To Determine Dimension (e.g., Distance Or Thickness) Patents (Class 324/644)
  • Patent number: 11846663
    Abstract: Systems and methods for incorporating multiple single-port vector network analyzer modules where the modules can be located at significant distances from each other. Systems and methods are provided for synchronizing source signals with remote receivers, calibration, operation, bandwidth reduction, high isolation, and reliable solar power or remote sites whereby the VNA module s may be used for characterization of a DUT as if they were incorporated into a single vector network analyzer chassis with access to a common clock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Anritsu Company
    Inventors: Donald Anthony Bradley, Paul William Davis, Aaron Roderick Miller
  • Patent number: 11280660
    Abstract: A system for measuring a level of a liquid may include a receptacle, a probe, a pulsing unit, and a digitizer. The receptacle has a top and a bottom and is configured to contain the liquid. The probe may extend into the receptacle through the bottom. The pulsing unit is configured to transmit a pulse to the probe. The digitizer is configured to receive at least a first reflected pulse and a second reflected pulse from the probe. The time between the first reflected pulse and the second reflected pulse may be calculated and converted to a distance that is indicative of the level of the liquid in the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC
    Inventors: William Francis Splichal, Jr., Yogeshwar Dayal, Jonathan R. Earnhart, Andrew F. Fidler, Steven D. Sawyer, Keith D. Requard
  • Patent number: 11275167
    Abstract: The invention relates to a distance-measuring device for determining a distance between a reflection body in a conducting structure and a coupling region for electromagnetic waves, which region is provided on an end section of the conducting structure, said measuring device comprising a transmitting and receiving device, and a conduction junction (1) provided on the coupling region, for coupling the transmitting and receiving device to the conducting structure containing a medium, in order to couple an electromagnetic wave into the conducting structure, and to decouple the electromagnetic wave, reflected on the reflection body, from the conducting structure. Said measuring device also comprises an evaluation device for determining the distance between the coupling region and the reflection body from the complex reflection coefficient between the coupled electromagnetic wave and the decoupled electromagnetic wave. The invention also relates to the corresponding method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Astyx MPS GmbH
    Inventors: Andre Giere, Sebastian Lüttich
  • Patent number: 11215586
    Abstract: A system for measuring a gas concentration, the system including: a first oscillator including a first surface for placement in a sampling location, wherein the first oscillator oscillates at a frequency greater than 20,000 Hz but less than 300,000,000 Hz; a first counter to accumulate a count of oscillations of the first oscillator; and a comparator to calculate a difference between the accumulated counts of the first oscillator and a reference, wherein the difference calculated by the comparator is sampled at a frequency of less than 100 Hz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: AROMATIX, INC.
    Inventor: Chowdhury F. Rahim
  • Patent number: 11125685
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for Crystal Anisotropy Terahertz Microscopy (“CATM”) is provided. The apparatus includes an emitter configured to emit a THz pulse and a detector configured to detect the THz pulse after the pulse is transmitted through a sample disposed on a sample surface of the detector. A pulsed radiation generator generates a probe beam to interrogate the detector. The detector may include an electro-optical (“EO”) crystal configured to change in birefringence according to the THz pulse. The sample surface of the detector may have a dielectric coating which is transmissive to THz and reflective to the probe beam. The sample is disposed on the dielectric coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: The Research Foundation for The State University of New York
    Inventors: Andrea G. Markelz, Gheorghe Acbas, Katherine A. Niessen
  • Patent number: 11129116
    Abstract: This disclosure generally relates to systems, devices, apparatuses, products, and methods for wireless communication. For example, a user equipment (UE) device within a wireless communication system may generate an uplink signal. The uplink signal comprises at least one of a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), a physical random access channel (PRACH), or a sounding reference signal (SRS). The UE transmits the uplink signal from the UE, and receives a signal at the UE. The UE performs a correlation between the transmitted uplink signal and the received signal, and determines whether an object is present within a transmission path from the UE based on the correlation. The UE may set a transmission parameter at the UE based on the determination of whether the object is present within the transmission path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Shay Landis, Guy Wolf, Assaf Touboul
  • Patent number: 11029436
    Abstract: A probe relies on multiple sensors, which are capable of directly measuring soil moisture, temperature, and electrical conductivity (EC). The proposed probe uses radio frequency (“RF”) transformers to sense changes in load by the primary of the transformer, which will make direct contact with the soil. The probe contemplated herein, accurately measures EC values in liquids, and water saturated soils, by having direct contact with the medium in which the measurements are made. The measurements yield absolute EC, in any soil type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: TRIBUS, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Z. Kiss
  • Patent number: 10937317
    Abstract: A distributed remote sensing system including at least one gateway, at least one sensing device and a communication interface providing radio frequency communication through a shared frequency scheme between each sensing device and one of the at least one gateway and between each sensing device and another of the at least one gateway through a different frequency scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: fybr
    Inventors: Paul Becker, Richard E. Goodwin, Edwin Horton
  • Patent number: 10837819
    Abstract: A radar fill level measurement device for recording the topology of a filling material surface in a container, comprising at least two radar chips. One of the radar chips generates a local oscillator signal which, in order to synchronize the two chips, is transmitted thereto by a high-frequency line arrangement. The high-frequency line arrangement is arranged on different layers of the printed circuit board substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: VEGA GRIESHABER KG
    Inventor: Steffen Waelde
  • Patent number: 10801098
    Abstract: A method of coating a component using a robotic spray system is provided. The robotic spray system includes a scanning apparatus operable to measure and store surface characteristics before and after coating; a robotic arm operable to move the robotic spray system relative to a surface of a component, the component including one or more reference features which remains uncoated during the coating; a spray nozzle operable to deposit a sprayed coating onto the surface; and a device driver module including circuitry configured to operate the scanning apparatus, the robotic arm, and the spray nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Gerhart Hanson, Matthias Hoebel, Martin Lewis Smith
  • Patent number: 10731505
    Abstract: A system is for sensing a shifting of a drive ring, a compressor, and a gas turbine. The system includes a compressor housing; at least one drive ring installable on the compressor housing and disposed on the compressor housing with a spacing, and the at least one drive ring being provided with at least one installation hole, extending along a radial direction of the at least one drive ring; and at least one sensor, located in the corresponding installation hole and used to sense the spacing between the at least one drive ring and the compressor housing in real time. In an embodiment, the system for sensing a shifting of a drive ring, the compressor, and the gas turbine has advantages of simple structures and relatively low costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Chao Ren, Biao Sun, Danning You
  • Patent number: 10605643
    Abstract: A fill level switch for determining a level limit of a medium in a container, has a sensor unit having an antenna unit, a process window for protecting the sensor unit and for connection to a container wall, an electronic unit and a sensor housing. The antenna unit has at least a first emitting element for emitting a first electromagnetic transmission signal, at least a feed line, at least a reference surface having a reference potential and at least a dielectric layer, wherein the dielectric layer is arranged between the reference surface and the emitting element. An aperture coupling is provided via which the emitting element is fed by the feed line during operation. The reference surface has an opening for passage of the electromagnetic transmission signal, and the first emitting element is arranged such that it has direct contact with the medium during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: KROHNE MESSTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Convent, Robert Storch
  • Patent number: 10578478
    Abstract: A radar level gauge system comprising a transceiver; a probe for guiding a transmit signal towards a product in a tank, and for returning a surface echo signal; processing circuitry for determining the filling level based on the transmit signal and the surface echo signal; and a connection arrangement for conductively connecting the probe to the tank, and for providing the transmit signal from the transceiver to the probe. The connection arrangement comprises a feed-through member to which the probe is conductively connected. The feed-through member is in conductive contact with the tank at a grounding position, and a signal conductor extends through the feed-through member from the outside of the tank to the inside of the tank. A tank coupling arrangement is arranged on the inside of the tank to electrically connect the signal conductor and the metallic portion of the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: ROSEMOUNT TANK RADAR AB
    Inventors: Olov Edvardsson, Håkan Fredriksson
  • Patent number: 10520302
    Abstract: Devices, methods, and systems for monitoring thickness uniformity are described herein. One system includes a transmitter configured to transmit a signal through a portion of a material while the material is moving, an attenuator configured to absorb a first portion of the transmitted signal, a reflector configured to reflect a second portion of the transmitted signal, a receiver configured to receive the reflected signal, and a computing device configured to determine a thickness of the portion of the material based on a time delay between the transmission of the signal and the reception of the reflected signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Andrzej Peczalski, Fouad Nusseibeh
  • Patent number: 10480982
    Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for calibrating the volume of storage containers using mechanical or acoustic wave-based inspection techniques. The exemplary calibration system comprises an array of measurement devices controllably deployed in respective positions on the outside surface of the container. The measurement devices include a transducer for sending signals along the surface of the container and sensors configured to detect the signals. The measurement devices are in communication with a diagnostic computing device that controls the positioning and the operation of the measurement devices and is further configured to determine the time time-of-flight of the signals that travel between the various devices. Moreover, according to the specific arrangement of the measurement devices and the measured signal information, the control computer is configured to calculate the dimensions of the container and its internal volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Brian Parrott, Fadl Abdellatif
  • Patent number: 10480985
    Abstract: A radar level gauge comprising a housing enclosing a compartment providing explosion proof protection, RLG circuitry located inside compartment, which circuitry is incompatible with intrinsic safety requirements, and a signal propagation device located outside the compartment. The housing has an explosion proof first signal passage providing a transmission line for the microwave transmit signal, and an explosion proof second signal passage in providing a two-wire interface for electrically conductively connecting the radar level gauge to an intrinsically safe system located externally of the radar level gauge. Further, the RLG includes an electrical barrier connected between the RLG circuitry and the two-wire interface, the electrical barrier preventing energy and/or thermal energy in the RLG circuitry from compromising the intrinsic safety of an intrinsically safe system connected to the two-wire interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: ROSEMOUNT TANK RADAR AB
    Inventors: Mikael Kleman, Leif Nilsson
  • Patent number: 10458831
    Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for calibrating the volume of storage containers using ultrasonic inspection techniques. The exemplary ultrasonic calibration system comprises a plurality of acoustic devices controllably deployed in respective positions on the outside surface of the container. The acoustic devices include a transducer for sending acoustic signals across the internal volume of the container and sensors configured to detect the acoustic signals. The acoustic devices are in communication with a diagnostic computing device that controls the positioning and the operation of the acoustic devices and is further configured to determine the time time-of-flight of acoustic signals that travel between the various acoustic devices. Moreover, according to the specific arrangement of acoustic devices and the measured acoustic signal information, the control computer is configured to calculate the dimensions of the container and its internal volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Vincent Cunningham, Ali Outa, Ihsan A-Taie, Ayman Amer
  • Patent number: 10436889
    Abstract: The invention relates to a distance-measuring device for determining a distance between a reflection body in a conducting structure and a coupling region for electromagnetic waves, which region is provided on an end section of the conducting structure, said measuring device comprising a transmitting and receiving device, and a conduction junction (1) provided on the coupling region, for coupling the transmitting and receiving device to the conducting structure containing a medium, in order to couple an electromagnetic wave into the conducting structure, and to decouple the electromagnetic wave, reflected on the reflection body, from the conducting structure. Said measuring device also comprises an evaluation device for determining the distance between the coupling region and the reflection body from the complex reflection coefficient between the coupled electromagnetic wave and the decoupled electromagnetic wave. The invention also relates to the corresponding method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: ASTYX GmbH
    Inventors: Andre Giere, Sebastian Lüttich
  • Patent number: 10424919
    Abstract: A component in a process control device such as a valve actuator, for example, is coupled to a protective circuit. In particular, the protective circuit allows an analog current loop (e.g., 4-20 mA) to provide to the component a secondary operating voltage, derived from the analog current loop, in the absence of a primary operating voltage source (e.g., during a power failure), such that the component is not damaged when a signal from the analog current loop is applied to the process control device in the absence of the primary operating voltage source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventor: Clyde T. Eisenbeis
  • Patent number: 10393565
    Abstract: A method for determining a volume or a mass of a filling material is provided, in which firstly an empty profile detection mode is assumed in the absence of a filling material, and then a volume or mass determination mode is assumed when the filling material is present. In the empty profile detection mode, an interference point profile is created from echo curves obtained by scanning a container surface. The interference point profile is then taken into account when determining the volume or the mass of the filling material in the volume or mass determination mode, such that volumes or masses of the filling material are determined with increased accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: VEGA GRIESHABER KG
    Inventor: Roland Welle
  • Patent number: 10378947
    Abstract: A radar level gauge system, for determining a filling level of a product in a tank. The radar level gauge system includes a transmission line probe arranged inside the tank; a tank feed-through for mechanically attaching the transmission line probe to a tank wall of the tank through a non-conductive mechanical connection between the transmission line probe and the tank wall, and for providing a conductive electrical connection to the transmission line probe from outside the tank; and a measurement electronics unit arranged outside the tank. The measurement electronics unit includes: a transceiver; an electrical filter circuit having an input coupled to the transceiver and an output coupled to the transmission line probe via the tank feed-through, the electrical filter circuit exhibiting a series capacitance for non-conductively coupling the transceiver to the transmission line probe via the tank feed-through; and processing circuitry for determining the filling level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: ROSEMOUNT TANK RADAR AB
    Inventors: Olov Edvardsson, Leif Nilsson, Niklas Penndal
  • Patent number: 10295393
    Abstract: A radar level gauge system comprising: a transceiver arrangement; a first probe to guide a first transmit signal through a surrounding medium towards a product in the tank, and to return a first surface echo signal, the first probe being configured to guide the first transmit signal with a first propagation velocity exhibiting a first dependence on a dielectric constant of the surrounding medium; a second probe to guide a second transmit signal through the surrounding medium towards the product, and to return a second surface echo signal, the second probe being configured to guide the second transmit signal with a second propagation velocity exhibiting a second dependence, different from the first dependence, on the dielectric constant of the surrounding medium; and processing circuitry for determining the filling level based on the first surface echo signal, the second surface echo signal, and a known relation between the first dependence and the second dependence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: ROSEMOUNT TANK RADAR AB
    Inventor: Mikael Eriksson
  • Patent number: 10261032
    Abstract: A noncontact resonameter includes: a resonator to: produce an excitation signal including a field; subject a sample to the excitation signal; produce a first resonator signal in a presence of the sample and the excitation signal, the first resonator signal including: a first quality factor of the resonator; a first resonance frequency of the resonator; or a combination thereof, the first resonator signal occurring in an absence of contact between the sample and the resonator; and produce a second resonator signal in a presence of the excitation signal and an absence of the sample, the second resonator signal including: a second quality factor of the resonator; a second resonance frequency of the resonator; or a combination thereof; a circuit in electrical communication with the resonator to receive the first resonator signal and the second resonator signal; and a continuous feeder to: provide the sample proximate to the resonator; dispose the sample intermediately in the field of the excitation signal during
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Nathan Daniel Orloff, Christian John Long, Jan Obrzut
  • Patent number: 10203202
    Abstract: Various examples of methods and systems are disclosed for non-contact determination of coating thickness. In one example, among others, a method includes illuminating a surface having a layer of a coating material with electromagnetic (EM) energy transmitted at two or more frequencies, obtaining measured reflection data from reflected EM energy, and matching the measured reflection data to modeled reflection data of a reflection model based upon minimization of an error between the measured reflection data and the modeled reflection data to determine a measured thickness of the layer. In another example, a system includes a probe configured to illuminate an area of the surface including a layer of a coating material with EM energy and receive reflected EM energy, and a processing device configured to determine a measured thickness of the layer based upon minimization of an error between measured reflection data and modeled reflection data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Inventors: John Weber Schultz, Rebecca Brockway Schultz, James Geoffrey Maloney, Kathleen Cummings Maloney
  • Patent number: 10048759
    Abstract: The invention refers to an input device for computer system. The invention is based on the task of creating solutions to make it possible to considerably simplify mouse-based input operations in the use of computers. This task is solved in accordance with the invention by a computer mouse with a housing and a movement detector to generate control data which as such correlate with the movement of the housing along the X or Y axis, and a hand detector to generate control data which as such correlate with the position and/or the finger gestures of a hand in relation to the housing before the computer mouse is touched. This makes it advantageously possible to carry out input operations to an even better degree with a computer mouse, in particular cursor controls, in a way that can be intuitively and easily mastered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY GERMANY GMBH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Richter
  • Patent number: 10001398
    Abstract: A fill-level measuring device for determining the fill level of a process medium in a container by means of a travel-time method. The fill-level measuring device is distinguished by features including that the fill-level measuring device has structure for determining the dielectric constant of a second medium, which is located between the measuring device and the process medium. The structure for determining the dielectric constant comprises at least one waveguide for a high-frequency measuring signal, wherein such waveguide is filled at least sectionally with a dielectric and embodied and arrangeable in such a manner that the dielectric forms with the second medium an interface, at which a significant fraction of the measuring signal supplied to the second medium via the waveguide is reflected. Furthermore, an apparatus for determining the dielectric constant and a system of such an apparatus and a fill-level measuring device are proposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: ENDRESS + HAUSER GMBH + CO. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Blodt, Peter Klofer
  • Patent number: 9852630
    Abstract: A distributed remote sensing system including at least one gateway, at least one sensing device and a communication interface providing radio frequency communication through a shared frequency scheme between each sensing device and one of the at least one gateway and between each sensing device and another of the at least one gateway through a different frequency scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: fybr
    Inventors: Paul Becker, Richard E. Goodwin, Edwin Horton
  • Patent number: 9851235
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable of a medium in a container or pipeline, including a resonator, which is in contact with an interior of the container or the pipeline, an active element for producing a high-frequency signal in the resonator and an electronics unit, which is embodied to receive from a unit formed of the resonator and the active element an electrical output signal. The electrical output signal is evaluated with reference to frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: ENDRESS + HAUSER GMBH + CO. KG
    Inventor: Thomas Blodt
  • Patent number: 9760748
    Abstract: A calibration circuit includes a single-wire memory and a transmission line. The single-wire memory includes a power/interrogation terminal and a ground terminal. The single-wire memory is configured to store calibration data for a sensor. The transmission line is configured to be coupled between the sensor and a sensor reader. The transmission line includes first and second conductors. The first conductor is coupled to the power/interrogation terminal and is configured to provide the calibration data and a sensor output signal to the sensor reader. The second conductor is coupled to the ground terminal and is configured to provide a ground reference for the first conductor, the single-wire memory, and the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph Alfred Iannotti, William Chester Platt, Trang Thuy Thai
  • Patent number: 9677868
    Abstract: A tip clearance measurement system (TCMS) includes a probe and sensing circuitry. The probe directs microwave signals toward a turbine blade and receives microwave signals reflected by the turbine blade. The sensing circuitry includes a switch having a first state in which a main frequency is provided at an output of the switch and a second state in which a reference frequency is provided at an output of the switch. The sensing circuitry further includes a first conditioning circuit that receives a frequency provided at the output of the switch and provides a conditioned frequency to the probe and a second conditioning circuit that receives both the conditioned frequency provided by the first conditioning circuit and a reflected frequency received by the probe, and provides a conditioned output based on the conditioned frequency and reflected frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Bhupindar Singh, Gary M. McBrien
  • Patent number: 9625145
    Abstract: A gas turbine includes a combustion chamber and a microwave source to produce microwave radiation. The gas turbine is arranged to guide the microwave radiation into a cavity of the combustion chamber. Due to the microwave radiation, in the cavity of the combustion chamber, combustion in the cavity may be supported and thus lean operation of the gas turbine is made possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Steinwandel, Johannes Stuhlberger
  • Patent number: 9592686
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a supporting section capable of supporting a medium; an ejecting section capable of ejecting liquid onto the medium supported by the supporting section; and a first detecting section capable of detecting whether an amount of space between the medium supported by the supporting section and the ejecting section is equal to or more than a first threshold value. The liquid ejecting apparatus thus configured makes it possible to prevent liquid from being ejected from an ejecting section onto a medium in a state where an amount of space between the medium and the ejecting section is too large.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Mashima
  • Patent number: 9574929
    Abstract: A coupling device for impedance matching a probe of a guided wave radar (GWR) system. A feed-through is for connecting to a coaxial cable or other transmission line connector that includes an inner conductor which connects to an output of a transceiver and an outer conductor that connects to an outer metal sleeve. A subwavelength coaxial transmission line (CTL) having a length from ?/5 to ?/2 is coupled to the feed-through including an inner conductor connected to the inner conductor of the feed-through and an outer conductor connected to the outer metal sleeve. A mode converter (MC) having a plurality of metal fingers (7) of length 2?± twenty percent is connected to the outer conductor of the subwavelength CTL, where the MC includes a dielectric coating on its inner conductor connected to the inner conductor of the subwavelength CTL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Cornel Cobianu, Ion Georgescu, Michael Kon Yew Hughes, Stuart James Heath, Frank Martin Haran
  • Patent number: 9567865
    Abstract: A turbomachine blade clearance system includes an actuator including an actuating portion that can be fixed to an interior surface of a turbomachine housing and a shaft for actuating movement relative to the turbomachine housing, a turbomachine blade seal operatively connected to the shaft of the actuator and configured to move relative to the turbomachine housing to adjust a distance from a turbomachine blade of a turbomachine to maintain a predetermined gap clearance between the blade seal and the blade, a waveguide disposed within the shaft, and at least one antenna disposed in electromagnetic communication with the waveguide such that a signal from the antenna can be directed by the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Peter L. Jalbert, William E. Rhoden
  • Patent number: 9482627
    Abstract: A method of inspection of a tire was developed using microwave imaging comprising the steps of selecting a plurality of regions from within a tire to be imaged; determining the dielectric properties of the tire components in each of the selected regions in a plurality of frequency bands; selecting a specific location on a tire to be imaged; providing a scanning platform for microwave imaging of the tire; imaging the selected location on a tire using microwave imaging at a plurality of microwave scanning frequencies and at a selected microwave polarization to obtain images of the internal state of the sample; and filtering the images to remove the effects of curvature of the selected location of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignees: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A., Compagne Generale des Etablissements Michelin
    Inventors: Reza Zoughi, Mohammad Tayeb Ghasr
  • Patent number: 9453755
    Abstract: A system and method for accurately measuring fluid level in a vessel is provided. Generally, the system contains an elongated portion being a coaxial tube having a hollow center, an arm being coaxial in shape, and a sensor containing a transmitter capable of creating and transmitting an excitation electromagnetic pulse for traversing the elongated portion and the arm, and a receiver for receiving reflected pulses, wherein a proximate end of the elongated portion joins a distal end of the arm in a manner to create a waveguide for an electromagnetic pulse provided by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Meggitt (Orange County), Inc.
    Inventors: Ronie Lavon, Carlos Eduardo Carvalho, Thomas Miskell, Vincent Rizzo, Kevin John Petriel
  • Patent number: 9429422
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for non-destructive measurements of coating thicknesses on a curved surface by measuring components of the microwave energy reflected from the surface. Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a portable microwave thickness detector with a rounded rocker-type base allowing the microwave beam to be moved through a range of angles with respect to the target surface. An optical alignment system determines when the microwave angle of incidence is at a desired angle when the components of the reflected microwave energy are measured. Preferred embodiments of the present invention also provide a portable microwave thickness detector which maintains a constant standoff distance between the between the microwave detector and the sample to be measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Systems & Materials Research Corporation
    Inventors: Alan V. Bray, Matthew Lindsey
  • Patent number: 9330555
    Abstract: A method of tracking electromagnetic field, EMF, exposure of a user, comprising storing an aggregate EMF exposure value for the user, the aggregate EMF exposure value indicating EMF exposure due to use of one or more devices by the user; obtaining an estimate of EMF exposure associated with use of a particular one of the devices by the user; revising the aggregate EMF exposure value for the user in dependence upon the estimated EMF exposure; comparing the aggregate EMF exposure value to a threshold; and transmitting a signal related to use of the one or more devices if the aggregate EMF exposure value exceeds the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Milos Tesanovic, Sunil Keshavji Vadgama, Mick Wilson
  • Patent number: 9291069
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a blade clearance detection system. A probe is configured to communication detection frequencies from and gather reflected signals for the blade tip detection system. The probe has an end supported relative to the casing. A material provides a reference point. The blade tip clearance detection system is configured to generate a first detection frequency configured to pass through the material to detect the position of a target structure, generate a second detection frequency configured to reflect from and detect the reference point, and determine a position of a surface approximate to the target structure based upon the reference point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: John A. Leogrande, Peter L. Jalbert
  • Patent number: 9267823
    Abstract: A distance measuring apparatus and method for calculating a distance in a conducting structure are provided. One distance measuring apparatus provides for calculating a distance between a reflection body in a conducting structure and an injection point provided on an end section of the conducting structure for electromagnetic waves is provided. The distance measuring apparatus includes a transmitting and receiving device with a conduction cross-over provided at the injection point for the coaxially-inductive coupling of the transmitting and receiving device to the conducting structure in order to inject an electromagnetic wave into the conducting structure and to decouple the electromagnetic wave reflected on the reflection body from the conducting structure. The distance measuring apparatus also includes an analysis device for calculating a distance between the injection point and the reflection body from the phase difference between the injected electromagnetic wave and the decoupled electromagnetic wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: ASTYX GmbH
    Inventors: Guenther Trummer, Ralf Gehring
  • Patent number: 9167985
    Abstract: Methods and/or systems are disclosed herein for use in imaging an object with microwave tomography using a plurality of different boundary conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA
    Inventors: Joe Lovetri, Puyan Mojabi
  • Patent number: 9151720
    Abstract: A device including a holder and a transmitter supported by the holder is provided. The transmitter is capable of transmitting an electromagnetic signal toward the surface any transmission frequency (Fe). The device also includes a receiver for receiving a signal reflected on the surface. The device also includes a guide assembly for guiding the movement of the holder to move the transmitter and the receiver across from the surface, tangentially relative to the surface. The device also includes an extraction unit for extracting, in the signal received by the receiver, a shifted frequency component of the transmission frequency resulting from a local impedance variation of the surface. The extraction unit produces an extracted signal representative of the state of the surface from the shifted frequency component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: DASSAULT AVIATION
    Inventor: Gerard Leflour
  • Publication number: 20150097580
    Abstract: A tip clearance measurement system (TCMS) includes a probe and sensing circuitry. The probe directs microwave signals toward a turbine blade and receives microwave signals reflected by the turbine blade. The sensing circuitry includes a switch having a first state in which a main frequency is provided at an output of the switch and a second state in which a reference frequency is provided at an output of the switch. The sensing circuitry further includes a first conditioning circuit that receives a frequency provided at the output of the switch and provides a conditioned frequency to the probe and a second conditioning circuit that receives both the conditioned frequency provided by the first conditioning circuit and a reflected frequency received by the probe, and provides a conditioned output based on the conditioned frequency and reflected frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Bhupindar Singh, Gary M. McBrien
  • Patent number: 9000777
    Abstract: A rotor blade measurement system includes a microwave source and a probe. A directional coupler is attached to the source and the probe. A detector is attached to the directional coupler. The probe directs a microwave signal toward a rotor such that during rotation the rotor blade will pass through the path of the microwave signal. As the rotor blade passes the microwave signal is reflected back to the probe. The directional coupler separates the original microwave signal and the reflected signal. The detector then determines the energy level of the reflected signal. As each rotor blade passes the microwave signal it generates a reflected signal that can be analyzed over time. From the length and shape of the waveform of the reflected signal the amount of twisting and flutter in a rotor blade can be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Hamilton Sunstrand
    Inventors: Eric B. Holmquist, Peter L. Jalbert, Richard E. Versailles
  • Patent number: 8963769
    Abstract: A guided wave radar transmitter for interface measurement comprises a probe defining a transmission line for sensing level of two immiscible liquids to define an interface therebetween. A pulse circuit generates pulses on the transmission line and receives a reflected signal from the transmission line. The reflected signal selectively includes a level pulse representing material level and an interface pulse representing interface level. A controller operates in an interface mode to determine the material level and the interface level responsive to receiving the level pulse and the interface pulse. The controller operates in a medium identification mode responsive to not receiving the interface pulse, comprising calculating an estimated amplitude of the level pulse for the two immiscible liquids and comparing actual amplitude of the level pulse to the estimated amplitude of the level pulse to identify the medium in the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Magnetrol International, Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael J. Linden, James M. Berry
  • Patent number: 8917089
    Abstract: A device for detecting metal elements in slab form such as metal plates or sheets, includes an emission coil powered by suitable control elements and generating a magnetic field, a reception coil placed so as to enable generation via induction of a voltage across the terminals of the coil under the action of the magnetic field, and elements for processing and evaluating the voltage signal delivered by the at least one reception coil, enabling delivery of an information signal indicating the absence or presence of one or more metal elements near the coils. The emission coil (3) and the reception coil (5) are both mounted in a housing or a sensor head having an active detection face having an associated detection region, and are positioned at a defined inclination one relative to the other and relative to the face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Senstronic (Societe par Actions Simplifiee)
    Inventor: Rémy Kirchdoerffer
  • Patent number: 8884636
    Abstract: Disclosed is a sensor that can accurately detect displacement and prevents the phenomenon of a contact section between a shaft member and a sliding element receiver being shifted. The sensor comprising: a case having a through hole; a resistance substrate fixed at an inside of said case; a shaft member having a first end portion which is one end of the shaft member placed within said case and a second end portion which is other end of the shaft member exposed to an outside of said case from said through hole, said shaft member being placed at said through hole in a movable manner in an axial direction; and a sliding element receiver having a bearing end contacting with said second end portion of said shaft member, and attached with a brush sliding together with said resistance substrate, said sliding element receiver being capable of moving relatively against said resistance substrate with said shaft member. A hemispherical end face is formed at said first end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Eagle Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mikio Nitta
  • Patent number: 8872696
    Abstract: A method of determining a filling level of a product contained in a tank, the method comprising the steps of: a) transmitting an electromagnetic probing signal towards a target area of a surface of the product; b) receiving a reflected probing signal being a reflection of the electromagnetic probing signal at the surface; c) determining a parameter value indicative of an amplitude of the reflected probing signal; if the parameter value is indicative of an amplitude larger than a predetermined threshold value: d) transmitting an electromagnetic measuring signal towards the target area of the surface; e) receiving a return signal being a reflection of the electromagnetic measuring signal at the surface; and f) determining the filling level based on a time relation between the electromagnetic measuring signal and the return signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Rosemount Tank Radar AB
    Inventor: Fabian Wenger
  • Patent number: 8866496
    Abstract: A device for measurement of a thickness of a coating applied to a substrate includes a transmitter/receiver module configured to transmit and receive microwave radiation; a computing unit; and a probe having a flange and an inner and an outer conductor, wherein the outer conductor coaxially surrounds the inner conductor, and wherein the inner conductor includes at least one thickened section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Carsten Brandt, Wolfgang Bisle, Joerg Dannemann, Johann Hinken, Thomas Beller
  • Patent number: 8842039
    Abstract: A radar level gauge for determining a filling level of a product contained in a tank. The gauge has a sealing arrangement comprising a hollow housing, a conductor and a dielectric sleeve arranged inside the housing and surrounding the conductor. At least one gap is formed between the dielectric sleeve and an adjacent, electrically conducting surface, the gap having a first end which is open to an interior of the tank, so that in use, tank atmosphere may enter and condensate in the gap. The sealing arrangement further comprises an electrically conducting coating provided on a surface of the dielectric sleeve facing the gap, and in electrical contact with said adjacent, electrically conducting surface, so that an impedance between the electrically conducting coating and the adjacent electrically conducting surface is sufficiently low at an operating frequency of the gauge to reduce an influence of any medium present in the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Rosemount Tank Radar AB
    Inventors: Hakan Fredriksson, Mikael Eriksson