Mechanical Measurement System Patents (Class 702/33)
  • Patent number: 8412469
    Abstract: Mobile system and method for monitoring environmental parameters involved in growth or metabolic transformation of algae in a liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA)
    Inventors: Brad Bebout, Erich Fleming, Matthew Piccini, Christopher Beasley, Leslie Bebout
  • Patent number: 8410954
    Abstract: A moving or rotating body and a stationary body having a wireless communication link with each other. The communication link may involve RF telemetry. The stationary body may provide power in a wireless manner to the rotating body. The moving body may be a rotation sensor for determining torque, speed of rotation, angular position, power and the like. The stationary body may also interact with a processing module via a communication medium. The communication medium may be an Ethernet or an equivalent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Brian P. Duffy, Christopher A. Novak
  • Patent number: 8412428
    Abstract: A system and method of detecting clutch engagement of a manual transmission of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The system and method include a clutch switch for detecting clutch engagement and a backup method for detecting clutch engagement. The backup method includes varying a target speed of an engine drive shaft of the motor vehicle and comparing the speed of the engine drive shaft with the speed of a mainshaft of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nathaniel Ellis
  • Publication number: 20130080075
    Abstract: A method of selecting a preferred golf shaft for a player who uses an existing golf shaft, according to one or more aspects of the present invention, may comprise gathering a plurality of empirical data sets, each data set corresponding to an individual golf shaft selected from a plurality of golf shafts; providing a plurality of specification codes, each associated with an individual empirical data set of the plurality of empirical data sets; from the plurality of specification codes, identifying a first specification code associated with the existing golf shaft; gathering feedback associated with the existing golf shaft from the player; and using the feedback to select, from the plurality of specification codes, a second specification code corresponding to the preferred golf shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: SRI SPORTS LIMITED
    Inventor: SRI Sports Limited
  • Patent number: 8407031
    Abstract: Computer based CAE models for simulating the physical behavior of disposable articles during manufacturing processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Jean Vittorio Seguro
  • Patent number: 8374717
    Abstract: A vibration suppressing method and a vibration suppressing device are disclosed. After a tool is attached to a main spindle, a modal parameter of the tool or a workpiece is computed. Thereafter, a relation between chatter frequency and phase difference is calculated as an approximation formula based on the obtained modal parameter and machining conditions. If chatter vibration occurs after initiation of the machining, a chatter frequency corresponding to a target phase difference is obtained using the approximation formula, and based on the obtained chatter frequency, the number of tool flutes and the main spindle rotation speed, the optimum rotation speed is calculated. The rotation speed of the main spindle is then changed in accordance with the obtained optimum rotation speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignees: Okuma Corporation, National University Corporation Nagoya University
    Inventors: Norikazu Suzuki, Eiji Shamoto, Hiroshi Ueno
  • Patent number: 8370109
    Abstract: Machine vibration baselines are synthesized without averaging historical vibration data. Instead machinery configuration information is used, including data about the machine train, the machine's rotating components, and the machine speeds. For each component being considered, a plurality of parameters is identified for deriving baseline portions. The parameters for one component are used to identify baseline vibration amplitude floor values, vibration amplitudes at frequencies corresponding to various harmonics of a rotational speed, and vibration amplitudes corresponding to forcing frequencies and their harmonics/sidebands. Parameters for other components also may be used to identify amplitudes at harmonic frequencies and forcing frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: DLI Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Van Dyke, William A. Watts, Laurent H. LaPorte
  • Patent number: 8364440
    Abstract: A system and method for evaluating the productivity of a working machine and its driver in a real or virtual operating environment is controlled by a control system to perform work, and in which the work cycles relating to the work performed by the working machine are determined by continuous measurements directed to the working machine when it is controlled by the driver. Characteristic values relating to the performance of the determined work cycles are collected on the basis of the continuous measurements for the purpose of evaluating the performance of the work or for comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: John Deere Forestry Oy
    Inventor: Aki Putkonen
  • Patent number: 8359169
    Abstract: A method of qualifying a ferrule assembly as being adequate to make physical contact upon application of a certain mating force, said ferrule assembly comprising a ferrule having an mating face and two or more fibers in said ferrule extending from said mating face, said method comprising (a) determining a coplanarity line of the ends of said fibers of said ferrule assembly, (b) determining minus coplanarity, said minus coplanarity being the greatest parallel offset between said coplanarity line and a fiber end below the coplanarity line; and (c) determining whether said ferrule assembly will make physical contact as a function of at least said minus coplanarity and said certain mating force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Lawrence Gurreri, James David Kevern
  • Patent number: 8355886
    Abstract: A method to determine the misalignment and/or clearance of a door relative to its frame includes a phase to determine a law of variation of the clearance and/or misalignment values for the different inspection points, in relation to various opening positions of the door taken with respect to a reference position in which the door occupies its closed position, a measurement phase in which the door occupies any position relative to the frame, and during which the clearance and/or misalignment values are measured, and a phase to take into account the measured clearance and/or misalignment values and the law of variation so as to determine the true values of clearance and/or misalignment at the different inspection points corresponding to the door in its reference closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Edixia
    Inventors: Michel Ollivier, Arnaud Legeard
  • Publication number: 20130013222
    Abstract: The present application discloses a method for detecting performance of an APU, comprising: obtaining EGT (Exhaust Gas Temperature), LCIT (Load Compressor Inlet Temperature), STA (Starting Time), TSR and PT, comparing respectively a difference of EGT and LCIT (i.e., EGT-LCIT), STA, TSR and PT with respective threshold value; assigning a weights to comparison results between the EGT-LCIT, STA, TSR and PT and the respective threshold value; and determining the performance of the APU based on the comparison results considering the weight between the EGT-LCIT, STA, TSR and PT and the respective threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: AIR CHINA LIMITED
    Inventors: Zhuping GU, Bingzheng WANG, Fengliang ZHENG, Hongtao MA, Lei HUANG, Haoquan MAO
  • Patent number: 8352198
    Abstract: A user, when measuring a sensing target substance in fluid using a crystal sensor (sensing sensor) using a crystal vibrator whose natural frequency is varied by an absorption of the sending target, is able to easily and accurately grasp information peculiar to the crystal sensor, for instance, information regarding a quality thereof. An IC chip in which the information peculiar to the crystal sensor is stored is provided to the crystal sensor, and the peculiar information is read out at a side of a concentration measuring device when the crystal sensor is inserted into the concentration measuring device, and then displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunichi Wakamatsu, Hiroyuki Kukita
  • Patent number: 8352149
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for verifying proper operation of a gas turbine engine output torque sensor using a speed sensor, and using the speed sensor as a backup torque sensor. Gas turbine engine output torque is sensed using a reference torque sensor, and gas turbine engine output shaft rotational speed is sensed. Gas turbine engine output torque is calculated from the sensed gas turbine engine output shaft rotational speed. The sensed gas turbine engine output torque is compared to the calculated gas turbine engine output torque to determine if the reference torque sensor is operating properly. The gas turbine engine is controlled at least partially based on the sensed gas turbine engine output torque if the reference torque sensor is determined to be operating properly, and is controlled at least partially based on the calculated output torque if the reference torque sensor is determined to be not operating properly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Walter L. Meacham
  • Publication number: 20120316798
    Abstract: A system assesses and displays activity of a sportsman. At least one sensor detects movement of the sportsman, and a processor processes data from the sensor to assess activity of the sportsman. A heads-up display mounted with a pair of goggles or glasses displays data indicative of the activity to the sportsman.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Inventors: Curtis A. Vock, Dennis Darcy, Peter Flentov
  • Patent number: 8332163
    Abstract: Methods of determining a quantity of rotor slots in an induction motor are disclosed. An approximate slip is calculated according to an approximate slip function. A fundamental frequency is calculated from a representation of the voltage signal. A saliency frequency is calculated from a representation of the current signal. For each rotor slots index in a set of rotor slots indices, a slip estimate is calculated according to a slip estimation function. A slip estimation error signal is calculated. A rotor slots performance surface representative of an aggregate of the slip estimation error signals is calculated. A rotor slots quantity equal to the rotor slots index corresponding to a minimum of the rotor slots performance surface over at least a portion of the set of the rotor slots indices is defined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry A. Turner, Roy S. Colby, Zhi Gao
  • Patent number: 8326551
    Abstract: A method and system for incorporating electronic signature analysis in a low voltage power supply to centrally monitor current consumption is disclosed. The electrical loads powered by the low voltage power supply can be tested individually via an automatic test routine by measuring and scaling of current through a differential amplifier. The current consumption of each electrical load can be measured by analyzing a “delta” in the current draw of each electrical load's ON and OFF condition. This value can be compared against a stored table of high and low limits for each electrical load. If a load's current is outside the limits, it will be logged for repairs. A current sensing device can be inserted in series with the output(s) of the low voltage power supply, while in test mode, to allow the automatic test routine to run, and then be shorted out for normal operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Randall Brian Wirt
  • Patent number: 8315806
    Abstract: A method for determining the color perception of multi-layer dispersive materials or biological materials for layer thicknesses that are respectively selective, by the determination of the diffuse reflectance based on the respective intrinsic optical parameter using Monte Carlo simulations and taking into consideration the measurement geometries, anisotropy and the dispersion phase function in order to correctly take into account the multiple internal dispersion of the material. The color effect is calculated from the diffuse reflectance based on the various color systems in accordance with different algorithms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: DeguDent GmbH
    Inventors: Kirsten Povel, Hans-Joachim Cappius, Gerhard Mueller
  • Patent number: 8301402
    Abstract: An in-plane compressive strength evaluation device (10) provided with a memory unit (21) into which, when an in-plane compressive strength evaluation is actually performed using a test piece, an evaluation result is stored as first information; a first analysis unit (22) that obtains second information that is an evaluation result related to the load and a displacement of the structural model; an adjustment unit (23) that adjusts an elemental factor of the structural model that influences the in-plane compressive strength such that the second information approaches the first information; and a second analysis unit (24) that, in a state where the elemental factor used when the second information approaches the first information most closely expands the structural model into the structural form of the actual tube support plate, and that performs the in-plane compressive strength evaluation using the expanded structural model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Ogawa, Kengo Shimamura
  • Patent number: 8301429
    Abstract: Computer-implemented iterative multi-scale methods and systems are provided for handling simulation of complex, highly anisotropic, heterogeneous domains. A system and method can be configured to achieve simulation of structures where accurate localization assumptions do not exist. The iterative system and method smoothes the solution field by applying line relaxation in all spatial directions. The smoother is unconditionally stable and leads to sets of tri-diagonal linear systems that can be solved efficiently, such as by the Thomas algorithm. Furthermore, the iterative smoothing procedure, for the improvement of the localization assumptions, does not need to be applied in every time step of the computation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignees: Chevron U.S.A. Inc., Schlumberger Technology Corporation, ETH Zurich
    Inventors: Hadi Hajibeygi, Giuseppe Bonfigli, Marc Andre Hesse, Patrick Jenny
  • Publication number: 20120271563
    Abstract: A structural health monitoring system using ASICs for signal transmission, reception, and analysis. Incorporating structural health monitoring functionality into one or more ASICs provides a durable yet small, lightweight, low cost, and portable system that can be deployed and operated in field conditions. Such systems provide significant advantages, especially in applications such as armor structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventors: Xinlin QING, Chang Zhang, Irene Li, Fu-kuo Chang, Hung Chi Chung
  • Patent number: 8296081
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for obtaining material information regarding steel sheet for shipping over the entire length of the steel sheet for shipping without spending too much time and effort, providing detailed material information in large volumes to a user through a computer and network, and having the user utilize the same. Specifically, it estimates the mechanical properties of temper rolled steel sheet based on the actual rolling data in a skinpass mill installed at the exit side of the continuous annealing line or galvanization facility and provides the estimated mechanical properties through the host computer and network to the user of the steel sheet. The user can use the estimated material information so as to remove the parts defective in mechanical properties or change the press forming conditions of the steel sheet. Further, the user can feed back information to the steel sheet manufacturer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Nippon Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Goto, Tadaaki Shikama, Ikuo Oonishi
  • Patent number: 8296080
    Abstract: A method of determining at least one parameter representative of at least one interaction along a longitudinal direction between a tyre and the ground, includes identifying a first parameter representative of a radial deformation of the tyre; determining a first and a second value of the first parameter in respective neighbourhoods of a first and a second longitudinal end of a footprint area defined between the tyre and ground; calculating a linear combination of the values thereby obtaining a second parameter; determining a third parameter representative of an angular velocity of the tyre; calculating a ratio between the second and third parameters; and calculating a main parameter, starting from the ratio, according to an algorithm, which main parameter is representative of a longitudinal interaction between the tyre and the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignees: Pirelli Tyre S.p.A., Politecnico di Milano
    Inventors: Federico Mancosu, Massimo Brusarosco, Stefano Melzi, Federico Cheli
  • Publication number: 20120265449
    Abstract: The disclosure provides in one embodiment a system for monitoring adhesive integrity within a cured bondline of a bonded structural assembly. The system comprises a bonded structural assembly having a cured bondline. The cured bondline comprises an adhesive layer, a scrim ply layer integrated with the adhesive layer, and an electrical sensor network integrated with the scrim ply layer. The system further comprises an electrical power source for providing electrical power to the electrical sensor network. The system further comprises a digital data communications network for retrieving and processing data from the electrical sensor network. The electrical sensor network monitors adhesive integrity on demand by interpreting changes in local dynamic responses and electromechanical properties directly measured within the cured bondline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jeong-Beom Ihn, Jonathan Henry Gosse, Kay Y. Blohowiak, William B. H. Grace
  • Patent number: 8290747
    Abstract: A system for electronically recording an event that provides mechanical energy to a structure includes the structure and an event sensing and recording node. The event sensing and recording node is mounted on the structure and includes a sensor and a first electronic memory. The sensor includes a device for converting the mechanical energy into an electrical signal. The first electronic memory uses energy derived from the electrical signal for electronically recording the event. All energy for sensing the event and recording the event in the first electronic memory is derived from the mechanical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Microstrain, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Hamel, Steven W. Arms
  • Patent number: 8285513
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for detecting an abnormal on-line analysis or laboratory measurement and for predicting an abnormal quality excursion due to an abnormal process condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventor: Kenneth F. Emigholz
  • Patent number: 8280647
    Abstract: For monitoring (unmeasured) process states of a rotating machine having a combustion chamber (e.g. a gas turbine), compositions of educts entering the combustion chamber are measured. Based on the compositions of the educts, the composition of the product produced by the combustion chamber can be determined. Moreover, the mechanical power (Pmech) generated by the rotating machine can be determined. Based on the mechanical power (Pmech), the composition of the educts and product, and stoichiometric relationships of educts and product, the values of process states, such as the air mass flow (wa) through the compressor leading into the combustion chamber and/or the gas mass flow (wg), the composition and/or the temperature (T3) of exhaust gas exiting the combustion chamber can be determined. Based on precise measurements of the educt (e.g. the composition of air and fuel in the combustion process), the product (i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Konrad Stadler, Andreas Poncet, Thomas Von Hoff
  • Patent number: 8271245
    Abstract: A system and methods are disclosed herein for modeling a mechanical system having body elements movable in at least two dimensions in a graphical modeling environment. The system and methods described herein allow constraints on body elements movable in at least two dimensions in the mechanical system to be generalized and represented by a single block in the graphical modeling environment. The system and methods described herein simplify the modeling of a mechanical system by allowing a user to construct a definition of generalized constraints through a connectivity table. Thus, it is possible to model a mechanical system in a graphical modeling environment with less than all the body elements represented by blocks in a graphical model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: The Math Works, Inc.
    Inventor: Giles D. Wood
  • Patent number: 8268385
    Abstract: A method is provided for the determination a thickness error in a previously deposited layer using the reflection monitor signal of the currently-depositing layer. This thickness error is then used to compute corrections to the thickness of the currently-depositing layer and the next layer which corrects for the thickness error in the previous layer. The method is stable with respect to noise in the optical monitor signal. The technique is applicable for optical coating designs which are not necessarily quarter wave. The approach avoids the buildup of thickness errors from layer to layer and thus is applicable for very thick designs with many layers. Near the end of a currently depositing layer the monitor signal is used to fit the admittance of the base stack under the current layer. This establishes the parameters in an exact reflectance model used for the thickness monitoring of the current layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Inventor: William H. Southwell
  • Publication number: 20120232806
    Abstract: Systems and methods for analyzing and retrieving data from a monitoring system for monitoring a plurality of rotary machinery, such as turbines, is disclosed. A notification of an anomaly event is received from the monitoring system and tag data associated with the anomaly event is retrieved using a computer-implemented data retrieval tool. The tag data is stored at a central location and one or more objects are generated at the central location according to an event model. The one or more objects are stored as an event data object at the central location. The event data object is accessible by one or more client devices configured to render the one or more objects associated with the event data object in a graphical user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Jayanthi Srinivasan, Leon Ericson Haynes, David Neal Johnson, Charles B. Singleton, Olga Agady
  • Patent number: 8265884
    Abstract: A method of measuring the elastic modulus and hardness of a thin film on substrate using nanoindentation technique is provided. The method includes calculating a series of experimental corrected stiffness and contact radius pairs associated with one or more presumed parameters and information obtained from a loading curve associated with the thin film and substrate. Also, the method includes calculating a series of theoretical corrected stiffness and contact radius pairs associated with the same one or more presumed parameters and information obtained from the loading curve associated with the thin film and substrate. Furthermore, the method includes using results obtained from the experimental and theoretical corrected stiffness and contact radius pairs to compute the elastic modulus and hardness of the film material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventors: Han Li, Joost Vlassak
  • Patent number: 8266129
    Abstract: A system for endoscope data management of an endoscopic image of a body acquired by an endoscope is provided. An image filing apparatus retrieves the image from the endoscope, and records data of the image and scope ID assigned to the endoscope in association with one another. A washer washes the endoscope. A memory is incorporated in the washer, for storing log information of washing of the endoscope. A data manager retrieves the log information on line with the washer, to record the scope ID and the log information in association with one another. A server device records the data of the image, the scope ID and the log information on line with the image filing apparatus and the data manager. Furthermore, the data manager includes an editor for editing the log information of the washer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kunimasa Shimizu, Takayuki Goto, Goro Miura, Takayoshi Kiuchi
  • Patent number: 8260007
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating a depth tile are provided. In some aspects, a system includes an alignment module configured to map each pixel of a depthmap to a corresponding pixel of a map tile. Each pixel of the depthmap includes a depth value, and each pixel of the map tile is associated with a terrain elevation value. The system also includes a transform module configured to adjust the depth value of each pixel of the depthmap based on a corresponding terrain elevation value. The system also includes a depth tile module configured to generate the depth tile. Each pixel of the depth tile includes a corresponding adjusted depth value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Yasutaka Furukawa, Carlos Hernandez Esteban
  • Publication number: 20120215465
    Abstract: A system for determining longitudinal moments in a one-way joist floor comprising a supporting girder includes at least one computer configured to determine boundaries of at least one equivalent frame, determine a longitudinal moment within a column-beam portion of the at least one equivalent frame based at least in part on a vertical rigidity of the supporting girder, the column-beam portion having at least one column, and determine a longitudinal moment within a lateral section of the at least one equivalent frame based on the longitudinal moment within the column-beam portion, and based at least in part on the vertical rigidity of the supporting girder, the lateral section being lateral to the column-beam portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventors: Ahmed B. Shuraim, Abdulaziz Al-Negheimish
  • Patent number: 8249822
    Abstract: A motion controller includes a handle and a MEMS pressure sensing module. The handle has an output interface circuit for coupling with a terminal electronic device. The MEMS pressure sensing module includes a compressible member mounted on the handle, a MEMS sensor for sensing a pressure applied on the compressible member and converting the pressure into electronic signals, a processing unit for calculating a value of the pressure according to the electronic signals, and a power supply unit for supplying power to the processing unit. The processing unit is connected with the output interface circuit such that a user is able to obtain the pressure value from the terminal electronic apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hai Lan, Ga-Lane Chen, Tai-Hsu Chou
  • Patent number: 8244486
    Abstract: Storage of information, such as baseline information and structure ID, in a memory that is mounted on the structure, rather than inside the diagnosis hardware. This allows for faster and more convenient information retrieval. In particular, this approach allows for a more modular system in which different diagnosis hardware or other analyzers can be simply plugged into a structure's sensor network, whereupon they can quickly download any desired structure-specific information (e.g., baseline information, structure ID, and other useful information) from the on-structure memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Acellent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Chang Zhang, Xinlin Qing, Irene Li
  • Publication number: 20120197546
    Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of methods and systems to identify a physical event using a vibration signature. One aspect of the method comprises forming one or more identified vibration signatures that are each associated with a respective known physical event. The method further comprises receiving a vibration signature associated with an actual physical event, and identifying the actual physical event by comparing the vibration signature with the one or more identified vibration signatures that are each associated with a respective known physical event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventor: Ryan Marc LaFrance
  • Patent number: 8229681
    Abstract: At least one method, structure and apparatus used to measure tearing resistance of a commercial member. The method includes the use of full-scale testing methods and apparatuses to obtain unloading compliance measurements, which are used to generate a tearing resistance curve that includes the effects of geometry and considers data beyond the yield point of the commercial member. The commercial member may be a pipeline for carrying hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Karel Minnaar, Paulo C. Gioielli, Mario L. Macia
  • Patent number: 8229680
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for detecting fastener loosening. Sensors query a structure at a baseline value of an environment variable, such as temperature, and this baseline signal is stored for later use. Subsequently, users can query the structure remotely and at any time, and the signals from these queries are compared to the stored baseline signal. In some embodiments, an index is calculated, and the system determines that one or more fasteners have come loose if the calculated index exceeds a predetermined threshold value. It is desirable to select a time window within which the query signal is most sensitive to fastener loosening but least sensitive to variations in the environment variable. Accordingly, embodiments of the invention include methods and apparatuses for determining an optimal time window for use in calculating the above described index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Acellent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bao Liu, Lien Ouyang, Shawn J. Beard, Irene Li, Fu-Kuo Chang
  • Patent number: 8230266
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for acquiring operational data from a wind turbine and analyzing trip events. One or more data buffers can store operational data obtained from at least one control subsystem. A trip event detection system can be connected to the data buffers, and monitors for the occurrence of a trip event. The data stored in the data buffers can be transferred to a trip log buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John C. Hamby, Susan J. Brown
  • Patent number: 8219857
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for generating device fingerprints and authenticating devices uses initial states of internal storage cells after each of a number multiple power cycles for each of a number of device temperatures to generate a device fingerprint. The device fingerprint may include pairs of expected values for each of the internal storage cells and a corresponding probability that the storage cell will assume the expected value. Storage cells that have expected values varying over the multiple temperatures may be excluded from the fingerprint. A device is authenticated by a similarity algorithm that uses a match of the expected values from a known fingerprint with power-up values from an unknown device, weighting the comparisons by the probability for each cell to compute a similarity measure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Fadi H. Gebara, Joonsoo Kim, Jeremy D. Schaub, Volker Strumpen
  • Patent number: 8214162
    Abstract: Method for evaluating an asymmetric residual stress for a material by the indentation test comprises applying the residual stresses with an uniaxial and an symmetrical biaxial tensions on the material and then performing an instrumented indentation test indenting an asymmetric indenter on the material; and comparing a slope of indentation load-depth curve when the long diagonal direction of the asymmetric indenter is perpendicular to the direction of the largest residual stress with that in stress-free state, and then a slope of indentation load-depth curve when the long diagonal direction of the asymmetric indenter is parallel to the direction of the largest residual stress with that in stress-free state, so as to evaluate the asymmetric residual stress for the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Frontics, Inc.
    Inventor: Jae Hwan Han
  • Patent number: 8214160
    Abstract: A state detecting apparatus S for detecting a current operating state of an LM (linear motion) system includes an AE sensor 1 generating a detection signal Sae by detecting an AE wave elastically generated when a plurality of balls contained in the LM system revolve in a circulation portion while spinning themselves; and a signal processing unit 4 generating a parameter indicating an intensity of the AE wave based on only the detection signal Sae corresponding to an operating frequency of the ball, and uses the parameter to determine a lubrication state of the LM system. Thereby, it is possible to provide the state detecting apparatus capable of predicting failure occurrence in the LM system; providing an improved maintenance to a user of the LM system and further longer lifetime thereof; and providing a performance guarantee and an improved quality of a device or equipment manufactured using the LM system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: THK. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Honjo
  • Patent number: 8209839
    Abstract: A process for redesigning a distressed component, such as a turbine blade in a gas turbine engine, in which the distressed component is under thermal and structural loads, for improving the life of the component. The process includes obtaining the operating conditions of the machine in which the distressed component is used, finding the boundary conditions under which the distressed component operates, producing a 3-dimensional model of the distressed component with such detail that the distress levels are accurately represented on the model, subjecting the model to a series of technical analysis to predict a life for the component, reiterating the technical analysis until the levels of distress on the model accurately represent the distress that appears on the actual component, and then predicting a remaining life of the component based on the analysis, or redesigning the model and reanalyzing the model until a maximum life for the component has been found.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph D Brostmeyer, Andrew R Narcus
  • Patent number: 8209135
    Abstract: A defect detected by a wafer inspection tool is reliably captured by a defect review tool. A defect review condition in the defect review tool is varied depending on defect attributes provided by the wafer inspection tool so as to optimize the review process. For example, review magnification is varied depending on the size of the defect, or the frame addition number is varied depending on the maximum gray level difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Funakoshi, Junko Konishi, Yuko Kariya, Noritsugu Takahashi, Fumiaki Endo
  • Patent number: 8209133
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for predicting the service life of a metallic structure subjected to cyclic loading. Such structures experience fatigue, which can lead to failure after a number of loading cycles. The disclosed invention allows for an accurate prediction of the number of cycles to failure for a metallic structure by observing the slope of the rise in surface temperature of the structure after the cyclic loading has begun. The method of this invention provides early and accurate predictions of service life and does not require destructive testing. The method and apparatus of the present invention may be installed on working equipment, thus providing service life predictions for materials in real world use. The invention uses an empirically derived relationship that was confirmed using analytical relationships and material properties. The derived formula uses two constants that may be determined empirically using a disclosed process. The constants also may be estimated mathematically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College
    Inventors: Mehdi Amiri Darehbidi, Michael M. Khonsari
  • Patent number: 8209136
    Abstract: A line locator includes a signal detector to detect signals from an underground line; an error modeler that models a phase error in the signal from neighboring underground lines; and an enhanced electromagnetic field modeler that provides a location of the underground line based on the signal and a result from the error modeler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Metrotech Corporation, Inc.
    Inventor: Kun Li
  • Patent number: 8204697
    Abstract: A system for assessing the health of a mechanism includes a processor for receiving observation data from at least one sensor, the processor including: a detector receptive to the observation data and capable of identifying whether the mechanism is operating in a normal or degraded mode; a diagnoser to identify a type of fault from at least one symptom pattern; and a prognoser capable of calculating a remaining useful life (RUL) of the mechanism, wherein the prognoser includes a population prognoser for calculating the RUL based on a duration of use of the mechanism, a cause prognoser for calculating the RUL based on causal data, and an effect prognoser for calculating the RUL based on effect data generated from the fault. A method and computer program product for assessing the health of a downhole tool is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignees: Baker Hughes Incorporated, University of Tennessee Research Foundation
    Inventors: Dustin Garvey, J. Wesley Hines
  • Patent number: 8204699
    Abstract: An analyzing method includes acquiring displacements with respect to loads applied of the test piece measured by the three-point bending test; calculating a first approximate expression of a relation of the displacements with respect to the loads applied in a first area where the relation is linear so as to determine an elasticity modulus of the test piece; extracting boundary value of a relation of strains caused by the displacements with respect to the loads so as to determine a yield stress value of the test piece; and calculating a second approximate expression of a relation of stress caused by the loads with respect to the strains caused by the displacements in a second area beyond the yield stress value on the basis of the yield stress value, the elasticity modulus, and the measurements in the second area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Hidehisa Sakai
  • Patent number: 8197432
    Abstract: A method for batch implementation of settings in a renal replacement therapy device including: displaying on a user interface control settings which may be manually selected by an operator; selecting an independent control setting of the plurality of control settings; adjusting the independent control setting to an independent control setting level selected by an operator; temporarily storing the adjusted independent control setting level; automatically adjusting a dependent control setting level based upon the independent control level; displaying the adjusted independent control setting level and the adjusted dependent control setting, and implementing both the adjusted independent control setting level and the adjusted dependent control setting to control the device, by actuating a batch setting acceptance operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Gambro UF Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. O'Mahony, Thomas Robert Lendway, Andrew J. Halpert
  • Publication number: 20120143518
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system of automatically evaluating vehicle devices using a vehicle simulator. The system includes a vehicle simulator that is configured to replicate an actual vehicle in combination with vehicle devices mounted therein. The system also includes a system base configured to generate and output an input signal to be input into a controller in order to operate the vehicle devices that are targeted for evaluation according to contents set in a test case data entered by an evaluator. Additionally, the system base also measures and analyzes an output signal from the controller in response to the input signal. Further a signal connecting unit is configured to connect the vehicle simulator with the system base via a signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Jong Ho Kim, Jung Jun Lee