsing Chen
  • Patent number: 10900923
    Abstract: Moisture detection and ingression monitoring systems and methods of manufacture are provided. The moisture detection structure includes chip edge sealing structures including at least one electrode forming a capacitor structured to detect moisture ingress within an integrated circuit. The at least one electrode and a second electrode of the capacitor is biased to ground and to a moisture detection circuit or vice versa, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fen Chen, Jeffrey P. Gambino, Carole D. Graas, Wen Liu, Prakash Periasamy
  • Patent number: 10746585
    Abstract: A radar level gauge for determining a process variable of product in a tank, having processing circuitry configured to process a tank signal and, when no surface echo can be identified, enter a wait state. The wait state includes a) storing the tank signal in memory, b) obtaining a wait state tank signal, c) comparing the wait state tank signal with the stored tank signal to determine a tank signal difference measure, d) repeating steps b) and c) until the tank signal difference measure is greater than a predefined threshold, e) processing the wait state tank signal to identify a surface echo, and f) when no surface echo can be identified in the wait state tank signal, setting an alarm. By storing the tank signal when the wait state is entered, it is therefore possible to defer an alarm until the tank signal deviates from this stored tank signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: ROSEMOUNT TANK RADAR AB
    Inventors: Håkan Delin, Urban Blomberg, Lars Ove Larsson
  • Patent number: 10551328
    Abstract: A test fixture includes an outer conductor and an inner conductor disposed within and electrically isolated from the outer conductor. The inner conductor includes a top portion having a first diameter, a bottom portion having a second diameter, and a third portion proximate the bottom portion that has a third diameter that is less than the second diameter and is greater than the first diameter. An electrical property of a chamber component disposed within the outer conductor is measurable based on application of a signal to at least one of the outer conductor or the inner conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Satoru Kobayashi, Yufei Zhu, Saurabh Garg, Soonam Park, Dmitry Lubomirsky
  • Patent number: 10533985
    Abstract: A system for monitoring cell-substrate impedance of excitable cells and monitoring the beating cycle of cardiomyocytes, the system including: a device for monitoring cell-substrate impedance at 20 millisecond time resolution, the device having one or more wells on a nonconductive substrate, wherein at least one well of the one or more wells comprises an electrode array fabricated on the substrate for measurement of cell-substrate impedance at 20 millisecond time resolution; an impedance analyzer that measures cell-substrate impedance from the at least one well at 20 millisecond time resolution; electronic circuitry that electrically connects the electrode array from the at least one well to the impedance analyzer; and a software program that analyzes the measured cell-substrate impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: ACEA Biosciences, Inc
    Inventors: Xiaobo Wang, Yama A. Abassi, Biao Xi, Wen Fu Zhang, Xiao Xu
  • Patent number: 10514279
    Abstract: Various aspects of this disclosure comprise systems and methods for synchronizing sensor data acquisition and/or output. For example, various aspects of this disclosure provide for achieving a desired level of timing accuracy in a MEMS sensor system, even in an implementation in which timer drift is substantial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: InvenSense, Inc.
    Inventors: Andy Milota, James Lim, William Kerry Keal
  • Patent number: 10473509
    Abstract: The invention is a radar level gauge comprising a signal generator for generating electromagnetic waves and an antenna for emitting the electromagnetic waves in a container and for receiving electromagnetic waves reflected by the container. The radar level gauge also comprises a safety arrangement for verifying the functional capability or for improving the measuring quality of the radar level gauge, said safety arrangement having a reflector and an adjustment rod and/or a reduction sheath and being suitably designed to adjust the reflector and/or the reduction sheath at least between a first position and a second position, in which the reflector reflects the electromagnetic waves in a reduced manner. The adjustment rod acts on the reflector and/or the reduction sheath in a contactless manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: VEGA GRIESHABER KG
    Inventor: Clemens Hengstler
  • Patent number: 10473389
    Abstract: A refrigeration appliance including both a user interface and door position sensor. The same devices and sensors are for both functions. The user interface is mounted on a door or mullion in such a way that all or nearly all of the input devices on the user interface are activated simultaneously or nearly simultaneously when a door is closed so that the user interface can distinguish this action from user inputs in which only one or two input devices are activated at a time. Likewise, when all input devices are inactivated nearly simultaneously, the user interface may know that a door has been opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy E. Willis
  • Patent number: 10381780
    Abstract: A socket (16) is designed to receive a plug of a pluggable device (14). The socket has a detection arrangement (42) for detecting connection of a plug to the socket. A new session identifier is generated each time a plug is connected to the socket and it remains valid while the plug remains attached. The session identifier is preferably generated mechanically (48) so that it can be generated without power to the socket or to the plug. This enables detection of system tampering of a system using the sockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V.
    Inventor: Eduard Gerhard Zondag
  • Patent number: 10353003
    Abstract: Apparatus (103) suitable for determining the resistance and inductance of an electric motor (101) estimates the phase shift between a voltage applied to the motor and motor current. Estimation of the phase shift employs a heterodyne technique. The measured motor current is conditioned prior to heterodyning in a mixer 203 in order to reduce the effects of nonlinearities introduced by a voltage source inverter (102) which supplies the motor (101) with a voltage. A value for impedance may be calculated as a ratio of a voltage applied to the motor and the motor current. The resistance and inductance may then be calculated from the impedance and phase shift calculations. In cases where the voltage applied to the motor cannot be directly measured but only the voltage supply to the voltage source inverter 102 is known, a value for impedance may be determined based on a ratio of a reconstructed voltage signal having a phase angle equal to that of the motor current and the motor current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Marek Stulrajter
  • Patent number: 10323923
    Abstract: A telemetry system with a matrixed telemetry switch unit array and a method for determining the switch position of a telemetry switch unit. The switch units include steering diodes and parallel signal paths each with unique resistance values. The signal paths correspond to switch positions and are closed when the switch unit is in the corresponding switch position. A signal source is electrically connected to an input current path and output current path of the array with a corresponding telemetry switch unit coupled into the signal path. A plurality of sensing signals are applied through the array and the resultant signals are measured. The switch position is determined from the resultant signals indicating the resistance value of the switch signal path currently coupled into the array signal path while accounting for the voltage drop of the steering diodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: COM DEV LTD.
    Inventor: Antonio Romano
  • Patent number: 10324056
    Abstract: Moisture detection and ingression monitoring systems and methods of manufacture are provided. The moisture detection structure includes chip edge sealing structures including at least one electrode forming a capacitor structured to detect moisture ingress within an integrated circuit. The at least one electrode and a second electrode of the capacitor is biased to ground and to a moisture detection circuit or vice versa, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fen Chen, Jeffrey P. Gambino, Carole D. Graas, Wen Liu, Prakash Periasamy
  • Patent number: 10309919
    Abstract: Moisture detection and ingression monitoring systems and methods of manufacture are provided. The moisture detection structure includes chip edge sealing structures including at least one electrode forming a capacitor structured to detect moisture ingress within an integrated circuit. The at least one electrode and a second electrode of the capacitor is biased to ground and to a moisture detection circuit or vice versa, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fen Chen, Jeffrey P. Gambino, Carole D. Graas, Wen Liu, Prakash Periasamy
  • Patent number: 10285619
    Abstract: An electrical impedance tomography device includes a plurality of electrodes, a display apparatus, and a control and evaluation unit for reconstructing a matrix of image elements, a spatial distribution of impedance changes in an electrode plane, from measurement signals with a reconstruction algorithm. A time series of matrices are provided from an inhalation and an exhalation that follow. The control unit detects a local impedance change, as a function of a quantity monotonically dependent on average alveolar pressure, as inhalation and exhalation curves from the time series of matrices, to calculate a parameter representing the deviation between the inhalation and exhalation curves as a dissipation value of the image element and to associate the parameter with the image element, to combine the dissipation values of all examined image elements in a dissipation map, and to display the dissipation values with graphical codings dependent on dissipation values of the dissipation map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Drägerwerk AG & Co. KGaA
    Inventor: Yvo Gärber
  • Patent number: 10271760
    Abstract: A non-invasive and accurate vagina evaluation device and uterine evaluation devices are provided that measure the receptivity (uterine implantation capacity) of the mother's body to a fertilized egg implanting itself into the uterus. A first vagina evaluation device includes: a main body stretchable and expandable after insertion into a vagina, followed by air injection thereinto; four electrodes brought into contact with the vagina wall as the main body expands and stretches; and fixation means configured to fix the interval of arrangement of the electrodes. Second and third uterine evaluation device include: a flexible and rod-shaped main body for insertion into a uterine cavity; and four or two impedance electrodes arranged with a predetermined interval therebetween in an insertion direction of the main body and brought into contact with an endometrium of the uterine cavity to measure a uterine endometrial impedance generated between the endometrium and each of the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Osaka University
    Inventors: Hitomi Nakamura, Tadashi Kimura, Takayoshi Hosono
  • Patent number: 10263580
    Abstract: Disclosed is a differential voltage supplying apparatus configured to supply, to a neural activity recorder, an input signal generated by combining, with a direct current (DC) power supply, a common-mode signal determined from a voltage applied to a detection electrode and a reference electrode connected to the neural activity recorder, and improve a common-mode rejection ratio of the neural activity recorder and generate a DC power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: DAEGU GYEONGBUK INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Jung Hyup Lee, Sehwan Lee, Minkyu Je
  • Patent number: 10241150
    Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus includes two or more semiconductor chips and a tester. The two or more semiconductor chips are electrically connected through one or more through-silicon vias (TSVs). The tester is on at least one of the two or more semiconductor chips and tests the state of at least one TSV based on an output signal of the TSV. The TSV is selected as a signal transmission TSV based on the state of the TSV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seung-han Woo, Reum Oh, Hae-suk Lee
  • Patent number: 10118557
    Abstract: An automated retractable step system has at least one linkage subassembly for attachment to a vehicle frame. A step is attached to the linkage subassembly and is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. An actuator is coupled with the linkage subassembly for moving the step between the stowed and deployed positions. A sensor subassembly includes a sensing electrode and a reference electrode disposed adjacent to the sensing electrode and a driven shield electrode extending generally parallel to and in a spaced relationship with the sensing electrode and the reference electrode. A controller is electrically connected to the sensing electrode and to the reference electrode and to the driven shield electrode. The controller is also electrically connected to the actuator for controlling the actuator to move the step between the stowed position and the deployed position in response to the signal from the sensor subassembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Magna Closures Inc.
    Inventor: Mirko Pribisic
  • Patent number: 10092210
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an impedance measuring device obtaining impedance of portions of an object corresponding to two sensing electrodes by detecting, through the two sensing electrodes, an electrical variation shown on the object as an electrical signal is applied. A detector amplifying each of signals detected through the two sensing electrodes and then differential-operating the amplified signals to generate a signal for obtaining impedance is subjected to a calibration process for adjusting the gain of the amplifiers to reduce in-phase noise added due to an imbalance between the sensing electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Inventors: Jung Jin Hwang, Young Dae Seo