With Electrically Controlled Indicator Patents (Class 73/658)
  • Patent number: 12055432
    Abstract: The embodiment of the present disclosure discloses a sensing device, comprising: an elastic component; a sensing cavity, wherein the elastic component forms a first sidewall of the sensing cavity; and an energy conversion component configured to obtain a sensing signal and convert the sensing signal into an electrical signal, the energy conversion component being in communication with the sensing cavity, and the sensing signal relating to a change of a volume of the sensing cavity, wherein at least one convex structure is arranged on one side of the elastic component facing toward the sensing cavity, the elastic component drives the at least one convex structure to move in response to an external signal, and the movement of the at least one convex structure changing the volume of the sensing cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: SHENZHEN SHOKZ CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wenjun Deng, Yongshuai Yuan, Wenbing Zhou, Yujia Huang
  • Patent number: 12013260
    Abstract: An add-on module for a field device for measuring and/or monitoring at least one measurement variable, wherein a portion of the field device adjacent the process is exposed to process conditions at the site of use and a portion of the field device opposite the process is exposed to ambient conditions at the site of use includes: at least one receiving device into which one measuring module can be inserted, wherein each measuring module acquires by measurement at least one ambient parameter and/or at least one effect of the ambient conditions on the measuring module; and an evaluation unit connected to the measuring module and configured to, based on the ambient parameter and/or effects acquired by the measuring module, determine an instantaneous stress acting on the field device and/or a total stress to which the field device has been exposed thus far during the period of use thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser SE+Co. KG
    Inventors: Marc Andreas Schlachter, Wolfgang Trunzer
  • Patent number: 11700480
    Abstract: An ultrasonic speaker comprises a case that has an opened top surface and includes a plurality of protrusions protruding inward on an inner side surface of the case, a piezoelectric element fixed to a bottom surface in the case, and a substrate that is inserted in the case and placed on upper surfaces of the plurality of protrusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: HOSIDEN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihiro Tanaka, Ryo Inoue
  • Patent number: 11660404
    Abstract: A nebulizer has an aperture plate, a mounting, an actuator, and an aperture plate drive circuit (2-4). A controller measures an electrical drive parameter at each of a plurality of measuring points, each measuring point having a drive frequency; and based on the values of the parameter at the measuring points makes a determination of optimum drive frequency and also an end-of-dose prediction. The controller performs a short scan at regular sub-second intervals at which drive current is measured at two measuring points with different drive frequencies. According to drive parameter measurements at these points the controller determines if a full scan sweeping across a larger number of measuring points should be performed. The full scan provides the optimum drive frequency for the device and also an end of dose indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Stamford Devices Limited
    Inventors: Joseph Grehan, Niall Smith
  • Patent number: 11353432
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method for measuring the adhesive strength of a thin film using surface waves, and a computer-readable recording medium having a program for performing same recorded thereon. The method for measuring the adhesive strength of a thin film measures the adhesive strength between a substrate and a thin film by means of an electronic calculator, using sound waves measured from a thin film structure having a thin film formed on a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Seoul National University of Technology Center for Industry Collaboration
    Inventors: Ik Keun Park, Tae Sung Park, Yu Min Choi, Dong Ryul Kwak
  • Patent number: 11336207
    Abstract: Disclosed is a high-power sliding-mode triboelectric generator including a substrate; a positive electrode formed on the substrate; a positively charged body provided on the positive electrode and formed to be tilted at a predetermined angle from the substrate; a negatively charged body located to be opposite to the positively charged body and formed to be tilted at the same angle as in the positively charged body; a negative electrode provided on the negatively charged body and configured to support the negatively charged body; and at least one spacer formed between the positively charged body and the negatively charged body, is formed of an elastic body, and configured to maintain an interval between the positively charged body and the negatively charged body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: IUCF-HYU (Industry-University Cooperation Foundation Hanyang University)
    Inventors: Tae Whan Kim, Dong Chul Choo
  • Patent number: 11131577
    Abstract: A sensing module apparatus is provided for monitoring a vibrating machine or structure, such as a pump, which include three mounting points on the apparatus for securely mounting the apparatus to the vibrating machine or structure. The three-point mount configuration provides the sensor module with a very rigid mount connection to virtually any surface condition, including flat, curved or irregular. All six degrees of freedom (X, Y, Z, theta-X, theta-Y and theta-Z) are properly constrained. The three-point mount also provides an air barrier or gap between the sensing module and the equipment surface, allowing the sensor to be mounted to higher surface temperature devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, LLC
    Inventors: Bradley DeCook, Mark Playford
  • Patent number: 11065399
    Abstract: A nebulizer has an aperture plate, a mounting, an actuator, and an aperture plate drive circuit (2-4). A controller measures an electrical drive parameter at each of a plurality of measuring points, each measuring point having a drive frequency; and based on the values of the parameter at the measuring points makes a determination of optimum drive frequency and also an end-of-dose prediction. The controller performs a short scan at regular sub-second intervals at which drive current is measured at two measuring points with different drive frequencies. According to drive parameter measurements at these points the controller determines if a full scan sweeping across a larger number of measuring points should be performed. The full scan provides the optimum drive frequency for the device and also an end of dose indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: STAMFORD DEVICES LIMITED
    Inventors: Joseph Grehan, Niall Smith
  • Patent number: 10967138
    Abstract: A digital processor of a nebulizer controller controls and monitors drive current (I) applied to an aperture plate. The drive current is detected as a series of discrete values at each of multiple measuring points, each having a particular drive frequency The processor in real time calculates a slope or rate of change of drive current with frequency and additionally determines a minimum value for drive current leading up to the peak value. The processor uses both the value of the minimum drive current during the scan and also the maximum slope value to achieve reliable prediction of end of dose, when the aperture plate becomes dry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: STAMFORD DEVICES LIMITED
    Inventors: Joseph Grehan, Michael Casey, Shaun Porter, Niall Smith
  • Patent number: 10938323
    Abstract: Disclosed is an energy generating system having an integrated energy generator and energy storage. According to one embodiment, energy generation and storage may be performed using external kinetic energy, and output from a generator device may be improved using a voltage stored in the energy storage. A storage efficiency of the energy storage may be further increased via the improved output from the generator device. Further, the energy generator and energy storage may be integrated with each other to improve a space utilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Research & Business Foundation Sungkyunkwan University
    Inventors: SangWoo Kim, JiHye Kim, HanJun Ryu, SungSoo Kwak, HongJoon Yoon
  • Patent number: 10931209
    Abstract: Example embodiments relate to an energy harvester using triboelectricity, and to an apparatus including the energy harvester. The energy harvester may include a first structure having a first triboelectric material, a second structure having a second triboelectric material, and a closed structure isolating friction surfaces of the first and second triboelectric materials from external environment. The energy harvester may further include a filling material in the closed structure. The filling material may have an electric charge. The filling material may have a viscosity. At least a portion of the closed structure may include an elastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-Young Kim, Kyungeun Byun, Hyeonjin Shin, Alum Jung
  • Patent number: 10609205
    Abstract: Technology for a mobile device is described. The mobile device can include a vibration motor operable to generate a vibration, and a sensor operable to capture a plurality of vibration signals that result from the vibration. The mobile device can provide the plurality of vibration signals to a model running on the mobile device. The model can include a plurality of predefined patterns that correspond to vibration signals produced by mobile devices residing on different surfaces. The mobile device can identify, using the model, a predefined pattern in the plurality of predefined patterns that substantially corresponds to the plurality of vibration signals based on a confidence level that exceeds a threshold. The mobile device can determine a type of surface on which the mobile device resides based on the predefined pattern identified using the model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Jose Camacho Perez, Miguel Bernal Marin, Mario Alfredo Carrillo Arevalo, Hector Cordourier Maruri, Jesus Adan Cruz Vargas, Abraham Duenas De La Cruz, Paulo Lopez Meyer, Julio Zamora Esquivel
  • Patent number: 10509384
    Abstract: The invention relates to a programmable logic controller having an energy supply that provides electric energy to operate the unit and having at least one measurement input, with the measurement input being configured to measure and/or detect an electrical input signal. The programmable logic controller is characterized in that at least some of the electric energy of the input signal is supplied to the energy supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventors: Sebastian Hörner, Sebastian Brunsch, Markus Saumer
  • Patent number: 10422667
    Abstract: A sensing module apparatus is provided for monitoring a vibrating machine or structure, such as a pump, which include three mounting points on the apparatus for securely mounting the apparatus to the vibrating machine or structure. The three-point mount configuration provides the sensor module with a very rigid mount connection to virtually any surface condition, including flat, curved or irregular. All six degrees of freedom (X, Y, Z, theta-X, theta-Y and theta-Z) are properly constrained. The three-point mount also provides an air barrier or gap between the sensing module and the equipment surface, allowing the sensor to be mounted to higher surface temperature devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises LLC
    Inventors: Bradley DeCook, Mark Playford
  • Patent number: 9595179
    Abstract: The method includes receiving a real-time signal containing information pertaining to amplitude and frequency of vibrations of a machine component over a frequency spectrum including a first analysis bandwidth and a second analysis bandwidth, and using the real-time signal to determine values indicative of the severity of vibrations occurring at frequencies in the first analysis bandwidth in a first unit of one of displacement, velocity, and acceleration, and determine values indicative of the severity of vibrations occurring at frequencies in the second analysis bandwidth in a second unit of one of displacement, velocity and acceleration, the second unit being different from the first unit; and associating the determined values in a common unit representing comparable severity of vibrations in the first analysis bandwidth and the second analysis bandwidth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: VIBROSYSTM INC.
    Inventors: Mathieu Cloutier, Marius Cloutier, Louis-Pierre Lalonde
  • Publication number: 20150143914
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a piezoelectric actuator module, which includes a multilayer part comprising a multilayer piezoelectric material part and an electrode part connected to the multilayer piezoelectric material part, and a support layer coupled with the multilayer part. The piezoelectric actuator module further includes a support part displaceably supporting the support layer. The multilayer piezoelectric material part is poled in the same direction, and the multilayer part is configured to expand or contract when voltages in anti-phase are applied to the electrode part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seung Mo LIM, Yun Sung KANG, In Young KANG, Jeong Suong YANG, Jae Chang LEE
  • Publication number: 20150020595
    Abstract: An acoustic sensing system for a motor vehicle includes a strain gauge mounted at a motor vehicle surface, and a sensing circuit operatively coupled to the strain gauge. The sensing circuit is configured and disposed to detect acoustic responses in a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle through the strain gauge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Mark A. Stebbins, Joseph A. Schudt
  • Patent number: 8931346
    Abstract: A measuring transducer having exactly four flow openings, and an outlet-side housing end formed by means of an outlet-side flow divider having exactly four flow openings. A tube arrangement has exactly four curved or bent measuring tubes connected to the flow dividers for guiding flowing medium along flow paths connected in parallel. Each of the four measuring tubes opens with an inlet-side measuring tube end into one of the flow openings of the inlet-side flow divider, and with an outlet-side measuring tube end into one of the flow openings of the outlet-side flow divider. A first coupling element for adjusting eigenfrequencies of natural oscillation modes of the tube arrangement. An electro-mechanical exciter mechanism of the measuring transducer serves for producing and/or maintaining mechanical oscillations of the four measuring tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Alfred Rieder, Christof Huber, Ennio Bitto, Christian Schutze, Marcel Braun
  • Publication number: 20140373632
    Abstract: Apparatus (1) for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable, comprising: a primary side (I) and a secondary side (II), which are galvanically isolated from one another, wherein the secondary side (II) has a sensor element sensitive for the process variable (2) and an electronics unit (9) of the secondary side and provides a measurement signal representing the process variable, and wherein the primary side (I) has an electronics unit (8) of the primary side for evaluating the measurement signal and for producing an output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2012
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Franco Ferraro, Philipp Walser
  • Publication number: 20140366635
    Abstract: A hand-held or portable vibration sensor device having a housing and a sensor body which generally provides a single point of contact with the machinery or apparatus for which vibration measurement is desired. In one aspect, the sensor body comprises a vibration sensor element such as an accelerometer for measuring vibration. In another aspect, a force sensor such as a force sensing resistor or load cell is provided to reduce the impact of forces applied to said hand-held vibration sensor such as a force applied through a handle during measurement. In another aspect, a compensation circuit processes the out put from a vibration sensor element to provide a relatively flat frequency response over a desired operational frequency range. The hand-held vibration sensor may also comprise a rubber isolation member disposed between the sensor body and force sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: PCB PIEZOTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: George V. Zusman
  • Publication number: 20140338458
    Abstract: A triboelectric power system includes a triboelectric generator, a rechargeable energy storage unit and a power management circuit. The rechargeable energy storage unit is associated to the triboelectric generator. The power management circuit is configured to receive an input current from the triboelectric generator and to deliver an output current corresponding to the input current to the rechargeable battery so that the output current has a current direction and a voltage that will recharge the rechargeable battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhong Lin Wang, Sihong Wang, Guang Zhu, Yusheng Zhou, Jun Chen, Peng Bai
  • Publication number: 20140305222
    Abstract: A device includes a housing in which a seismic sensor module is at least partially housed, a cable connected to the seismic sensor module, and, a takeout through which the cable extends from the housing. The takeout is operable between a first configuration in which the cable extends vertically from the housing and a second configuration in which the cable extends horizontally from the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: CGG SERVICES SA
    Inventor: Peter MAXWELL
  • Publication number: 20140298912
    Abstract: A direct field acoustic testing system provides an acoustic field having a higher degree of spatial uniformity. The system includes a control microphone, a controller, a combiner, and at least four acoustic transducers. The controller is operatively coupled to the control microphone such that the controller receives at least one input signal from the control microphone and provides at least four separately controllable controller output signals. The combiner combines the at least four separately controllable output signals to form at least four secondary output signals, each composed of combinations of one or more of the at least four separately controllable controller output signals. Each of the at least four transducers is operatively coupled to at least one of the at least four secondary output signals such that the output of the transducer varies in response to changes in at least two of the at least four separately controllable controller output signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: Paul LARKIN, Michael SULLIVAN, Arthur ISAACS
  • Publication number: 20140260642
    Abstract: An electronic system includes: a vibration broadcast module configured to provide a vibration; a sensor query module, coupled to the vibration broadcast module, with a motion sensor and a sound sensor configured to detect the vibration; and an operation module, coupled to the sensor query module, configured to invoke an operation based on the vibration detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mayank Goel, James M. A. Begole, Stacie Hibino
  • Publication number: 20140260641
    Abstract: Frequency compensation of a vibration sensor digitally in a time domain by using a high-pass filter roll-off slope is presented. The subject matter reduces the noise floor of an analog front end or analog domain portion of a circuit configured to enhance the frequency response of a vibration sensor. The present subject matter eliminates or reduces analog components and adds pieces of signal processing software to digitally enhance the frequency response of a vibration sensor so as to reduce component costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Prabhat Shrivastav
  • Publication number: 20140251017
    Abstract: A detection circuit detects a signal output from an element that receives an acoustic wave. The detection circuit is configured so as not to conduct a detection operation during a period in which the element does not receive the acoustic wave.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Atsushi Kandori
  • Patent number: 8830116
    Abstract: A radar wave sensing apparatus including a rotation element, a nanosecond pulse near-field sensor and a control unit is provided. The nanosecond pulse near-field sensor emits an incident radar wave and receives a reflection radar wave of the incident radar wave hitting on a surface of the rotation element to obtain a repetition frequency variation of the reflection radar wave corresponding to the incident radar wave. The control unit calculates a vibration of the rotation element according to the repetition frequency variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Kuang-I Chang, Sheng-Hang Wang, Yu-Jen Su, Mu-Yu Tsai, Jyun-Long Chen
  • Publication number: 20140230553
    Abstract: A method for monitoring movement of an element such as a cable is carried out by providing a pair of conductive elements each extending along an extent of the cable or other element to be monitored. A DC potential difference is applied between the conductive elements. The conductive elements are provided with an intervening material therebetween, which can be a continuous dielectric or can be other insulating material which varies in spacing and capacitance value along its length, such that the movement causes a change in capacitive coupling between the conductive elements at points or areas where the movement occurs so as to generate a changing voltage therebetween. The changing voltage as an amplified and filtered variable electrical signal is analyzed for monitoring the changing voltage for perturbations caused by the movement of the element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: NETWORK INTEGRITY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Network Integrity Systems, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20140216161
    Abstract: The invention relates to capacitive ultrasonic transducer comprising a sensor head having a back plate, the structured front side of which is provided with an insulation layer, and. the back side of which is provided with an electrode. In order to achieve an improved construction by means of which increased temperature resistance up to several hundred degrees Celsius can be achieved even in strongly oxidizing and reducing media, the membrane provided as a sound generated is subjected to tensile stress in the planar direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: AVL LIST GMBH
    Inventors: Katarzyna Kudlaty, Michael Wiesinger, Michael Cernusca
  • Publication number: 20140190266
    Abstract: Vibration sensing wear for soldiers or law enforcement officers include at least one sensing system having vibration sensors, at least one processing unit, and a user interface unit capable of altering the wearer of surface vibration (e.g., ground, walls, floors, ceilings, etc.), object size, and direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Inventor: Scott A. Strozier
  • Publication number: 20140190238
    Abstract: A vibratory meter (5) is provided, including one or more flow conduits (103), one or more pickoff sensors (105, 105?), and a driver (104). Meter electronics (20) is configured to vibrate the one or more flow conduits (103) using a drive signal including an initial vibration frequency and to receive a pickoff sensor signal from the one or more pickoff sensors (105, 105?) in response, iteratively offset a phase difference between the drive signal and the pickoff sensor signal by a predetermined phase increment and measure a resulting vibrational frequency and amplitude, with the offsetting operatively sweeping the vibration frequency over a predetermined vibration frequency range and therefore generating a plurality of vibration amplitudes and a corresponding plurality of vibration frequencies, and determine a substantially maximum amplitude response in the plurality of vibration amplitudes and designate the corresponding vibration frequency as comprising the resonant frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig B. Mcanally, Andrew S. Kravitz
  • Patent number: 8746068
    Abstract: A lubrication dispensing apparatus for lubricating a device with moving parts includes a lubricant reservoir, a lubricant dispenser for dispensing lubricant from the lubricant reservoir, an ultrasonic detection module which detects the amplitude of ultrasonic energy emitted by said device when its parts are moving and produces an signal related thereto, and a control module which analyzes the amplitude of the signal from the ultrasonic detection module and, in response to a lubricate signal, causes the lubricant dispenser to automatically dispense lubricant onto the moving parts of the device until the signal from the ultrasonic detector indicates that the ultrasonic energy produced by the device has decreased to a particular level. The control module includes a programmed processor and a storage memory. The memory stores as a base value the value of the detected amplitude of ultrasonic energy when the device is operating properly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: U.E. Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Goodman, William Bishop, Gary Mohr
  • Publication number: 20140150558
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for characterizing adhesive bonding using an acoustic wave MEMS sensor. The sensor can consist of a silicon substrate, a thin aluminium nitride film on top of the substrate and a thin gold film above the aluminium nitride layer. An adhesive layer is added on top of the sensor and the dispersion property of acoustic waves in the layered configuration can be utilized for bonding integrity characterization. A wave dispersion model is developed to study the effect of changing the interface stiffness on the wave dispersion profile and to investigate the sensitivity of different sensor configurations. The results of the model illustrate that the dispersion profile shifts in the direction of decreasing wave velocity as the interface stiffness decreases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventors: Mohamed Mahmoud Taher EL Gowini, Walied Ahmed Mohamed Moussa, Edmond Hok Ming Lou
  • Patent number: 8733174
    Abstract: A vibrating sensor having a base and an axisymmetrical resonator secured to the base. The base and the resonator are associated with electrodes connected to a control circuit via at least a first connection channel and a second connection channel with the electrodes being connected to one or other of the channels. The control circuit has excitation electronics and detection electronics and is arranged to control an excitation stage and a detection stage on each of the connection channels. The excitation stages and the detection stages have substantially identical respective durations, wherein the control circuit is arranged to perform the following sequence: excitation stage on the second connection channel; detection stage on the first connection channel; excitation stage on the first connection channel; detection stage on the second connection channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: SAGEM Defense Securite
    Inventor: Lionel Rosellini
  • Publication number: 20140116147
    Abstract: An ultrasonic measurement device includes an ultrasonic transducer device, a flexible substrate and an integrated circuit device. The ultrasonic transducer device has a substrate, an ultrasonic element array, a plurality of signal electrode lines formed on the substrate and electrically connected to the ultrasonic element array, and a plurality of signal terminals arranged on the substrate. In the flexible substrate, a plurality of signal lines are formed along a first direction. Each of the signal electrode lines has an electrode layer in which at least one signal electrode among some of the ultrasonic elements extends on the substrate. A long side direction of the integrated circuit device extends along a second direction which intersects with the first direction, and each of terminals of the integrated circuit device is connected to a corresponding one of the signal lines of the flexible substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kogo ENDO
  • Publication number: 20140096612
    Abstract: A vibration detection system is provided. The vibration detection system includes a radio frequency (RF) source, a vibration sensor coupled to the RF source and configured to receive an RF signal supplied by the RF source and radiate RF energy, and a computing device coupled to said RF source and configured to calculate vibrational energy induced to the vibration sensor based on an impedance of the vibration sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Boris Leonid Sheikman, David Robert O'Connor
  • Publication number: 20140090475
    Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting an oscillatory event are provided. According to one embodiment, a system may include a controller configured to provide a command signal to a positioning device and a processor communicatively coupled to the controller. The command signal may include a reference position. The processor may be configured to monitor a feedback signal responsive to the command signal. The feedback signal may include an actual position of the positioning device. The processor may be further configured to determine that within a predetermined period of time the actual position is both above a predetermined upper threshold and below a predetermined lower threshold. Based on the determination, the processor may declare the oscillatory event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Scott Edward Sherman, John Rogers Huey
  • Patent number: 8671763
    Abstract: A windscreen is configured for measuring outdoor infrasonic sound. The windscreen includes a container and a microphone. The container defines a chamber. The microphone is disposed in the chamber and can be operatively supported by the floor. The microphone is configured for detecting infrasonic sound. The container is advantageously formed from material that exhibits an acoustic impedance of between 0 and approximately 3150 times the acoustic impedance of air. A reflector plate may be disposed in the container. The reflector plate operatively can support the microphone and provides a doubling effect of infrasonic pressure at the microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Allan J. Zuckerwar, Qamar A. Shams
  • Publication number: 20140013851
    Abstract: A self-powered sensor system includes an autonomous sensor unit including at least one energy harvester which converts an induced vibration into at least one electrical signal; a power management unit comprising analogue signal processing circuitry, said analogue signal processing circuitry being configured for extracting and generating, from said received at least one electrical signal, at least one digital output signal indicative of a sensed physical state and at least one electrical power signal; and at least one user unit comprising electronic circuitry being powered by said at least one electrical power signal and/or receiving said at least one digital output signal provided by said power management unit. The description also relates to an electronic or network system, a machine or part thereof, a tire or wheel, or a means of transport including a self-powered sensor system according to embodiments described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: Christinus Antonetta Paulus van Liempd, Valer Pop, Jozef Franciscus Maria Oudenhoven
  • Publication number: 20140010388
    Abstract: Provided is a capacitive transducer having broadband frequency characteristics. The capacitive transducer includes an element which has multiple kinds of cells, each cell including: a first electrode; a vibrating film including a second electrode, the second electrode being opposed to the first electrode with a gap; and a support portion that supports the vibrating film so as to form the gap. The multiple kinds of cells have different ratios of an area of one of the first electrode and the second electrode to an area of the gap when viewed from a normal direction of the vibrating film. The first electrodes or the second electrodes in the multiple kinds of cells are electrically connected together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventors: Takahiro Akiyama, Kazutoshi Torashima
  • Publication number: 20140007693
    Abstract: Provided is a capacitive transducer including an element including a plurality of cells: each of the plurality of cells including: a first electrode; and a vibrating film including a second electrode, the second electrode being opposed to the first electrode with a gap; and a vibrating film supporting portion that supports the vibrating film so as to form the gap, in which the element includes a first cell and a second cell, the first cell including the vibrating film having a first spring constant, the second cell including the vibrating film having a second spring constant lower than the first spring constant; and a voltage to be applied between the first electrode and the second electrode of the first cell is higher than a voltage to be applied between the first electrode and the second electrode of the second cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Torashima, Takahiro Akiyama
  • Publication number: 20140007692
    Abstract: A surface acoustic wave (SAW) based thin film deposition monitor device and system for monitoring the deposition of ultra-thin films and nanomaterials and the analysis thereof is characterized by acoustic wave device embodiments that include differential delay line device designs, and which can optionally have integral reference devices fabricated on the same substrate as the sensing device, or on a separate device in thermal contact with the film monitoring/analysis device, in order to provide inherently temperature compensated measurements. These deposition monitor and analysis devices can include inherent temperature compensation, higher sensitivity to surface interactions than quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) devices, and the ability to operate at extreme temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: APPLIED SENSOR RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jacqueline H. HINES
  • Publication number: 20140000373
    Abstract: A measuring and transmitting bolt or threaded element for a railway bogie comprises a head defined in which is a seat, and a threaded stem defined in which is a hole, a miniaturized vibration sensor, a transmitter, a battery for supplying said MEMS vibration sensor and said transmitter, and a miniaturized converter for converting into electrical energy the mechanical energy from the vibrations in order to recharge the battery. In particular, the transmitter and the vibration sensor are housed in the seat, and the miniaturized converter and the battery are housed in the hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: POLITECNICO DI TORINO
    Inventors: Aurelio Soma', Giorgio De Pasquale
  • Publication number: 20140000374
    Abstract: A measuring transducer having exactly four flow openings, and an outlet-side housing end formed by means of an outlet-side flow divider having exactly four flow openings. A tube arrangement has exactly four curved or bent measuring tubes connected to the flow dividers for guiding flowing medium along flow paths connected in parallel. Each of the four measuring tubes opens with an inlet-side measuring tube end into one of the flow openings of the inlet-side flow divider, and with an outlet-side measuring tube end into one of the flow openings of the outlet-side flow divider. A first coupling element for adjusting eigenfrequencies of natural oscillation modes of the tube arrangement. An electro-mechanical exciter mechanism of the measuring transducer serves for producing and/or maintaining mechanical oscillations of the four measuring tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2011
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Alfred Rieder, Christof Huber, Ennio Bitto, Christian Schutze, Marcel Braun
  • Patent number: 8504209
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that controls a device that generates vibrations in a computer system. During operation, a critical vibration frequency is determined for the computer system. Next, a keep-out zone is generated based on the critical vibration frequency, wherein the keep-out zone specifies a range of frequencies to be avoided. Then, the device is controlled based on the keep-out zone to reduce vibrations generated by the device in the keep-out zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Oracle America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenny C. Gross, Aleksey M. Urmanov, Kalyanaraman Vaidyanathan
  • Publication number: 20130081474
    Abstract: A sensor element includes a base part, drive vibration arms that extend from the base part, an adjustment vibration arm 241 that extends from the base part and vibrates in response to drive vibration of the drive vibration arms, detection electrodes that output a signal according to a physical quantity applied to the drive vibration arms, and adjustment electrodes 551 and 553 provided on the adjustment vibration arm 241 and electrically connected to the detection electrodes for outputting a charge in a reverse polarity with respect to the detection electrodes in response to vibration of the adjustment vibration arm 241. The adjustment electrode 551 has a common part 60 electrically connected to the detection electrodes and a plurality of branch parts 61 branching out from the common part 60 and arranged side by side along an extension direction of the adjustment vibration arm 241.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Fumio ICHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20130081473
    Abstract: A sensor element includes a base part 21, drive vibration arms 221 and 222, adjustment vibration arms 241-244 that vibrate in response to drive vibration of the drive vibration arms 221 and 222, detection electrodes that output a charge according to a physical quantity applied to the drive vibration arms 221 and 222, first adjustment electrodes provided on the adjustment vibration arms 241 and 242 and electrically connected to the detection electrodes for outputting a charge in response to vibration of the adjustment vibration arms 241 and 242, and second adjustment electrodes provided on the adjustment vibration arms 243 and 244 and electrically connected to the detection electrodes for outputting a charge in a reverse polarity with respect to the first adjustment electrodes in response to vibration of the adjustment vibration arms 243 and 244.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Fumio ICHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20130047732
    Abstract: An arrangement for detecting toilet flushing by utilizing an acoustically-based motion detector in a simple amplifier circuit. The detector is in contact with the toilet bowl, which acts as a resonant system. Upon detection of such flushing, a subsequent event, such as a cleaning or disinfecting a toilet, ventilating the surrounding area or releasing deodorant into the area, may be triggered. The mechanically resonant system with the provided circuit is capable of separating frequencies from the frequency of the flushing water in a specific bowl design and provides a high degree of immunity to unwanted ambient frequencies. In addition, the system consumes low power and is suitable for battery power operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: RECKITT BENCKISER LLC
    Inventors: Wu Jin, Jacobus Simon Petrus Van Diepen, Dave Thomas, Larry Tyson
  • Publication number: 20120260737
    Abstract: Vibrating structure gyrometer with at least one tuning fork, produced by micro-machining from a thin plate, the said tuning fork comprising a pair of mobile inertial assemblies (EIM1, EIM2) linked by a coupling assembly (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventor: Bernard Chaumet
  • Patent number: 8281656
    Abstract: A cartridge (2) with a fill level detection system (10, 10?, 10?), the cartridge comprising a substantially rigid containing wall (4) having a tubular wall portion (12) surrounding a chamber (18) for receiving liquid therein, a plunger or piston (8) mounted inside the chamber and configured to seal one side of the chamber, the plunger or piston being displaceable in the chamber towards an outlet end (14) of the cartridge, characterized in that the fill level detection system comprises a plurality of discrete fixed electrodes (24, 24?) positioned along the tubular wall portion in a juxtaposed manner in a direction of displacement D of the plunger or piston (8), and a mobile electrode member (28) fixed to the plunger or piston and displaceable therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Sensile Pat AG
    Inventor: Jürg Schnidrig