Thermal Calibration System Patents (Class 374/1)
  • Patent number: 10514308
    Abstract: A method of detecting an environment vale of an electronic device is provided. The method includes measuring a state of one or more units related to the electronic device, determining a value based at least in part on the measured state of the one or more units related to the electronic device, determining an operation state of the electronic device according to the value, and generating an approximated environment value according to the operation state. Further, other various embodiments are available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoon-Kyu Jang, Han-Sub Jung, Chee-Hoon Lee, Jeong-Min Park, Jae-Woong Chun
  • Patent number: 10514307
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to enhance fault detection accuracy offered by a fault detection apparatus. A microcomputer reads a characteristic signal input thereto. The microcomputer compares a characteristic read from the characteristic signal with a previously established reference value. The previously established reference value represents a characteristic exhibited by a resistor that is connected with a temperature sensor circuit when the temperature sensor circuit operates normally. The microcomputer determines whether the characteristic exhibited by the resistor falls within a detection range. If it is determined that the characteristic falls with the detection range, the temperature sensor circuit is detected to be operational and information indicating that the temperature sensor circuit is operational is output to a host control apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichirou Hida, Satoru Shigeta
  • Patent number: 10502629
    Abstract: A device for detecting infrared radiation emanating from a subject while not in physical contact with the subject. The device includes a body, an infrared sensor located in the body oriented to receive the infrared radiation and to generate at least one output that corresponds to the received infrared radiation, an analog to digital converter in communication with the infrared sensor to receive the at least one output, a processor in communication with the analog to digital converter or infrared sensor to process data received into a temperature associated with the subject, a memory module to store a first plurality of computed temperatures in a predetermined sequence; and a filter module to select a first maximum from among the first plurality of computed temperatures. A method of determining the temperature of a subject is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Infrared Medical Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Timothy Johnson
  • Patent number: 10494984
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for determining coolant system health. In one example, a method may include predicting degradation in the coolant system based on oscillations of an estimated coolant temperature at an outlet of a radiator. The method may further control an engine based on the estimated coolant temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Phillip Bonkoski, Amey Y. Karnik, Meisam Mehravaran, Joshua Putman Styron
  • Patent number: 10488269
    Abstract: A method includes alternately coupling a selected one of a plurality of current sources and two or more of the plurality of current sources to a first terminal of a bipolar device during first and second phases of a modulator cycle of a plurality of modulator cycles. The method further includes providing sampled voltages from the first terminal of the bipolar device to a modulator to produce a modulator output signal, filtering the modulator output signal to produce a filtered output signal using a back-end filter having an impulse response, and determining a temperature in response to the filtered output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventor: David R Welland
  • Patent number: 10443876
    Abstract: A HVAC controller located within a building zone includes a housing, a wireless radio, a controller monitor, a temperature sensor, and a temperature compensation module. The wireless radio is contained within the housing and is configured to transmit data via a wireless HVAC network. The controller monitor is configured to detect wireless activity of the wireless radio, the wireless activity generating heat inside the housing and causing a temperature inside the housing to exceed a temperature of the building zone outside the housing. The temperature sensor is configured to measure the temperature inside the housing. The temperature compensation module is configured to determine a wireless heat rise resulting from the wireless activity, to calculate a temperature offset based on the wireless heat rise, and to determine the temperature of the building zone outside the housing by subtracting the temperature offset from the temperature measured inside the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Christine R. Erickson, Michael J. Ajax, Christopher J. McCann, Daniel R. Hjortland, Justin J. Seifi
  • Patent number: 10401236
    Abstract: Apparatuses are presented. The apparatus includes a sensor configured with an adjustable accuracy setting to measure a physical parameter and a controller configured to adjust the accuracy setting based on a threshold, and to adjust the threshold based on the physical parameter measured by the sensor. Another apparatus includes a sensor configured with a plurality of sensor accuracy settings to measure a physical parameter of a circuit in a plurality of operating regions. The plurality of operating regions is based on ranges of the physical parameter measured by the sensor. Each of the plurality of sensor accuracy settings corresponds to one of the plurality of operating regions. A controller is configured to adjust one of the ranges of the physical parameter for one of the plurality of operating regions, in response to a change of an operating condition of the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Mohammad Ghasemazar, Mohammad Meysam Zargham
  • Patent number: 10389348
    Abstract: A temperature protection device includes temperature detection devices detecting the temperatures of switching elements and a control device controlling the switching elements. The control device stops driving of a first switching element the temperature of which rises to an overheat detection temperature and resumes the driving of the first switching element when the temperature of the first switching element drops to a return temperature. The control device controls timing of resuming the driving of the first switching element so that an undriven time period of the first switching element is longer in a case where at least one of the switching elements other than the first switching element is in a high load state when the temperature of the first switching element reaches the overheat detection temperature than that in a case where all the switching elements other than the first switching element are in a low load state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ippei Kawamoto
  • Patent number: 10374589
    Abstract: A temperature detecting circuit comprising: a comparator, comprising a first comparing terminal and a second comparing terminal; a time interval computing unit; a switch module, coupled to the first comparing terminal and the second comparing terminal, comprising a reference voltage terminal coupled to a reference voltage source, and comprising a first input terminal, a second input terminal and a third input terminal; a first current source, comprising a first charging terminal coupled to the first input terminal and the second input terminal; a first capacitor, coupled to the first current source at the first charging terminal; a capacitance adjusting unit, coupled to the first capacitor; a second current source, comprising a second charging terminal coupled to the third input terminal, wherein the second current source is a current source which provides a constant current; and a second capacitor, coupled to the second current source at the second charging terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Wooi Kip Lim, Yong Yeap Tan
  • Patent number: 10371579
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a blackbody calibration target having a textured silicon substrate comprising a base comprising a plurality of needle like structures extending away from the base and having a total emissivity of greater than 99.5% from an electromagnetic radiation source having a wavelength greater than or equal to about 400 nanometers and less than or equal to about 1 mm. The disclosure is further directed to a blackbody calibration target system, and instrument which includes the blackbody calibration target, and a method of calibrating an instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: William R. Johnson, Karl Y. Yee, Simon J. Hook
  • Patent number: 10310536
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: an integrated circuit (IC) including an internal circuit; and a mismatch detection and correction circuit connected to the internal circuit of the IC, the mismatch detection and correction circuit configured to detect a process mismatch and correct an error in the internal circuit caused by the process mismatch using a current difference between a first current and a second current based on a charged voltage of a capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Joo-Seong Kim, Sang-Ho Kim, Kwang-Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 10203250
    Abstract: A temperature correcting device includes: a power supply that supplies electric power to a terminal machine; a lapsed time obtain part that acquires a lapsed time after the power supply stops the supply of electric power; a temperature detector disposed in the terminal machine to detect a temperature inside the terminal machine as an internal temperature; and an external temperature estimation part that estimates a temperature out of the terminal machine as an external temperature by correcting the internal temperature using a temperature correction value which changes with the lapsed time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Takahiro Miyajima
  • Patent number: 10147340
    Abstract: Simulation systems for demonstrating and/or testing medical devices and methods for demonstrating and/or testing medical devices using simulation systems are disclosed. An example simulation system may include a simulation module. The simulation module may include circuitry and one or more indicators. The circuitry may be capable of establishing impedance levels simulating impedances at tissue-electrode conduction paths. In some cases, the circuitry may be capable of sensing a temperature at the simulated tissue-electrode conduction paths. The one or more indicators may be able to provide indications corresponding to the established impedance levels. An example method of demonstrating or testing a medical device may include determining whether established impedance levels match electrode activation settings of an ablation generator (e.g., a medical device).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.
    Inventor: Prabodh Mathur
  • Patent number: 10145262
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a degree of clogging of the starting injectors of a turbine engine, which includes: a combustion chamber into which at least one starting injector supplied with fuel leads, the starting injectors being suitable for initiating the combustion in the chamber by igniting the fuel; and a turbine rotated by the gases resulting from the combustion of the fuel in the chamber, the method including the steps involving: the measurement, during a phase of starting the turbine engine, of the temperature of the exhaust gases at the outlet of the turbine; and the determination, from the changes over time in the temperature thus measured, of a degree of clogging of the starting injectors. A system for monitoring a degree of clogging capable of implementing the method, and a turbine engine including such a system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: SAFRAN HELICOPTER ENGINES
    Inventors: Nadir Christian Debbouz, Philippe Patrick Marc De Barbeyrac, Florian Arnaud Jonathan Enguehard, Francois Xavier Marie Faupin, Fabien Lamazere
  • Patent number: 10120018
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure describe wafer-level die testing devices having a base with a planar X-Y surface, a plurality of thermal actuators situated on the surface, wherein one or more of the plurality of thermal actuators is movable in relation to the base in at least one of the X or the Y directions, and one or more adjustable links, wherein each adjustable link is to adjust a relative position between an individual thermal actuator of the plurality of thermal actuators and one or more other thermal actuators of the plurality of thermal actuators in one or more of the X or the Y directions. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Eric J. M. Moret
  • Patent number: 10036659
    Abstract: A measuring point and method for function setting of a measuring point of process automation technology, wherein the measuring point comprises at least one sensor and a transmitter circuit. The sensor is connected via the transmitter circuit with a superordinated data processing system. The method comprises steps as follows: disconnecting the sensor from the transmitter circuit; connecting a mobile unit with the transmitter circuit and transferring parameters from the mobile unit into the transmitter circuit; disconnecting the mobile unit; connecting a, or the, sensor with the transmitter circuit; and transferring at least one parameter from the transmitter circuit into the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Conducts GmbH+Co. KG
    Inventor: Manfred Jagiella
  • Patent number: 10030329
    Abstract: The device (1) comprises: a casing (2-4) in which there is clamped a diaphragm (5) which, together with a portion of the casing (2-4), defines at least one chamber (6, 7) having a variable volume; a winding (14); an interaction member (13), adapted to magnetically interact with the winding (14) as a consequence of a displacement of the diaphragm (5), in such a way that the inductance of the winding (14) varies as a function of the relative position of the interaction member (13) with respect to the winding (14), and a processing unit (17) coupled to the winding (14), in order to supply electric signals having a parameter which is variable as a function of the inductance of the winding (14) and thus as a function of the relative position of the interaction member (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: ELBI INTERNATIONAL S.P.A.
    Inventors: Paolo Da Pont, Paolo Ravedati, Massimo Davi, Giorgio Carrer, Nicola Grieco, Francesco Palmisano, Giuseppe Tarantino
  • Patent number: 9989425
    Abstract: A distributed temperature sensor, a method of determining temperature, and a processing system to compute temperature are described. The sensor includes an optical fiber disposed in an area where temperature is to be measured, a primary light source to inject light into the optical fiber, and a secondary light source to inject light into the optical fiber. The sensor additionally includes a photodetector to detect backscatter light energy from the optical fiber the backscatter light energy including Stokes Raman scatter or anti-Stokes Raman scatter and primary Rayleigh scatter resulting from the primary light source and secondary Rayleigh scatter resulting from the secondary light source, and a processor to determine temperature based on a ratio of the Stokes Raman scatter or the anti-Stokes Raman scatter and a combination of the primary Rayleigh scatter and the secondary Rayleigh scatter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Ian Mitchell, William Johnston, Ashwin Chandran
  • Patent number: 9939336
    Abstract: The invention relates to systems and methods for calibrating and using resistance temperature detectors. In one embodiment, the system includes a calibration circuit comprising a resistance temperature detector in a bridge circuit with at least one potentiometer, and a programmable gain amplifier coupled to the bridge circuit. Embodiments of the invention further comprise methods for calibrating the bridge circuit and the programmable gain amplifier for use with the resistance temperature detector and methods for determining the self heating voltage of the bridge circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Canon U.S. Life Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Johnathan S. Coursey, Kenton C. Hasson, Gregory H. Owen
  • Patent number: 9921227
    Abstract: Biological sample measurement device includes biological sample measuring instrument, and temperature information supply instrument which supplies temperature information regarding a measurement environment to biological sample measuring instrument and has holding portion of biological sample measuring instrument on the upper surface thereof. Biological sample measuring instrument has main body case, measurement unit provided inside main body case, a control unit connected to the measurement unit, and temperature information reception unit connected to the control unit. Holder has temperature sensor, and temperature information transmission unit which is connected to temperature sensor and transmits the temperature information to temperature information reception unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Healthcare Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keisuke Matsumura, Masumi Aono, Kaoru Shigematsu, Yoshiki Takeuchi, Takahiro Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9909930
    Abstract: One example discloses a multi-sensor assembly, comprising: a first temperature sensor, having a first thermal profile; a second temperature sensor, having a second thermal profile different from the first thermal profile; wherein the first and second temperature sensors are mounted on a set of lead-frames; wherein the first and second temperature sensors include a first heat path input coupled to an ambient environment, and a second heat path input coupled to at least one of the lead-frames; and wherein the first and second sensors and set of lead-frames are included in a single multi-sensor assembly. Another example discloses a method of manufacture for the multi-sensor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Zoran Zivkovic, Kim Phan Le, Hilco Suy
  • Patent number: 9897491
    Abstract: A protecting tube deterioration detecting apparatus applies a predetermined electric current to a measurement target thermocouple with protecting tube for a predetermined time, calculates a temperature rise amount of the thermocouple, and determines, when the calculated temperature rise amount exceeds a predetermined threshold, that the protecting tube is deteriorated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihide Fukui, Chitaka Manabe, Eiji Takahashi, Yasuaki Yamane, Yusuke Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9897489
    Abstract: A processing apparatus and a method capable of accurately measuring a real temperature of a workpiece contained and heated in a chamber. The processing apparatus includes a chamber containing a workpiece, a measurement piece installed in the chamber, and a measuring unit. The measurement piece is capable of thermal expansion and contraction in response to an internal temperature of the chamber. The measuring unit measures a thermal expansion and contraction amount of the measurement piece to thereby measure the real temperature of the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirofumi Fujii
  • Patent number: 9882229
    Abstract: A device for the storage of compressed hydrogen gas comprises a plurality of glass capillary tubes each having a sealed extremity and an open extremity, wherein said plurality of glass capillary tubes is sheathed in an external tubular cover, and wherein the open end of a bundle of said tubular covers is housed in an adaptor, and wherein said adaptor is suitable to allow compressed hydrogen gas to be added to, and to prevent said hydrogen gas from escaping from, said glass capillary tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: C. EN LTD.
    Inventor: Moshe Stern
  • Patent number: 9874366
    Abstract: A ventilation method and system is described for providing adequate ventilation to an indoor environment while avoiding certain periods of times where ventilation air conditions or other control variables tend to be less optimal or preferable for ventilation, but while still meeting established or future ventilation air standards. The described system and method utilize incremental target cycle times determined based on a regression analysis estimating expression of fractional on time as a function of effectiveness multiplied by fractional on time for a corresponding cycle periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Research Products Corporation
    Inventor: Scott Grefsheim
  • Patent number: 9863821
    Abstract: A calibrator for calibrating devices with a temperature function, e.g. thermometers or thermal switches has an input and display unit. The calibrator has a capacitive touchscreen with the input and display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: SIKA Dr. Siebert & Kühn GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: René Friedrichs, Michael Göldner
  • Patent number: 9857241
    Abstract: A method of operating a differential scanning calorimeter wherein errors in the heat flow rate measurement are reduced by operating the calorimeter in a quasiadiabatic mode and by employing a heat flow rate measurement algorithm that includes the leakage heat flow rate. The temperature of the DSC enclosure is controlled independently of the temperature of the measuring system, which allows the temperature difference between the sample and reference containers and the enclosure to be minimized, thus minimizing leakage heat flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: WATERS TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Robert L. Danley
  • Patent number: 9827845
    Abstract: A grille shutter is a device configured to adjust a temperature of coolant water of an engine by adjusting an amount of outside air introduced into a radiator of the engine. An ECU performs a failure diagnosis for the engine based on a temperature of coolant water of the engine. When the grille shutter is immovable in an opened state of the grille shutter regardless of an operating command to the grille shutter, the ECU renders the failure diagnosis process for the thermostat valve not to be executed. As a result, an incorrect operation of various controls executed based on a temperature of coolant water of the engine can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuya Miyaji, Hitoki Sugimoto, Toshitake Sasaki, Yoshihisa Oda, Kenji Kimura
  • Patent number: 9829449
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for testing thermal performance of a coating layer are provided. The method for testing thermal performance of a coating layer involves obtaining a first thermal gradient by exposing one side of a metal base test piece to heat and exposing another side of the metal base test piece to a cooling air; obtaining a second thermal gradient by exposing a coating layer side of a coating layer test piece to heat and exposing an opposite side to a cooling air; calculating an exterior temperature Tf of a coating layer of the coating layer test piece and a temperature Te of a boundary side of the coating layer using the first thermal gradient; and calculating a temperature difference T? between the exterior temperature Tf of the coating layer and the temperature Te of the boundary side of the coating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Research & Business Foundation Sungkyunkwan University
    Inventors: Changsung Seok, Yongseok Kim
  • Patent number: 9829389
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods and devices for control of an integrated thin-film device with a plurality of microfluidic channels. In one embodiment, a microfluidic device is provided that includes a microfluidic chip having a plurality of microfluidic channels and a plurality of multiplexed heater electrodes, wherein the heater electrodes are part of a multiplex circuit including a common lead connecting the heater electrodes to a power supply, each of the heater electrodes being associated with one of the microfluidic channels. The microfluidic device also includes a control system configured to regulate power applied to each heater electrode by varying a duty cycle, the control system being further configured to determine the temperature of each heater electrode by determining the resistance of each heater electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Canon U.S. Life Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Johnathan S. Coursey, Kenton C. Hasson, Gregory H. Owen, Gregory A. Dale
  • Patent number: 9810589
    Abstract: There is provided a system and method for automatically calibrating a temperature sensor. More specifically, there is provided a system including a temperature sensor that includes a first resistance configured to indicate a temperature of the temperature sensor and a second resistance, in series with the first resistor, wherein the second resistance is adjustable to calibrate the first resistance, and a calibration circuit, coupled to the temperature sensor and configured to automatically calibrate the first resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Manoj Sinha, Sujeet Ayyapureddi, Brandon Roth
  • Patent number: 9797829
    Abstract: A method for assessing damage to a composite material covered with a polyurethane-type paint is provided. Two separate criteria are measured on a spectrogram obtained by infrared spectrometry, thereby characterizing thermal ageing of the paint, each separate criteria being a measurement on a curve of a spectrum of the spectrogram of a height of a particular peak, thereby giving two independent assessments of the thermal ageing. Then, the two separate criteria are combined together in order to obtain a result of a level of the damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: AIRCELLE
    Inventors: Andre Baillard, Odile Lefeu, Frederic Joubert, Emmanuel Piel
  • Patent number: 9726556
    Abstract: A method for calibrating a temperature sensor arranged in a vapor compression system is disclosed. The opening degree of an expansion device is alternatingly increased and decreased. Simultaneously a temperature of refrigerant entering the evaporator and a temperature of refrigerant leaving the evaporator are monitored. For each cycle of the opening degree of the expansion device, a maximum temperature, T1, max, of refrigerant entering the evaporator, and a minimum temperature, T2, min, of refrigerant leaving the evaporator are registered. A calibration value, ?T1, is calculated as ?T1=C?(T2, min?T1, max) for each cycle, and a maximum calibration value, among the calculated values is selected. Finally, temperature measurements performed by the first temperature sensor are adjusted by an amount defined by ?T1, max.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Danfoss A/S
    Inventors: Roozbeh Izadi-Zamanabadi, Casper Lindholdt Andersen
  • Patent number: 9714872
    Abstract: A solid thermal simulator sensing device, the device can simulate and sense the thermal characteristics of a perishable element and is easily calibrated to a verifiable standard. The device is fabricated from a single piece of solid material sized to have a thermal mass substantially equal to that of said perishable element. A sensing channel is located within the single piece of solid material. The sensing channel extends from one end towards the center. A temperature sensor is mounted within the sensing channel. The thermal response time of the device is slowed by the single piece of solid material to mimic the thermal properties of the perishable element. A calibration channel is extends from the outer surface of the device to a point adjacent the temperature sensor. A calibration probe may be inserted into the calibration channel to quickly verify the accuracy of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: COOPER-ATKINS CORPORATION
    Inventor: John Patrick Greene
  • Patent number: 9714868
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to systems, methods, and apparatuses for thermal sensor power savings using a toggle control. In some embodiments, an integrated circuit (e.g., a memory device) includes an on-die thermal sensor, a storage element (e.g., a register), and toggle logic. The toggle logic may transition the thermal sensor from a first power consumption level to a second power consumption level responsive, at least in part, to a toggle indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher E. Cox
  • Patent number: 9683898
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining an actual junction temperature (Tj) and/or an actual collector current (IC) of an IGBT device, wherein the IGBT device has a main emitter (EM) and an auxiliary emitter (EA), comprising the steps of; measuring the characteristics of an emitter voltage drop (VEE?) as a difference between a main emitter voltage (VE) at the main emitter (EM) and an auxiliary emitter voltage (VE?) at the auxiliary emitter (EA) during a switching operation of the IGBT device; and determining the junction temperature and/or the collector current (IC) based on the characteristics of the emitter voltage drop (VEE?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Vinoth Sundaramoorthy, Enea Bianda, Richard Bloch, Iulian Nistor, Gerold Knapp
  • Patent number: 9677458
    Abstract: A temperature control device for an internal combustion engine includes a determining drive processor and an abnormality determining processor. The determining drive processor drives an electric pump when the difference between the water temperature and the ambient temperature is greater than or equal to a predetermined value while the electric pump is stopped. The abnormality determining processor determines that at least one of the water temperature sensor and the ambient temperature sensor is abnormal on a condition that the decrease amount of the water temperature. The determining drive processor includes a stopping processor, which stops driving of the electric pump when the cumulative amount of coolant discharged from the electric pump reaches the predetermined cumulative amount with driving of the electric pump. The predetermined cumulative amount is set according to the volume of the engine passage between the inlet of the engine passage and the water temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kentaro Mushiga
  • Patent number: 9620000
    Abstract: A method for balancing recognition accuracy and power consumption is provided. The method includes activating a plurality of sensors onboard a device for a first time period and calculating sensor readings by using a calculation function. The method also includes determining a plurality of sensor subsets of the plurality of sensors and calculating corresponding errors for the plurality of sensor subsets for the first time period. Further, the method includes calculating respective power consumption of running the sensor subsets of the plurality of sensors from the plurality of sensor subsets that produce the error below the user-defined error threshold and selecting a sensor subset with minimum power consumption from the sensor subsets as an optimal sensor subset. In addition, the method includes deactivating the plurality of sensors not in the optimal sensor subset and calculating and displaying sensor readings with the optimal sensor subset for a second time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: TCL RESEARCH AMERICA INC.
    Inventors: Haohong Wang, Nathaniel Rossol
  • Patent number: 9599521
    Abstract: An apparatus includes at least one sensor, a connector and a conversion unit. The sensor is coupled to a patient body so as to measure a physiological parameter of the body. The connector coupled to a patient monitor, which measures a value of the physiological parameter by applying a test signal via the connector and measuring a response signal on the connector in response to the test signal. The conversion unit is coupled between the at least one sensor and the connector, and is configured to determine a corrected value of the physiological parameter, to calculate an auxiliary signal that, in combination with the test signal produced by the patient monitor, causes the response signal on the connector to represent the corrected value of the physiological parameter, and to generate and output the auxiliary signal to the connector so as to cause the patient monitor to measure the corrected value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Medisim, LTD.
    Inventors: Moshe Yarden, Vladimir Gorovetz
  • Patent number: 9534527
    Abstract: A thermostat failure detection device sequentially calculates a normal-time minimum water temperature on an assumption that a thermostat is normal and an internal combustion engine is operated in a state where the engine water temperature is less likely to rise, sequentially calculates a failure-time maximum water temperature on an assumption that the thermostat is in a stuck-open failure state and the internal combustion engine is operated in a state where the engine water temperature is likely to rise, determines the failure of the thermostat if the engine water temperature is lower than the normal-time minimum water temperature, determines the normality of the thermostat if the engine water temperature is higher than the failure-time maximum water temperature, and determines neither the normality nor the failure if the engine water temperature is between the normal-time minimum water temperature and the failure-time maximum water temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yousuke Sakayori, Takane Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9530679
    Abstract: A chuck includes a first material layer having an upper surface upon which a wafer is supported. The upper surface includes portions that physically contact the wafer and portions that form gaps between the upper surface and the wafer. The chuck also includes a second material layer defined to support the first material layer. The second material layer is formed of a thermally conductive material and includes a first number of channels. The chuck also includes a second number of channels defined to direct a gas to portions of the upper surface that form gaps between the upper surface and the wafer. The chuck is characterized by a thermal calibration curve that represents a thermal interface between the upper surface and the wafer, heat transfer through the first material layer to the second material layer, and heat transfer through the second material layer to the first number of channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Keith William Gaff, Neil Martin Paul Benjamin
  • Patent number: 9470587
    Abstract: A solid thermal simulator sensing device, the device can simulate and sense the thermal characteristics of a perishable element and is easily calibrated to a verifiable standard. The device is fabricated from a single piece of solid material sized to have a thermal mass substantially equal to that of said perishable element. A sensing channel is located within the single piece of solid material. The sensing channel extends from one end towards the center. A temperature sensor is mounted within the sensing channel. The thermal response time of the device is slowed by the single piece of solid material to mimic the thermal properties of the perishable element. A calibration channel is extends from the outer surface of the device to a point adjacent the temperature sensor. A calibration probe may be inserted into the calibration channel to quickly verify the accuracy of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: COOPER-ATKINS CORPORATION
    Inventor: John Patrick Greene
  • Patent number: 9448122
    Abstract: A multi-point temperature sensing method for integrated circuit chips and a system of the same are revealed. The system includes at least one slave temperature sensor embedded at preset positions for measuring temperature of a block and a master temperature sensor embedded in an integrated circuit chip and electrically connected to each slave temperature sensor. Variations of the slave temperature sensor induced by variations of process, voltage and temperature are corrected by the master temperature sensor. Thus the area the temperature sensors required on the integrated circuit chip is dramatically reduced and the stability of the temperature control system is improved. The problem of conventional System-on-a-Chip that only a limited number of temperature sensors could be used due to the area they occupied can be solved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: National Cheng Kung University
    Inventors: Soon-Jyh Chang, Guan-Ying Huang, Kuen-Jong Lee, Wen-Yu Su, Chung-Ho Chen, Lih-Yih Chiou, Chih-Hung Kuo, Chien-Hung Tsai, Chia-Min Lin
  • Patent number: 9442170
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a circuit is configured to produce a magnetic field signal having a frequency spectrum. The circuit may also produce a temperature signal. A modulation circuit may modulate the temperature signal with a frequency outside the frequency spectrum of the magnetic field signal. The modulated signal and the magnetic field signal may be combined to produce a combined signal. A separation circuit may be configured to separate component signals from the combined signal. The separation circuit may include a first filter, which, when applied to the combined signal, produces a filtered signal; a modulation circuit configured to shift the data representing the temperature signal to a baseband frequency; and a second filter configured to separate the data representing the temperature signal from the combined signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Mathew Drouin, Devon Fernandez, William P. Taylor
  • Patent number: 9435832
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic component (1), in particular a current sensor, having a resistance element (5) made of a resistance material, a first connection part (3) made of a conductor material for introducing an electrical current into the resistance element (5), and a second connection part (4) made of a conductor material for discharging the electrical current from the resistance element (5). According to the invention, the component (1) has a temperature-measuring device (8) for measuring a temperature difference between the resistance element (5), on the one hand, and at least one of the two connection parts (3, 4), on the other hand, in order to derive the current from the temperature difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Isabellenhuette Heusler GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ullrich Hetzler
  • Patent number: 9429484
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the heat flow (dQ/dt) emanating from a heat transporting fluid (12), which is a mixture of at least two different fluids, and which flows through a flow space (11) from a first position, where it has a first temperature (T1), to a second position, where it has, due to that heat flow (dQ/dt), a second temperature (T2), which is lower than said first temperature (T1), whereby the density and specific heat of said heat transporting fluid (12) is determined by measuring the speed of sound (vs) in said fluid, and said density and specific heat of said heat transporting fluid (12) is used to determine the heat flow (dQ/dt).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: BELIMO Holding AG
    Inventors: Mats Lindgren, Carl Carlander, Philip Holoch
  • Patent number: 9429483
    Abstract: A method for calibrating a transmitter with measurement circuitry electrically connected to first and second input terminals includes connecting a primary temperature sensor to the first input terminal and connecting a calibrated reference device to the second input terminal. The measurement circuitry is calibrated with respect to the first input terminal according to signals received from the second input terminal while measuring temperature according to signals received from the first input terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Rosemount Inc.
    Inventors: Loren Michael Engelstad, Dirk Willy Bauschke, Jason Harold Rud
  • Patent number: 9285333
    Abstract: A combustible gas detection device includes an energization control circuit which controls the switching of the energization state of a heat generation resistor every predetermined time period such that the heat generation resistor alternately has resistances corresponding to two predetermined temperatures, a temperature measurement resistor disposed on the same substrate on which the heat generation resistor is disposed, where its resistance changes with the environmental temperature, a gas concentration computation section which calculates the combustible gas concentration by using a voltage generated across the heat generation resistor which is detected when electricity is supplied to the heat generation resistor and the environmental temperature based on a voltage change caused by a change in the resistance of the temperature measurement resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaya Watanabe, Shoji Kitanoya, Daisuke Ichikawa, Masahiro Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9282627
    Abstract: A linear actuator system comprising at least one linear actuator, a power supply, a control and an operation device. The linear actuator system comprises at least one printed circuit board having multiple layers comprising an electrically conductive circuit. At least one of the layers of the printed circuit board is designed as a detection layer for detecting a leakage current in the electrical circuit, including the electronic components mounted on the printed circuit board. An output voltage is applied to the detection layer, said voltage falling outside of the voltage range in which the electrical circuit works.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Linak A/S
    Inventor: Jeppe Christian Bastholm
  • Patent number: 9222844
    Abstract: A process temperature transmitter is operable with at least one temperature sensor having a plurality of leads. The temperature transmitter includes measurement circuitry operably coupleable to the at least one temperature sensor to provide an indication of an electrical parameter of the at least one temperature sensor. A controller is coupled to the measurement circuitry to obtain the indication and provide a process temperature output. A current source applies a test current to the plurality of leads simultaneously. Diagnostic circuitry measures a voltage response on each lead in order to provide a diagnostic indication of the temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Rosemount Inc.
    Inventor: Jason H. Rud