Measuring and testing inventions 05/08

20080115561 - Coriolis flowmeter with zero checking feature: Descriptions are provided for implementing flowmeter zero checking techniques. In operating a flowmeter, it may be the case that, even if previously calibrated, the flowmeter will produce erroneous measurements, e.g., will indicate a non-zero flow during a period of zero flow. Therefore, zero checking features are provided that allow for... Agent: Fish & Richardson P.c.

20080115569 - System and method of testing humidity in a sealed mems device: One embodiment provides a method of testing humidity, comprising: i) determining a property of a device which encloses a plurality of interferometric modulators and ii) determining a relative humidity value or a degree of the relative humidity inside the device based at least in part upon the determined property, wherein... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20080115579 - X-y axis dual-mass tuning fork gyroscope with vertically integrated electronics and wafer-scale hermetic packaging: An angular velocity sensor has two masses which are laterally disposed in an X-Y plane and indirectly connected to a frame. The two masses are linked together by a linkage such that they necessarily move in opposite directions along Z. Angular velocity of the sensor about the Y axis can... Agent: Sawyer Law Group LLP

20080115596 - System and method of testing humidity in a sealed mems device: One embodiment provides a method of testing humidity. The method includes measuring i) a first weight of a first device which encloses a plurality of interferometric modulators and ii) a second weight of a second device which encloses a plurality of interferometric modulators, wherein the first and second devices contain... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20080110241 - Photo-induced sensitivity and selectivity of semiconductor gas sensors: A selective gas sensor comprises a semiconducting substrate, a radiation source that directs narrowband radiation to the semiconducting substrate; and a plurality of electrodes coupled to the semiconducting substrate, whereby a gas is selectively sensed. A method of selectively sensing a gas comprises the steps of contacting the semiconducting substrate... Agent: Hamilton, Brook, Smith & Reynolds, P.c.

20080110242 - Apparatus and method for determining physical parameters in an object using acousto-electric interaction: The present invention relates to an apparatus for determining a dielectric function in an object. The apparatus comprises one transmit antenna (42) for transmitting microwave radiation through said object, and one receive antenna (43) for receiving the transmitted microwave radiation, one ultrasound transmitter for emitting ultrasound radiation through said object... Agent: Christensen, O'connor, Johnson, Kindness, Pllc

20080110270 - Capacitance sensing circuit for a pressure sensor: The invention provides for a capacitance sensing circuit for a pressure sensor. The pressure sensor includes a sensor membrane and a compensation membrane. The circuit includes a controller arranged in signal communication with a charge amplifier, a charge injector and two switches. The charge amplifier is connected to the switches... Agent: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd

20080105025 - Clutch actuation control system with adjustable position encoder assembly: An adjustable position sensor is provided suitable for use with a clutch actuation control system. The position sensor includes: a rotatable shaft adapted to engage a control gear of the clutch actuation control system; and an encoder having a position indicator adjustably coupled to the shaft and operable to detect... Agent: Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C

20080105027 - Apparatus for reducing the friction between two bodies: The apparatus is suited to reduce the friction between two bodies (1, 2) moving relative to each other. The two bodies (1, 2) which move relative to each other, can contact each other constantly or occasionally or have a small distance from one another of, for example, up to one... Agent: Townsend And Townsend And Crew, LLP

20080105032 - High accuracy contamination estimation in hydrocarbon samples using gc x gc: A method of estimating contamination of oil based mud filtrate in a hydrocarbon sample. The method comprising the steps of obtaining a hydrocarbon sample contaminated with oil based mud filtrate, then analyzing the contaminated hydrocarbon sample using two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC). The method further comprises identifying one or more unique... Agent: Schlumberger-doll Research Attn: Intellectual Property Law Department

20080105033 - Methods and devices for circulating air: A gas chromatography system comprising a sample introduction device, an oven coupled to the sample introduction device and a detector coupled to the oven is disclosed. In certain examples, the oven may be configured to receive a chromatography column in a space in the oven. In some examples, the oven... Agent: Lowrie, Lando & Anastasi, LLP P2021

20080105039 - System and methods for predicting failures in a fluid delivery system: A system for detecting defects in a fluid delivery line is provided, the system comprising a plurality of sensors disposed in a fluid delivery line, wherein each one of the plurality of sensors comprises a mote coupled to a plurality of sensing devices disposed in a film system, wherein a... Agent: Akerman Senterfitt

20080105041 - Method an device for determination of moisture content and solid state phase of solids using moisture sorption gravimetry and near infrared or raman spectroscopy: A method and apparatus for measuring isotherms and determining solid state phase changes comprising a humidity generator having a temperature controlled internal chamber, a microbalance mounted externally to the internal chamber and a near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) probe or Raman spectrometer probe mounted internally in the internal chamber, such that... Agent: Leydig Voit & Mayer, Ltd

20080105043 - Sample operation apparatus: There is provided a sample operation apparatus in which, by a static electricity force acting between a probe and a sample, an accurate position is gripped without the sample being moved, and the sample can be operated by the probe for an observation, a grip, a release, or the like.... Agent: Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione

20080105044 - Sample operation apparatus: There is provided a sample operation apparatus in which, by a static electricity force acting between a probe and a sample, an accurate position is gripped without the sample being moved, and the sample can be operated by the probe for an observation, a grip, a release, or the like.... Agent: Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione

20080105049 - Vibrating device with piezo-electrical excitation: The invention relates to a vibrating device that is piezo-electrically excited, particularly a fill-level or limit-state measuring device. Its point of departure is a vibrating device that is piezo-electrically excited and that exhibits a membrane (3) which is set into vibration, a piezo-electrical drive device (7) for setting the membrane... Agent: The Nath Law Group

20080105052 - Angular velocity sensor and electronic device: An angular velocity sensor includes a base portion, three arm portions that extend as one piece from the base portion to an approximately same direction, a piezoelectric film formed on one surface of each of the arm portions, drive electrodes for excitation formed on the piezoelectric films of at least... Agent: Bell, Boyd & Lloyd, LLP

20080105051 - Vibration sensor and method for manufacturing the same: A vibration sensor includes a tuning-fork vibrator having a base and arms extending from the base, a mounting portion for mounting the tuning-fork vibrator, and a supporting member that mounts the tuning-fork vibrator on the mounting portion and has a narrow portion.... Agent: Arent Fox LLP

20080105053 - Acceleration sensor: An acceleration sensor in accordance with an aspect of the present invention comprises a first substrate, a multilayer second substrate and a sensor portion. The multilayer second substrate is opposed to the first substrate. The multilayer second substrate is provided with an electrode drawing opening. Further, the multilayer second substrate... Agent: Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney PC

20080105054 - Driver device, physical quantity measuring device, and electronic instrument: A driver device includes a gain control amplifier that causes a vibrator to produce driving vibrations by controlling an oscillation amplitude in an oscillation loop, a signal generation circuit that generates a signal having a given frequency, and a modulation circuit that modulates the frequency of the signal generated by... Agent: Oliff & Berridge, PLC

20080105060 - Variable torque-limiting driver: An adjustable, torque-limiting driver for a tool having a radially extending handle that houses a cam member and a pair of plungers. The plungers are biased against the housing and provide variable resistance for the cam member. The arrangement of the cam member and the plungers reduces the wear on... Agent: Patrick J. Fleis Ryan Kromholz & Manion, S.c.

20080105063 - Apparatus for sample preparation: The invention, in various embodiments, provides systems, methods and devices relating to processing a sample.... Agent: Ropes & Gray LLP

20080105065 - Movement distance measuring apparatus and method: An apparatus and method for determining a location of a movement distance measuring apparatus are provided. The apparatus and method determine whether the movement distance measuring apparatus is mounted at the waist of a pedestrian or is located in a pocket and uses a different step length estimation algorithm, e.g.... Agent: JeffersonIPLaw, LLP

20080098795 - System and method for calibrating a determination of partial pressure of one or more gaseous analytes: One aspect of the invention relates to a system adapted to calibrate a determination of information related to one or more gaseous analytes in a body of gas being delivered to an objective by a gas source. In one embodiment the system comprises a partial pressure sensor, a total pressure... Agent: Michael W. Haas Respironics, Inc.

20080098796 - Load bearing device including overload indicator: Load-bearing devices, each including an overload indicator of the present invention interconnecting load bearing connectors, preferably elongated load bearing connectors are provided. In preferred embodiments, the load bearing connectors are chains, ropes, wire ropes, cables, straps and the like, preferably chain. The overload indicator includes a link having a strand... Agent: Moore & Hansen, Pllp

20080098797 - Impact-sensing and measurement systems, methods for using same and related business methods: Impact-sensing and measurement systems are disclosed, especially for use in contact sports and related activities that involve exchanges of impacts or blows. The system generally includes at least one impact sensor, a controller, and a feedback device. The controller is in communication with the at least one impact sensor, and... Agent: Holland & Hart, LLP

20080098798 - Method for making and using an air bubble detector: A universal air bubble detector allows for use with a variety of sizes and types of tubing. The detector maintains proper alignment of a sensor emitter and receiver with different sizes of tubing. The detector may be mounted on existing equipment or may be used to monitor a tubing at... Agent: Randall B. Bateman BatemanIPLaw Group

20080098800 - System and method for testing fuel tank integrity: The invention relates generally to a system and method for testing fuel evaporative systems, and more particularly to a stand-alone tank tester system (and method) for testing vehicle fuel tank integrity. Furthermore, a self-contained calibration tank with switchable leak sizes for calibrating the tank tester to multiple leak sizes is... Agent: Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP

20080098801 - Method and apparatus for continuously monitoring interstitial regions in gasoline storage facilities and pipelines: An underground storage system includes a primary containment unit and a secondary containment unit arranged to sealingly encompass the primary containment unit. The underground storage system further includes a leak detection system which is fluidly connected to the secondary containment system, and which is adapted to detect fluid leaks in... Agent: Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP

20080098802 - System and method for analyte measurement: A method of measuring an analyte in a biological fluid comprises applying an excitation signal having a DC component and an AC component. The AC and DC responses are measured; a corrected DC response is determined using the AC response; and a concentration of the analyte is determined based upon... Agent: Woodard, Emhardt, Moriarty, Mcnett & Henry LLP

20080098808 - Liquid flow meter: An apparatus and method for measurement of liquid flow through use of a volumetric mass balance.... Agent: Smith, Gambrell & Russell

20080098812 - Stillwell apparatus: This invention involves a new housing for a liquid level detection device. More particularly, the new stillwell apparatus comprises, at least one tubular section, a means for extending the length of the stillwell, a conduit for delivering a cleansing solution to the bottom of the tubular sections, a gas inlet... Agent: Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S C

20080098817 - Determination of sensor distance: i

20080098825 - Well flow meter: A flow meter that is easily and inexpensively installed in the casing of a well. The flow meter is able to improve the monitoring of private well water usage. The flow meter is typically disposed above an in-the-well pump and below an adapter that directs water outside of the well... Agent: Brett J. Davis