Fluid Or Fluid Flow Measurement Patents (Class 702/100)
  • Patent number: 10215677
    Abstract: A vibratory meter and method for verification of a vibratory sensor is provided. The method includes measuring a plurality of temperatures using a temperature sensor and measuring a plurality of sensor time periods using the sensor assembly. An average temperature and an average sensor time period are determined. The average sensor time period is compensated using the average temperature, generating a compensated sensor time period. The compensated sensor time period is compared to a reference sensor time period. The results are indicated. In further embodiments, a standard deviation of the plurality of temperatures or the plurality of sensor time periods are compared to a limit and sensor stability is indicated. In further embodiments, a difference between measured density and a reference density of a fluid is compensated using the altitude and the average temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventor: Simon P. H. Wheeler
  • Patent number: 10215638
    Abstract: A system and method for non-destructive, in situ, positive material identification of a pipe selects a plurality of test areas that are separated axially and circumferentially from one another and then polishes a portion of each test area. Within each polished area, a non-destructive test device is used to collect mechanical property data and another non-destructive test device is used to collect chemical property data. An overall mean for the mechanical property data, and for the chemical property data, is calculated using at least two data collection runs. The means are compared to a known material standard to determine, at a high level of confidence, ultimate yield strength and ultimate tensile strength within +/?10%, a carbon percentage within +/?25%, and a manganese percentage within +/?20% of a known material standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: TDW Delaware, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth James Greene, Chris Caraway, Gregory Donikowski, Joel Troyer
  • Patent number: 10191500
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a hot and cold water mixing device for reducing degradation in the measurement accuracy of a flowmeter. In the device according to the invention, the flowmeter is disposed in one of a hot water supply path and a cold water supply path, having a higher flow rate. At least first and second temperature sensors are individually disposed in at least two of the hot and cold water supply paths and a mixed water path. A hot and cold water adjustment unit adjusts a mixing volume of hot water and cold water based on measurement values of the flowmeter disposed in one of the flow paths having a higher flow rate, a mixed water path flowmeter and at least the first and second temperature sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Akita, Daiki Matsusaki, Tatsuya Takaoka, Yoshihiro Itou, Naoki Shibata
  • Patent number: 10175078
    Abstract: A holder is mounted on a U-shaped curved tube portion of a measurement tube formed of a synthetic resin, and wing-shaped strips having a plate shape protrude outward from the holder. Distortion caused by a Coriolis force which depends on a flow rate is generated symmetrically with respect to a center line passing through a distal end of the curved tube portion and parallel to an outbound tube and an inbound tube. Therefore, the outbound tube and the inbound tube are twisted about the center line of the holder, and an amount of distortion is enhanced by the wing-shaped strips under the principle of leverage for detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: ATSUDEN CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Eiichi Murakami
  • Patent number: 10161370
    Abstract: An engine fuel delivery system includes a fuel pump having a pumping chamber to increase fuel pressure and a closeable inlet valve, and a fuel rail to communicate pressurized fuel received from the fuel pump to at least one engine cylinder. The engine fuel delivery system also includes a controller programmed to issue a control signal to periodically close the inlet valve to generate a setpoint fuel pressure within the pumping chamber. The controller is also programmed to adjust a control signal gain value in response to deviation in an outlet fuel pressure relative to the setpoint fuel pressure. The controller is further programmed to issue a warning message in response to the control signal gain being adjusted by more than a predetermined threshold from a calibrated gain value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Azeem Sarwar, Chaitanya Sankavaram, Rafat Hattar, Matthew Hamilton, Jonathan Pung
  • Patent number: 10161060
    Abstract: A gas-supply system includes a gas container filled with gas, a gas flow controller coupled to the gas container via a first tube, and an operation device electrically connected to the gas flow controller. The gas-supply system further includes a pressure transducer installed on a second tube connected to the gas flow controller and configured to generate a pressure signal to the operation device according to the pressure of the gas in the second tube. The operation device is configured to generate a control signal to the gas flow controller according the pressure signal, and the gas flow controller is configured to adjust the flow rate of the gas in the second tube according to the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yi-Chao Chang, Pang-Ping Lo, Yi-Chen Wang, Yung-Long Chen, Chun-Feng Hsu
  • Patent number: 10161285
    Abstract: An exhaust aftertreatment system includes a particulate filter element and a particulate matter sensor that is disposed to monitor the exhaust gas feedstream downstream of the particulate filter element. A method for monitoring the exhaust gas feedstream includes determining a temperature associated with the particulate matter sensor and monitoring engine operation and the exhaust aftertreatment system. A magnitude of ammonia is determined in the exhaust gas feedstream proximal to the particulate matter sensor based upon the monitoring of the engine operation and the exhaust aftertreatment system. An initial reading is determined from the particulate matter sensor and is adjusted based upon the magnitude of ammonia in the exhaust gas feedstream proximal to the particulate matter sensor and the temperature of the particulate matter sensor. A magnitude of particulate matter in the exhaust gas feedstream is determined based upon the adjusted initial reading from the particulate matter sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Chad E. Marlett, Cristian Taibi, Luca Giuseppe Pairolero
  • Patent number: 10145722
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a tank for a motor vehicle for storing a liquid additive with a calibrated sensor for determining at least one parameter of the liquid additive in the tank. In a step a) the sensor is installed in the tank. In a step b) the tank is at least partially filled with a predefined quantity of a test liquid. In a step c) a signal of the sensor is determined, and in a step d) the sensor is calibrated with the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Bauer, Jan Hodgson, Denis Mesmer
  • Patent number: 10031004
    Abstract: A mass flow verifier (MFV) that is space-efficient and can verify flow rates for unknown fluids over a wide range of flow rates includes a chamber configured to receive a fluid, a critical flow nozzle connected to the chamber, and first and second pressure sensors that, respectively, detect fluid pressure in the chamber and upstream of the critical flow nozzle. A controller of the MFV is configured to verify flow rate of the fluid by, (i) at a first flow range, measuring a first flow rate based on a rate of rise in pressure of the fluid as detected by the first pressure sensor and determining a gas property function of the fluid based on pressures as detected by the first second pressure sensors, and (ii) at a second flow range, measuring a second flow rate based on pressure detected by the second pressure sensor and the determined gas property function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Junhua Ding, Michael L'Bassi, Wayne Cole
  • Patent number: 9992434
    Abstract: An image pickup circuit including a plurality of circuit blocks. Each of the plurality of circuit blocks includes a plurality of comparing elements, a single counter, and a plurality of storage units. Each of the comparing elements compares a pixel signal supplied through a vertical signal line connected to vertically aligned pixels in a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, and a slope signal whose voltage is changed from an initial voltage at a constant slope. The counter counts an elapsed time since a voltage of the slope signal starts to change from the initial voltage. Each of the storage units stores a count value obtained by the counter in accordance with a comparison result of the comparator, the count value corresponding to an elapsed time until the voltage of the slope signal is changed from the initial voltage to a voltage coinciding with the pixel signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Shigetaka Kudo
  • Patent number: 9945309
    Abstract: A vehicle method for barometric pressure identification, including adjusting engine operation responsive to barometric pressure, the barometric pressure based on a pressure change at a sector of the fuel system when the sector is sealed with the vehicle travelling. The method may utilize a pressure change at the sealed sector of the fuel system, such as a sealed fuel tank, to identify barometric pressure, even with the engine off for extended durations of vehicle travel. As such, in a hybrid-vehicle application, including during hill descents in which the engine is maintained off, barometric pressure can still be updated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Scott A. Bohr, Russell Randall Pearce, Mark W. Peters, Robert Roy Jentz, Aed M. Dudar
  • Patent number: 9891088
    Abstract: Technologies are described herein for compensating for inaccuracies in flow measurement in real-time during accumulation of usage. A pulse count indicating an amount of flow in a meter over a measurement period is read. An average flow rate through the meter for the measurement period is determined and a correction factor is looked up from a table based on the average flow rate. A total usage accumulator for the meter is then updated with the amount of flow over the measurement period based on the pulse count and the correction factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Mueller International, LLC
    Inventors: Szabolcs Zigovszki, Ian Phillip Harvey, Francis J. Stifter, Jr., Matt Allen Thomas
  • Patent number: 9863343
    Abstract: A method and a device for operating an exhaust gas recirculation of a self-ignition internal combustion engine, in particular of a motor vehicle, the internal combustion engine including an air system for controlling the air supply into at least one combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine, and it being provided in particular that a dynamic operating state of the internal combustion engine is detected and, in the event of a detected dynamic operating state, a corrective intervention in the air system of the internal combustion engine is carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Horst Mueller, Laurent Sommacal, Johannes Zeller, Michael Bachner
  • Patent number: 9863790
    Abstract: An encoder is provided that comprises a disk to rotate about an axis. The encoder also comprises a first index mark and a second index mark on the disk. A first orientation of the disk associated with the first index mark is at an offset angle to a second orientation of the disk associated with the second index mark. The encoder also comprises a detector to provide an index signal responsive to an index mark being aligned with the detector. The device also comprises a controller to receive a first index signal and a second index signal from the detector, determine an angle of rotation of the disk between provision of the first index signal and provision of the second index signal, and identify a defect in the encoder based on the angle of rotation being different from the offset angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Miguel Rivas, Jeffrey Thomas Bingham
  • Patent number: 9863851
    Abstract: An exhaust gas measuring information processing apparatus of the present invention detects troubles etc. of a flow sensor during a flow rate measurement and performs predetermined processing relevant to maintenance and check of the flow sensor. The exhaust gas measuring information processing apparatus includes a reception circuit that receives a flow rate measurement signal indicating a flow rate measurement value of exhaust gas flowing through an exhaust gas tube of an internal combustion engine and an operational state signal indicating an operational state of the internal combustion engine, and a processing executing circuit that executes predetermined processing relevant to maintenance and check of the flow sensor that outputs the flow rate measurement signal when a predetermined correlation is not satisfied between an index value for the operational state indicated by the operational state signal and the flow rate measurement value indicated by the flow rate measurement signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Horiba, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsumi Uratani, Shun Fukami
  • Patent number: 9846073
    Abstract: Mass flow controllers with on-tool diagnostic capabilities and methods for on-tool diagnosis of mass flow controllers are disclosed herein. One method includes opening a control valve to a fixed position and closing an upstream valve to produce a flow rate that decreases from a high flow rate, across a range of flow rates, to a low flow rate. A pressure signal is generated that is indicative of a pressure of the fluid within a volume between the upstream valve and a sensor tube, and a flow sensor signal is provided with the mass flow sensor that is indicative of a mass flow rate of the fluid through the main flow path. Ratio curves are produced that relate, across the range of flow rates, a rate of change of the pressure signal to the flow sensor signal and comparing a test ratio curve to a previously generated baseline ratio curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi Metals, Ltd.
    Inventors: Alexei V. Smirnov, Arun Nagarajan
  • Patent number: 9791360
    Abstract: A particle measuring apparatus includes a distributor unit arranged to provide a first partial flow and a second partial flow by separating the second partial flow from an input flow, a particle collecting unit to collect particles from the first partial flow by using a first filter, and a particle monitoring unit to form charged particles by charging particles carried by the second partial flow, and to provide an electric current by collecting the charged particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Dekati Oy
    Inventors: Ville Niemelä, Leo Holma, Sami Lundahl, Tyler Beck
  • Patent number: 9784607
    Abstract: An electronic utility gas meter using MEMS thermal mass flow sensor to measure gas custody transfer data in city gas metering application is disclosed in the present invention. The meter is designed to have its mechanical connectors identical to those of the current diaphragm gas meters while the insertion metrology unit guided channel is placed coaxially in the main flow channel inside the meter body with gas flow conditioning apparatus. The mechanical installation of the electronic utility gas meter then can be fully compatible with the current mechanical utility gas meters, which allows a seamless replacement. The electronic utility gas meter provides gas metrology that significantly improves the accuracy of the city gas metering, and provides additional benefits for data safety, enhanced gas chemical safety, billing alternatives and full data management either locally or remotely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: M-Tech Instrument Corporation Holding Limited
    Inventors: Wai Tung Ivan Wong, Liji Huang, Kowng Shing Ling
  • Patent number: 9726093
    Abstract: In an EGR system, a quantity of exhaust gas passing through an EGR valve is computed by an EGR valve model simulating a behavior of the recirculated exhaust gas passing through the EGR valve. An exhaust gas quantity flowing into a cylinder is computed by an EGR-gas-delay model simulating a behavior of the exhaust gas passing through the EGR valve and the throttle valve and then flows into a cylinder. The EGR-gas-delay model includes a confluent-delay model simulating a behavior of EGR gas passing thorough the EGR valve and flowing into the intake passage upstream of the throttle valve; an intake-pipe-delay model simulating a behavior of EGR gas flowing in the intake passage and passing through the throttle valve; and an intake-manifold-delay model simulating a behavior of EGR gas which passes through the throttle valve and then flows into the intake passage downstream of the throttle valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Takezoe, Hiroshi Katsurahara, Chika Ozaki
  • Patent number: 9719818
    Abstract: A fluid intake system includes a fluid meter having a body with a hole extending the length of the body, the hole being configured to receive the fluid conduit therethrough, a sensor carried within the body and operably associated a computer, the sensor being configured to detect the flowrate of the fluid passing through the fluid conduit and relay a detected fluid flow to the computer, and a display operably associate with the computer, the display being configured to display a numerical value of the fluid flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Inventor: Meredith E. Gill
  • Patent number: 9696179
    Abstract: A product may be provided with a product sensor, thus making it possible to determine, together with the product, data relating to a system or a machine with the aid of the product sensor. The data determined can be used to diagnose and/or control the system or machine. In this case, it is advantageous that the data are obtained at the location of the product and it is thus possible to directly determine a desirable or undesirable effect (for example of environmental parameters or of the system itself) on the product. This system can be used, for example, in automation, in systems or machines or in different product manufacture variants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Thomas Hubauer, Christoph Legat, Christian Seitz
  • Patent number: 9683880
    Abstract: A setting method of a flow meter device comprises (A) measuring a compensation coefficient in a case where a fluid is flowed with a flow within a predetermined range, and deriving a first function representing as a linear function a relationship between a measurement compensation coefficient which is the measured compensation coefficient and a conversion value which is obtained by converting a set flow which is the flow of the flowed fluid, using a predetermined function; (B) setting a reference flow which is an arbitrary flow within the predetermined range and calculating a reference compensation coefficient which is a compensation coefficient corresponding to the reference flow based on the reference flow and the first function; and (C) storing the reference flow and the reference compensation coefficient corresponding to the reference flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouichi Takemura, Aoi Watanabe, Yasuo Koba, Masato Satou
  • Patent number: 9644796
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for in-situ calibration of a flow controller are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of flowing a gas includes providing a flow controller configured to provide a first gas at a first value of a flow rate based on a calculated first relationship determined by using a standard gas; determining an actual first relationship between the flow rate and the setpoint for the first gas from a plurality of values of the flow rate of the first gas determined at a corresponding plurality of values of the setpoint of the flow controller, wherein each of the plurality of values of the flow rate is determined from flowing the first gas through the flow controller at corresponding ones of the plurality of values for the setpoint; and flowing the first gas at the first value of the flow rate based on the actual first relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Balarabe N. Mohammed, John W. Lane, Mariusch J. Gregor, Dan Joseph Healy
  • Patent number: 9624810
    Abstract: A delivery unit for delivering a liquid additive in a motor vehicle, includes at least one temperature sensor for contactlessly measuring a temperature at least at one measurement point in the delivery unit. The temperature sensor and the measurement point have a spacing therebetween and a radiation channel which is free from fixtures is provided between the temperature sensor and the measurement point. A method for checking the operating state of a delivery unit and a motor vehicle having a delivery unit are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: EMITEC Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbH
    Inventors: Finn Frederiksen, Georges Maguin, Cheikh Diouf, Sven Schepers, Jan Hodgson
  • Patent number: 9581476
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for measuring the volumetric flow (Q) of a fluid in a preferred direction by means of a volume measurement device having an electronic circuit and an incremental encoder, a sensor for detecting a rotational change of angle, preferably designed as two giant magnetoresistance (GMR) sensors in a double measuring bridge, wherein a first sinusoidal signal of the incremental encoder, namely a raw sine signal (S1), and a second sinusoidal signal of the incremental encoder with identical angular frequency ? which is phase-shifted by 90° relative to the first signal (S1), namely a raw cosine signal (S1), are generated, wherein said signals (S1) are preferably initially conditioned (S1+), interpolated/digitized (S2), and said digital signals (S2) are processed and evaluated in an evaluation unit, preferably in a process computer unit having a quadrature encoder counter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: VSE Volumentechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Jorg Kirchertz
  • Patent number: 9576176
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a biometric sensing device connected to a processing channel that includes at least one amplifier having a gain. One or more processing devices is operatively connected to the biometric sensing device and adapted to compensate for signal fixed pattern noise in signals received from the processing channel. The signal fixed pattern noise can include signal measurement variation noise and gain variation noise. The biometric sensing device captures a new image or data, and at least one processing device compensates for the signal fixed pattern noise in the newly captured image or data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Giovanni Gozzini, Benjamin B. Lyon, William M. Vieta, Pavel Mrazek
  • Patent number: 9528914
    Abstract: A non-intrusive sensor system includes an array of sensors disposed in a process to measure various input process phenomena and a logic unit that analyses the sensor measurements using an empirical model to produce an estimate of a further process phenomenon not measured directly by any of the array of sensors. The sensors within the array of sensors may be non-intrusive sensors that measure input process phenomena in an intrusive or non-intrusive manner but are non-intrusive with respect to the output process phenomenon as none of these sensors comes into direct contact with the process fluid or process element exhibiting the output process phenomenon. The sensors within the array of sensors can be any type of sensors that produce a measurement of a particular process phenomenon at the same or at different locations within a process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: ROSEMOUNT, INC.
    Inventor: Mark Stephen Schumacher
  • Patent number: 9514283
    Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis system includes: a plurality of automated peritoneal dialysis (“APD”) machines; and a server computer in communication with the APD machines, the APD machines programmed to inform the server computer of how much dialysate is consumed over a first delivery period, the server computer configured to use the amounts consumed to determine dialysate delivery amounts for the plurality of APD machines for a second delivery period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare S.A.
    Inventors: Robert W. Childers, Anping Yu, Borut Cizman
  • Patent number: 9465001
    Abstract: A system and method for measuring an electrical characteristic of a fluid using a measuring circuit. In one implementation, the measuring circuit includes a sensing component, a current supply connected to the sensing component, a sensor switchably connected to the sensing component, an array of components switchably connected to the sensing component, and a monitoring circuit connected to the sensing component. A controller performs a calibration of the measuring circuit by switching parallel impedances in and out of the circuit while measuring voltages across the sensing component. The voltages are measured at at least two different phase angles that are determined by the calibration. Once voltages at different impedances and different phases are determined, the controller calculates a value of the electrical characteristic of the fluid by interpolating between lines of fixed capacitance or resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: BOURNS, INC.
    Inventor: James Gregory Stanley
  • Patent number: 9436989
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlled administration of a tracer and quantification of uptake of the tracer by a target organ are described. The method includes administering a tracer to a patient and imaging at least two regions of the patient's body that cannot be imaged simultaneously. An input function for the tracer can be determined by imaging a first region of the patient's body during selected times, and using an injector to administer the tracer in a manner that accurately estimates the input function when this first region is not being imaged. One or more additional regions of the body may then be imaged to create data that may be used to estimate the input function. One or more parameters may then be estimated from each additional region of the body based on the input function and the imaging data gathered from each region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Bayer HealthCare LLC
    Inventor: Arthur E. Uber, III
  • Patent number: 9437388
    Abstract: A system and method for depositing a phosphor composition onto a light emitting device improves manufacturing yield, simplifies conventional processes, and decreases costs. For example, a method of dispensing a phosphor composition onto a light emitting device includes dispensing a portion of the phosphor composition onto the light emitting device utilizing a plurality of colored phosphor dispensers each for dispensing a respective type of phosphor. Power is applied to the light emitting device to emit light, and a characteristic the light emitted by the light emitting device is detected. Phosphor mixing and phosphor dispensing are dynamically controlled. Therefore the color characteristics of phosphor dispensed on LEDs are consistent. The system and method may also reduce the difference between detected characteristic of the light and a desired characteristic of the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Bridgelux, Inc.
    Inventors: Tao Xu, Rene Helbing
  • Patent number: 9412138
    Abstract: A system for presenting a utility consumption dashboard. The dashboard may have one or more panes for displaying energy or other utility consumption related information. A pane may indicate utility consumption and time periods of consumption. Data of utility consumption may be shown in terms of years, quarters or months, for different types of utility consumption such as electrical, gas, and so forth. Utility consumption may be noted in various contexts. Another pane may provide daily patterns related to utility consumption. Still another pane may provide a scatter plot of data points relating to utility consumption and temperature outside of the space. Dynamic interaction, including analysis, may involve utility consumption, time period, and temperature outside the space. A data or information point in any of the panes may be selected to reveal a tool tip that highlights details about the point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Wendy Foslien
  • Patent number: 9383476
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring individual phase fractions and phase flow rates in a multiphase flow based on velocity of the flow, speed of sound through the fluid mixture, and the density of the fluid mixture. Techniques presented herein are based on measuring frictional pressure drop across a flowmeter conduit, determining a surface roughness term for the conduit during initial flow tests or through other mechanical means, implementing a correction method to balance the momentum equation, and calculating the fluid mixture density using the measured pressure drop. The techniques may be applicable to measuring flow parameters in horizontally oriented conduits and, more generally, conduits of any orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Sumeet Trehan, Omer Haldun Unalmis
  • Patent number: 9347763
    Abstract: A hydraulic cylinder stroke operation diagnosis assisting device includes: movable portions that are sequentially supported by a vehicle body in a rotatable manner; a hydraulic cylinder between the vehicle body and each movable portion or between the movable portions to support the movable portions in a rotatable manner; a stroke sensor in the hydraulic cylinder to measure a stroke length of the hydraulic cylinder; a reset sensor measuring a reference reset point in which a value of the stroke length measured by the stroke sensor is reset; a stroke end detection unit detecting a stroke end position of the hydraulic cylinder; a calibration unit calibrating the measured value of the stroke length when the reference reset point and/or the stroke end position are detected; and a monitor displaying at least the measured value of the stroke length and a calibration state by the calibration unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Ikegami, Yoshiki Kami, Yuki Shimano, Yukinori Maeda
  • Patent number: 9348339
    Abstract: A pulse gas delivery system for delivering a sequence of pulses of prescribed amounts of gases to a process tool, comprises: (a) a plurality of channels, each including (i) a gas delivery chamber; (ii) an inlet valve connected so as to control gas flowing into the corresponding gas delivery chamber; and (iii) an outlet valve connected so as to control the amount of gas flowing out of the corresponding gas delivery chamber; and (b) a dedicated multiple channel controller configured so as to control the inlet and outlet valves of each of the channels so that pulses of gases in prescribed amounts can be provided to the process tool in a predetermined sequence in accordance with a pulse gas delivery process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Junhua Ding, Scott Benedict, Jaroslaw Pisera
  • Patent number: 9297720
    Abstract: A method of observing an airflow passage within a gas turbine engine includes locating a support in view of an airflow passage and housing an optical fiber within the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Ian F. Agoos, Eli C. Warren
  • Patent number: 9218656
    Abstract: A method for classifying a lesion in an MRI includes acquiring a pre-contrast MR image. A magnetic contrast agent is administered. A set of post-contrast MR images are acquired. The acquired pre-contrast and post-contrast MR images are displayed. A manually entered value is received for a size of a lesion manually identified within the pre-contrast and post-contrast MR images. A manually entered value for an absorption/washout profile is received of the manually identified lesion. A risk of malignancy for the manually identified lesion is automatically determined based on the received size value and absorption/washout profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerardo Hermosillo Valadez
  • Patent number: 9169761
    Abstract: A control portion sets a total injection amount of a urea water injected from an injector to an exhaust gas, and controls to open or close the injector based on the injection amount. An injection-amount correcting portion estimates an injection characteristic of the injector from an injection-amount difference between the total injection amount and a decreased amount of the urea water in a tank, and corrects a command value of a control signal outputted to the injector based on the injection characteristic. Therefore, the injection amount is corrected by considering the individual differences or the age-related deterioration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masakazu Toukairin
  • Patent number: 9157456
    Abstract: The method consists, based on an operating parameter of the turbojet engine, in: displacing said control member (11) in a direction as far as a first position (P1) for which the receiving members (5) are rotated so as to take up the clearance of the kinematic link (12), then displacing said control member in the direction opposing the previous direction, as far as a second position (P2) when a variation of the selected operating parameter is observed, and in ascertaining the travel of the control member (11) between the two positions corresponding to the total clearance of the kinematic link (12), and comparing the ascertained value of said travel of the control member with a predetermined limit value and, if it is observed that the ascertained value of the travel of the control member is greater than said limit value, to carry out monitoring of the kinematic link (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Nicolas Potel, Hichem Belghagi
  • Patent number: 9057636
    Abstract: A valve fully closing part; a calibrating volume calculation part that calculates a calibrating volume on the basis value of an integration of a flow rate measured value outputted from a flow rate sensor in a fluid parameter changing interval; and a calibration part that calibrates a flow rate on the basis of the calculated calibrating volume and a preset reference volume are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: HORIBA STEC, Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Kentaro Nagai
  • Publication number: 20150142363
    Abstract: A model is based on noise-suppression technique in level indicators that uses mutually independent mathematical models, the quality of each of which models is calculated by comparing with measured values. The models are then weighted and combined, or a single model is selected, in order to calculate the level at a later point in time. Effective noise suppression may be achieved by these means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventor: Christian HOFERER
  • Patent number: 9026381
    Abstract: A problem of the present invention is to provide a flow rate measurement device which is capable of simplifying calculation, reducing the amount of memory necessary for calculation, absorbing variations in the flow rate which changes in various ways depending on the state of usage, and improving identification precision of appliances with a configuration which extracts characteristics of appliances. The flow rate measurement device monitors and determines the change in the flow rate measured by a flow rate measurement unit, and extracts and determines codes obtained by a differential conversion unit and appliance characteristic flow rates representing the characteristics of gas appliances, thereby identifying the gas appliances in which appliance characteristics vary depending on the state of usage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuo Yokohata
  • Patent number: 9026382
    Abstract: A problem of the present invention is to provide a flow rate measurement device which is capable of simplifying calculation, reducing the amount of memory necessary for calculation, absorbing variations resulting from manual operation or ignition state when appliances are used alone or in combination, and improving appliance identification precision with a configuration which extracts characteristics of appliances. The flow rate measurement device monitors and determines the change in a flow rate measured by a flow rate measurement unit, monitors and determines the code obtained by differential conversion unit, extracts appliance characteristic flow rates representing the characteristics of the gas appliances, and compares them with the appliance-specific characteristics, thereby identifying the gas appliances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuo Yokohata
  • Patent number: 9019120
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for monitoring water leaks within a home. A home network with various devices monitors these devices with a controller. Information is received from a water flow meter via a transceiver for tracking a total water flow amount through pipelines in the home. By comparing information collected to a predetermined threshold, a leak is determined as present or not within each pipeline. Upon the detection of a leak in the home, a home owner is notified of the condition so that action is taken expeditiously. A shut off valve can be triggered remotely when a request is received from the user, which closes the water pipeline to prevent water damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jay Andrew Broniak, Michael Thomas Beyerle, Joseph Mark Brian, David C. Bingham
  • Publication number: 20150112629
    Abstract: Method for validating the accuracy of automated analyzers by performing an improved dual dye ratio method procedure that uses at least first and second dye solutions in combination with gravimetric measurement of selected test solutions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2015
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventor: Akira HATTORI
  • Publication number: 20150112628
    Abstract: A gas flow measuring method includes a gas flow measuring program and a flow measurement device. A type of gas to be measured, a temperature, a pressure, a pressure difference, an inlet diameter and a throat diameter of the flow measurement device are input. An input constant (including adiabatic index, gas viscosity, and gas density) database according to the type of the gas. An expansion coefficient is calculated using the input adiabatic index, diameter ratio, and pressure ratio. A coefficient of runoff is corrected. The calculated expansion coefficient, the corrected coefficient of runoff, and the pressure difference, the throat diameter, the diameter ratio, and the gas density are substituted in a gas flow measurement formula and calculated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventor: Jung Joong Yoon
  • Patent number: 9014994
    Abstract: A multi-phase process fluid is passed through a vibratable flowtube. Motion is induced in the vibratable flowtube. A first apparent property of the multi-phase process fluid based on the motion of the vibratable flowtube is determined, and an apparent intermediate value associated with the multi-phase process fluid based on the first apparent property is determined. A corrected intermediate value is determined based on a mapping between the intermediate value and the corrected intermediate value. A phase-specific property of a phase of the multi-phase process fluid is determined based on the corrected intermediate value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Manus P. Henry, Michael S. Tombs
  • Patent number: 9014997
    Abstract: Drive techniques for a digital flowmeter are described. The drive techniques account for delays caused during digital signal processing of sensor signals that correspond to a motion of a flowtube, as well as drive signals that impart motion to the flowtube. Such delays may be caused by a variety of factors, including delays associated with analog/digital conversion of the signals and/or filtering of the signals. The techniques include open-loop techniques and closed-loop techniques, which can be used separately or together during the start-up and operation of the digital flowmeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Manus P. Henry, Mayela E. Zamora
  • Publication number: 20150088433
    Abstract: The present invention is related to an apparatus facilitating the automation of gaseous sample analysis and the method thereof. Specifically, the present invention is related to the apparatus that is capable of detecting and converting a reading from a first matrix to a second matrix, thus simplifies a calibration process required for the gaseous sample analysis and the method thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: Applied Lab Automation
    Inventor: Grace C. Feng-Tang
  • Patent number: 8990020
    Abstract: A system and method for use in a downhole tool having a fluid density measurement device positioned therein are provided. In one example, the method includes deploying the downhole tool at a first station in a borehole. The downhole tool is moved from the first station to a second station in the borehole. A plurality of fluid density values of fluid within the borehole between the first and second stations are measured using the fluid density measurement device in the downhole tool. The plurality of fluid density values may represent a continuous log of fluid densities between the first and second stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Harold Pfutzner, Peter D. Wraight