Flow Metering Patents (Class 702/45)
  • Patent number: 10935401
    Abstract: A power supply is configured with “smart” technology compatible with functionality on metrology hardware, like gas meters. This technology enables functions on the power supply to retain and generate data. The data may characterize discharge of an energy source, like batteries, that is resident on the power supply. Other data may indicate charge levels that are commensurate with ambient storage and use conditions, for example, to identify effects of “self-discharge” that may occur on the power supply after manufacture but before use on the gas meter. In one implementation, the gas meter may process the data from the power supply to track connection (and disconnection) of the power supply, set life expectancy of the power supply, and manage maintenance on the device as necessary to pre-empt issues that may occur at the end-of-usable life for the power supply, among other favorable functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Natural Gas Solutions North America, LLC
    Inventor: Roman Leon Artiuch
  • Patent number: 10928233
    Abstract: A measuring system comprises a measuring and operation electronic unit (ME) and a transducer device electrically coupled thereto. The transducer device has two tubes through which a fluid flows and causes to vibrate, a vibration exciter, two vibration sensors on the inlet and outlet sides, respectively, for generating vibration signals, and an inlet-side temperature sensor coupled to a wall of the tube for thermal conduction and an outlet-side temperature sensor coupled to a wall of the tube for generating temperature measurement signals. The measuring and operation electronic unit feeds electrical power into the vibration exciter in order to effect mechanical vibrations of the tube. Furthermore, the ME generates a mass flow sequence, by means of each of the vibration signals and each of the temperature measurement signals in such a way that mass flow measurement values are independent of the temperature difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Ennio Bitto, Christof Huber, Alfred Rieder
  • Patent number: 10917162
    Abstract: Phase or amplitude compensation for beam-former Apparatus for an antenna with a plurality of antenna elements, the antenna providing a radiation pattern including one or more beams and the apparatus comprising: a digital beam-former for digitally weighting component signals corresponding to the one or more beams with respective beam-forming weights to provide each component signals of a beam with a phase relationship and amplitude relationship to other component signals of the same beam; and a processing arrangement for processing signal for the beam-former or for processing signals received from the beam-former; the apparatus further comprising compensation means for compensating for at least one out of phase and amplitude distortions between component signals associated with the same frequency channel and related to the same beam arising in the processing arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Inventors: Robert Smart, Chiok Leong
  • Patent number: 10838433
    Abstract: A system is provided for detecting abnormal consumption in one portion of a distributed water infrastructure while normal water usage occurs in another portion of the distributed water infrastructure. The system may comprise at least one processor. The system may receive from at least one sensor associated with the distributed water infrastructure indications of regular water usage. The system may determine, from a plurality of indications received over a time period, a plurality of baseline water usage profiles. The system may receive from the at least one sensor a current water usage profile. The system may compare the current water usage profile with the plurality of baseline water usage profiles. The system may determine an abnormal water consumption based on the comparison between the current water usage profile and the plurality of baseline water usage profiles. The system may generate an abnormal water consumption signal when abnormal water consumption is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: WINT WI Ltd
    Inventors: Avy Tahan, Dror Galron, Shay Ravid
  • Patent number: 10816374
    Abstract: A signal processing apparatus for processing a signal is provided. The apparatus includes a comparator having one input terminal to which a signal is inputted, a first switch configured to switch between application and non-application of a reference voltage, a second switch configured to switch between application and non-application of an envelope reference voltage; a third switch configured to switch between application and non-application of an error detection reference voltage; and a controller configured to perform switching control of the first switch, the second switch and the third switch based on an output of the comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Isao Niwa
  • Patent number: 10799900
    Abstract: Electric fluid flow monitoring apparatus, and agricultural fluid application systems and methods including the same are described. The fluid flow monitoring apparatus generally includes a housing, a sensor assembly, and a traveler. The housing defines an interior cavity, and includes an inlet for fluid to enter the interior cavity and an outlet for fluid to exit the interior cavity. The sensor assembly is disposed in the interior cavity, and extends longitudinally in the direction of fluid flow. The traveler is movably supported by the sensor assembly such that fluid flow through the interior cavity causes the traveler to move longitudinally along the sensor assembly. The sensor assembly detects a longitudinal position of the traveler relative to the sensor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Capstan Ag Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey John Grimm, Andrew Boyd, Kale Schrader
  • Patent number: 10760934
    Abstract: An electronic flow meter that is configured to use localized flow conditions to determine volumetric flow. The embodiments may include a body forming a pass-through channel and a by-pass channel; a semiconductor device comprising a sensor disposed proximate the by-pass channel, the sensor configured to generate a signal with data that reflects localized pressure and localized temperature of a stream in the by-pass channel; and a processing component coupled with the sensor to receive and process the signal so as to identify a flow condition for the stream, select a calculation for volumetric flow rate in response to the flow condition, use data for localized pressure and localized temperature in the calculation to generate a value for the volumetric flow rate; and generate an output with data that reflects the value for the volumetric flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Natural Gas Solutions North America, LLC
    Inventors: Roman Leon Artiuch, Ertugrul Berkcan, Nannan Chen
  • Patent number: 10739171
    Abstract: A menu navigation engine that enables user configuration of a vortex flowmeter. The vortex flowmeter includes a memory device and a processor, among other hardware components. Software instructions stored on the memory device and executable by the processor implement the menu navigation engine by displaying use case identifiers on the user interface, receiving selections of use case identifiers via the user interface, generating a formatted hierarchical tree of vortex flowmeter configuration nodes associated with the selected use case, and displaying the generated tree on the user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Systems USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Allstrom, Briane Ritchie
  • Patent number: 10739370
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for monitoring fluid-dynamic drag on an object, such as a bicycle, ground vehicle, watercraft, aircraft, or portion of a wind turbine are provided. An array of sensors obtain sensor readings for example indicating: power input for propelling the object; air speed and direction relative to motion of the object; and ground speed of the object. Sensor readings may also indicate: temperature; elevation and humidity for providing a measurement of air density. Sensor readings may also indicate inclination angle and forward acceleration. Processing circuitry determines a coefficient of drag area based on the sensor readings and optionally one or more stored parameters, according to a predetermined relationship. A pitot tube based apparatus for measuring fluid speed and direction is also provided. Methods for dynamic in situ calibration of the pitot tube apparatus, and of adjusting correction factors applied to correct measurement errors of this apparatus are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: 1323079 Alberta Ltd.
    Inventors: Chris Morton, Kelly Zwarych
  • Patent number: 10704946
    Abstract: A meter register of the type having a sealed register body, and a member adapted to measure liquid flow through the meter and an antenna mounted within the register body is improved by providing a microprocessor adapted to have a calculated water meter maximum flow rate and a minimum flow rate defined as the meter flow rate range. The member co-acts with the microprocessor to determine flow rate, and the microprocessor is adapted to forward a signal to the antenna when the flow rate of the meter is outside, or within, the meter flow rate range, and the antenna transmits the signal to the water utility that the meter is not properly sized, or is properly sized, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Master Meter, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott H. Seehoffer, Jerry Potter
  • Patent number: 10698980
    Abstract: A method of modeling fluid flow in a computational fluid dynamics model space in a way that tracks both linear and rotational position of the modeled flow in the model space by representing flow elements as resistors and resistor arrays having resistance valued relative to the fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Inventor: John Michael Snider, Sr.
  • Patent number: 10648935
    Abstract: The invention relates to a flow measurement system for determining a flow of a medium, comprising a Coriolis flow sensor, a thermal flow sensor and a processing unit connected thereto. According to the invention, the processing unit is arranged for determining, based on the output signals of both the Coriolis flow sensor and the thermal sensor, at least one of the thermal conductivity and the specific heat capacity of a medium in the flow measurement system. The invention further relates to a method of determining at least one of the thermal conductivity and the specific heat capacity of a medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Berkin B.V.
    Inventors: Joost Conrad Lötters, Egbert Jan Van Der Wouden, Jarno Groenesteijn, Wouter Sparreboom, Theodorus Simon Josef Lammerink, Remco John Wiegerink
  • Patent number: 10626863
    Abstract: A system comprising: a reservoir (14) for holding a liquid (1); a pump (20) arranged to pump the liquid (1) out of the reservoir (14) to a system outlet (24) or into the reservoir (14) from a system inlet; a pressure sensor (34) arranged between the reservoir (14) and the system outlet (24) or between the system inlet and the reservoir (14), the pressure sensor (34) configured to measure the discharge pressure (Pd) of the pump (20) and to generate discharge pressure data; a level sensor (26) configured to detect the level (1) of the liquid (1) in the reservoir (14) and to generate level data; a power monitor (28) configured to monitor the power consumed (p) by the pump (20) and to generate power data; a volume monitor configured to monitor the volume (V) of liquid (1) pumped by the pump (20) and to generate volume data; and a controller (30) configured to: receive the power data, the volume data, the discharge pressure data and the level data; process the discharge pressure data to determine a discharge head
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Pulsar Process Measurement Limited
    Inventors: Keith Victor Beard, Sang Tran
  • Patent number: 10612959
    Abstract: An Electronic Volume Corrector (EVC) for measuring a flow of a gas in a gas line includes a plurality of EVC sensor interface units for collecting a plurality of sensed sensor parameters including uncorrected gas volume data (UGVD) from a gas meter, a gas pressure from a gas pressure sensor and gas temperature from a gas temperature sensor. An EVC processing unit is communicably connected to the EVC sensor interface units for performing volume correction for generating corrected GVD (CGVD) from the UGVD received from each of the EVC sensor interface units, data logging, and networking functions. The EVC sensor interface units and the EVC processing unit are configured independent including being physically separate from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Dinesh Kumar Kn
  • Patent number: 10578030
    Abstract: A method of adjusting a fuel flow rate in a turbine engine propelling an aircraft, including: obtaining a first estimate of a flow rate of fuel injected into a combustion chamber of the turbine engine propelling an aircraft and as delivered by a fuel metering device of the turbine engine; obtaining a second estimate of the fuel flow rate, which second estimate is more accurate than the first estimate for at least one range of fuel flow rate values and being delivered by an estimator device having a flow meter; and adjusting the fuel flow rate threshold value with help of a difference evaluated between the first estimate and the second estimate, the threshold value being for use in an open loop for regulating the turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Christophe Javelot, Cedrik Djelassi, Bruno Robert Gaully, Ismail Sylla
  • Patent number: 10571380
    Abstract: Vibronic sensor and method of operation for monitoring the density and/or the viscosity of a medium in a container, comprising a mechanically oscillatable unit, a driving/receiving unit and an electronics unit, wherein the driving/receiving unit is embodied, using an electrical exciter signal, to excite the mechanically oscillatable unit to execute mechanical oscillations, and to receive the mechanical oscillations and to convert them into an electrical, received signal, wherein the electronics unit is embodied to produce the exciter signal such that a predeterminable phase shift is present between the exciter signal and received signal, wherein the electronics unit is embodied to set a first predeterminable phase shift and a second predeterminable phase shift, and to ascertain a first frequency and a second frequency corresponding to the predeterminable phase shifts, and to determine from the two frequencies the density and/or the viscosity of the medium using a first and/or second analytical formula.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser SE+Co. KG
    Inventor: Tobias Brengartner
  • Patent number: 10500528
    Abstract: The ability to estimate a filter clog by a means other than measuring fluid pressure is presented. The filter monitoring system of the present disclosure comprises a vibration data transmission unit, which is mounted on a filtration device, detecting filter vibrations associated with the operation of filtration device described above, sending such as vibration data, and a clog estimation unit, which detects the phenomenon of declining vibration value caused by a filter clog, estimating the degree of blockage for the filter described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Think-Lands Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunio Miyaji, Kenji Furuki, Hitoshi Era, Kei Mori, Kazuo Kawaguchi, Hidetsugu Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 10496948
    Abstract: A data processing method comprises receiving a request to analyze a relationship between an explanatory element and a response element and obtaining, in response to the request, data associated with the explanatory element and the response element. The method further comprises determining coefficients for an equation and storing the coefficients in digital computer memory by: computing, using a plurality of processes in parallel and for each of the coefficients, summations derived from a zero first derivative of the equation with respect to each of the coefficients, computing a value for each of the coefficients using the summations, determining, in response to the computing, a vector of response element values in the digital computer memory using the value of each of the coefficients and values representing the explanatory element as input, and causing displaying a trend graph of the relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: XACTLY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shenshen Liang
  • Patent number: 10480672
    Abstract: Provided is a flow rate adjusting device including: an ultrasonic flow metering portion; a flow rate adjusting portion; a control portion configured to control the flow rate adjusting portion so that the flow rate of the fluid measured by the ultrasonic flow metering portion matches a set value; a pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure of the fluid flowing into an upstream side of a measurement flow channel from an inflow port; and a storage portion configured to store information that associates the flow rate of the fluid obtained from the propagation time difference measured by the ultrasonic flow metering portion, the set value of the target flow rate, and the pressure measured by the pressure sensor with each other when the control portion controls the flow rate adjusting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: SURPASS INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Atsushi Inoue
  • Patent number: 10458444
    Abstract: Systems and methods may be provided to digitally control both position and crossover pressure in a double-acting pneumatic actuator, in view of constraints (e.g., a deadband range comprising a set point) set on the crossover pressure. Control may be achieved, via a control algorithm (e.g., a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) control algorithm) acting upon inputs of actuator position feedback and crossover pressure feedback (e.g., as indicated by pressure feedback of each respective pneumatic chamber). Further, the embodiments described herein may reduce the necessary frequency of control actions for adjusting crossover pressure, thus reducing wear on process components, and allowing for finer control of actuator position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventors: Michael R. Fontaine, David L. Smid
  • Patent number: 10408647
    Abstract: An infrastructure and methods for the analysis of flow in pipe systems. In a preferred form, the infrastructure and methods account for energy status of a sensor device and wear cost functions. The infrastructure comprises a controller and a plurality of sensor devices coupled to the pipe system to collect measurements related to one or more of the following: vibration, magnetic field, fluid pressure, temperature, humidity, chemical composition of the fluid, fluid flow or fluid throughput. The controller has access to a database containing one or both of—(i) current energy status of a sensor device and/or (ii) a cost allocation relating to use of a sensor device and assigns workloads using energy status and/or cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Olea Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: David Mackie, Stefan Grefen, Corey James Boelter, Astrid Jaehde
  • Patent number: 10407143
    Abstract: Dive computers incorporating a variety of features are disclosed. One embodiment of the invention includes a dive computer including a microprocessor, memory configured to store a software application, a pressure transducer configured to determine depth information, and a communications device configured to communicate with external devices, wherein the software application configures the microprocessor to create a dive log stored in memory, wherein the dive log includes recorded information including depth of submersion information recorded from the pressure transducer, and transmit the dive log using the communications device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Pelagic Pressure Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Robert R. Hollis, John E. Lewis, Michael S. Hollis, Ed Pataky, Hoan Hoang
  • Patent number: 10402044
    Abstract: The systems and methods described herein are directed to resource monitoring and resource consumption analytics. Resource usage is tracked through a gateway device monitoring resources using remote input sensors, and usage data is transmitted to a central processing unit whereby the data is interpreted and compared with usage over time and site conditions such as weather. For example, incoming usage data is compared with resource signatures in a signature library representing an ideal usage or historical usage for given site condition. This data is interpreted into simple command displays with alerts, alarms, thereby reporting and alerting to an end-user via multiple delivery mechanisms, of potential sources of resource waste or loss. Further, the alerts or alarms can include easily interpreted recommendations to allow a non-skilled worker to take corrective procedures to maximize efficient use of the consumable resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: APANA Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew W. Rose, Frank Burns, Tom Remmers, Matt Maher Peterson
  • Patent number: 10359351
    Abstract: A method of electrically measuring the electrical properties of individual particles flowing in a liquid, which method comprises: (i) providing apparatus (3) which is for electrically measuring the individual particles and which has: (a) a fluidic channel (5) for receiving a liquid (6) having the individual particles (4) in suspension in the liquid (6); (b) a first electrode arrangement (8) having at least one measurement electrode (16) and at least one signal electrode (11); and (c) at least one other electrode arrangement (9) having at least one measurement electrode (18) and at least one signal electrode (13); (ii) providing a flow of the liquid (6) through the fluidic channel (5); (iii) applying a first electrical signal through the liquid (6) and along a first conduction path between the measurement electrode (16) and the signal electrode (11) of the first electrode arrangement (8); (iv) applying an electrical signal through the liquid (6) and along at least one other conduction path; (v) comparing the e
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: University of Southampton
    Inventors: Daniel Christopher Spencer, Hywel Morgan
  • Patent number: 10352316
    Abstract: Various methods are described for evaluating fuel pump data and determining a fuel pump flow rate. One example method may comprise receiving fuel pump information associated with a fuel pump. The method may further comprise updating previous fuel pump information associated with the fuel pump based on the received fuel pump information. Additionally, the method may comprise detecting an alarm condition associated with the fuel pump based at least in part on the updated fuel pump information. Similar and related methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Giera, John DeSetto, Joel Miller
  • Patent number: 10330533
    Abstract: An emission spectroscopy instrumentation is easily operated and includes a calculation element 154 that calculates a variation of the measurement values of every detector relative to a plurality of measurements of a standard; a determination element 155 that determines whether any an additional measurement is required when a variation relative to all detectors is within an acceptable value and an addition measurement is required when a variation relative to any one detector is out of an acceptable value; a notification element 156 that notifies to an operator a determination result according to the determination element 155, and a calculation-determination control element 153 that controls the calculation element 154 and the determination element 155 that calculates the variation and makes a determination at the timing when the measurement of the standard sample is executed at predetermined times, and calculates a variation and makes a determination at every one additional measurement when the additional meas
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tatsuya Kaishatsu
  • Patent number: 10306340
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed that sense vibrations caused by flow of water in pipes, and covert the sensed vibrations into water usage data which can be analyzed, aggregated, and made available to users. In one embodiment, mechanical vibrations of a pipe are sensed, via a piezo-electric sensor attached to an external surface of the pipe, to form analog electrical signals. The analog electrical signals are converted into time-sampled digital data via a microcontroller having analog-to-digital conversion capability. A frequency analysis is performed on the time-sampled digital data, via at least one processor, to generate spectral data. The spectral data is analyzed, via the at least one processor, to determine whether the vibrations are caused by a fluid flowing through the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: ORACLE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joseph H. Goldberg, Mark Vilrokx, Diane L. Boross
  • Patent number: 10203262
    Abstract: Described herein, are methods and systems for locating a leak in a water distribution network. According to an implementation, a leak situation in the water distribution network is detected based on a flow difference value between an actual flow value and a predicted flow value of an inlet flow meter of the water distribution network at at least one time interval. Leak signature values of demand nodes in the water distribution network at the at least one time interval are determined. A leak signature value of a respective demand node at a respective time interval is determined based on centrality metrics, the predicted flow value at the respective time interval, and static physical properties related to the water distribution network. At least one possible leak node is identified based on the flow difference value and the leak signature values of the demand nodes at the at least one time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Tata Consultancy Services Limited
    Inventors: Venkatesh Sarangan, Iyswarya Narayanan, Arunchandar Vasan, Anand Sivasubramaniam
  • Patent number: 10184822
    Abstract: A wireless consumption meter, such as an ultrasonic flow meter, and a test and calibration system; the wireless consumption meter including a test mode which changes the wireless communication parameters to transmit less data, with less power, faster and more often, than in a normal operating mode. The test and calibration system includes test boxes arranged to receive measurement data from the consumption meters under the test mode circumstances and a common control unit arranged to control the start and stop of the testing and to establish a test or calibration result based on the received measurements from the consumption meters and by comparing with a reference value from a reference device. Further, methods performed by the consumption meter and the test and calibration system are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Apator Miitors ApS
    Inventors: Jens Drachmann, Kresten Helstrup, Thorbjorn Borup
  • Patent number: 10151475
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system for determining scaling in a boiler. At least one sensor may monitor a boiler during operation and provide sensor data to a boiler monitoring module including a boiler scaling determination module that may determine an amount of scaling in the boiler. Example sensor data may comprise power input, a temperature of liquid in the boiler and an air temperature within an enclosure housing the boiler. The boiler monitoring module may determine thermal energy transfer to the boiler based on the liquid and enclosure temperatures. A machine learning engine may determine a rate of thermal energy transfer to the liquid in view of the power input, the rate of thermal energy transfer being evaluated by the machine learning engine to identify delay in the rate of thermal energy transfer that quantifies an amount of scaling in the boiler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Rita Chattopadhyay, Hoang Van, Trevor Ryan, Paul Hough
  • Patent number: 10120002
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer readable storage medium for causing a computer monitoring a power distribution system in which a first customer and a second customer are mixed to execute a process, the process including: acquiring first data measured with a first measurement device which is installed in the first customer and measures the first data at a first time interval; acquiring second data measured with a second measurement device which is installed in the second customer and measures the second data at a second time interval longer than the first time interval; estimating data of the first time interval about an electric power of the second customer by using the acquired first data and the acquired second data; and estimating a value about a voltage or a current for each customer by using the estimated data of the first time interval and the acquired first data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Yuta Teranishi, Hironobu Kitajima, Hideyuki Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 10110603
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are provided that allow the authentication of devices within analyte monitoring systems. The analyte monitoring systems can be in vivo systems and can include a sensor control device with a sensor and accompanying circuitry, as well as a reader device for communicating with the sensor control device. The analyte monitoring systems can interface with a trusted computer system located at a remote site. Numerous techniques of authentication are disclosed that can enable the detection of counterfeit components, such as a counterfeit sensor control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: ABBOTT DIABETES CARE INC.
    Inventors: Michael R. Love, Mark Sloan, Glenn Berman, Nathan Crouther, Gil Porat
  • Patent number: 10078002
    Abstract: A gas phase and a liquid phase with a specified volumetric ratio of phases in a flow and with specified flow rates are injected into a multiphase separator. During the injection gas and liquid phase volumes in the separator are determined and accumulation rates of each phase in the separator are calculated. A thermodynamic equilibrium is estimated based on a discrepancy between the phase injection rates and the calculated phase accumulation rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dmitry Alexandrovich Korobkov, Andrey Vladimirovich Kazak
  • Patent number: 10055905
    Abstract: A hyper-redundant monitoring system and a gas turbine including the hyper-redundant monitoring system are provided. The hyper-redundant monitoring system includes a processor, a sensor node operably connected to the processor. The sensor node includes a plurality of sensors disposed in close proximity to one another such that a single parameter is measured by each of the plurality of sensors and each sensor is configured to transmit the parameter. The system also includes a power source and a controller in operable communication with the processor. The single parameter is output by each of the sensors and transmitted to the processor which collects the output parameters, analyzes the output parameters, and transmits analyzed data to the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventor: Joshua S. McConkey
  • Patent number: 10041824
    Abstract: A method serves for detecting the flow rate of a centrifugal pump, wherein the rotation speed of the pump or of the motor driving the pump, a hydraulic variable of the pump, typically the delivery pressure and an electrical variable of the drive motor, for example the electrical power are determined, and the flow rate is evaluated by way of these variables. For this, variables dependent on the flow rate are determined by way of a mathematic linking of terms of equations describing physical relations of the pump and drive motor, wherein one term contains the rotation speed of the pump and a hydraulic variable of the pump and another term contains an electric or mechanical variable of the drive motor of the pump and the rotation speed of the pump. The flow rate is determined by way of the functional relation between the flow rate and the dependent variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: GRUNDFOS HOLDING A/S
    Inventor: Carsten Skovmose Kallesøe
  • Patent number: 9995613
    Abstract: Motion is induced in a conduit such that the conduit vibrates in a major mode of vibration having a major amplitude and a minor mode of vibration having a minor amplitude. The major amplitude is larger than the minor amplitude, the major mode of vibration has a first frequency of vibration and the minor mode of vibration has a second frequency of vibration, and the minor mode of vibration interferes with the major mode of vibration to cause a beat signal having a frequency related to the first frequency of vibration and the second frequency of vibration. The frequency of the beat signal is determined, and the second frequency of vibration is determined based on the determined frequency of the beat signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Systems USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Manus P. Henry, Mihaela D. Duta, Michael S. Tombs
  • Patent number: 9995666
    Abstract: A resonator that includes an elastic tube defining an interior surface and a conductor threaded through the elastic tube. Solid material fills space between the conductor and the elastic tube interior surface, such that motion of the conductor is directly transferred to the elastic tube. In a preferred embodiment, the elastic tube is electrically conductive and said solid material insulates said conductor from said elastic tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: RHEONICS GMBH
    Inventor: Joseph H. Goodbread
  • Patent number: 9989941
    Abstract: A system for management of solid chemistry supply can be configured to use operating attributes and sensed operating conditions associated with a process to estimate solid chemistry supply levels. The system can also be configured to control a feeder attached to a solid chemistry supply container. The control can include controlling a dose of a solid chemistry product to the container according to the estimation. The system can also be configured to communicate a message regarding an insufficient supply of the solid chemistry product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Amit Gupta, Divesh Bhatia, Chen Yao, Vaideeswaran Sivaswamy
  • Patent number: 9890749
    Abstract: A method for controlling an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system which is provided with an intake throttle valve and an EGR valve driven by a motor may include detecting an engine speed and an amount of intake air for each cylinder of an engine while the engine is operating, determining an amount of air flow supplied to the engine based on the engine speed and the amount of intake air for each cylinder, determining an equivalent cross-section of the EGR valve based on the amount of air flow, determining an opening angle of the EGR valve based on the engine speed, the amount of intake air for each cylinder, the amount of air flow, and the equivalent cross-section of the EGR valve, and controlling the EGR valve according to the opening angle of the EGR valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Dong Hee Han, Yoon Joo Kim, Kwanhee Choi, Hyun Jun Lim, Joowon Lee, Nahm Roh Joo, Jong Il Park
  • Patent number: 9874469
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device including: at least one fluid-using apparatus; at least one movable tank capable of and intended for providing at least the fluid and connected, via pipes, to the fluid using apparatus, the movable tank containing, at the outset, a given initial amount of the gas; and a means for assessing amounts of the fluid that are used by the fluid using apparatus from the movable tank, the assessment means being rigidly connected to the fluid-using apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventors: Patrick Bacot, Franck-Stephane Durtschi, Xavier Vigor
  • Patent number: 9857235
    Abstract: Techniques for real-time modeling temperature distributions based on streaming sensor data are provided. In one aspect, a method for creating a three-dimensional temperature distribution model for a room having a floor and a ceiling is provided. The method includes the following steps. A ceiling temperature distribution in the room is determined. A floor temperature distribution in the room is determined. An interpolation between the ceiling temperature distribution and the floor temperature distribution is used to obtain the three-dimensional temperature distribution model for the room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hendrik F. Hamann, Hongfei Li, Srinivas Yarlanki
  • Patent number: 9719838
    Abstract: A method for calibrating a multiple flow conduit flow meter (200) is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The multiple flow conduit flow meter (200) includes a first flow conduit (201) conducting a first flow stream and a pair of first pickoff sensors (215, 215?) affixed to the first flow conduit (201). The multiple flow conduit flow meter (200) further includes at least one additional flow conduit (202) conducting at least one additional flow stream and at least one pair of additional pickoff sensors (216, 216?) affixed to the at least one additional flow conduit (202).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Paul Stack, Andrew Timothy Patten, Gregory Treat Lanham, Mark James Bell
  • Patent number: 9698730
    Abstract: The exemplary embodiments include methods, computer readable media, and devices for calibrating a non-linear power detector of a radio frequency device based upon measurements of the non-linear power detector output and the associated power amplifier output level, and a set of data points that characterize a nominal non-linear power detector. The set of data points that characterize the nominal non-linear power detector is stored in a calibration system memory as nominal power detector output data. The measured non-linear power detector outputs, power amplifier output levels, and the nominal power detector output data is used to determine a power detector error function that characterizes the difference between the response of the non-linear power detector and the nominal non-linear power detector. The power detector error function and the nominal power detector output data are used to develop a calibrated power detector output data set that is stored in the non-linear power detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Wayne Hietala, Timothy E. Daughters
  • Patent number: 9696193
    Abstract: A system, method, and fluid analysis module are provided for the real-time analysis of multiphase fluids. The system generally comprises a sampling system for directing a fluid stream from a flow line to a fluid analysis module, a processor and communicator. The fluid analysis module comprises a sensor for measurement of at least one property of the fluid. The processor processes the measurement data from the sensor, and the communicator communicates the processed data to a central acquisition unit or computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bradley Martin, Paul Guieze, David MacWilliam, Malcolm Atkinson, Bernard Theron
  • Patent number: 9689726
    Abstract: A flow meter ultrasonically measures fluid velocity in a pipe. Ultrasonic signals received by ultrasonic transducers are digitized. The difference between two ultrasonic propagation times is determined by computing a discrete cross-correlation of the digitized received signals. Computation time is reduced by computing only a few cross-correlation values near a peak cross-correlation value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Venkata Ramanan Ramamurthy, Anand Dabak
  • Patent number: 9665536
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a cloud flowmeter are provided by certain embodiments of the disclosure. According to one embodiment of the disclosure, there is disclosed a method, which can include receiving, from a meter device, at least one flow signal via at least one network; determining, based in part on the at least one flow signal, at least one flow characteristic, data characteristic, or meter characteristic; and storing the at least one flow characteristic, data characteristic, or meter characteristic in a data storage device remote from the meter device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Michael Brusilovsky
  • Patent number: 9651411
    Abstract: An electromagnetic flowmeter using a square wave excitation method includes a differential amplifier which outputs a detection signal; an analog-digital converter which converts the detection signal into a digital detection signal; a timing control circuit which generates a sampling signal for sampling the digital detection signal; an calculation unit which executes a flow rate calculation process and a abnormality judging process at a same time. The flow rate calculation process acquires a flow velocity output signal by sampling the digital detection signal in a flat portion in a positive/negative excitation section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Yuichiro Yamaguchi, Takashi Higuchi, Takaki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9638555
    Abstract: A method includes the steps of (a) providing a flow of a flowable substance, the flow comprising bulk material and additional material; (b) determining the volume flow of the flow of the flowable substance at one or more detection points X along the flow of the flowable substance; (c) determining a signal caused by the additional material present in the flow of the flowable substance at one or more detection points Y along the flow of the flowable substance, the signal being proportional to the amount of the additional material present in the flow of the flowable substance passing the one or more detection points Y; and (d) converting the signal caused by the additional material present in the flow of the flowable substance into a signal per unit of volume of the flow of the flowable substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: NV BEKAERT SA
    Inventors: Bart Vanlandeghem, Johan De Pontieu, Gerhard Vitt, Ann Lambrechts
  • Patent number: 9528922
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a system and method for determining the specific gravity of a fuel used in a dual fuel engine. The system includes a fuel rail, at least one sensor, and a processor. The method includes sensing and recording, with the at least one sensor and the at least one memory, a first pressure profile of a first fuel in the fuel rail and a second pressure profile of a second fuel in the fuel rail. The first fuel has a known specific gravity and the second fuel has an unknown specific gravity. The method further includes calculating the second specific gravity of the second fuel, with a processor, based on the first pressure profile, the second pressure profile, and the first specific gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Arvind Sivasubramanian, Christopher Gallmeyer, Venkat Vijay Kishore Turlapati, Brett Zook, Jason Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 9453751
    Abstract: An instrument that directly measures a flow rate and air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas, and from the flow rate and air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas, calculates fuel consumption measures the fuel consumption at high response speed and with high accuracy. The instrument is provided with: an ultrasonic flowmeter 2 that measures a flow rate QEX of exhaust gas flowing through an exhaust gas flow path R; and an arithmetic unit 4 that calculates fuel consumption Fe of an engine with use of the exhaust gas flow rate QEX obtained by the ultrasonic flowmeter 2 and an air-fuel ratio AFR obtained by an air-fuel ratio sensor 3 that measures the air-fuel ratio AFR of the exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust gas flow path R.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Horiba, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanobu Akita, Hiroshi Nakamura