Thermal Testing Of A Nonthermal Quantity Patents (Class 374/45)
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Patent number: 6345910Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the magnesium content in molten aluminum alloy by thermal analysis by determining on a cooling curve the eutectic temperature, and substituting the above eutectic temperature in a formula of Mg={(577−TE)/4.4}×Si/12.5.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2000Date of Patent: February 12, 2002Assignee: Metal Science Ltd.Inventor: Mayuki Morinaka
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Patent number: 6341890Abstract: A sensor used to measure temperature or concentration of a combustible gas. The sensor includes an optical head that picks up infrared information emitted by the combustible gas. The infrared information is conveyed from the optical sensor through a diffracting device onto a strip of photodetectors. A processor receives the information garnered by the photodetectors and determines the concentration and temperature profile of the combustible gas based on a stored thermodynamic model, radiation behavior, varying the thermodynamic parameters, and comparing a calculated spectrum with the measured spectrum. The sensor additionally has elements, such as cooling devices and casing to make it suitable for use with aviation where altitude creates problems with known methods of gas temperature analysis.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 1999Date of Patent: January 29, 2002Assignee: Auxitrol S.A.Inventors: Johana Vally, Olivier Legras, Philippe Herve, Frédéric Peronnet, Marc Bernard, Eric Collet
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Patent number: 6343259Abstract: Apparatus and methods for inspecting electrical connections so as to determine the presence of fault connections between magnet wires and power leads are described. The apparatus includes a processing unit, a power supply unit, and a temperature sensing unit. The processing unit includes a programmable logic controller (PLC) having a central processing unit (CPU) and a plurality of input and output slots. The power supply unit includes a power lead connector configured to couple to the motor power leads and a power relay coupled to the PLC. The temperature sensing unit includes infrared thermometers to determine the temperature at the electrical connections between the stator magnet wires forming the motor windings and the power leads. The outputs of the thermometers are coupled to the programmable logic controller (PLC).Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 1997Date of Patent: January 29, 2002Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: John Michael Sedlak, David Michael Prough
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Publication number: 20020009119Abstract: A portable stress monitor is provided for monitoring conditions under which physiological activity is occurring. The conditions monitored may be environmental, such as ambient temperature and humidity, or physiological, such as heart rate or body temperature. The monitor includes a main body portion and a hinged cover. The hinged cover includes a removable sensor module. One or more sensors are attached to the sensor module, each sensor may be pivotally mounted on a mast, such that the sensors extend outwardly from the hinged cover when the sensor module is in the deployed position and may be pivoted to sit substantially flush with the hinged cover when the sensor module is in the storage position. A central processing unit is contained within the main body, and is operable to process data acquired by the sensors according to a heat strain algorithm. A display is attached to the outer surface of the main body for providing read out information, and an input device is provided for user input.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2001Publication date: January 24, 2002Inventors: William T. Matthew, Leander A. Stroschein, Joseph M. McGrath
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Patent number: 6336741Abstract: A method for controlling a thermogravimetry experiment and for quantitatively determining kinetic constants for decomposition or volatilization reactions using periodic forcing (modulated) temperature functions. A temperature program having a linear part and a periodically varying part superimposed thereon is applied to a sample in a thermogravimetric analyzer. The resulting mass signal is deonvoluted, or separated, into one or more deconvoluted signals.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2000Date of Patent: January 8, 2002Assignee: TA Instruments, Inc.Inventor: Roger L. Blaine
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Publication number: 20010038661Abstract: A temperature sensing apparatus comprises a temperature sensor, a current measuring device and temperature detection circuit. The temperature sensor contains a thermal resistor that is disposed near a motor and outputs voltages acting to the thermal resistor. The current measuring device measures quantity of current that is applied to the motor. The temperature detection circuit detects temperature of the motor according to the output voltages from the temperature sensor. And, the temperature detection circuit judges whether a predetermined quantity of current is applied to the motor during a predetermined time. When the predetermined quantity of current is applied to the motor during the predetermined time, the temperature detection circuit compares a temperature detected by the current measuring device with a predetermined temperature. When the detected temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature, the temperature detection circuit decides a wire of the thermal resistor breaks.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2001Publication date: November 8, 2001Applicant: TOYODA KOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yutaka Mori, Yukihiko Kanayama, Fukami Imai, Yoshiyuki Shibata, Susumu Koike, Yasushi Yamada
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Patent number: 6312155Abstract: An apparatus for assessing burn injury to underlying tissue from a flammable material. The apparatus includes an artificial human tissue and a plurality of temperature sensors located at predetermined locations in the artificial human tissue to measure temperature of the artificial human tissue during a flammability test. The apparatus further includes a heat sink device for simulating the heat sink properties of a human body. The apparatus further includes a heat exchange tank for maintaining the artificial human tissue at a regulated temperature, the heat exchange tank being filled with a fluid. The apparatus further includes a heat exchanger for exchanging heat with the fluid in the heat exchange tank. The apparatus further includes a water supply device for supplying water to the interior of the heat exchanger. The apparatus also includes a data acquisition system attached to the plurality of temperature sensors for recording the temperature of the artificial human tissue.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 1999Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Risk Analysis & ManagementInventors: Daniel Stool, Merrill Zavod, Scott Milkovich, Eugene D. Rider
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Publication number: 20010022802Abstract: The temperature of the tread surface part of a tire is increased by running the tire in contact with a drum. The increase in the temperature of the tread surface part is due to the heat of friction between the tread surface part and the drum. Because large increases in temperature indicate that the friction is causing a large amount of wear, it is possible to forecast with ease the amount of wear of the tire from the increase in temperature of the tread surface part. The temperature of the tread surface part can be measured using a thermography machine, and the wear in the tread can be determined by looking at an image that shows the temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2001Publication date: September 20, 2001Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATIONInventor: Takayuki Kurata
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Patent number: 6286992Abstract: A method of monitoring the temperature of an axle includes the steps of reading temperatures from an axle of a vehicle, comparing the read temperatures with expected temperatures, and sending warning signals when necessary. A temperature sensor may be used to read temperatures of the axle and send temperature signals to a control to perform computations and compare the computations with expected temperatures. Furthermore, the control may send warning signals to a display to indicate that a problem may exist.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 1999Date of Patent: September 11, 2001Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems, LLCInventor: Christos Kyrtsos
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Patent number: 6273604Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for measuring heat evolution in a homogenous fluid sample. The device comprises: (i) a first chamber having a heat capacity C1 and an internal surface of area A1 defining a cavity for containing a volume V1 of the said fluid; (ii) a second chamber having a heat capacity C2 and an internal surface of area A2 defining a cavity for containing a volume V2 of the said fluid, wherein C1 is approximately equal to C2, A1 is approximately equal to A2 and V1 is greater than V2; (iii) means to detect and measure heat flow between the first and second chambers; and (iv) means to achieve a temperature equilibration between the two chambers.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2000Date of Patent: August 14, 2001Assignee: European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM)Inventors: Johann Ludwig Hemmerich, Andrew George Miller
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Publication number: 20010008541Abstract: A method of determining contact wear in a trip unit of a circuit breaker is presented. The trip unit includes a microcontroller and associated memories. An algorithm (program) stored in a memory of the trip unit measures temperatures relative to circuit breaker contacts and cumulative energy dissipated in the breaker contacts, and utilizes them in a variety of analysis techniques within the trip unit to determine contact wear. These techniques include, by way of example, differential temperature analysis, measurement of cumulative energy dissipated in the breaker contacts, and calculated contact wear using sampled electrical currents and voltage and Ohm's law.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2001Publication date: July 19, 2001Inventor: Bo L. Andersen
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Patent number: 6260997Abstract: A sample and a scanning probe microscope system are used as the detector for an infrared spectrometer to circumvent the diffraction limit of conventional infrared microscopy, and to provide spectroscopic images with a greatly improved spatial resolution, potentially as low as a few tens of nanometers. The beam from an infrared spectrometer is directed at the sample. The sample is heated to the extent that it absorbs infrared radiation. Thus the resulting temperature rise of an individual region depends upon the particular molecular species present, as well as the range of wavelengths of the infrared beam. These individual temperature differences are detected by a miniature thermal probe. The thermal probe is mounted in a scanning thermal microscope. The scanning thermal microscope is then operated used to produce multiple surface and sub-surface images of the sample, such that the image contrast corresponds to variations in either thermal diffusivity, surface topography or chemical composition.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 1998Date of Patent: July 17, 2001Inventors: Michael Claybourn, Azzedine Hammiche, Hubert Murray Montagu-Pollock, Michael Reading
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Patent number: 6257319Abstract: An IC testing apparatus 1 for performing a test by applying at least a low temperature stress to ICs to be tested comprising a refrigerant cycle 210 wherein at least a compressor 211, condenser 212, expansion valve 214 and evaporator 215 are connected in this order, and a cold air applying line 220 having a blower 223 for supplying heat exchanged cold air by the evaporator 215 to the ICs to be tested.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 1999Date of Patent: July 10, 2001Assignee: Advantest CorporationInventors: Tadashi Kainuma, Noboru Masuda, Haruki Nakajima, Noriyuki Igarashi, Yuichi Nansai
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Patent number: 6257761Abstract: This invention makes use of a electronically controlled heating device to form a region of constant high temperature on one side of the insulating material, and causes most of the heat transfer to concentrate in a longitudinal heat flux, which flows across the direction of the thickness of object-to-be-tested, to achieve the effect of one-dimensional heat transfer. When the temperatures on both sides of the insulation material being tested come to a stable state, the temperatures, the thickness of the material, and the heat flux, are measured and used to calculate the heat conductivity. The difference between the ideal two-dimensional heat transfer and the one-dimensional heat transfer can be corrected by the results of a theoretical model. The apparatus has been used to test a material with known heat conductivity. The result of the test conforms well with the expected value.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 1997Date of Patent: July 10, 2001Assignee: National Science CouncilInventors: Yew Khoy Chuah, Ming-Tsun Sun, Bin-Juine Huang
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Patent number: 6257757Abstract: A gas-tight container such as a glove box maintains a sample under a controlled atmosphere and has a sample chamber formed in a convex portion thereof. The temperature is controlled in the sample chamber by an externally disposed heater. A detector such as a weight detector is disposed in the gas-tight container and has a sample holder for holding a sample under analysis. The detector is movably supported by a movement mechanism so that the sample holder is movable between a first position at which a sample disposed on the sample holder is disposed within the sample chamber and a second position at which a sample disposed on the sample holder is disposed outside the sample chamber, such that the mounting of a sample on the sample holder may be accomplished while the sample holder is disposed outside the sample chamber and a thermal analysis of the sample may be performed while the sample is disposed inside the sample chamber.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 1999Date of Patent: July 10, 2001Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.Inventor: Nobutaka Nakamura
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Publication number: 20010005392Abstract: In a method of determining the quality of a bond between layers of a laminated body wherein a laser pulse is applied to one side of the body such that the heat travels from the one side through the bond to the other side, the time-dependent temperature change on the other side is recorded, the delay time to reach, at the other side, a predetermined percentage value of the maximum temperature is determined and this delay time is compared with a calibration curve for quantifying the quality of the bond between the layers.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2001Publication date: June 28, 2001Inventors: Brigitte Schutz, Gerd Krafft, Lazlo Duszla
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Patent number: 6244743Abstract: A measuring technique and method are provided to simultaneously determine the molecular density of several molecular species and the temperature within a closed process room in a melting or combustion process. In such processes in the industry, e.g. in metallurgic process industry, it is important to determine the temperature and the contents within the gas or flame without physically connect to or disturb the process. This has shown to raise large problems especially at high temperatures. The radio signal over a frequency band is measured on the outside of the process room through a window in the mantel covering as a function of frequency and registered on a computer as a radio spectrum. The system is calibrated by using a known signal transmitted through the process room. The spectral lines are identified by their frequency from a database. The temperature is determined from several lines of the same molecular specie and the molecular densities are determined from the intensities of the lines.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2000Date of Patent: June 12, 2001Inventor: Lars B. Bååth
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Patent number: 6238087Abstract: A method and apparatus for characterizing a quench for producing desired hardness characteristics on a steel part. The characterization preferably includes a series of heat transfer coefficients versus temperature for the quench determined from information representative of known quenches and distinguishing part characteristics such as geometry, size and composition. The quench characterization determined using the present method and apparatus can be utilized in hardness prediction software programs, and for determining a suitable quench for producing the desired hardness characteristics on the part.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 1999Date of Patent: May 29, 2001Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Kenneth W. Burris, Leonid Chuzhoy, Thomas E. Clements
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Patent number: 6231229Abstract: An instrument and method for accurately measuring and displaying the length of time that the instrument spends at temperatures between a predetermined first temperature and a predetermined second temperature. The instrument includes a capillary tube, a plug and an indicator material that is liquid at temperatures below the predetermined second temperature and quickly solidifies at temperature equal to or above the predetermined second temperature. The plug melts at a temperature equal to the predetermined first temperature to allow the indicator material to move by capillary action into and through the capillary tube. When the indicator material reaches the predetermined second temperature, it solidifies.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2000Date of Patent: May 15, 2001Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.Inventor: Jonathan D. Halderman
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Patent number: 6227701Abstract: A turbulent plate is installed nearby the heat source of an apparatus for thermally testing an electronic device. The testing apparatus comprises a main body and a pallet. The main body is formed with a first chamber for receiving the electronic device, and a second chamber located around and communicated with the first chamber. The pallet having a plate mounted with window and a through hole filled with corrugated heat insulators, supports the electronic device, which is turned on and received in the first chamber. The status of the electronic device can be inspected through the window. The heat insulators fully envelop a lead wire passed the through hole and connected between the portable computer and a power supply.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 1999Date of Patent: May 8, 2001Assignee: Inventec CorporationInventor: Wen-Shien Wu
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Patent number: 6217212Abstract: A method and device for detecting an incorrect position of a semiconductor wafer during a high-temperature treatment of the semiconductor water in a quartz chamber which is heated by IR radiators, has the semiconductor wafer lying on a rotating support and being held at a specific temperature with the aid of a control system. Thermal radiation which is emitted by the semiconductor wafer and the IR radiators is recorded using a pyrometer. The radiation temperature of the recorded thermal radiation is determined. The semiconductor wafer is assumed to be in an incorrect position if the temperature of the recorded thermal radiation fluctuates to such an extent over the course of time that the fluctuation width lies outside a fluctuation range &Dgr;T which is regarded as permissible.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 1998Date of Patent: April 17, 2001Assignee: Wacker Siltronic Gesellschaft für Halbleitermaterialien AGInventors: Georg Brenninger, Wolfgang Sedlmeier, Martin Fürfanger, Per-Ove Hansson
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Patent number: 6193412Abstract: The present method comprises determination of surface polarity of an inorganic material by measurement of the net heat of inert gas adsorption on the material surface, preferably by measurement of the BET constant C. The analysis is fast and easy to execute, and provides high signal-to-noise ratio. It is applicable to many surfaces, such as those containing silanol groups, regardless of the nature of the hydrophobic groups used in surface treatment of the material.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 1999Date of Patent: February 27, 2001Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: John Aibangbee Osaheni, Stanlee Teresa Buddle
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Patent number: 6193413Abstract: A system and method for an improved calorimeter for determining thermodynamic properties of biological and chemical reactions. A microcalorimeter device comprises a thin amorphous membrane anchored to a frame. Thermometers and heaters are placed on one side of a thermal conduction layer mounted on the central portion of the membrane. An environmental chamber is vacated and humidified. First and second samples are placed on the membranes of first and second microcalorimeters. Each sample is heated and its individual heat capacity determined. The samples are then mixed by sandwiching the two microcalorimeters together to cause a binding reaction to occur. The enthalpy of binding is determined by measuring the amount of heat liberated during the reaction. The mixture is then heated and the heat capacity of the mixture is determined. From this data, a binding constant is calculated.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 1999Date of Patent: February 27, 2001Inventor: David S. Lieberman
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Patent number: 6190036Abstract: Method for determining the ice concentration in a liquid ice mixture (binary ice fluid), with the steps: separating a partial flow of the fluid and introducing and heating the partial flow into a heat exchange (16) until complete melting takes place, accompanied by the measurement of the inlet temperature tA and outlet temperature tB, further heating of the fluid flow by an external heat source and return of the partial flow through the heat exchanger (16), accompanied by the measurement of the inlet temperature tC and outlet temperature tO of the return partial flow and calculating the ice concentration according to the equation Xice=(tC−tO−tB+tA)·(cpfluid/hice), in which cpfluid is the specific heat capacity of the binary ice fluid and hice is the enthalpy of fusion of the binary ice.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 1999Date of Patent: February 20, 2001Assignee: Integral Energietechnik GmbHInventor: Joachim Paul
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Patent number: 6142666Abstract: The diagnostic system of the present invention monitors and accumulates the thermal signatures or characteristics during at least one operational mode of the cooking appliance. These thermal signatures or characteristics are collected--through the same temperature sensor used to regulate the temperature of the cooking appliance--and then stored in, for example, a look-up table. Advantageously, this may be accomplished without the need of special sensors or interface boards. The thermal signatures or characteristics may include first order or higher order temperature gradients, as well as temperature profiles. The stored thermal signatures provide a baseline from which the diagnostic system can detect and identify whether the cooking appliance is working under normal operating conditions. In an alternative embodiment, the diagnostic system monitors and accumulates the cooking profiles for either a single food product or a plurality of food products.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 1997Date of Patent: November 7, 2000Assignee: Technology Licensing CorporationInventors: Bernard G. Koether, Mario G. Ceste, Sr.
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Patent number: 6123451Abstract: A process for determining a tissue composition characteristic of a live animal or carcass involves the steps of: (a) obtaining either or both of at least one infrared thermographic image of the animal while it is alive, taken from at least one view, or at least one image of the carcass of the animal after slaughter, taken from at least one view, each thermographic image being capable of being represented as an array of pixels providing temperature data representative of temperature information at the corresponding part of the image; (b) calculating the value of at least one statistical measure of the temperature data for each thermographic image; (c) providing a predictive model wherein the tissue composition characteristic is included as an output variable, and the statistical measures of temperature data for each thermographic image are included as input variables; and (d) solving the predictive model to provide the value of the tissue composition characteristic.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 1998Date of Patent: September 26, 2000Assignee: Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada, as represented by the Administer for the Department of Agiculture and Agri-Food (AFCC)Inventors: Allan L. Schaefer, Alan Kwai-Wah Tong
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Patent number: 6113262Abstract: An apparatus (10) for testing at least one article (160) comprises a first chamber (20) having a controllable first environment, a second chamber (30) having a controllable second environment, and an intermediate housing (40) connected between the first and second chambers. The intermediate housing (40) defines a work space (54) and includes a window (70) which provides access to the work space. A rotatable container (100) is disposed in the work space (54) and defines a test chamber (110) in which the at least one article (160) is placed. The container (100) is rotatable between a first position in which the test chamber (110) is exposed to the first environment and is thermally insulated from the second environment, a second position in which the test chamber (110) is exposed to the second environment and is thermally insulated from the first environment, and a third position in which the test chamber (110) is accessible through the window (70) in the intermediate housing (40).Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 1999Date of Patent: September 5, 2000Assignee: TRW Inc.Inventors: David Purola, David A. Klecha
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Patent number: 6095681Abstract: Disclosed is a method for operating a sensor to differentiate between first and second analytes in a sample. The method comprises the steps of determining a input profile for the sensor which will enhance the difference in the output profiles of the sensor as between the first analyte and the second analyte; determining a first analyte output profile as observed when the input profile is applied to the sensor; determining a second analyte output profile as observed when the temperature profile is applied to the sensor; introducing the sensor to the sample while applying the temperature profile to the sensor, thereby obtaining a sample output profile; and evaluating the sample output profile as against the first and second analyte output profiles to thereby determine which of the analytes is present in the sample.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 1998Date of Patent: August 1, 2000Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of CommerceInventors: Tekin Kunt, Richard E. Cavicchi, Stephen Semancik, Thomas J. McAvoy
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Patent number: 6076961Abstract: The invention concerns a method for determining the temperature stability of a hydrocarbon mixture capable of phase separation by monitoring the weight variations of a gravimetric sensor part of which is immersed in said mixture. The method consists in: a first step of accelerated cooling of said mixture to a predetermined temperature; and a second step during which said mixture is maintained at this temperature, the time-dependent variation curve of said weight enabling the determination of the resulting solid mass and the separation speed of the two phases by determining the slope of this curve, the stability of said mixture being obtained by comparison with hydrocarbon mixtures of which the stability in time at low temperature between 0 and -30.degree. C. has been controlled.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 1999Date of Patent: June 20, 2000Assignee: Elf Antar FranceInventors: Pierre Claudy, Yann Faure, Jean-Marie Letoffe, Catherine Mallet, Despina Vassilakis
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Patent number: 6077228Abstract: An arrangement and a method for scanning the human breast for localized areas of elevated temperature and which areas do not cool as rapidly as other areas. An array of closely spaced apart, small mass thermistors is supported on several, circle segment, flexible substrate support panels that are adhered to the skin for producing concentric circular closely spaced arrays of thermistors, each connected to a pair of conductors on the panels. The conductors are connected through a connector to a circuit which measures the voltage and/or resistance of each of the thermistors, which is dependent upon its temperature. The voltage and/or resistance and thereby the temperature of each thermistor is measured at several second intervals. A test subject is iced for causing vasoconstriction, and the rate of temperature change in each of the thermistors is noted, to note which localized area of the breast does not cool as rapidly as other areas, or to show other cooling profiles.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 1998Date of Patent: June 20, 2000Inventor: Milton Schonberger
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Patent number: 6062727Abstract: A measuring instrument for the thermal and/or reactive properties of one or several samples of a solid, liquid or gaseous substance, comprising a measuring cell constituted by an electronic component suitable to detect a temperature difference between two regions on it's surface. The instrument includes a thermal inertia block defining an inner chamber in which is contained the measuring cell and which block is provided with an opening above the measuring cell and a skirt surrounding the chamber. The skirt extends vertically downwardly to an essentially horizontal bearing surface.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 1998Date of Patent: May 16, 2000Assignee: Setaram - Societe d'Etudes d'Automatisation de Regulation et d'Appareils de MesuresInventors: Pierre le Parlouer, Jean-Louis Daudon
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Patent number: 6049728Abstract: A method and apparatus for noninvasively measuring blood glucose levels provides an indirect, reagentless, differential, photoacoustic technique which responds to absorption in a thin surface layer. An excitation source provides electromagnetic energy which is utilized to irradiate the tissue, such as skin. The output of the radiation of the excitation source at the desired wavelength is coupled through a transmission device, such as a fiber optic bundle, which irradiates the electromagnetic energy onto the body surface. Upon irradiation, acoustic energy is generated by the absorption of the electromagnetic energy in a relatively thin layer of the sample to be measured, characterized by a heat-diffusing length. The acoustic energy is detected by the probe which includes a measuring cell, reference cell, window and differential microphone. Absorption of the light beam results in periodic heating of the tissue, at and near the tissue surface.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 1998Date of Patent: April 11, 2000Assignee: TRW Inc.Inventor: Mau-Song Chou
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Patent number: 5998071Abstract: A low cost, fast method for evaluating the effects of lens heating in a step and repeat projection system is disclosed. The first step is to form a series of photoresist images on a single substrate in the same way as would be done during normal stepping and repeating. The first few images, located centrally, will be produced by a cool lens. As more images are generated, the lens gradually heats up so that the final few images, which are placed alongside the `cool` images, will be produced by a hot lens. Critical dimension bars are present in all image fields (at diagonally opposite corners and in the center), their size in the developed photoresist being an indication of the extent to which the focal plane has drifted. This is then used to compute correction factors for the manufacturer's scaling constants and/or to evaluate the extent, if any, of curvature of field in the projected images.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 1998Date of Patent: December 7, 1999Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.Inventors: Mingchu King, Chih-Chien Hung, Shih-Shiung Cheu
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Patent number: 5980102Abstract: A fluid-filled pipe is investigated by a non-intrusive procedure to determine whether the fluid is liquid or gaseous, whether it is flowing or static, the direction of flow if it is flowing, the approximate pressure if it is a gas, and the rate of flow if it is a gas. The results are obtained by applying a heater to the surface of the pipeline and measuring the upstream and downstream temperatures of the surface of the pipe wall before and after the beginning of the application of heat. Some of the data generated is compared with data from another source to assist in the determination of the characteristics to be ascertained.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 1996Date of Patent: November 9, 1999Assignee: Columbia Gas of OhioInventors: Foster B. Stulen, Susan T. Brown, Glenda S. Holderbaum, David B. Philips, Arthur C. Eberle
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Patent number: 5981290Abstract: A calorimeter for measuring flammability parameters of materials using only milligram sample quantities. The thermochemical and thermophysical processes associated with the flaming combustion of solids are reproduced in the device through rapid anaerobic pyrolysis in a thermogravimetric analyzer. Volatile anaerobic thermal decomposition products are swept from the pyrolysis chamber by an inert gas and combined with excess oxygen in a combustion chamber maintained at several hundred degrees Centigrade to simulate the combustion reactions which occur in a well ventilated diffusion flame. Mass loss is measured continuously during the process and heat release rate is calculated from the oxygen consumed from the gas stream.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 1997Date of Patent: November 9, 1999Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of TransportationInventors: Richard E. Lyon, Richard N. Walters
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Patent number: 5975754Abstract: A method is provided for extending the life of a refractory lining of a blast furnace hearth. The refractory hearth has temperature probes embedded in the floor and walls thereof. The method includes periodically measuring temperatures indicated by the probes and determining the campaign maximum and current average temperature readings to locate two solidification isotherm representing the wear line of the refractory and the inner surface of the protective metal layer. The thickness of the protective layer is determined from the distance between the solidification isotherms representing the refractory wear line and the inner surface of the metal skull. From this determination sufficient thickness of the protective layer is maintained during actual operation of the furnace.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 1998Date of Patent: November 2, 1999Assignee: USX CorporationInventors: Richard J. Groth, Yongfu Zhao
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Patent number: 5959197Abstract: A method and system for determining the free cement content of concrete plant waste water held in a pit or tank P in which the temperature of the water in the pit or tank and the temperature of water in a reference pit or tank R.sub.1, is measured by thermocouples (T.sub.1, T.sub.2), the difference in temperature .DELTA.T determined and used to calculate an estimate of the free cement in the waste water whereby the reduced amount of cement to be used in a concrete batching process (without compromising the strength of the concrete product) can be determined.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 1997Date of Patent: September 28, 1999Assignee: Thermo Crete Pty LtdInventor: Robert David Norman
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Patent number: 5941821Abstract: A method and apparatus for noninvasively measuring blood glucose levels provides an indirect, reagentless, differential, photoacoustic technique which responds to absorption in a thin surface layer. An excitation source provides electromagnetic energy which is utilized to irradiate the tissue, such as skin. The output of the radiation of the excitation source at the desired wavelength is coupled through a transmission device, such as a fiber optic bundle, which irradiates the electromagnetic energy onto the body surface. Upon irradiation, acoustic energy is generated by the absorption of the electromagnetic energy in a relatively thin layer of the sample to be measured, characterized by a heat-diffusing length. The acoustic energy is detected by the probe which includes a measuring cell, reference cell, window and differential microphone. Absorption of the light beam results in periodic heating of the tissue, at and near the tissue surface.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 1997Date of Patent: August 24, 1999Assignee: TRW Inc.Inventor: Mau-Song Chou
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Patent number: 5915838Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring a parameter of a sample or component at a measurement temperature, wherein the parameter and the measurement temperature are measured at substantially the same time. A temperature coefficient of the sample or component is also established by using temperature fluctuations measured at or near the sample at the time at which the parameter is measured. The temperature coefficient is used to correct the measured parameter data and enhance its stability.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 1998Date of Patent: June 29, 1999Assignees: IMEC vzw, Limburgs Universitaire CampusInventors: Lambert Stals, Luc De Schepper, Jean Roggen, Ward De Ceuninck
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Patent number: 5894352Abstract: The preferred embodiment of the invention measures the temperature increase of a light-transmitting optical component to determine the optical absorption of the optical component. Accurately determining the optical absorption of light-transmitting optical components advantageously allows for the accurate and efficient selection of light-transmitting optical components for use in an optical system. In one embodiment, an optical absorption tester holds multiple optical components and, for each optical component, the tester includes a temperature sensor placed in contact with the optical component and a reference temperature sensor placed in the vicinity of the optical component.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 1997Date of Patent: April 13, 1999Assignee: Cymer, Inc.Inventor: Richard George Morton
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Patent number: 5880468Abstract: This invention provides a method and apparatus for particle detection utilizing an Al/normal-metal bilayer transition-edge sensor (TES) coupled with a particle absorber. The TES is maintained in the transition region where its properties are extremely sensitive to temperature. In the detector, the energy of an absorbed particle is converted to heat by the absorber and the transition from the bilayer's superconducting to normal state is used to sense the temperature rise. The transition temperature, T.sub.c, of the bilayer can be reproducibly controlled as a function of the relative thicknesses and the total thickness of the superconducting and normal-metal layers. The range of available T.sub.c 's extends from below 50 mK to above 1 K, allowing the detector to be tailored to the application. For x-ray detection the preferred T.sub.c is about 50-150 mK. The width of the transition edge can be less than 0.1 mK, which allows very high detector sensitivity.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 1996Date of Patent: March 9, 1999Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of CommerceInventors: Kent D. Irwin, John M. Martinis
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Patent number: 5877688Abstract: A thermal object detecting method and apparatus. According to the method and apparatus, a thermal image of a measuring space is obtained by a two-dimensional thermal image detecting device. Then, position information of an object in the measuring space is obtained by an object distance detecting device, which determines a distance between the apparatus and the object. The output of the two-dimensional thermal image detecting device can be corrected using the distance data from the object distance detecting device.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 1996Date of Patent: March 2, 1999Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Katsuya Morinaka, Nobuyuki Yoshiike, Kazuhiko Hashimoto, Tetsuya Kawai
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Patent number: 5868496Abstract: Method and apparatus for non-contact temperature, emissivity and area estimation for gray and non-gray (uniform and non-uniform surface emissivity) are disclosed. Optical power measurements are obtained for radiation from a surface of interest in multiple wavelength bands. These power measurements are used to generate an expression for surface emissivity as a function of unknown temperature and surface projected area. At each of series of trial temperatures and areas within a predetermined range of physically plausible values, a value for emissivity at each measured wavelength is obtained. A best fit between these emissivity data points and a selected model emissivity function is obtained by least-squares minimization. The trial temperature and area which yield both the smallest minimum sum of squares and an emissivity value within predetermined physical constraints are concluded to be the temperature and projected surface area.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 1997Date of Patent: February 9, 1999Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventor: Richard M. Spitzberg
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Patent number: 5847263Abstract: A method for determining the difference in enthalpy that occurs when a gas stream loaded with water vapor is cooled to a temperature below the dew point temperature, especially for determining its water vapor content (moisture measurement) is disclosed. The device preferably used to perform the method includes a gas cooler having an electrical cooling element and inlet and outlet ports through which a gas stream flows. Measuring devices are provided in the inlet and outlet ports to detect state parameters and through-flow values of the gas stream. The outputs from the measuring devices are evaluated by an evaluation device in connection with the electrical power draw of cooling element to determine the difference in enthalpy between the inlet and outlet ports and/or the water content of the gas stream.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 1997Date of Patent: December 8, 1998Assignee: Testo GmbH & Co.Inventors: Thomas Springmann, Reinhold Munch
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Patent number: 5844151Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting and measuring organic materials present on components used in magnetic storage systems, such as an actuator coil. The component is heated on a hot plate, and a concave lens with a low surface energy coating is placed over the component. The contaminants volatilize and condense on the glass lens. The condensate is collected in solvent. The solvent is evaporated and the size of the residue is measured. A determination can be made whether the component is suitable for used in a magnetic storage system.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 1997Date of Patent: December 1, 1998Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Charles Allan Brown, Ronald Louis Herbold, Andrew Marian Homola, Heidi Lee Merkins, Herman Russell Wendt
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Patent number: 5836693Abstract: A fluid-filled pipe is investigated by a nonintrusive procedure to determine whether the fluid is liquid or gaseous, whether it is flowing or static, the direction of flow if it is flowing, the approximate pressure if it is a gas, and the rate of flow if it is a gas. The results are obtained by applying a heater to the surface of the pipeline and measuring the upstream and downstream temperatures of the surface of the pipe wall before and after the beginning of the application of heat. Some of the data generated is compared with data from another source to assist in the determination of the physical characteristics to be ascertained.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 1996Date of Patent: November 17, 1998Assignee: Columbia Gas of Ohio,Inc.Inventors: Foster B. Stulen, Susan T. Brown, Glenda S. Holderbaum, David B. Philips, Arthur C. Eberle
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Patent number: 5823677Abstract: The method of detecting and identifying a substance in a sample requires the sample to be changed from a first temperature to a second temperature, the sample scanned with an instrument for measuring infrared radiation, the temperature difference between the temperature of the substance and a reference temperature determined, and the substance identified based on this temperature difference. The infrared method allows for the objective determination of a substance in a sample without the necessity of the labor and time required in conventional methods and is especially suitable for detecting the presence of "stickies" in recycled paper.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 1996Date of Patent: October 20, 1998Assignee: The Board of Trustees of Western MichiganInventors: William K. Forester, Timothy J. Lobbes
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Patent number: 5820262Abstract: A Refrigerant Sensor is provided that provides within a common assembly pressure, temperature and superheat measurements and calculations with respect to a refrigerant material. The Refrigerant Sensor includes a pressure transducer for measuring the pressure of the refrigerant material and a temperature transducer for measuring the temperature of the refrigerant material. The pressure and temperature measurements are used by a microprocessor to calculate the superheat value of the refrigerant material. The microprocessor is within the common assembly. The Refrigerant Sensor can send and receive information from the network and also calibrate the pressure and temperature measurements.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 1996Date of Patent: October 13, 1998Assignee: Johnson Service CompanyInventor: Thomas J. Lechner
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Patent number: 5805718Abstract: In order to measure in a non-contact manner a clothing amount of a human being in a state in which the human body is clothed, a camera captures a subject including the human being. An image processing section recognizes a human body from images captured by the camera, and detects an area of the human body in the human body image. A radiation sensor detects a radiation heat quantity of an environment and a radiation heat quantity of a human body plus environment. A clothing amount calculating section obtains a position and an area of the human being in the real space, a surface temperature of the clothes on the human being, a skin temperature of the human being, an environmental temperature and so forth based on information from the image processing section and information from the radiation sensor, and calculates the clothing amount of the human being from the obtained values.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 1995Date of Patent: September 8, 1998Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Ryo Inoshiri, Akira Yoshida, Ziquan Hong
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Patent number: 5803606Abstract: In a device for photothermically testing a surface (1) of a moving test specimen (2), an excitation beam (5) may be applied to a test area (13). The excitation beam (5) passes through an aperture (12) in a collecting lens (11) that reproduces the thermal radiation generated in a measuring area (14), so that the collecting lens (11) may be adapted to a wavelength of the excitation beam (5) passed to a detector (20). A coupling mirror (9) mounted in the path of excitation beam (5) has practically total reflectivity for the wavelength of the excitation beam (5) and is arranged in such a way that it is very small near the focal area of the excitation beam (5), so that together with the aperture (12) of the collecting lens (11) it only masks a small part of the thermal radiation (17) passed to the detector (20).Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 1996Date of Patent: September 8, 1998Assignee: Phototherm Dr. Petry GmbHInventors: Harald Petry, Helmut Prekel