By Thermoelectric Potential Generator (e.g., Thermocouple) Patents (Class 374/179)
  • Patent number: 12050138
    Abstract: A thermocouple includes: a temperature measuring portion configured to measure an internal temperature of a reaction tube; a main body portion provided therein with a wire which constitutes the temperature measuring portion; and a cushioning portion attached to the main body portion at least in the vicinity of the temperature measuring portion, wherein the thermocouple is fixed to an outer surface of the reaction tube in a state in which the thermocouple makes contact with the reaction tube through the cushioning portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: KOKUSAI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihiro Osaka, Hideto Yamaguchi, Tetsuya Kosugi, Tokunobu Akao, Atsushi Umekawa, Motoya Takewaki
  • Patent number: 11988564
    Abstract: A temperature measurement device includes: a temperature sensor designed to measure a temperature, a thermo-generator forming, with the temperature sensor, what is known as a measurement surface, the thermo-generator being configured to convert thermal energy of the measurement surface into electrical energy, and the sensor being designed to measure a temperature of a sample in contact with the measurement surface, and an electronic board designed to receive the electrical energy converted by the thermo-generator and supply the temperature sensor, the device including the electronic board is positioned a non-zero distance away from the measurement surface in a direction perpendicular to the measurement surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignees: CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE, UNIVERSITE GRENOBLE ALPES
    Inventors: Dimitri Tainoff, Olivier Bourgeois, Anaïs Proudhom
  • Patent number: 11927492
    Abstract: A sensor includes a metal object and a thin film stack formed on at least a part of a surface of the metal object. The thin film stack has an electrically isolating film and a metallic film thereon. A first electrical conductor is defined in the metallic film and is electrically isolated from the metal object and has, in a first end, a connection point connected to a first terminal via a wire and, in a second end, a sensor structure defined in the metallic film. The sensor structure includes a junction of the metallic film penetrating the electrically isolating film to the metal object forming a thermocouple and a metal object terminal connected to a connection point of the metal object via a wire. The connection points of the first electrical conductor and of the metal object are adjacent to and in an isothermal relation with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Alleima Tube AB
    Inventors: Gustaf Sjöblom, Guoliang Wang
  • Patent number: 11912023
    Abstract: An inkjet printer configured to control the temperature of ink discharged from nozzles of an inkjet head is proposed. The inkjet printer includes: an inkjet head including a plurality of nozzles configured to discharge ink, an ink reservoir configured to store ink supplied to the inkjet head, a supply channel configured to supply the ink in the ink reservoir to the inkjet head, a pressure control device connected to the ink reservoir through a pressure control tube and configured to maintain the meniscus of the ink injected into the inkjet head, and the ink temperature control unit configured to control temperature of the ink discharged from the inkjet head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: GOSANTECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jaeryul Yu, Dongkyun Shin
  • Patent number: 11891917
    Abstract: A method for measuring surface temperature of a turbine blade includes following steps: step 1: cleaning a turbine blade and blowing dry; step 2: firstly, preparing a NiCrAlY (nickel-chromium-aluminum-yttrium) buffer layer and then preparing an YSZ (yttria-stabilized zirconia) insulating layer; step 3, preparing alumina sol; step 4, preparing an alumina insulating layer; step 5, preparing a strip-shaped platinum electrode layer; step 6, preparing a platinum-filled lead wire; step 7: firstly, connecting a platinum wire to a surface of a tail end of the strip-shaped platinum electrode layer, and then connecting a nickel-chromium alloy wire to a tenon end of the turbine blade; step 8, preparing alumina protective layers; and step 9, connecting two cold junctions of a thermocouple with a data collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: NORTH UNIVERSITY OF CHINA
    Inventors: Helei Dong, Qiulin Tan, Jijun Xiong, Lei Zhang, Yanyan Niu
  • Patent number: 11889660
    Abstract: A cooling device for an electrical installation, in particular, for a converter system of an electrical installation of a rail vehicle, includes a cooling path in which at least one power loss source is arranged and through which a coolant is able to flow. The cooling device includes a temperature sensor system configured to detect a failure of a mass flow of the coolant and includes at least two temperature sensors which are integrated in the cooling path in spaced-apart relationship in a transport direction of the coolant. The two temperature sensors are arranged in the transport direction of the coolant upstream of a passage of the mass flow of the coolant through a region of overlap of the cooling path with the power loss source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans-Georg Schrott, Stefan Hans Werner Schönewolf
  • Patent number: 11860044
    Abstract: A system has a first temperature sensor located at a first location. A second temperature sensor is located at a second location. A control is configured to determine a difference between voltages indicated of a temperature sensed by each of the first and second sensors. A method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Gary M. McBrien, Peter A. Dorian
  • Patent number: 11808642
    Abstract: A temperature sensing unit is provided, which includes a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of an object and a mounting member. The temperature sensor includes a portion bendable to conform to an outer surface of the object. The mounting member has ends attached to opposing ends of the portion of the temperature sensor and securing the temperature sensor on the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Kit Stricker, Art Volbrecht, Joe Hoff
  • Patent number: 11781919
    Abstract: An electronic device housing encloses a temperature sensing system including a temperature sensor and a differential temperature probe. The differential temperature probe includes a flexible substrate defining two ends. A first end is thermally coupled to the temperature sensor and a second end is thermally coupled to a surface, volume, or component of the electronic device. The temperature probe is an in-plane thermopile including a series-coupled set of thermocouples extending from the first end to the second end. A temperature measured at the temperature sensor can be a first measured temperature and a voltage difference across leads of the differential temperature probe can be correlated to a differential temperature relative to the first measured temperature. A sum of the differential temperature and the first measured temperature is a second measured temperature, quantifying a temperature of the second end of the differential temperature probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: James C. Clements, Chad A. Bossetti, Habib S. Karaki, Paul Mansky
  • Patent number: 11600759
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated dual-sided all-in-one energy system including a plurality of vertically stacked dual-sided all-in-one energy apparatuses, each including an energy-harvesting device and an energy-storage device disposed on both sides of a substrate, and according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, an integrated dual-sided all-in-one energy system may include a plurality of dual-sided all-in-one energy apparatuses, each including an energy-harvesting device that is formed as an electrode pattern on one side of a substrate and generates electrical energy by harvesting energy based on a temperature difference between a first side and a second side and an energy-storage device that is formed on the other side of the substrate and is selectively connected to the energy-harvesting device based on the electrode pattern to store the generated electrical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Korea University Research and Business Foundation
    Inventors: Sang Sig Kim, Kyoung Ah Cho, Yoon Beom Park
  • Patent number: 11454554
    Abstract: Two sets of the DC voltages are determined from among sets of DC voltages. At a first temperature, a first voltage of one of the two sets and a first voltage of the other one of the two sets surround a detection voltage that varies substantially proportionally to temperature. The detection voltage is compared with a second voltage of one of the two sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventor: Bruno Gailhard
  • Patent number: 11293807
    Abstract: A sheathed thermocouple includes thermocouple wires; a metal sheath accommodating the thermocouple wires; inorganic insulating material powder filled in an internal space of the metal sheath; a glass seal part tightly sealing an opening of the metal sheath while allowing the thermocouple wires to pass; compensation lead wires connected to the thermocouple wires; a metal sleeve having a cylindrical shape having a leading end part defining a connecting section connected with an outer peripheral surface of the metal sheath, and allowing a portion of the metal sheath closer to a proximal end than the connecting section, the thermocouple wires and the compensation lead wires to be in an internal space, the thermocouple wires and the compensation lead wires lying without contact between themselves; and a glass filler part made of a glass having a lower softening temperature than the glass seal part, and filling an internal space of the metal sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: OKAZAKI MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventor: Masaru Yamana
  • Patent number: 11175190
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device for determining a temperature of a liquid. The device comprises a first temperature sensor and a reference element. The reference element is composed of a material in which a phase transformation occurs at a predetermined temperature within a temperature range relevant for operation of the device. The material remains in the solid phase. Arranged on the reference element are a first and a second electrode electrically insulated from one another. The device includes a first connection line for contacting the first electrode, and a second connection line for contacting the second electrode. The device further includes a third connection line composed of a material different from the material of the first or the second connection line. The third connection line forms with the first or the second connection line the first temperature sensor in the form of a first thermocouple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Wetzer GmbH+Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Korn, Alfred Umkehrer
  • Patent number: 10989606
    Abstract: In one aspect, a temperature sensing assembly includes a thermowell, a temperature sensor, and at least one electrically conductive element. The thermowell includes a first gas impermeable barrier element defining a first chamber and a second gas impermeable barrier element defining a second chamber. The temperature sensor is at least partially disposed within the first chamber. The at least one electrically conductive element is connected to the temperature sensor in the second chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: DAILY THERMETRICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Carson Hotard, Larry Welch, Ian Savaya, Raymond Litteaur
  • Patent number: 10989607
    Abstract: A thermocouple capable of preventing a decrease in strength of a temperature measuring junction portion while maintaining temperature responsiveness and productivity in comparison with a conventional thermocouple. A thermocouple including two wires and a clamping member, the clamping member clamping the two wires while distal end portions of the wires being in contact with each other in parallel to provide a temperature measuring junction portion, in which when it is assumed that diameters of the two wires are d1 and d2 (where d1?d2) respectively; a length of the temperature measuring junction portion in a longitudinal direction of the two wires is L; a maximum width of the temperature measuring junction portion in a parallel direction of the two wires is D; and a maximum width in a direction orthogonal to the parallel direction in a cross section of the temperature measuring junction portion is E, the following equations are satisfied: 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: FURUYA METAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Maruko, Tomoaki Miyazawa, Shoji Saito, Yuya Okawa, Kensuke Morita, Yoshiteru Arai
  • Patent number: 10962421
    Abstract: A temperature sensing assembly includes first and second temperature sensors disposed within an elongate mineral insulated conductive sheath. A junction point of the first temperature sensor is electrically connected to the conductive sheath. The second temperature sensor is electrically isolated from the conductive sheath. Measurements obtained from the electrically isolated temperature sensor can be used to test insulation resistance of the assembly or temperature indications from the electrically isolated temperature sensor can be compared to measurements taken from the electrically connected junction point to take a variety of corrective actions during use of the temperature sensing assembly, such as adjusting the installation of the assembly or applying correction factors to measurements obtained from one of the temperature sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Daily Instruments
    Inventors: Raymond B. Litteaur, Jeffrey N. Daily
  • Patent number: 10842391
    Abstract: Systems, methods and devices for reducing noise in health monitoring including monitoring systems, methods and/or devices receiving a health signal and/or having at least one electrode or sensor for health monitoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: RDS SAS
    Inventors: Daniel Van Zandt Moyer, George Stefan Golda, Mark P. Marriott, Sam Eletr, Bruce O'Neil
  • Patent number: 10788374
    Abstract: A temperature sensing assembly for measuring the temperature of an inner wall of a high temperature vessel includes a thermocouple assembly having multiple junction points to provide indications of temperature. The assembly further includes support structures for supporting the thermocouple assembly in the interior space of the vessel and to maintain the junction points proximate the inner wall of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Daily Instruments
    Inventors: Jesse Branken, Samuel Stein, Jeffrey N. Daily, Carlos Alvarado, Raymond B. Litteaur
  • Patent number: 10663421
    Abstract: An assembly includes an electrical conductor disposed within an elongate mineral insulated conductive sheath. The electrical conductor is electrically grounded to the conductive sheath. The assembly also includes a test conductor disposed within and electrically isolated from the sheath to provide an indication of the insulation resistance of the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Daily Thermetrics Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey N. Daily, Raymond B. Litteaur
  • Patent number: 10591361
    Abstract: An apparatus for early warning against condensation induced hydraulic shock in a pipe, conveying a fluid present at least in a first part in the vapor phase and, in the case of condensate formation, in a second part in the form of a condensate, comprising at least two temperature sensors, which are arranged in the pipe and, thus, are fluid contacting, and at least one electronics unit, wherein the first temperature sensor is so arranged that it measures the temperature of the vapor, wherein the second temperature sensor is so arranged that it measures the temperature of the condensate, wherein the at least one electronics unit is so embodied that it ascertains the temperature difference between the temperature of the vapor and the temperature of the condensate, and, upon reaching a predetermined limit value for the temperature difference, generates a report.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: ENDRESS + HAUSER FLOWTEC AG
    Inventors: Rainer Hocker, Oliver Popp
  • Patent number: 10562190
    Abstract: The tactile sensor of the present disclosure is an indirect optical sensor, comprising a frame, a sensing plate, a single beam LED light source, a miniature camera, and a grating plate in the sensing plate and the single light source illuminates the grating plate. Geometric interference fringes caused by the shadows of gratings and gratings, images taken by a miniature camera, through an innovative instantaneous steps phase shifting technique, which eliminates the need for any mechanical phase shifting device to detect the pressure and space. The position is measured and has fast and accurate tactile sensing. The advantage of this method is that directly shooting the moiré image while calculating the spatial position, temperature, and pressure. Instantaneous steps phase shifting technique can solve the problems of traditional mechanical stepping, non-instant and complex operation problems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: National Central University
    Inventors: Ju-Yi Lee, Hong-Yih Yeh, Ying-Kai Hsu, An-Chi Wei
  • Patent number: 10545054
    Abstract: A temperature measurement system includes at least one grounded thermocouple operable to measure a temperature, a processor in communication with the grounded thermocouple and configured to measure the temperature, and a power supply coupled to the grounded thermocouple and the processor. The power supply is configured to receive a voltage input and generate an isolated voltage. The grounded thermocouple is selectively biased with the isolated voltage from the power supply during a temperature measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Reiman, John Rohde
  • Patent number: 10502635
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a temperature sensor with a thermocouple, which includes the following consecutive steps: a) manufacturing a cable with mineral insulator (14) including two thermocouple wires (10, 12) extending along the entire length of the cable with mineral insulator and embedded in a mineral insulator (8); b) stripping one of the ends of the cable with mineral insulator over a length of 2 to 20 mm, preferably less than 15 mm, preferably less than 10 mm, such as to expose the ends of the thermocouple wires; c) connecting the ends (40, 42) of the thermocouple wires thus exposed, such as to constitute a thermocouple hot spot (13); and d) attaching a cap (20) to said cable with mineral insulator so as to protect said hot spot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes de Controle Moteur
    Inventors: Olivier Dixneuf, Piotr Zakrzewski, Denis Gravat, Nicolas Gelez
  • Patent number: 10330538
    Abstract: A thermocouple temperature sensor has a thermocouple with first and second conductors connected at a junction and a resistance temperature device with first and second conductors. The first conductor of the resistance temperature device is connected to the first conductor of the thermocouple. A first external conductor is connected to the second conductor of the thermocouple, wherein the first external conductor is configured as a voltage sense conductor for the resistance temperature device and a voltage sense conductor for the thermocouple. A second external conductor is connected to the first conductors of the thermocouple and the resistance temperature device, wherein the second external conductor is configured as a current conductor for the resistance temperature device and a voltage sense conductor for the thermocouple. A third external conductor is connected to the second conductor of the resistance temperature device and is configured as a current conductor for the resistance temperature device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: ROSEMOUNT INC.
    Inventors: Jason Harold Rud, Allen John Kassen, Clarence Holmstadt
  • Patent number: 10279586
    Abstract: A method of printing a test pattern in a printer includes printing a related-information acquisition pattern as the test pattern in a particular state by driving a plurality of drive elements of a liquid ejection head to eject a liquid droplet from a plurality of nozzles based on a temperature detected by a temperature sensor. The related-information acquisition pattern is a pattern for acquiring related information relating to at least one of an ejection amount and a liquid droplet landing position of the liquid droplet ejected from each of the plurality of nozzles. The liquid droplet landing position is a position at which the liquid droplet ejected from each of the plurality of nozzles lands on a recording medium. The particular state is a state where a temperature difference between the temperature detected by the temperature sensor and an actual temperature of the liquid ejection head is constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Aya Kimura, Toshio Sugiura
  • Patent number: 10175117
    Abstract: A temperature sensing assembly for measuring the temperature of an inner wall of a high temperature vessel includes a thermocouple assembly having multiple junction points to provide indications of temperature. The assembly further includes support structures for supporting the thermocouple assembly in the interior space of the vessel and to maintain the junction points proximate the inner wall of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Inventors: Jesse Branken, Samuel Stein, Jeffrey N. Daily, Carlos Alvarado, Raymond B. Litteaur
  • Patent number: 10094716
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a temperature sensor assembly. The temperature sensor assembly comprises an element that is a sensing resistor, a pair of parallel lead wires connected to the element, a laminate configured to mechanically protect and surround the element and the lead wires, and lead wire drawn out parts extended and protruded from the lead wires to the outside of the laminate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: DOOSAN HEAVY INDUSTRIES & CONSTRUCTION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Young Wook Kim, Sung Jae Lee, Dong Uk Jeong
  • Patent number: 10001505
    Abstract: A method of improving accuracy of measurements of at least one motion sensor included in an electronic device, including receiving a candidate measurement associated with the electronic device from the at least one motion sensor; detecting an electronic device state associated with the electronic device, the electronic device state including one from among a static state and a motion state; computing a compensation parameter based on the candidate measurement and the electronic device state; and correcting the candidate measurement based on the computed compensation parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Swarna Ravindra Babu, C Rakesh, C Dhineshkumar, Y Megha Swaroop, Arun Kumar Siddanahalli Ninge Gowda, Deepak Bhatt
  • Patent number: 9958427
    Abstract: A drop-in probe for determining phase changes by thermal analysis of a sample of a molten metal includes a measurement head having a first end which is an immersion end and an opposing second end having an end face. A sample chamber is arranged within the measurement head. An opening, which is free of any restrictions and which is in communication with the sample chamber, is formed in the end face of the second end of the measurement head. The sample chamber includes a first thermocouple having a first thermocouple junction enclosed within a wall which has a uniform internal geometry. A ratio D/H of an internal diameter D of the sample chamber to a length H extending between the opening and the first thermocouple junction is between 0.1 and 1.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Heraeus Electro-Nite International N.V.
    Inventors: Paul A. Turner, Harry G. Clauss, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9823134
    Abstract: A decoupling radiant and convective heat sensing device, and a decoupling radiant and convective heat sensing device with a means for performing calculations and then determining a heat flux and an ambient temperature using formulas or reference tables, and also with a means for alerting a person of hazardous fire conditions based on a calculated heat flux and ambient temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: TDA Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Girish Srinivas, Michael Karpuk, Steven Gebhard, Joe Fredrickson
  • Patent number: 9746382
    Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for determining the temperature of an object. Such devices and methods incorporate first and second thermally conductive members, with a heating member associated with the first thermally conductive member. The second thermally conductive member is positionable adjacent to the object. The heating member is heated to a known temperature and a probe member is alternately brought into contact with the first and second thermally conductive members. When the probe member is in contact with one of the thermally conductive members, it will send an input to the controller. The controller compares the inputs to each other and, if they are not substantially equal, changes the temperature of the heating member, and the probe member is again alternately brought into contact with the thermally conductive members. When the inputs are substantially equal, the controller generates an output based on the temperature of the heating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: AVERY DENNISON RETAIL INFORMATION SERVICES, LLC
    Inventor: Ian James Forster
  • Patent number: 9528880
    Abstract: A temperature measurement system includes a plurality of filaments. The plurality of filaments are configured to emit thermal radiation in a relatively broad and substantially continuous wavelength band at least partially representative of a temperature of the plurality of filaments. A first and second portion of the filaments has a differing first and a second diameter and/or emissivity, respectively. The system also includes a detector array configured to generate electrical signals at least partially representative of the thermal radiation received from the filaments. The system further includes a controller communicatively coupled to the detector array configured to transform the first electrical signals to a first temperature indication at least partially as a function of the first diameter and/or first emissivity and transform the second electrical signals to a second temperature indication at least partially as a function of the second diameter and/or emissivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Guanghua Wang, Nirm Velumylum Nirmalan, Ronald Scott Bunker, Todd Garrett Wetzel, Robert Michael Zacharias, Shawn David Wehe, Robert David Briggs
  • Patent number: 9513171
    Abstract: The invention provides a detector comprising a metamaterial absorber and a micro-bolometer arranged to detect terahertz (THz) radiation. The metamaterial absorber can absorb multiple frequency bands, from the infrared and the THz regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The detector is scalable to be suitable for use in a focal plane array. The invention also provides a hybrid of a plasmonic filter, e.g. for optical radiation, and a metamaterial absorber for terahertz (and/or infrared) radiation, to create a single material capable of absorbing narrow band terahertz radiation and filtering radiation in another part of the spectrum, e.g. optical radiation. Such material has great potential in future imaging technology where hybridization can maximize the spectral information density of an optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: THE UNIVERSITY COURT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW
    Inventors: David Robert Sime Cumming, James Paul Grant, Iain James Hugh McCrindle
  • Patent number: 9450347
    Abstract: A power cord includes a plug having blades configured to be inserted into blade insertion holes of an electrical outlet, respectively. The power cord further includes thermal sensors provided for the blades one each. When a temperature detected with any of the thermal sensors is higher than a prescribed temperature, electric power is stopped from being supplied to a load from the blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Maki Kondou, Takashi Kawamoto, Ryota Tomiyama, Tatsuya Takagi
  • Patent number: 9404807
    Abstract: A detected temperature acquiring portion acquires detected temperatures from individual thermopile array sensors, a temperature change comparing portion compares changes in detected temperatures over time, for each respective location, between test locations selected from a overlapping region and individual comparing locations for two thermopile array sensors wherein planned detecting ranges partially overlap each other, to identify a best match location, a factor estimating portion, for each test location, generates an equation indicating a relationship between the best match location and positional shift factors, and establishes these equations as a system and solves the system of equations through a least-squares method to estimate the positional shift factors, and a detecting range identifying portion corrects location coordinates of the planned detecting ranges based on these positional shift factors to identify actual detecting ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: AZBIL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoki Hosoi, Mitsuhiro Honda
  • Patent number: 9398647
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating one or more light emitting devices are disclosed. In one example, the a negative temperature coefficient control parameter is applied to an amplifier to adjust a gain of the amplifier so as to provide a substantially constant level of irradiance output from one or more light emitting devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Phoseon Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Salvatore T. Battaglia
  • Patent number: 9354127
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for measuring a temperature distribution of a fuel cell includes: a base member formed to come into contact with at least a portion of a fuel cell and having at least one accommodating portion; a heat transfer tube accommodated in the accommodating portion; and a thermocouple inserted into a hollow of the heat transfer tube and measuring a temperature of heat transmitted through the heat transfer tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: DOOSAN HEAVY INDUSTRIES & CONSTRUCTION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Woonyong Choi, Jonghoon Park, Junghwan Kim, Yunsung Kim, Ingap Jang, Taewon Lee, Kilho Moon
  • Patent number: 9261886
    Abstract: A method and system for monitoring the temperature and humidity of warehouses are disclosed. The method includes: installing a detecting module in a cartridge, transporting the cartridge to a plurality of storages of the warehouse by a transmission assembly so as to measure the temperature and humidity of each of the storages by the detecting module, transmitting the measured results to a control unit by a wireless network, and dynamically monitoring the temperature and humidity of the warehouses according to the measured results by the control unit. The method and the system not only control and adjust the temperature and humidity of each of the storages of the warehouses in time, but also reduce detection cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Zenghong Chen, Chunhao Wu, Kunhsien Lin, Xiande Li, Yongqiang Wang, Weibing Yang, Minghu Qi, Zhenhua Guo, Yunshao Jiang
  • Patent number: 9140612
    Abstract: A high temperature Seebeck coefficient measurement apparatus and method with various features to minimize typical sources of errors is described. Common sources of temperature and voltage measurement errors which may impact accurate measurement are identified and reduced. Applying the identified principles, a high temperature Seebeck measurement apparatus and method employing a uniaxial, four-point geometry is described to operate from room temperature up to 1300K. These techniques for non-destructive Seebeck coefficient measurements are simple to operate, and are suitable for bulk samples with a broad range of physical types and shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventor: G. Jeffrey Snyder
  • Patent number: 9103730
    Abstract: The invention relates to a temperature sensor (24) for measuring the temperature on or in a living body. The temperature sensor (24) includes a plurality of thermocouples arranged distributed on a measurement surface (30) of the sensor (24) and electrically connected to create at least one series circuit, wherein thermojunctions (16, 18) formed by the thermocouples in each series circuit are divided into at least two, and preferably a total of two, spatially separate groups such that in each group when there is a change in temperature the thermojunctions (16, 18) cause an equivalent change in voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Inventor: Ruediger Stockert
  • Patent number: 9022644
    Abstract: The present inventions, in one aspect, are directed to a temperature sensing apparatus comprising a micromachined thermistor configured to output voltage and/or current signals which are/is correlated to an ambient temperature. The micromachined thermistor includes a micromachined thermistor structure suspended over and released from the substrate, wherein the micromachined thermistor structure includes a temperature dependent characteristic (e.g., resistance to an electrical current), and electrical contacts connected to the micromachined thermistor structure, wherein the electrical contacts are adapted to conduct the voltage and/or current signals. The apparatus, in one aspect, includes measurement circuitry, to generate data which is representative of the ambient temperature using the electrical resistance of the micromachined thermistor structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: SiTime Corporation
    Inventors: Carl Arft, Aaron Partridge, Paul M. Hagelin
  • Patent number: 8996327
    Abstract: An I/O circuit for measuring temperatures uses multiple cold-junction compensation sensors permanently affixed near the terminals of the terminal block in order to compensate significant temperature variation across the terminals of the I/O module (up to 3° C.) that can substantially affect the accuracy of thermocouple measurements. The use of these multiple sensors is enabled by a compensation system that corrects for the distance between the built-in sensors and the terminals, a multiplexer that accommodates the additional signal burden produced by the sensors, and a compensation system that allows low-cost sensors to be used and calibrated to as little as a single high accuracy sensor. In one embodiment, a third temperature sensor with relatively higher accuracy is used to compensate for lower accuracy of permanently affixed sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Asia Pacific Business Ctr. Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Liang Ge, Xiaofan Chen
  • Patent number: 8992081
    Abstract: A high temperature measurement probe comprises an elongate probe body having a measuring head which in use is located in a hot fluid flow. The probe further comprises a thermocouple extending along the interior of the probe body to terminate at a temperature-sensing thermocouple junction inside the measuring head. The probe body has internal passages for circulation of a coolant fluid therein. The measuring head contains a channel, one end of the channel forming an inlet for receiving hot fluid from the hot fluid flow and another end of the channel forming an outlet for discharging the hot fluid received at the inlet. Between the inlet and the outlet a section of the channel extends along the length direction of the probe body. The thermocouple runs along the section of the channel with the thermocouple junction proximate the upstream end of the section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Peter Ireland, Andrew Wilson, Steven Thorpe, Damian Martin
  • Patent number: 8967858
    Abstract: A method for monitoring at least two temperature sensors of a turbomachine that is aligned along a reference plane, the two temperature sensors being located in the same transverse plane of the turbomachine, the method including detecting the stoppage of the turbomachine; waiting for a period at least equal to a predetermined threshold period; measuring the temperature with each of the two temperature sensors; comparing the two temperatures measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventor: Guilhem Foiret
  • Patent number: 8961007
    Abstract: A method of forming a thermocouple (12), including: depositing a first material on a component (10) to form a first leg (14); depositing a second material through a mask (30) to form a pattern (50) on the component (10), the pattern (50) forming a plurality of discrete second leg junction ends (20) and a continuous patch (52) of the second material comprising indiscrete lead ends of the second legs (16), each second leg junction end (20) spanning from a respective junction (18) with the first leg (14) to the continuous patch (52); and laser-ablating the continuous patch (52) to form discrete lead ends (22) of the second legs (16), each lead end (22) electrically connected to a respective junction end (20), thereby forming discrete second legs (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramesh Subramanian, Anand A. Kulkarni, Kevin C. Sheehan
  • Patent number: 8950936
    Abstract: In a prior-art nail puncture test, it has been difficult to measure the temperature at a short-circuiting portion, which is closely related to the scale of an accident which occurs. As a solution, A nail puncture test device having a temperature measurement function, a sheath thermocouple, and a fixing portion 6 of the sheath thermocouple, wherein a bottomed hole through which the sheath thermocouple is inserted is bored in the axial direction from a head portion to the vicinity of the distal end at the center part of the outer frame, and the sheath thermocouple is fixed to the outer frame by the fixing portion 6 in a state where the sheath thermocouple is inserted into the bottomed hole and the distal end thereof having a temperature measurement point is in contact with the bottom of the hole is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignees: Honda Motor Company Limited, Okazaki Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Masaji Sawa, Naoki Maruno, Masaru Yamana
  • Publication number: 20150036721
    Abstract: A temperature measurement module having position compensation provided for connection to at least one thermocouple includes a temperature-dependent resistor, via which a first temperature of a reference point of the thermocouple can be detected as a resistance voltage. The temperature measurement module includes an evaluation circuit which allows a first temperature value of a measurement point to be determined via the resistance voltage and a thermoelectric voltage of the thermocouple. The temperature measurement module includes a compensation mechanism which modifies the first temperature value depending on the installation position of the temperature measurement module so that thermal influences of the evaluation circuit, which have a thermal effect on at least one of the reference point or the measurement point depending on position, are compensated at least in part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Hubertus Lohre, Norbert Joestingmeier
  • Patent number: 8944678
    Abstract: An instrumentation rake assembly comprises a rake tower capped at an immersed end and mated to a lead carrier at a base end. The rake tower comprises a curved wall oriented along a longitudinal axis and supporting a plurality of probe holders. The curved wall has an inner surface defining an internal passage for carrying instrumentation from the probe holders to the lead carrier. In another aspect, an instrumentation rake assembly comprises a plurality of rake towers, each having a base end and an immersed end, and each rake tower being coupled at its immersed end to one or more other rake towers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Zachary John Snider, Sylvain Pierre, Kurt Kramer Schleif
  • Publication number: 20150030052
    Abstract: A measurement system including: a radial external hole on a cover of a railway axle-box on the side of an edge of the cover facing towards a rolling bearing of the axle-box; a smaller axial hole made on the edge of the cover facing towards a ring of the bearing and opening in the radial hole; a cup-shaped body accommodated in the radial hole; a fork shaped spring integrally carried by a bottom wall of the cup-shaped body, projecting in front of the axial hole; a temperature probe slidingly accommodated within the axial hole and including a tubular element incorporating an electrical temperature sensor and an electric cable protruding from a first end of the tubular element accommodated within the cup-shaped body; and an abutting element removably coupled to the first end to cooperate with the spring, which pushes a second end of the probe out of the axial hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Maurizio Martinetti, Mario Rossi, Silvano Sema, Fabrizio Sozzi
  • Publication number: 20150030053
    Abstract: In a temperature measuring device set (1) with at least one thermocouple (2) and a temperature measuring device (3) that can be connected to the thermocouple (2) in order to measure a temperature, according to the invention a measurement sensor (13, 14) for measuring or detecting a magnetic property is arranged on at least one opposing contact element (11, 12) mating with a contact element (9, 10) of the thermocouple (2), in order to automatically provide specific information or a characteristic curve of the connected thermocouple (2) on the basis of an output signal of the measurement sensor (13, 14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: TESTO AG
    Inventors: Jens Akervall, Martin Rombach, Wolfgang Schworer