By A Vibratory Effect (e.g., Resonant Frequency, Acoustical) Patents (Class 374/117)
  • Patent number: 11909376
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) resonator includes a degenerately-doped single-crystal silicon layer and a piezoelectric material layer disposed on the degenerately-doped single-crystal silicon layer. An electrically-conductive material layer is disposed on the piezoelectric material layer opposite the degenerately-doped single-crystal silicon layer, and patterned to form first and second electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: SITIME CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joseph C. Doll, Paul M. Hagelin, Ginel C. Hill, Nicholas Miller, Charles I. Grosjean
  • Patent number: 11842800
    Abstract: Temperature measurement is an important part of many potential applications in process industry. Conventional temperature measurement methods require manual intervention for process monitoring and fail to provide accurate and precise measurement of temperature of an enclosed mixed fluid chamber. The present disclosure provides artificial intelligence based temperature measurement in mixed fluid chamber. A plurality of inputs pertaining to the mixed fluid chamber are received to build a fluid based model. The fluid based model is used to generate one or more fluid parameters. The one or more fluid parameters are used along with a ground truth temperature data and the received plurality of inputs for training an artificial intelligence (AI) based model. However, the AI based model is trained with and without knowledge of fluid flow. The trained AI based model is further used to accurately estimate temperature of the mixed fluid chamber for a plurality of test input data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES LIMITED
    Inventors: Rajat Kumar Das, Arijit Sinharay, Arijit Chowdhury, Tapas Chakravarty, Arpan Pal
  • Patent number: 11799441
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical (MEMS) resonator includes a resonator structure having a plurality of beam elements and connection elements with certain geometry, where the plurality of beam elements are positioned adjacent to each other and adjacent beam elements are mechanically connected to each other by the connection elements, where the geometry of the beam elements or the connection elements varies within the resonator structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: KYOCERA Tikitin Oy
    Inventors: Antti Jaakkola, Panu Koppinen
  • Patent number: 11719582
    Abstract: Tires formed of one or more tire plies are disclosed. In some implementations, tire plies may include a temperature sensor that may detect a temperature of a respective tire ply. The temperature sensor may include one or more split-ring resonators (SRRs), each having a resonance frequency that changes in response to one or more of a change in an elastomeric property or a change in the temperature of a respective one or more tire plies. In some aspects, the temperature sensor may include an electrically-conductive layer dielectrically separated from a respective one or more SRRs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Lyten, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Stowell, Carlos Montalvo
  • Patent number: 11523804
    Abstract: In order to estimate a temperature of a transmission-reception wavefront of a probe head, a first computing unit and a second computing unit are provided. The first computing unit estimates a temperature TA of the transmission-reception wavefront according to a basic function based on an internal temperature T1, an ambient temperature T2, power consumption Ptotal (=Pic+Ptd), and any other parameter. The basic function is a linear function. The second computing unit estimates a temperature TB of the transmission-reception wavefront according to an auxiliary function based on a previously estimated temperature Tpre, an internal temperature difference ?T1, and any other, parameter. A selection unit selects any of the temperatures TA and TB depending on situations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuya Motoki, Toru Watanabe, Gen Shiina, Kazuhiro Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11513010
    Abstract: This application relates to methods and apparatus for temperature monitoring for integrated circuits, and in particular to temperature monitoring using a locked-loop circuits, e.g. FLLs, PLLs or DLLs. According to embodiments a locked-loop circuit includes a controlled signal timing module, wherein the timing properties of an output signal (SOUT, SFB) are dependent on a value of a control signal and on temperature. A controller compares a feedback signal (SFB) output from the timing module to a reference signal (SREF) and generates a control signal (SC) to maintain a desired timing relationship. A temperature monitor monitors temperature based on the value of the control signal. For FLLs and PLLs the signal timing module may be a controlled oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: John Paul Lesso, Gordon James Bates
  • Patent number: 11143557
    Abstract: A solution for reading detector arrays is disclosed. The solution comprises generating (400) an excitation signal, varying (402) the frequency of the excitation signal in time, supplying (404) the excitation signal to a detector array comprising a set of thermal detectors. The number of detectors corresponds to the frequencies of the excitation signal. In the solution, the signal is demodulated (406) at the output of the detector array and time-multiplexed base band signal is obtained. An analogue to digital conversion is performed (408) to the time-multiplexed base band signal and the base band signal is demultiplexed (410) to obtain a set of detector signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: TEKNOLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS VTT OY
    Inventors: Juha Hassel, Hannu Sipola, Andrey Timofeev, Visa Vesterinen
  • Patent number: 11067452
    Abstract: A temperature measurement device having a thermopile temperature sensor and a proximity sensor, a mobile temperature measurement device, and a method for determining a corrected temperature with a temperature measurement device are described. In an implementation, a temperature measurement device includes a semiconductor device; a thermopile temperature sensor disposed on the semiconductor device, where the thermopile temperature sensor is configured to receive radiation from an object; a proximity sensor disposed on the semiconductor device, the proximity sensor configured to detect a distance between the thermopile temperature sensor and the object; and a controller configured determine a corrected temperature measurement using at least an indication of received radiation and an indication of distance between the thermopile temperature sensor and the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Janice C. Lee, David Pecoraro, Cheng-Wei Pei
  • Patent number: 10978322
    Abstract: A transfer device of an embodiment includes a transporter including a temperature sensor disposed thereon and configured to move between a measurement position at which a temperature of a transfer target object is measured and a standby position separated from the measurement position, and a controller configured to control an operation of the transporter, and the controller moves the transporter between the measurement position and the standby position, and transfers the transfer target object by the transporter when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor at the measurement position continues to be equal to or less than a threshold for a first time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Ao Zheng, Koyu Hasegawa, Moriyoshi Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 10962888
    Abstract: A structure includes a first periodic structure positioned on a chip, the first periodic structure comprising a material of a first layer disposed on the chip. The structure further includes a second periodic structure positioned within the region of the chip adjacent the first periodic structure, the second periodic structure comprising a second material of a second layer disposed on the chip. The structure further includes an acoustic wave transmitter device disposed on the chip and an acoustic wave receiver device disposed on the chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD
    Inventors: Yu-Ching Lee, Yu-Piao Fang
  • Patent number: 10898728
    Abstract: A method includes generating a hyperthermia heat plan for tissue of interest, generating a hyperthermia adapted radiation therapy plan for the tissue of interest, controlling a heat source (126) to deliver heat to the tissue of interest according to the hyperthermia heat plan, and controlling a radiation source of a radiation therapy system (100) to deliver radiation to the tissue of interest according to the hyperthermia adapted radiation therapy plan. A system includes a radiation treatment planner (124) configured to generate a hyperthermia adapted radiation therapy plan for the tissue of interest, a radiation therapy system (100) configured to deliver radiation in accordance with the hyperthermia adapted radiation therapy plan, and a hyperthermia heat delivery system (126) configured to deliver heat in accordance with a hyperthermia plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Shyam Bharat, Ajay Anand, Robert Michael Staruch, Shriram Sethuraman, Vijay Parthasarathy, Ehsan Dehghan Marvast
  • Patent number: 10718672
    Abstract: A piezoelectric device package includes a board having a lower surface and an upper surface, a plurality of terminals disposed on the lower surface, a piezoelectric device disposed on the upper surface, a thermistor layer and a resistance layer disposed on the lower surface, and a cap lead covering an upper portion of the board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin Man Han, Yong Sung Kim, Sang Yeob Cha, Young Key Kim
  • Patent number: 10641701
    Abstract: A distributed device for the detection of a substance is disclosed, comprising: a distributed optical excitation source (21) including a first optical fiber (22) having a plurality of extraction regions (24), each extraction region (24) being adapted to extract part of the light carried by the first optical fiber (22) from said fiber; and a distributed acoustic sensor (25) including a second optical fiber (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Commissariat à I'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventors: Salvatore Cina, Bruno Mourey
  • Patent number: 10636045
    Abstract: Computer-implemented methods for identifying or assessing any type of risk and/or opportunity that may arise can include either, alone or in combination, band pass filtering, principal component analysis, random matrix theory analysis, synchronization analysis, and early-warning detection. Each technique can also be viewed as a process that takes a set of inputs and converts it to a set of outputs. These outputs can be used as inputs for a subsequent process or the outputs may be directly actionable for formulating certain economic predictions to make certain decisions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Bank of America Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy J. Bendel, Mark V. Krein, David N. Joffe, Sandi Setiawan, William Anthony Nobili, David Joa
  • Patent number: 10613045
    Abstract: A Process of determining at least one thermal property of a fluid under investigation with a thermal sensor. The thermal sensor has at least a first sensor element that is heated to provide heat to the fluid under investigation. The first or a second sensor that can sense the temperature of the fluid under investigation, wherein the process is characterized by the following steps: a) Providing a calibrated reduced order model which is calibrated with one or more thermal properties of at least a second and a third fluid; b) (Applying an amount of heat to the fluid under investigation by the first sensor element and) measuring the temperature Tsens at the first and/or second sensor element said fluid under investigation; and c) Extracting one or more thermal property of the fluid under investigation by applying the said temperature Tsens to said calibrated reduced order model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: ENDRESS + HAUSER FLOWTEC AG
    Inventors: Anastasios Badarlis, Simon Stingelin
  • Patent number: 10551253
    Abstract: A sensing apparatus for a turbomachine comprises: a magnet; a sensing coil; a power supply; and a processor. The magnet is arranged to produce a magnetic field and the sensing coil is at least partially disposed in the magnetic field. The power supply is operable to provide a voltage across the sensing coil. The processor is operable to determine a periodicity of a voltage across the sensing coil. The processor is further operable to determine a quantity indicative of temperature dependent characteristic of the sensing coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Cummins Ltd.
    Inventor: Stephen Gerard Coughlan
  • Patent number: 10544674
    Abstract: A flow meter includes a cylindrical tubing configured to be positioned in a wellbore, the cylindrical tubing including a flow mixer configured to produce a turbulent fluid flow of a multiphase fluid in the wellbore. The flow meter includes a tuning fork disposed in the cylindrical tubing separate from the flow mixer, the tuning fork configured to contact the turbulent fluid flow of the multiphase fluid and vibrate at a vibration frequency in response to contact with the turbulent fluid flow, and a controller to determine a fluid density measurement of the multiphase fluid based at least in part on the vibration frequency of the tuning fork.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Brett W. Bouldin, Robert John Turner, Frode Hveding, Mohamed Nabil Noui-Mehidi
  • Patent number: 10533903
    Abstract: A method to determine the heat transfer through some enveloping surface is being presented, where a convective as well as a radiation heat-transfer is considered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Inventor: Gerald Mischke
  • Patent number: 10531078
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging device which is configured to perform a photoelectric conversion of collected light; a selection unit which is configured to select output signals from pixels belonging to a predetermined pixel area of the imaging device; a dark current-calculating unit which is configured to calculate a dark current value based on a difference between the output signals in a predetermined set; a temperature-calculating unit which is configured to calculate a temperature of the imaging device from the dark current value; and an inspection unit which is configured to inspect whether or not a temperature measurement state is normal based on temperatures calculated for a plurality of exposure times for the imaging device by the temperature-calculating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Noguchi, Akihiro Kubota
  • Patent number: 10458936
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for determination of the absolute coefficient of thermal expansion of materials, including ultralow expansion materials, utilizes a metrology frame that is regulated within a first narrow temperature range that varies by only a small fraction of a degree Celsius from a set point temperature (e.g., less than about 0.01° C. from the set point temperature), while the temperature of the sample is varied to determine the coefficient of thermal expansion over a larger temperature range (e.g., 30, 40 or 50° C.). The method and apparatus permit determination of the coefficient of thermal expansion of a material to levels approaching 10?9/° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventor: Carlos Alberto Duran
  • Patent number: 10458672
    Abstract: Rather than complex modeling or time consuming repetitive measuring for optimizing an HVAC system, a slope or change in energy use as a function of a change in a variable (e.g., temperature or humidity) is used to adjust the variable. In an HVAC system, the temperature or humidity of supplied air from the AHU is set based on the derived slope. The energy usage to heat and/or cool supplied air at the terminal units is balanced with the energy usage to heat and/or cool the air to be supplied by the AHU. The slope of the total energy usage may be indicated by a sum of flow rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventor: James J. Coogan
  • Patent number: 10352778
    Abstract: A composite active waveguide temperature sensor (10) incorporates a first, sensor portion (16) formed of an environment-resistant material such as ceramic coupled through an ultrasonically-transparent bond (20) to a second, waveguide portion (18) formed of an ultrasonically-transmissive material such as a metallic filament wire. By doing so, the sensor portion (16) may be positioned within a harsh environment and subjected to a temperature to be measured, and the waveguide portion (18) may be used to propagate ultrasonic energy to and/or from the sensor portion (16) to a location distal from the harsh environment for measurement of the temperature. The ultrasonically-transparent bond (20) between these portions (16, 18) limits attenuation of and the introduction of reflections and other noise to an ultrasonic signal propagated across the bond (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: ETEGENT TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Christopher G. Larsen, Oleg Lobkis, Richard A. Roth, Stuart J. Shelley
  • Patent number: 10309932
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for noninvasively monitoring steam quality and flow and in pipes or conduits bearing flowing steam, are described. By measuring the acoustic vibrations generated in steam-carrying conduits by the flowing steam either by direct contact with the pipe or remotely thereto, converting the measured acoustic vibrations into a frequency spectrum characteristic of the natural resonance vibrations of the pipe, and monitoring the amplitude and/or the frequency of one or more chosen resonance frequencies, changes in the steam quality in the pipe are determined. The steam flow rate and the steam quality are inversely related, and changes in the steam flow rate are calculated from changes in the steam quality once suitable calibration curves are obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Los Alamos National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Dipen N. Sinha, Cristian Pantea
  • Patent number: 10222270
    Abstract: Provided is a system for monitoring temperature of one or more subject bodies, the system including a resonant reading circuit adapted to generate resonant wireless power loads; a resonant receiver circuit adapted to be magnetically connected to the resonant reading circuit for receiving the resonant wireless power loads and for generating power based on the power loads received; one or more temperature sensors adapted to be operatively connected to the resonant receiver circuit for deriving power and for measuring the temperatures of the one or more subject bodies respectively based on the resonant wireless power loads received; and a relay circuit adapted to be operatively connected to the one or more temperature sensors and to the resonant receiver circuit for relaying the measured temperatures to the resonant reading circuit via the resonant receiver circuit using wireless resonant energy transfer. There is further provided a temperature-sensing device and a storage apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED ARAB EMIRATES UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Rashad Ramzan, Azam Beg, Nabil Bastaki
  • Patent number: 10195467
    Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus related to ablation catheter systems with wireless temperature sensing. The present subject matter provides an ablation catheter system including an ablation catheter configured to ablate a target zone of tissue and at least one temperature sensitive resonator coupled to the ablation catheter. The resonator is configured to wirelessly emit a signal indicative of a sensed temperature in response to an interrogation signal. The ablation catheter system also includes an external device configured to provide the interrogation signal and to receive and decode the emitted signal from the resonator. The temperature sensitive resonator is configured to be placed proximate to and in thermal conduction with the target zone of tissue and to resonate at a frequency dependent upon a temperature of the resonator when excited by the interrogation signal, in various embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Binh C. Tran, Greg Paul Carpenter
  • Patent number: 10129468
    Abstract: A thermal detection device includes a first camera, a second camera, a thermal camera, and a processor. The thermal camera is disposed between the first camera and the second camera, and detects a to-be-measured object to generate a first temperature value. The processor includes a control unit, which controls the first camera and the second camera according to settings of a first measurement mode and a second measurement mode. In the first measurement mode, the control unit captures images from the first camera and the second camera to measure a first distance between the to-be-measured object and an installation surface. In the second measurement mode, the control unit captures images from the first camera to measure a size of the to-be-measured object. The processor determines a second temperature value of the to-be-measured object according to the first temperature value, the first distance, and the size of the to-be-measured object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: ADE Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Yui-Liang Chew, Chu-Sheng Su, Ping-Ying Tu
  • Patent number: 10048134
    Abstract: A non-contact medical thermometer is disclosed that includes an IR sensor assembly having an IR sensor for sensing IR radiation from a target, a distance sensor configured to determine a distance of the thermometer from the target, and a memory component operatively coupled at least to the IR sensor assembly and the distance sensor. The memory component contains predetermined compensation information that relates to predetermined temperatures of targets and to predetermined distances from at least one predetermined target. A microprocessor is operatively coupled to the memory component. The microprocessor is configured to perform temperature calculations based on the IR radiation from the target, the distance of the thermometer from the target, and the predetermined compensation information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Helen of Troy Limited
    Inventors: Aleksan Yildizyan, Jiawei Hu, Charles Squires, James Christopher Gorsich
  • Patent number: 10018520
    Abstract: Measuring apparatus-calibration device for calibrating a measuring apparatus-temperature sensor of a, in particular optical, measuring apparatus, wherein the measuring apparatus-calibration device comprises a, preferably measuring apparatus-external, calibration-temperature sensor, which is traceably calibratable itself, for determining a calibration temperature in the region of a measuring surface of the measuring apparatus and a determination unit which is adapted for determining an information which is indicative for a discrepancy between a measuring apparatus-temperature which is captured by the measuring apparatus-temperature sensor in the region of the measuring surface and the calibration temperature, on whose basis the measuring apparatus-temperature sensor is calibratable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Anton Paar OptoTec GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Ostermeyer, Thomas Brandl
  • Patent number: 9976915
    Abstract: A method and system for determining a temperature of a working gas passing through a passage to a turbine section of a gas turbine engine. The method includes identifying an acoustic frequency at a first location in the engine upstream from the turbine section, and using the acoustic frequency for determining a first temperature value at the first location that is directly proportional to the acoustic frequency and a calculated constant value. A second temperature of the working gas is determined at a second location in the engine and, using the second temperature, a back calculation is performed to determine a temperature value for the working gas at the first location. The first temperature value is compared to the back calculated temperature value to change the calculated constant value to a recalculated constant value. Subsequent first temperature values at the first location may be determined based on the recalculated constant value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventor: Upul DeSilva
  • Patent number: 9958316
    Abstract: The invention proposes a system for measuring a resonance frequency of a tube. The system comprises: an oscillating unit (21) for oscillating the tube at a plurality of oscillation frequencies, respectively; a detecting unit (22) for detecting a time delay of transmitting a pressure pulse from a first position to a second position in the tube when the tube is oscillated at each oscillation frequency, wherein, when the tube is oscillated at each oscillation frequency in a specific oscillation frequency range of the plurality of oscillation frequencies, the detecting unit (22) detects a variation of the time delay—a determining unit (23) for determining a maximal variation of the time delay when the tube is oscillated at the oscillation frequencies in the specific oscillation frequency range; and—an indicating unit (24) for indicating an oscillation frequency corresponding to the maximal variation of the time delay, being a resonance frequency of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Maarten Leonardus Christian Brand, Liang Dong, Juan Du
  • Patent number: 9927341
    Abstract: A vibrating member (412) adapted for use in a vibrating densitometer (400) includes a base (407) and a vibrating tube portion (405) affixed to the base (407). The vibrating tube portion (405) includes a first arcuate portion (430a), a second arcuate portion (430b), a first non-arcuate portion (432a), and a second non-arcuate portion (432b). The first and second non-arcuate portions (432a, 432b) are located between the first and second arcuate portions (430a, 430b). The vibrating tube portion (405) is formed with an oblong cross-sectional shape having a major axis dimension that is greater than a minor axis dimension. The oblong cross-sectional shape increases a frequency separation between vibration modes in the vibrating tube portion (405).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony William Pankratz, Megan Casey
  • Patent number: 9885618
    Abstract: A system for monitoring temperature of an electrical conductor (31) enclosed in at least a (semi)conductive layer (13) comprising: a passive inductive unit (20), and a transceiver unit (40) and a control unit (50). The passive inductive unit (20) includes at least one temperature sensitive component and is configured to have a resonance frequency and/or Q value that vary with temperature of the electrical conductor (31). The transceiver unit (40) is configured to be electromagnetically coupled to the passive inductive unit (20) and to send out a signal representing the resonance frequency and/or Q value of the passive inductive unit (20). The transceiver unit (40) is further configured to communicate with the control unit (50) which ascertains the signal representing one or both of the resonance frequency and Q value, and which determines a value of the temperature of the electrical conductor (31) based on the ascertained signal representing one or both of the resonance frequency and Q value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Zhiguo Wen, Zheng Huang, Sihua Yuan, Justin M. Johnson, Ronald D. Jesme, Andrew P. Bonifas, Terrence H. Joyce, Jacob D. Chatterton, Yingyu Wang, Xuetao Yu
  • Patent number: 9804031
    Abstract: An IR camera includes: a thermal radiation capturing arrangement for capturing thermal radiation of an imaged view in response to input control unit(s) receiving user inputs from a user of the IR camera; a processing unit arranged to process the thermal radiation data in order for the thermal radiation data to be displayed by an IR camera display as thermal images; and an IR camera display arranged to display thermal images to a user of the IR camera. The processing unit is further arranged to determine at least one temperature reference value representing the temperature of the surrounding environment of the imaged view; and calculate at least one output power value indicative of an amount of energy dissipated in a part of the imaged view by using the temperature value of the thermal radiation data corresponding to said part of the imaged view and the at least one determined temperature reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: FLIR Systems AB
    Inventors: Katrin Strandemar, Henrik Jönsson, Torbjörn Hamrelius, Gunnar Palm
  • Patent number: 9702769
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide self-calibrated thermal sensors of an integrated circuit (IC) die and associated techniques and configurations. In one embodiment, a self-calibrating thermal sensing device includes a resonator configured to oscillate at a frequency corresponding with a temperature of circuitry of an integrated circuit (IC) die, wherein the resonator is thermally coupled with the circuitry and configured to operate in a first mode and a second mode and logic operatively coupled with the resonator, and configured to calculate a first temperature corresponding with a first frequency of the resonator in the first mode using a first equation, calculate a second temperature corresponding with a second frequency of the resonator in the second mode using a second equation, and add an offset to the first equation and the second equation based on a result of a comparison of the first temperature and the second temperature. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Mohamed A. Abdelmoneum, David E. Duarte, Gregory F. Taylor
  • Patent number: 9574951
    Abstract: An image capture device includes an image sensor. The image sensor includes a temperature sensor for measuring temperature measurements of the image sensor. A timing generator is coupled to the image sensor for applying an electronic shutter pulse to the image sensor to drain away all charge in photodiodes of the image sensing region prior to image capture. A reading component is coupled to the temperature sensor for reading the temperature measurements from the temperature sensor. The image capture device is configured to prevent erroneous temperature readings by the reading component resulting from substrate punch-through from the application of the electronic shutter pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Shen Wang, Gregory Oscar Moberg
  • Patent number: 9557257
    Abstract: A vibrating member (500) for a vibrating densitometer (800) is provided. The vibrating member (500) includes an inner surface (531) with one or more arcuate portions (730). The inner surface (531) of the vibrating member (500) also includes one or more raised portions (530) sized and located to increase a frequency separation between a resonant frequency of a desired vibrational drive mode and a resonant frequency of one or more undesired vibrational modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Megan Casey, Anthony William Pankratz
  • Patent number: 9548642
    Abstract: A sensing apparatus (20) based on fiber optics including fiber gratings for monitoring stator slot temperatures in an electromotive machine (10) is provided. The apparatus may include a dielectric strip (22) to be received in a gap between a first stator bar (16) and a second stator bar (18) in a stator slot (14). One or more optical fibers (24, 25) may be disposed in the dielectric strip and extend along a longitudinal axis of the dielectric strip. A plurality of sites 28 in the optical fiber include a respective fiber Bragg grating arranged to have a respective optical response in a wavelength spectrum indicative of a value of temperature at the grating site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Evangelos V. Diatzikis, Luis Alberto de Almeida Ferreira, Francisco Manuel Moita Araujo
  • Patent number: 9476858
    Abstract: Disclosed is a clamp-on-type ultrasonic concentration metering system and method. The clamp-on-type ultrasonic concentration metering system includes an ultrasonic sensor portion and a concentration meter. The ultrasonic sensor portion is attached to an outer wall of a pipe through which a fluid to be measured flows and that transmits and receives an ultrasonic signal through a wall of the pipe. The concentration meter measures a concentration of a substance according an intensity of the ultrasonic signal that is received after passing through the wall of the pipe, the fluid to be measured, and the wall of the pipe by means of the ultrasonic sensor portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: WESS GLOBAL, INC.
    Inventors: Nam Won Kwan, In Soo Kim, Jin Woo Kim, Jong Seop Park
  • Patent number: 9470586
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide self-calibrated thermal sensors of an integrated circuit (IC) die and associated techniques and configurations. In one embodiment, a self-calibrating thermal sensing device includes a resonator configured to oscillate at a frequency corresponding with a temperature of circuitry of an integrated circuit (IC) die, wherein the resonator is thermally coupled with the circuitry and configured to operate in a first mode and a second mode and logic operatively coupled with the resonator, and configured to calculate a first temperature corresponding with a first frequency of the resonator in the first mode using a first equation, calculate a second temperature corresponding with a second frequency of the resonator in the second mode using a second equation, and add an offset to the first equation and the second equation based on a result of a comparison of the first temperature and the second temperature. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Mohamed A. Abdelmoneum, David E. Duarte, Gregory F. Taylor
  • Patent number: 9387122
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to operate a surgical instrument in response to a thermal condition being detected that warrants curtailment of further operation. When the thermal condition is reached, command signals are generated that cause a needle of the surgical instrument to either have its vibrational speed slowed, have its vibrational movement stopped, or have it withdrawn from its relative position. The detection is of infrared radiation wavelengths and is carried out with either a thermal imaging device of a thermal recognition device. A corresponding temperature of the detected infrared radiation wavelengths is compared to a critical temperature to determine whether the thermal condition has been reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventor: Richard J. Mackool
  • Patent number: 9300227
    Abstract: A technique decouples a MEMS device from sources of strain by forming a MEMS structure with suspended electrodes that are mechanically anchored in a manner that reduces or eliminates transfer of strain from the substrate into the structure, or transfers strain to electrodes and body so that a transducer is strain-tolerant. The technique includes using an electrically insulating material embedded in a conductive structural material for mechanical coupling and electrical isolation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Emmanuel P. Quevy, Daniel N. Koury, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9250139
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for characterizing biological tissues through their thermal signatures that include directing microwave energy into a biological tissue using a first slot antenna, detecting microwave radiation emitted by the biological tissue using a second slot antenna, generating output signals corresponding to the microwave radiation, processing the output signals to characterize a temperature of the biological tissue as a function of time to yield temperature characteristics, and characterizing a biological function of the biological tissue based on the temperature characteristics. The first and second slot antennas can be defined using a dual mode antenna and the generating can include alternatively collecting signals from the second slot antenna through a first low noise amplifier (LNA) and a reference load through a second LNA that the two LNAs are substantially identical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: THE PENN STATE RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventor: Mohammad-Reza Tofighi
  • Patent number: 9228906
    Abstract: A crystal oscillator (31) (Y-cut) has a temperature characteristic in which its oscillating frequency significantly changes with temperature, whereas a crystal oscillator (32) (AT-cut) has a temperature characteristic in which its oscillating frequency is stable with temperature. Crystal oscillators (31, 32) are cut from a raw material of the same type and configured to be substantially equal in shape, material, and size, and provide a combination of oscillation frequencies such that the frequency of a signal generated by a differential frequency circuit (35) will be less than or equal to 10 kHz within a measuring temperature range of 21 to 30° C. The frequency of a signal generated by differential frequency generating circuit (35) is output to a measurement apparatus main unit and a frequency counting circuit (15) measures the frequency of this signal by a reciprocal counting method to obtain at least eight or more significant digits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Inventor: Masato Tanabe
  • Patent number: 9225337
    Abstract: A circuit for determining a threshold indication of temperature with respect to a threshold temperature. The circuit includes a timer circuit and a temperature sensor circuit having an counter whose output has a relationship to temperature. At the end of a period determined by the timer circuit, a comparator circuit compares the count of the counter with an indication of the threshold temperature to determine a state of the threshold indication. In response to a change in state of the threshold indication, the circuit changes one of the count time or the counter output's relationship to temperature to provide a hysteresis for the threshold indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Perry H. Pelley, George P. Hoekstra, Ravindraraj Ramaraju
  • Patent number: 9117359
    Abstract: A photoelectric smoke detector 1 for detecting smoke particles 4 is disclosed, the smoke detector 1 comprising: a light emitting element 5, a light receiving element 6 for receiving light 8 emitted by the light emitting element 5 and scattered by the smoke particles 4 and for outputting a detection signal 12 obtained by photoelectrical converting the received light 10, 11, an amplifier circuit 13 for amplifying the detection signal 12 and providing an amplified output signal 14, wherein the amplified output signal 14 may be divided into an offset-signal 20 and an amplified detection signal 21, whereby the photoelectric smoke detector 1 is adapted to operate in a pulsed mode, so that the detection signal 12 comprises high-frequency components, whereby the amplified detection signal 21 is determined by high-frequency components of the detection signal 12 and that the offset-signal 20 is determined by low-frequency components of the detection signal 12 and/or by low-frequency components of at least an intermedia
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Hanses, Gerhard Gruener, Wolfgang Werkmeister, Joerg Tuermer
  • Publication number: 20150146759
    Abstract: An embodiment of a method of measuring temperatures includes: taking distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) measurement data by transmitting interrogation signals into an optical fiber disposed in an environment of interest, and receiving reflected signals over a selected time period from the optical fiber; processing the DAS measurement data to separate components of the DAS data associated with changes in temperature; and generating a temperature change profile for the selected time period based on the separated components of the DAS data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: William Johnston
  • Patent number: 9041478
    Abstract: An electronic oscillator circuit has a first oscillator, for supplying a first oscillation signal, a second oscillator, for supplying a second oscillation signal, a first controller for delivering the first control signal as a function of a phase difference between a first controller input and a second controller input of the first controller; a second controller for delivering the second control signal as a function of a phase difference between a first controller input of the second controller and a second controller input of the second controller; a resonator; at least a second resonance frequency, with a first phase shift dependent on the difference between the frequency of a second exciting signal and the second resonance frequency and processing means, for receiving the first oscillator signal and the second oscillator signal, determining their mutual proportion, looking up a frequency compensation factor in a prestored table and outputting a compensated oscillation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: ANHARMONIC B.V.
    Inventor: Antonius Johannes Maria Montagne
  • Publication number: 20150114962
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a temperature detection assembly (10) for a cooking pot (24). Said temperature detection assembly (10) comprises a straight and elongated bar (12), at least one SAW (surface acoustic wave) temperature sensor (10) arranged inside a lower end portion of the bar (12), a sensor antenna (16) connected to an upper end of the bar (12), and at least one handle (18) connected to the upper end of the bar (12). The SAW temperature sensor (10) or a heat conducting element connected to said SAW temperature sensor (10) is spaced from a lower end of the bar (12) by a predetermined distance, wherein a non-heat-conducting material is arranged between the SAW temperature sensor (10) or the heat conducting element, respectively, and the lower end of the bar (12). Further, the present invention relates to a lid (20) for a cooking pot (24), wherein the lid (20) is provided for receiving a temperature detection assembly (10) with a straight and elongated bar (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Kersten Kaiser, Michael Herzog, Fabienne Reinhard-Herrscher, Jennifer Burkhardt, Eva Holzgreve
  • Publication number: 20150096942
    Abstract: A method of measuring and controlling a temperature distribution at a member is disclosed. A probe is placed proximate the member. The probe has a plurality of longitudinally-spaced reflective elements. An ultrasonic pulse is generated at a selected location of the probe so as to propagate along the probe. Reflected pulses are received at the selected location from the plurality of longitudinally-spaced reflective elements. The distribution of temperature at the member is determined from the reflected pulses. The determined distribution of temperature may be used in controlling the temperature of the member. The member may be a solid or fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Ke Wang, Thomas M. Scott, Zhiyue Xu
  • Patent number: 8979362
    Abstract: A circuit for sensing a physical quantity according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first oscillator circuit configured to provide a first clock signal including a first frequency depending on the physical quantity, and a second oscillator circuit configured to provide a second clock signal comprising a second frequency depending on the physical quantity. The circuit also includes a frequency comparator circuit configured to provide a frequency signal indicative of the physical quantity, the frequency signal being based on the first and second frequencies, wherein the first and second oscillator circuits are configured to provide the first and second clock signals such that due to a change in the physical quantity one frequency of the first and second frequencies increases, while the other frequency of the first and second frequencies decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Uwe Weder, Korbinian Engl