Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110146411 | CMOS COMPATIBLE PRESSURE SENSOR FOR LOW PRESSURES - Pressure sensors having a topside boss and a cavity formed using deep reactive-ion etching (DRIE) or plasma etching. Since the boss is formed on the topside, the boss is aligned to other features on the topside of the pressure sensor, such as a Wheatstone bridge or other circuit elements. Also, since the boss is formed as part of the diaphragm, the boss has a reduced mass and is less susceptible to the effects of gravity and acceleration. These pressure sensors may also have a cavity formed using a DRIE or plasma etch. Use of these etches result in a cavity having edges that are substantially orthogonal to the diaphragm, such that pressure sensor die area is reduced. The use of these etches also permits the use of p-doped wafers, which are compatible with conventional CMOS technologies. | 06-23-2011 |
20140260650 | SILICON PLATE IN PLASTIC PACKAGE - Circuits, methods, and apparatus that provide pressure sensor devices where pressure sensors may be reliably attached to surfaces in device packages, and where the coefficients of expansion of the pressure sensor and the surface are at least approximately equal. Examples may provide pressure sensor devices where pressure sensors may be reliably attached to surfaces in device packages by providing interposers formed to prevent adhesives used to attach the pressure sensors to surfaces from blocking or encroaching into pressure sensor openings or cavities. These same features may be used to accurately locate a pressure sensor relative to the interposer. Embodiments of the present invention may provide pressure sensor devices where the coefficients of expansion of the pressure sensor and the surface are at least approximately equal by proving interposers that are formed of the same or similar material as the pressure sensors, such as silicon. | 09-18-2014 |
20150143926 | AREA-EFFICIENT PRESSURE SENSING DEVICE - Circuits, methods, and apparatus that provide pressure sensing devices having a pressure sensor including a diaphragm supported by a frame. The pressure sensor may be mounted on an application-specific integrated circuit. A passage may extend through the application-specific integrated circuit from its underside to its topside where it may terminate in a cavity formed under the diaphragm. Circuit components may be formed in the second wafer portion and located in areas that are not under the first wafer portion. Circuit components may be formed in the second wafer in areas under the first wafer portion, such as under the frame or under the diaphragm. Circuit components may be formed in the second wafer such that they are partially under the first wafer portion, or partially under the frame or partially under the diaphragm. | 05-28-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080264040 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REDUCING NOx EMISSIONS IN AN APPARATUS HAVING A DIESEL ENGINE - In a mechanical apparatus having a diesel engine including a combustion chamber, the mechanical apparatus also having an aftertreatment device configured to treat emissions from the diesel engine and an intake valve for passing air into the combustion chamber, a method of operating the engine is disclosed, wherein the method includes performing at least one combustion in the combustion chamber at a first intake valve closure timing, determining a temperature of the aftertreatment device, and if the temperature of the aftertreatment device is equal to or below a preselected temperature threshold, then performing at least one combustion in the combustion chamber at a second intake valve closure timing to thereby increase the temperature of exhaust emitted by the diesel engine. | 10-30-2008 |
20090253553 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO REDUCE STALL DURING DECELERATION FUEL SHUT OFF - A method of controlling fuel injection in an engine of a vehicle comprising of deactivating a fuel injector of the engine during a deceleration condition of the vehicle; and reactivating the fuel injector when a rate of change of a powertrain shaft deceleration is greater than a threshold. | 10-08-2009 |
20090275440 | VEHICLE RESPONSE DURING VEHICLE ACCELERATION CONDITIONS - A vehicle control method for transitioning through transmission lash regions is described using a variety of information, such as, for example, gear ratio, clutch slippage, etc. Further, different adjustment of spark and throttle angle is used to provide a rapid torque response while still reducing effects of the lash. Finally, transitions taking into account both slipping and non-slipping transmissions are described. | 11-05-2009 |
20110034298 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPROVED VEHICLE RESPONSE DURING VEHICLE ACCELERATION CONDITIONS - A vehicle control method for a vehicle having an internal combustion engine coupled to a torque converter is described. In one embodiment, the engine air flow and spark are adjusted to control torque converter operation. The method can improve vehicle response to driver accelerator commands | 02-10-2011 |
20110287894 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO REDUCE STALL DURING DECELERATION FUEL SHUT OFF - A method of controlling fuel injection in an engine of a vehicle comprising of deactivating a fuel injector of the engine during a deceleration condition of the vehicle; and reactivating the fuel injector when a rate of change of a powertrain shaft deceleration is greater than a threshold. | 11-24-2011 |
20140106934 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPROVED VEHICLE RESPONSE DURING VEHICLE ACCELERATION CONDITIONS - A vehicle control method for a vehicle having an internal combustion engine coupled to a torque converter is described. In one embodiment, the engine air flow and spark are adjusted to control torque converter operation. The method can improve vehicle response to driver accelerator commands. | 04-17-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120109477 | Dual Clutch Driveline Twist Control - A method for controlling a driveline having a transmission clutch includes locking the clutch before a driveline lash crossing occurs; maintaining a locked clutch during the lash crossing; after the lash crossing occurs, increasing a clutch capacity at a slower rate than a driveline twist torque rate; and after the lash crossing occurs, producing clutch slip by controlling engine torque and clutch capacity such that engine torque exceeds clutch capacity. | 05-03-2012 |
20130096789 | Bounded Vehicle Driveline Twist Estimating - A method for controlling a vehicle driveline having a power source and a transmission clutch includes using a difference between two spaced locations in the subject vehicle driveline to determine driveline twist speed due to applied torque, using a product of driveline twist speed and a sampling interval to produce an estimated driveline twist from the sum of incremental changes in driveline twist that are between predetermined upper and lower magnitudes, producing, in response to a demanded wheel torque, a first signal that controls torque transmitted from the power source to the clutch during a lash crossing using the estimated driveline twist and the current driveline torque; and producing a second signal that controls clutch torque capacity such that clutch slip is produced during the lash crossing. | 04-18-2013 |
20140129083 | Assisted Direct Start And Active Suspension Integration Control - A system for controlling an internal combustion engine. The system includes engine shutdown/restart means and energy storage means configured for supplying power to an associated active vehicle suspension system when the engine is shut down. A controller is configured for controlling the shutdown/restart means responsive to an energy state of the energy storage means. | 05-08-2014 |
20150183416 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR STOPPING AN ENGINE - A method and a system for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, a disconnect clutch is operated in response to an engine stop request to adjust an engine stopping position during an engine shutdown. The approach may reduce engine starting time after the engine stop. | 07-02-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140074539 | BUSINESS ATTRIBUTE DRIVEN SIZING ALGORITHMS - A cloud infrastructure system includes one or more computing devices and is configured to receive subscription order information related to one or more services subscribed to by a customer of the cloud infrastructure system, the service selected from one or more services provided by the cloud infrastructure system. The cloud infrastructure system receives a set of one or more mapping rules configured to map business attributes to resource provisioning information for one or more of the one or more services provided by the cloud infrastructure system. The cloud infrastructure system determines whether one or more business attributes in the subscription order information satisfy one or more mapping rules in the set of mapping rules and generates resource provisioning information for one or more resources associated with the one or more services based on resource provisioning information in the one or more mapping rules satisfied by the one or more business attributes in the subscription order information. | 03-13-2014 |
20140075031 | SEPARATION OF POD PROVISIONING AND SERVICE PROVISIONING - A method for POD provisioning and service provisioning is disclosed. The method may comprise storing, by a cloud infrastructure system, subscription order information from a customer identifying a service from a set of cloud services provided by the cloud infrastructure system, the cloud infrastructure system comprising one or more computing devices, wherein the subscription order information includes customer-specific configuration. Additionally, the method may comprise determining, by a computing device from the one or more computing devices, a service associated with the subscription order information. Moreover, the method may comprise mapping a pre-provisioned anonymous deployment to the subscription order information, wherein the pre-provisioned anonymous deployment is specifically pre-provisioned for the determined service. Furthermore, the method may comprise creating, by a computing device from the one or more computing devices, a service instance specifically for the customer by configuring the pre-provisioned anonymous deployment with the customer-specific configuration. | 03-13-2014 |
20140075033 | SERVICE ASSOCIATION MODEL - Enabling associations between cloud services in a computer network cloud infrastructure system is described. Cloud services can include infrastructure as a service (IAAS) storage and processing services, platform as a service (PAAS) database and Java services, and software as a service (SAAS) customer resource management services. Associations between the services can include automatically sharing security certificate-based keys and tokens or otherwise sharing data. Upon subscribing to a cloud system through an automated system, a user is prompted to select allowable associations between the selected services. The services are then provisioned and the user-selected associations are enabled. | 03-13-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140137324 | INFANT SLEEP POD - An infant sleep pod providing passive and/or active safety features. The infant sleep pod provides a safe sleeping environment for infants sharing sleep areas with adults. The infant sleep pod provides a firm, flat, separate, portable, and dedicated sleep space for an infant. The infant sleep pod includes a base with a bed and sidewall, and a bridge extending across the bed. The bridge covers a head portion of the bed, while a foot portion of the bed is left open for inserting and removing the infant. The bridge prevents pillows and blankets from covering the bed and infant. The infant sleep pod also includes electronics for monitoring the sleep pod. The electronics include a sensor unit in the bridge and a control unit in communication with the sensor unit. The control unit and sensor unit are operable to detect unsafe conditions and, in response, generate alerts. | 05-22-2014 |
20140173822 | INFANT SLEEP POD - An infant sleep pod providing passive and/or active safety features. The infant sleep pod provides a safe sleeping environment for infants sharing sleep areas with adults. The infant sleep pod provides a firm, flat, separate, portable, and dedicated sleep space for an infant. The infant sleep pod includes a base with a bed and sidewall, and a bridge extending across the bed. The bridge covers a head portion of the bed, while a foot portion of the bed is left open for inserting and removing the infant. The bridge prevents pillows and blankets from covering the bed and infant. The infant sleep pod also includes electronics for monitoring the sleep pod. The electronics include a sensor unit in the bridge and a control unit in communication with the sensor unit. The control unit and sensor unit are operable to detect unsafe conditions and, in response, generate alerts. | 06-26-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120147169 | APPARATUS AND METHOD TO MONITOR CUSTOMER DEMOGRAPHICS IN A VENUE OR SIMILAR FACILITY - A venue monitoring and reporting system includes a network, a central server in data communication with the network, a customer device in data communication with the network, a local server in data communication with the network, the local server located at a venue remote from the central server, at least one camera in data communication with the local server, the at least one camera positioned to view a customer as the customer enters the venue, and wherein the central server, the customer device and the local server cooperate with the network to use images captured by the at least one camera to produce at least one of a total number of customers at the venue or a demographic characteristic of the customers at the venue, wherein the total number of the customers or the demographic characteristic of the customers at the venue is made viewable on the customer device. | 06-14-2012 |
20120150586 | APPARATUS AND METHOD TO RECORD CUSTOMER DEMOGRAPHICS IN A VENUE OR SIMILAR FACILITY USING CAMERAS - A venue monitoring and reporting system including a venue, a first camera located with respect to the venue so as to capture a customer entering the venue, a second camera located with respect to the venue so as to identify at least one demographic characteristic of the customer entering the venue, and a computer operating with the first and second cameras, wherein the computer and the first camera update a count of customers entering the venue, and wherein the computer and the second camera update the at least one demographic characteristic of customers entering the venue. | 06-14-2012 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110132810 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SORTING CARBON NANOTUBES - A process of sorting metallic single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) from semiconducting types by disposing the SWNTs in a dilute fluid, exposing the SWNTs to a dipole-inducing magnetic field which induces magnetic dipoles in the SWNTs so that a strength of a dipole depends on a conductivity of the SWNT containing the dipole, orienting the metallic SWNTs, and exposing the SWNTs to a magnetic field with a spatial gradient so that the oriented metallic SWNTs drift in the magnetic field gradient and thereby becomes spatially separated from the semiconducting SWNTs. An apparatus for the process of sorting SWNTs is disclosed. | 06-09-2011 |
20110132811 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SORTING CARBON NANOTUBES - A process of sorting metallic single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) from semiconducting types by disposing the SWNTs in a dilute fluid, exposing the SWNTs to a dipole-inducing magnetic field which induces magnetic dipoles in the SWNTs so that a strength of a dipole depends on a conductivity of the SWNT containing the dipole, orienting the metallic SWNTs, and exposing the SWNTs to a magnetic field with a spatial gradient so that the oriented metallic SWNTs drift in the magnetic field gradient and thereby becomes spatially separated from the semiconducting SWNTs. An apparatus for the process of sorting SWNTs is disclosed. | 06-09-2011 |
20130234313 | GROWN CARBON NANOTUBE DIE ATTACH STRUCTURES, ARTICLES, DEVICES, AND PROCESSES FOR MAKING THEM - An article of manufacture includes a semiconductor die ( | 09-12-2013 |
20140291211 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SORTING CARBON NANOTUBES - A process of sorting metallic single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) from semiconducting types by disposing the SWNTs in a dilute fluid, exposing the SWNTs to a dipole-inducing magnetic field which induces magnetic dipoles in the SWNTs so that a strength of a dipole depends on a conductivity of the SWNT containing the dipole, orienting the metallic SWNTs, and exposing the SWNTs to a magnetic field with a spatial gradient so that the oriented metallic SWNTs drift in the magnetic field gradient and thereby becomes spatially separated from the semiconducting SWNTs. An apparatus for the process of sorting SWNTs is disclosed. | 10-02-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140160730 | REFRIGERATOR APPLIANCE - A refrigerator appliance is provided. The refrigerator appliance includes a printed circuit board positioned within a door of the refrigerator appliance above a dispenser recess of the refrigerator appliance. An orthogonal light emitting device is mounted to the printed circuit board and is configured for directing light into the dispenser recess. | 06-12-2014 |
20140165613 | METHODS FOR OPERATING SENSORS OF REFRIGERATOR APPLIANCES - Methods for operating a sensor of a refrigerator appliance are provided. In the methods, at least one of a detection threshold of the sensor, a power output of a transducer of the sensor, or a gain of an amplifier of the sensor can be adjusted. Through such adjustments, accuracy and precision of measurements taken with the sensor can be improved. | 06-19-2014 |
20140166153 | METHODS FOR MONITORING SENSORS OF REFRIGERATOR APPLIANCES - Methods for monitoring a sensor of a refrigerator appliance are provided. The methods include activating an auto-fill feature of the refrigerator appliance and receiving a signal from a sensor of the refrigerator appliance. The method also includes displaying a message on a display of the refrigerator appliance if the sensor does not detect the container within the dispenser recess. The message can provide a user with feedback regarding the auto-fill feature and assist the user with properly operating the auto-fill feature. | 06-19-2014 |
20150033822 | DETECTION OF CONTAMINATION STATUS FOR REFRIGERATOR ULTRASONIC SENSOR ASSEMBLY - Systems and methods for detecting a contamination status of an ultrasonic sensor assembly included in a refrigeration appliance are provided. An exemplary refrigerator includes a sensor assembly. The sensor assembly includes a first ultrasonic sensor configured to transmit an ultrasonic signal and a second ultrasonic sensor configured to receive the ultrasonic signal. The refrigerator is configured to perform operations comprising detecting whether the sensor assembly is contaminated based on one or more characteristics of the received ultrasonic signal. An exemplary method includes monitoring a change in a characteristic of a plurality of crosstalk components of a plurality of ultrasonic signals of over a period of time to detect a contaminated state of an ultrasonic sensor. | 02-05-2015 |
20150101669 | REFRIGERATOR APPLIANCE AND A METHOD FOR MONITORING A WATER FILTER ASSEMBLY WITHIN THE SAME - A refrigerator appliance and a method for monitoring a water filter assembly within the same are provided. The method includes monitoring signal communication between an RFID tag of the water filter assembly and an RFID reader of the refrigerator appliance and terminating a flow of water to the water filter assembly if the signal communication between the RFID tag of the water filter assembly and the RFID reader of the refrigerator appliance is lost or disrupted. | 04-16-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090155811 | Lateral Flow Immunoassay With Encapsulated Detection Modality - A lateral flow immunoassay featuring encapsulated metal particles. The encapsulated particles may use SERS nanotags as the detection modality. The use of encapsulated particles as a detection modality, in particular encapsulated SERS tags increases the sensitivity of an LFI prepared for visual reading and introduces the ability to obtain substantially more sensitive qualitative results or quantitative results through the analysis of a SERS spectrum read from an LFI prepared in accordance with the present invention. The use of SERS as detection modality also enhances the ability of an LFI device to be used for a multiplexed test. Other aspects of the present invention include LFI devices specifically configured to test whole blood, a reader for the detection and interpretation of a multiplexed assay and the hardware and software components used to implement the reader. | 06-18-2009 |
20090298197 | SERS-BASED METHODS FOR DETECTION OF BIOAGENTS - An assay and method of assay for optical detection of bioagents, a target nucleic acid or a target protein using a surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) active biomolecule molecular beacon. The present invention also provides the assay and method in a multiplexed format. | 12-03-2009 |
20100233816 | Tags Dispersible in Organic Solvents - Methods and compositions of matter are disclosed for creating tags such as SERS nanotags which are dispersible in an organic solvent. The tags are inherently hydrophilic and may be made dispersible in an organic solvent by associating the tag with an amphiphilic polymer. Alternatively, a tag may be associated with a surfactant. In another embodiment a tag having an encapsulant of a silicon containing material may be made dispersible in an organic solvent by modifying the encapsulant surface with a hydrophobic silane. In addition, a tag having an encapsulant of a silicon containing material may be modified by the esterification of the encapsulant with an alcohol. | 09-16-2010 |
20110172523 | SURFACE ENHANCED SPECTROSCOPY-ACTIVE COMPOSITE NANOPARTICLES - Submicron-sized particles or labels that can be covalently or non-covalently affixed to entities of interest for the purpose of quantification, location, identification, tracking, and diagnosis, are described. | 07-14-2011 |
20110207231 | Melamine Assay Methods and Systems - A method of detecting melamine which includes providing a quantity of SERS-active particles and mixing the SERS-active particles with a solution containing melamine. The method further includes detecting a surface enhanced Raman spectrum of the melamine. The foregoing method may optionally include aggregating the SERS-active particles. Aggregation may occur before or after the SERS-active particles are mixed with a solution containing melamine. The method of detecting melamine may optionally include concentration of the SERS-active particles. The method may further include mixing a chaotropic agent having a higher affinity for a selected binding site than melamine into the solution containing melamine. The method may further include mixing a quantity of a SERS-active standard having a known SERS spectrum with the solution containing melamine and SERS-active particles. Assay apparatus and systems are also disclosed. | 08-25-2011 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110059017 | POLYMER COATED SERS NANOTAG - An encapsulated surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) tag. The tag includes a metal core and an encapsulant, typically a glass encapsulant. The encapsulant is further derivatized with a polymer. | 03-10-2011 |
20110124117 | SERS NANOTAG ASSAYS WITH ENHANCED ASSAY KINETICS - Methods and systems for the use of surface-enhanced Raman scattering nanotags (SERS nanotags) in various assay platforms which feature accelerated reaction kinetics. One embodiment includes a method detecting a substance of interest by associating a SERS nanotag with the substance of interest while accelerating the reaction kinetics of the association steps. This method also includes detecting a Raman spectrum of a reporter molecule associated with the SERS nanotag. The reaction kinetics of the assay may be accelerated by applying microwave radiation to the sample, heating the sample, agitating the sample, mixing the sample, vibrating the sample or other methods. | 05-26-2011 |
20120057165 | Particles and Methods for Long Wavelength SERS - Embodiments include a particle comprising a surface enhanced spectroscopy (SES)-active core and a SES-active reporter molecule associated with the SES-active core wherein said particle has a measurable SES spectrum when excited by incident light having a wavelength of at least 1400 nm. Alternative embodiments include methods of manufacturing said particle and methods of tagging a material with said particle. The particle may include an SES-active core which supports plasmon resonance at a wavelength of at least 1400 nm. The particle may comprise an anisotropic core. The particle may include an SES-active reporter molecule which is resonant at one or more wavelengths greater than or equal to 1400 nm. | 03-08-2012 |
20130009119 | WAVELENGTH SELECTIVE SERS NANOTAGS - Wavelength selective particles such as SERS nanotags modified for wavelength selectivity. As used herein, a wavelength selective particle is one which cannot be effectively excited or interrogated at one or more wavelengths where a reporter molecule associated with the particle would normally produce a spectrum. Also disclosed are methods of manufacturing wavelength selective particles and methods of tagging materials or objects with wavelength selective particles. | 01-10-2013 |
20130011851 | Lateral Flow Immunoassay With Encapsulated Detection Modality - A lateral flow immunoassay featuring encapsulated metal particles. The encapsulated particles may use SERS nanotags as the detection modality. The use of encapsulated particles as a detection modality, in particular encapsulated SERS tags increases the sensitivity of an LFI prepared for visual reading and introduces the ability to obtain substantially more sensitive qualitative results or quantitative results through the analysis of a SERS spectrum read from an LFI prepared in accordance with the present invention. The use of SERS as detection modality also enhances the ability of an LFI device to be used for a multiplexed test. Other aspects of the present invention include LFI devices specifically configured to test whole blood, a reader for the detection and interpretation of a multiplexed assay and the hardware and software components used to implement the reader. | 01-10-2013 |
20130028839 | POLYMER COATED SERS NANOTAG - An encapsulated surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) tag. The tag includes a metal core and an encapsulant, typically a glass encapsulant. The encapsulant is further derivatized with a polymer. | 01-31-2013 |
20130155402 | INLINE SPECTROSCOPIC READER AND METHODS - An inline spectroscopic reader having a light source, one or more optics heads, a spectrometer and a data processing system in digital communication with the spectrometer detector. The optics heads include transmission optics providing for the illumination of a target with light from the light source and detection optics providing for the collection of light from the target. Typically, the target is moving with respect to the optics head during spectroscopic interrogation. The spectroscopic reader is thus an inline reader well suited to provide spectrum based production or analytical decision making in real time as the target moves along a production or analysis line. Also disclosed are methods including the steps of illuminating a target with light from a light source; collecting light from the target; obtaining a digitized spectrum with a spectrometer; extracting information content from the digitized spectrum; and basing a contemporaneous process decision upon the information content. | 06-20-2013 |
20150160136 | Wavelength Selective SERS Nanotags - Materials and objects tagged with wavelength selective particles such as SERS nanotags modified for wavelength selectivity. As used herein, a wavelength selective particle is one which cannot be effectively excited or interrogated at one or more wavelengths where a reporter molecule associated with the particle would normally produce a spectrum. Also disclosed are methods of manufacturing wavelength selective particles and methods of tagging materials or objects with wavelength selective particles. | 06-11-2015 |