Vibration Patents (Class 340/683)
  • Patent number: 11852764
    Abstract: A seismic switch (SS) that is able to detect and signal when internal faults have occurred within the SS is described. The SS provides safety class functionality to the detection of seismic activity. For example, the SS may detect earthquakes above a specified level, resulting in the disconnection of electrical power to a radioactive waste storage facility, which could result in the ignition of waste materials should the storage facility and/or storage container fail during a seismic event. By reducing the risk of fire under these circumstances, the possibility of offsite releases is significantly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: TRIAD NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC
    Inventor: Allen D. Hayward
  • Patent number: 11378946
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a predictive maintenance method for a component of a production tool, in which a time series prediction (TSP) algorithm and an information criterion algorithm are adapted to build a TSP model, thereby forecasting the complicated future trend of accidental shutdown of the component of the production tool. In addition, an alarm scheme is provided for performing maintenance immediately when the component is very likely to enter a dead state, and a death related indicator (DCI) is provided for quantitatively showing the possibility of the component entering the dead state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: NATIONAL CHENG KUNG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Chin-Yi Lin, Yu-Ming Hsieh, Fan-Tien Cheng, Hsien-Cheng Huang
  • Patent number: 11309823
    Abstract: The three phase motor control with variable RPM and variable synchronized PWM is a new concept or method to drive a DC/AC invertor is a triggering pulse revolving circuit having a variable speed of revolving output triggering pulses to rotate commutating and duty cycling circuits to enable/disable power mosfets and to rotate current directions in three phase induction motor stator coils. The RPM control and PWM control are simplified using this method. All interconnections between circuits are conventional, not traditional.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Inventor: Yefim Tservil
  • Patent number: 11287156
    Abstract: To solve the problem that a resonance phenomenon occurs between an outdoor unit and a compressor of existing air conditioners, embodiments include a compressor and a pipeline connected to the compressor. A control method includes obtaining a vibration displacement of the pipeline during the operation of the air conditioner and recording it as a first vibration displacement; obtaining the vibration displacement of the pipeline again after time has elapsed and recording it as a second vibration displacement; and selectively adjusting operating parameters of the compressor according to the first vibration displacement and the second vibration displacement. The vibration condition of the outdoor unit is determined through the real-time vibration condition and the vibration change condition of the pipeline so the air conditioner can selectively change the operating parameters of the compressor according to the vibration condition. Thus the vibration condition of the compressor is changed to avoid pipeline damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignees: Qingdao Haier Air-conditioning Electronic Co., Ltd, Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Baitian Zhuo, Bin Shi, Xiuge Li, Shaojiang Cheng, Ruigang Zhang, Jun Wang
  • Patent number: 11187556
    Abstract: A rotational angle detection device includes: a main driving gear; two driven gears; two sensors that detect the respective rotational angles of the two driven gears; and a computation circuit configured to compute the rotational angle of the main driving gear based on the respective rotational angles of the two driven gears. The computation circuit includes a difference computation circuit and a wear detection circuit. The difference computation circuit is configured to compute a first difference. The wear detection circuit is configured to detect wear of the two driven gears through a comparison between a value of the first difference that is computed by the difference computation circuit and a first ideal value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kichise
  • Patent number: 11153482
    Abstract: Methods and systems of compression mapping for digital omnidirectional images are disclosed. A digital omnidirectional image may be captured and computationally resampled image in accordance with a reducing map. Such resampling may reduce the pixel density in image regions of non-interest and/or increase the pixel density in image regions of interest. Such resampled image may subsequently be compressed for transmission and other processing, which may further be based on the reducing map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Cubic Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy F. Gee, Jeffery R. Price
  • Patent number: 11132620
    Abstract: The disclosed technology relates identifying causes of an observed outcome. A system is configured to receive an indication of a user experience problem, wherein the user experience problem is associated with observed operations data including an observed outcome. The system generates, based on the observed operations data, a predicted outcome according to a model, determines that the observed outcome is within range of the predicted outcome, and identifies a set of candidate causes of the user experience problem when the observed outcome is within range of the predicted outcome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Harish Doddala, Tian Bu, Tej Redkar
  • Patent number: 10957209
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for preventing collisions between drones based on drone-to-drone acoustic communications are disclosed. A control system of a first drone includes a route manager to command the first drone to track a first route. The control system further includes a plurality of acoustic sensors arranged on the first drone to detect acoustic signals. The control system further includes a collision prevention engine to determine a second route based on acoustic signals detected by the acoustic sensors, the acoustic signals being received from a second drone while the first drone is tracking the first route. The second route differs from the first route to prevent a drone-to-drone collision between the first drone and the second drone. The collision prevention engine is to cause the route manager to command the first drone to track the second route instead of the first route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Leobardo Campos Macias, Hector Cordourier Maruri, David Gomez Gutierrez, Rodrigo Aldana Lopez, Jose Parra Vilchis
  • Patent number: 10928243
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vibration monitor (30) which is configured to be worn by an operator during use of a power tool. The vibration monitor comprises a vibration sensor (36) which is operative to sense vibration sustained by the operator when the vibration monitor (30) is worn by the operator. The vibration monitor (30) further comprises a processor (32) configured to receive sensed vibration data from the vibration sensor (36) and to transform received vibration data whereby the transformed data is more representative than the received vibration data of vibration at a location on a power tool or a workpiece with which the operator is in contact during use of the power tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: REACTEC LIMITED
    Inventors: Jacqueline McLaughlin, Mark Paul Buckingham
  • Patent number: 10908123
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture are disclosed. An example apparatus includes an acoustic emission sensor including a pre-amplifier to condition an acoustic emission signal based on an acoustic emission source, a demodulator to generate demodulated acoustic emission data based on the acoustic emission signal, and a transmitter to transmit the demodulated acoustic emission data to a data acquisition system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventor: Bret Anthony Dahme
  • Patent number: 10766113
    Abstract: A machine tool is configured so that: a first frequency band comprising the main shaft characteristic vibration frequency and a second frequency band comprising the mechanical structure characteristic vibration frequency are set; thresholds are stored for each of the set frequency bands; vibration components are extracted for each of the frequency bands from the output of a vibration sensor; and when the vibration amplitude exceeds a threshold in either of the frequency bands, an alarm is sounded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: MAKINO MILLING MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sakyo Matsushita
  • Patent number: 10759533
    Abstract: Components of a device may transmit signals between one another using piezo electric transducers (PETs). In a basic system, a first PET may be coupled to and/or in contact with a first location on a member. A second PET may be coupled to and/or in contact with a second location on the member and separated from the first PET by a distance. The first PET may receive a signal (e.g., an electrical voltage) and convert the signal to a mechanical force/stress causing vibration of the member. The vibration may propagate through the member to other locations about the member. The second PET receive the vibration and may convert the vibration back to the signal, such as by converting mechanical force/stress to the electrical voltage (i.e., the signal). A similar process may be performed in reverse to enable the first and second PET to provide two-way communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlos Guillermo Parodi, Scott Michael Wilcox
  • Patent number: 10695074
    Abstract: A drill for driving a drill bit into a solid object such as bone. The drill includes a rotor with a bore that transmits rotational movement to the drill bit. The drill bit extends through the rotor bore. A probe extends forward from the drill to measure bore depth. The probe is moveably mounted to the drill so as to extend into the rotor bore. As the drill and drill bit advance forward the probe remains static. As a result of the advancement of the drill the rotor extends over the proximal end of the probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventor: Steve Carusillo
  • Patent number: 10696337
    Abstract: An undercarriage monitoring device has a roller assembly including a fixed roller component and a bushing. An opening is formed within the fixed roller component. A first sensor is disposed within the opening of the fixed roller component over the bushing. The first sensor is configured to sense a first physical characteristic of the bushing. The fixed roller component is a shaft or a housing. The first sensor is a temperature sensor or a Hall effect sensor. A magnet is disposed on the roller assembly. A second sensor is disposed within the opening of the fixed roller component over the bushing. The second sensor is configured to sense a second physical characteristic of the bushing. A data transmitting device is coupled to the first sensor. Data is collected from the sensor. The data collected from the sensor is transmitted to a receiving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: WearPro Incorporated
    Inventors: Bradley E. Hawkins, Christopher N. Dewitt
  • Patent number: 10678219
    Abstract: A method for processing a workpiece on a numerically controlled machine tool by a tool includes the steps of: controlling a relative movement of the tool relative to the workpiece for processing the workpiece, producing an ultrasonic vibration of the tool by an ultrasonic generator, detecting at least one sensor signal outputted from the ultrasonic generator and identifying a change in the material at the workpiece while controlling the relative movement of the tool relative to the workpiece on the basis of the at least one sensor signal outputted from the ultrasonic generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: SAUER GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Ketelaer, Manuel Praetorius
  • Patent number: 10655607
    Abstract: A method for detecting damage in a bearing of a wind turbine includes collecting vibration data relating to the bearing. Another step includes storing the vibration data in a memory device. The method also includes identifying a plurality of harmonics in the vibration data that are indicative of bearing damage. Further, the method includes eliminating harmonics within a specified frequency proximity to areas of high energy content representative of normal gearbox operation. Moreover, the method includes determining at least one of increases in energy or a variance of the energy within each of the remaining harmonics and calculating a damage factor of the bearing as a function of a least one of the increases in energy or the variance of the energy within each of the remaining harmonics. Accordingly, the method includes comparing the damage factor to a predetermined damage threshold, wherein a damage factor exceeding the predetermined damage threshold may be indicative of a damaged bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joshua Jeffrey Potter, Christopher Robert Drescher
  • Patent number: 10649835
    Abstract: A method for determining information on an integrity of signal processing components within a signal path includes adding an alive signal to a signal at a first position within the signal path and detecting an added alive signal corresponding to the alive signal at a second position within the signal path. Further, the method includes determining the information on the integrity based on the detected signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Granig, Dirk Hammerschmidt, Friedrich Rasbornig, Michael Strasser, Daniel Valtiner
  • Patent number: 10603674
    Abstract: An apparatus including a rotor position detection unit with a sensor configured to detect an angular position of a rotor of a horizontal shaft impact crusher, the rotor having attached thereon a group of hammers. A motor control system is configured to change the rotation speed of the rotor and an automation and control system is configured to control the motor control system in response to the detected angular position of the rotor. The rotor position detection unit is configured to detect a first and second angular position of the rotor corresponding to a first and second position of a hammer of the group of hammers attached to the rotor. The motor control system comprises a frequency converter and a brake configured to enable the stopping of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: METSO MINERALS, INC.
    Inventor: Marko Salonen
  • Patent number: 10600319
    Abstract: An adaptive traffic signal including a traffic signal plate and at least one signal light indicator controlled by a traffic signal control system (TSCS) and connected to a traffic flow sensor system (TFSS). In an active mode, the adaptive traffic signals TFSS senses vehicle presence, speed, location and other parameters, communicates this data to the TSCS. The adaptive traffic signal works as a traffic control signal and the TSCS switches on the at least one light indicator according to a traffic control signal sequence. In an inactive mode, the adaptive traffic signal's TSCS switches off at least one light indicator and switches on at least one flashing red light indicator and the adaptive traffic signal works as a stop indicator for all intersection traffic directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Inventor: Greg Douglas Shuff
  • Patent number: 10570909
    Abstract: A turbocharged device subject to a surge event during operation, the turbocharged device including a turbocharger having a controller and a bearing assembly, a first sensor configured to detect the oil pressure provided to the bearing assembly, a second sensor in operable communication with the turbocharger, where the controller is configured to determine the magnitude of the surge event based at least in part on a signal provided by the second sensor in response to the surge event, and where the controller is configured to determine the wear inflicted on the turbocharger during the surge event based at least in part on the magnitude of the surge event and a signal provided by the first sensor in response to the surge event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Kelly R. Carpenter, Shaune Anders, Mark A. Friedrich
  • Patent number: 10525563
    Abstract: An abnormality-detecting device for detecting abnormalities of a tool of a machine tool comprises: an acquiring unit for acquiring multiple measured values relating to the tool as measurement data (vibration information, cutting force information, sound information, main shaft load, motor current, power value); a normal model unit for learning the measurement data acquired during normal machining by one class machine learning and creating a normal model; an abnormality-diagnosing unit for acquiring measurement data during machining after creation of the normal model while diagnosing whether said measurement data is normal or abnormal on the basis of the normal model; and a re-diagnosing unit for re-diagnosing measurement data, which has been diagnosed to be abnormal by the abnormality-diagnosing unit, by a method different from the abnormality-diagnosing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES MACHINE TOOL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hideaki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10460536
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program for detecting and isolating structural faults is provided. To detect and isolate structural faults, a plurality of sensed features that corresponds to sensor data from the monitoring sub-system and a plurality of estimated features that corresponds to the plurality of sensed features can be generated. Further, the plurality of sensed features and the plurality of estimated features can be compared to produce a plurality of residuals. From the plurality of residuals, at least one structural fault within the vehicle are determined and isolated for further use of maintenance decision support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joshua D. Isom, Mark W. Davis, James Peter Cycon
  • Patent number: 10401271
    Abstract: A method of determining the wear of a flank of a cutter tool, in which the wear is determined by a general function calculating a characteristic length of the wear as a function of at least one variable that depends on time, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Mickael Rancic, Nicolas Batista, Damien Hebuterne
  • Patent number: 10394227
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a multi-purpose sensor may couple to a machine operating in an industrial environment and include numerous sensors disposed within the multi-purpose sensor to acquire sets of data associated with the machine or an environment surrounding the machine. A first portion of the sets of data may include historical sensor measurements over time for each of the sensors, and a second portion of the sets of data may include sensor measurements subsequent to when the first portion is acquired for each of the sensors. A processor of the multi-purpose sensor may determine a baseline collective signature based on the first portion, determine a subsequent collective signature based on the second portion, determine whether the collective signatures vary, and generate signals when a variance exists. The signals may cause a computing device, a cloud-based computing system, and/or a control/monitoring device to perform various actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jimi R. Michalscheck, Kelly A. Michalscheck, Jessica L. Korpela, Kyle K. Reissner, David A. Vasko, Matthew W. Fordenwalt, John J. Jauquet, Matthew R. Ericsson, Andrew Wilber
  • Patent number: 10330647
    Abstract: A method for automatic diagnosis of a mechanical system of a group of mechanical systems sharing mechanical characteristics includes obtaining data relating to a vibration. The vibration-related data is acquired by a portable communications device configured to communicate with a remote processor. The processor automatically diagnoses the mechanical system by applying a relationship to the obtained vibration-related data. The relationship is based on sets of vibration-related data previously obtained from the mechanical systems. Each set of vibration-related data relates to vibrations of a mechanical system. The relationship is further based on sets of operation data previously obtained for mechanical systems of the group. Each set of operation data indicates a previous state of operation of a mechanical system. Each of the previous states of operation is associated with at least one of the previously obtained sets of vibration-related data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: AUGURY SYSTEMS LTD.
    Inventors: Saar Yoskovitz, Gal Shaul
  • Patent number: 10301042
    Abstract: A system for verifying an aircraft instrumentation value comprising: an Air Data Test Module (ADTM) configured to pneumatically simulate at least one instrumentation value based upon a pressure set-point. The pneumatically simulated instrumentation value corresponds to the pressure set point and is reported by an aircraft transponder. A receiver module receives the pneumatically simulated instrumentation value transmitted by the aircraft transponder. A signal processor, is operative to (i) control the ADTM, (ii) command a prescribed instrumentation value to be simulated by the ADTM, (iii) compare the prescribed instrumentation value to the pneumatically simulated instrumentation value, and (iv) issue a pass signal when the values match, and a fail signal when the values differ by a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Piggin, Neil Stewart Sands, Peter John McCarthy
  • Patent number: 10301038
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a fuselage, each wing with a movable flap element arranged on the wing, having a sensor element providing a sensor signal corresponding to vibrations on the flap element, and being movable between a retracted and an extended positions, drive means having a movable driven output connected by an actuation assembly with each of the flap element and configured such that a movement of the output effects a movement of each of the flap element between the extended and retracted positions. A control unit is adapted to compare for each sensor element during operation of an excitation means the amplitude of the vibrations in the frequency interval detected by that sensor element with a predetermined threshold of that sensor element and to provide a failure signal when for at least one sensor signal the amplitude is below the threshold of that at least one sensor signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Tobias Teubner
  • Patent number: 10258331
    Abstract: An apparatus for affecting tissue includes an end effector configured to interact with a tissue. The apparatus further includes a surgical instrument that includes one or more drivetrains configured to drive a plurality of gear components in order to perform operations of the surgical instrument, and one or more vibration sensors positioned relative to the one or more drivetrains of the surgical instrument to sense and record vibration information from the one or more drivetrains of the surgical instrument, wherein the one or more vibration sensors are configured to generate an output signal based on the vibration information for comparison to predetermined threshold values to determine a status of the surgical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Mark D. Overmyer, David C. Yates, Jason L. Harris
  • Patent number: 10203242
    Abstract: Method of operating an apparatus for analyzing the condition of a machine part rotating with a speed of rotation, includes: receiving a first digital signal dependent on mechanical vibrations emanating from the rotating part; analyzing the first digital signal to detect peak amplitude values during a finite time period corresponding to a predetermined amount of revolution of the rotatable part; the predetermined amount of revolution corresponding to at least one revolution of the monitored rotatable part; defining a plurality of amplitude ranges, each amplitude range corresponding to a peak occurrence frequency of more than one peak per revolution; sorting the detected peak amplitude values into corresponding amplitude ranges to reflect occurrence of detected peak amplitude values within the plurality of amplitude ranges; establishing a peak amplitude value for detected peaks having an occurrence frequency of about NL peaks per revolution, the occurrence frequency NL being a number higher than one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: S.P.M. Instrument AB
    Inventor: Lars-Olov Elis Hedin
  • Patent number: 9880134
    Abstract: In a method for registering at least one damage event on a glass surface, particularly a windscreen of a motor vehicle, wherein at least one structure-borne sound signal is registered by a sensor device and the registered structure-borne sound signal is forwarded to at least one analysis unit, it is provided as essential to the invention that a first signal component of the registered structure-borne sound signal is analyzed, that further analysis is not begun until a first amplitude of the registered structure-borne sound signal has decayed, that the curve of the registered structure-borne sound signal is examined for the existence of signal jumps, and that conclusions may be drawn regarding at least one damage incident on the glass surface from the existend of at least one signal jump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: HELLA KGAA HUECK & CO.
    Inventor: Klaas Hauke Baumgaertel
  • Patent number: 9835594
    Abstract: A method for automatic diagnosis of a mechanical system of a group of mechanical systems sharing mechanical characteristics includes obtaining data relating to a vibration. The vibration-related data is acquired by a portable communications device configured to communicate with a remote processor. The processor automatically diagnoses the mechanical system by applying a relationship to the obtained vibration-related data. The relationship is based on sets of vibration-related data previously obtained from the mechanical systems. Each set of vibration-related data relates to vibrations of a mechanical system. The relationship is further based on sets of operation data previously obtained for mechanical systems of the group. Each set of operation data indicates a previous state of operation of a mechanical system. Each of the previous states of operation is associated with at least one of the previously obtained sets of vibration-related data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: AUGURY SYSTEMS LTD.
    Inventors: Saar Yoskovitz, Gal Shaul
  • Patent number: 9827616
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a PCB drilling method including: performing a drilling motion from an initial location, and generating a first electrical signal when coming into contact with a first conductive layer of the PCB, determining a first conductive location according to the first electrical signal, and obtaining first Z-coordinate information continuing to perform the drilling motion after drilling through the first conductive layer, and generating a second electrical signal when coming into contact with a second conductive layer, determining a second conductive location according to the second electrical signal, and obtaining second Z-coordinate information; continuing to perform the drilling motion and drilling through the PCB to obtain a through hole; and performing backdrilling in the location of the through hole according to a preset depth, and the preset depth is a medium thickness between the second conductive layer and the first conductive layer plus a compensation depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yongxing Yang, Jian Zhang, Shandang Liu
  • Patent number: 9816970
    Abstract: A device for detecting anomalies in an aircraft turbine engine by acoustic analysis, the device not an onboard device and including: a mobile module including a directional system for acquiring acoustic signals from the turbine engine; a processor for processing the signals, which is suitable for generating a damage report; a transmitter for transmitting the damage report; a server capable of exchanging data with the mobile module, the server including a receiver for receiving the damage report; and a storage device suitable for storing the damage report.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventor: Jérôme Henri Noël Lacaille
  • Patent number: 9746564
    Abstract: Dosimeters with wireless communications capability, upon actuation, communicate with a cell phone or other data capture and relay device (DCRD) with an application that allows communication with the dosimeters. The cell phone or other DCRD is a single device or part of an ad hoc network. The cell phone or other DCRD, once it receives raw data from a dosimeter, relays the data to a central station using mobile telephone or Wi-Fi or other communications networks. The data is processed at the central station, and available over the internet or cell phone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Mirion Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jukka Kahilainen, Thomas D. Logan
  • Patent number: 9702754
    Abstract: In general, according to one embodiment, an inspection apparatus includes a disposition; a vibration detector configured to output a signal corresponding to vibration of the inspection object; a determination module configured to determine presence/absence of abnormality of the inspection object and configured to Fourier-transform an output result of the vibration detector at a time when the inspection object is disposed on the disposition section, to create vibration information indicative of vibration power of a characteristic frequency of each of structural elements of the disposition section, and to determine presence/absence of abnormality of the inspection apparatus, based on the vibration information; and a transmission module configured to transmit an output signal of the vibration detector to the determination module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Satoshi Sone
  • Patent number: 9683865
    Abstract: A method, system and computer readable medium for calibrating an accelerometer in a portable device is disclosed. The method, system and computer readable medium comprises receiving data from the accelerometer, and providing accelerometer samples from the data based upon one or more selection rules that adaptively selects data that satisfy certain criteria. The method system and computer readable medium also includes fitting the accelerometer samples to a mathematical mode. The method system and computer readable medium further includes providing a bias of the accelerometer based upon a center of the mathematical model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: InvenSense, Inc.
    Inventors: William Kerry Keal, Yuan Zheng, Anjia Gu, James Lim, Shang-Hung Lin
  • Patent number: 9619983
    Abstract: A wireless tandem alarm having a first alarm configured for physical connection to an industrial machine having an electronic machine controller, and a second alarm configured for detachable connection to the first alarm or to the industrial machine. Each alarm has a housing, a piezoelectric transducer within the housing, a processor configured to drive the piezoelectric transducer in response to a control signal, and a wireless transceiver configured for relatively short-range, low-power communications. In the first alarm, the processor drives the piezoelectric transducer in response to a signal from the machine controller and, also responsive to the machine controller signal, transmits a control signal via the wireless transceiver. In the second alarm, the wireless transceiver receives the control signal from the first alarm and supplies it to the processor, which is configured drive the piezoelectric transducer in response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Mallory Sonalert Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Baldwin, Daniel W. O'Brien, Mark T. Monnett
  • Patent number: 9599969
    Abstract: A position control apparatus is configured to perform full-closed control for controlling the position of a driven member. The position control apparatus includes a vibration period and amplitude detector that detects a vibration period and a vibration amplitude included in a difference value between the position command value and the driven member position detection value. The position control apparatus also includes a constant vibration detector that outputs, as a vibration period of the constant vibration, a vibration period obtained while the driven member is not in an acceleration/deceleration state and the vibration period and the vibration amplitude detected by the vibration period and amplitude detector are equal to or greater than a vibration period threshold value and a vibration amplitude threshold value, respectively. The position control apparatus also includes a control parameter changer that changes the control parameter based on the vibration period output from the constant vibration detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: OKUMA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masashi Miyaji
  • Patent number: 9594473
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for audio data playback in an electronic device. Pieces of color information, included in an image that is matched to audio data, are acquired, when the audio data is requested. At least one of the pieces of color information is mapped to at least one sound level range of predetermined audible sound according to a percentage of a respective color in the image. A predetermined object pattern is displayed using the at least one of the pieces of color information mapped to the at least one sound level range of the audio data, when the audio data is played.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Hyungmin Lee, Inwon Jong, Chulho Jang
  • Patent number: 9495856
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for securing objects against unauthorized removal. To this aim, the device (26) comprises an alarm electronics unit (1) having a motion sensor (3), an environmental brightness sensor (4), and an alarm signal transmitter (5). The alarm electronics unit (1) is designed so that the ambient brightness sensor (4) is activated by the detection of a movement. However, alarm release occurs only if the ambient brightness measured at the ambient brightness sensor (4) exceeds a predetermined brightness threshold, and the movement last continuously for a predetermined time span. The alarm activation occurs only if the ambient brightness falls below a predetermined darkness threshold and the movement continues to persist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Inventor: Rainer Brenner
  • Patent number: 9457913
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for detecting an aircraft jitter. The aircraft jitter detection system comprises: a jitter detection apparatus, which detects accelerations of pitch and yaw of the aircraft; a data acquisition apparatus, which obtains accelerations in two directions detected by the jitter detection apparatus; and a jitter determination apparatus, which extracts frequency spectrum and energy information of the jitter according to the accelerations in two directions obtained by the data acquisition apparatus, and determines whether the aircraft jitters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Air China Limited
    Inventors: Jiaju Wu, Zhuping Gu, Lei Huang, Huifeng Ding, Fengliang Zheng, Qifeng Ren, Yanfeng Zhang
  • Patent number: 9424733
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for securing objects against unauthorized removal. To this aim, the device (26) comprises an alarm electronics unit (1) having a motion sensor (3), an environmental brightness sensor (4), and an alarm signal transmitter (5). The alarm electronics unit (1) is designed so that the ambient brightness sensor (4) is activated by the detection of a movement. However, alarm release occurs only if the ambient brightness measured at the ambient brightness sensor (4) exceeds a predetermined brightness threshold, and the movement last continuously for a predetermined time span. The alarm activation occurs only if the ambient brightness falls below a predetermined darkness threshold and the movement continues to persist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Inventor: Rainer Brenner
  • Patent number: 9383304
    Abstract: A system and a method of testing a superabrasive cutter are disclosed. The system of testing a superabrasive cutter may comprise a spinning wheel holding the superabrasive cutter; a rock feeding into a rotation of the superabrasive cutter on the spinning wheel; and a plurality of sensors operably attaching to the spinning wheel and the rock to detect properties of the superabrasive cutter. The method of testing a superabrasive cutter may comprise steps of attaching a superabrasive cutter to a spinning wheel; moving a rock into a rotation of the superabrasive cutter on the spinning wheel; and communicably coupling a first sensor to the superabrasive cutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Diamond Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Gledhill, Christopher Long, Joel Vaughn
  • Patent number: 9228887
    Abstract: A measuring and transmitting bolt or threaded element for a railway bogie comprises a head defined in which is a seat, and a threaded stem defined in which is a hole, a miniaturized vibration sensor, a transmitter, a battery for supplying said MEMS vibration sensor and said transmitter, and a miniaturized converter for converting into electrical energy the mechanical energy from the vibrations in order to recharge the battery. In particular, the transmitter and the vibration sensor are housed in the seat, and the miniaturized converter and the battery are housed in the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: POLITECNICO DI TORINO
    Inventors: Aurelio Soma′, Giorgio De Pasquale
  • Patent number: 9146169
    Abstract: A condition monitoring system for a pressure vessel includes at least one vibration monitoring probe coupled to at least one pressure vessel component. The system also includes at least one computing device that includes a memory device configured to store data associated with the at least one vibration monitoring probe. The computing device also includes at least one input channel configured to receive the data associated with the at least one vibration monitoring probe. The computing device further includes a processor coupled to the memory device and the at least one input channel. The processor is programmed to determine a deterioration of the material condition of the at least one pressure vessel component by comparing at least a portion of the data associated with the at least one vibration monitoring probe with predetermined vibration parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Russell Keith Simmons, Kelly Danielle Aguilar, Danielle Yarber Archangel, Curtis John Jacks
  • Patent number: 9062771
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for estimating useful life of a seal in a process control device are disclosed. An example method includes establishing a plurality of travel ranges of a stem or shaft of a process control device. Each travel range corresponds to different values corresponding to stresses experienced by the seal of the process control device during an operational cycle. The example further includes determining a count of operational cycles associated with each of the travel ranges and estimating a total amount of useful life of the seal consumed based on the counts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventor: Shawn William Anderson
  • Patent number: 8988238
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for monitoring operating machinery, acquiring data regarding characteristic behavior of the machinery being monitored, and processing of the data to determine and indicate when significant deviations from normal operating conditions are occurring that represent maintenance initiating or failure mode events. The method includes learning what normal operating conditions are for a machine of interest by acquiring data during observed normal operation, then calculating detection threshold values based on the acquired data. Finally, real-time monitoring of the machinery of interest during operation is employed, with alarms triggered upon occurrence of a previously-defined number of occurrences of behavior exceeding parameters associated with normal operation behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Charles Terrance Hatch, Steven Ross Hadley
  • Patent number: 8963733
    Abstract: A system includes more sensors configured to measure one or more characteristics of rotating equipment and a blind fault detection device. The blind fault detection device includes an input interface configured to receive at least one input signal from the one or more sensors. The blind fault detection device also includes a processing unit configured to identify a fault in the rotating equipment using the at least one input signal. The blind fault detection device further includes an output interface configured to provide an indicator identifying the fault. The processing unit is configured to identify the fault by determining at least one family of frequencies related to at least one sensor point, determining an average energy for the at least one sensor point based on the at least one family of frequencies, and comparing the average energy to a baseline value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Chinmaya Kar, Rajat Sadana, Joydeb Mukherjee
  • Patent number: 8947237
    Abstract: The present invention utilizes an accelerometer (included within a wireless physiology monitoring device or as part of a separate device such as, but not limited to a smartphone, e.g., iPhone, or other mobile device) to link a patient with a separate medical data acquisition device such as a weight scale or a blood pressure monitor in order to collect and transmit a range of medical data associated with the user. The medical data acquisition device includes a vibration source for emitting a vibration at a predetermined or random frequency. When the acquisition device is activated, a vibration is transmitted from the through the patient and is detected by the accelerometer. The accelerometer then measures the particular frequency of vibration and transmits this information to a centralized monitoring unit (CMU). Based on the measured frequency, the CMU is able to know that the same patient wearing/holding the device is also the same patient using the data acquisition device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Xanthia Global Limited
    Inventors: Kenneth Margon, Gubbi Umesh Renukanand
  • Patent number: 8930046
    Abstract: A system for detecting degradation of a servo valve; having a controller, a servo valve, a position sensor, and a rate monitor. The controller receives inputs and transmits command data. The servo valve has an actuator and is conductively coupled to the controller to receive command data from the controller and move the actuator in response to the command data. The position sensor operably associated with the servo valve for measuring movement of the actuator and transmits corresponding movement data to the controller. The rate monitor coupled to the controller and position sensor for receiving the command data and the movement data as inputs respectively. The rate monitor processes the inputs to produce a steady state rate error signal. The rate monitor compares the steady state rate error signal to selected operational limits and produces a telemetry output when the operational limits are exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph M. Schaeffer