Famous Patents
The ice cream cone was invented at the St. Louis Worlds Fair by Ernest Hamwi in 1904. His waffle booth was next to an ice cream vendor who ran short of dishes. Hamwi rolled a waffle to hold ice cream and the cone was born.
PatentStorm News
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8186224 | Sensor and method for its manufacture The invention relates to a sensor with a transducer unit, which is located at a measurement end in a housing sleeve, with connection means at a connection end of the housing sleeve opposite to the measurement end, with a module carrier received in the housing sleeve... | 05/29/2012 |
| 8127613 | Ultrasonic transducer An ultrasonic transducer for installation in an instrument housing, the ultrasonic transducer having a transducer housing and a housing fixture, the transducer housing being put under pressure by a medium in its installed state on its emitting and/or receiving side.... | 03/06/2012 |
| 8117919 | Micro-electro-mechanical system device The present invention discloses a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) device, comprising: a substrate with at least one opening; and a membrane supported on the substrate, the membrane including at least two thin segments and a thick segment connected together, w... | 02/21/2012 |
| 7987722 | Ultrasonic air and fluid detector An ultrasonic sensor for detecting the presence of air or liquid uses flex circuits for connecting the ceramic element to the driver circuitry. The sensor provides improved transmission of ultrasonic signals between the ceramic element and the adjacent material, pro... | 08/02/2011 |
| 7963167 | Ultrasonic probe An ultrasonic probe is configured such that: a piezoelectric element group is housed within a sealed container so as to be rotated and oscillated left and right about a center line that equally divides a plate surface of the piezoelectric element group; and the seal... | 06/21/2011 |
| 7938008 | Non-destructive examination apparatus and method for guided waves A method of performing a non-destructive examination of a piece of material, having the steps of providing an angle beam wedge and at least two transducers placed upon the wedge, wherein the transducers are placed in a phased array, placing the wedge upon the piece ... | 05/10/2011 |
| 7775113 | Sound sources separation and monitoring using directional coherent electromagnetic waves An apparatus and a method that achieve physical separation of sound sources by pointing directly a beam of coherent electromagnetic waves (i.e. laser). Analyzing the physical properties of a beam reflected from the vibrations generating sound source enable the recon... | 08/17/2010 |
| 7770456 | Electromagnetic piezoelectric acoustic sensor An acoustic sensor comprises at least one resonant element. A driver comprises an electrical coupling means and an electromagnetic field source arranged such that the electrical coupling means transfers currents to the electromagnetic field source. The electromagnet... | 08/10/2010 |
| 7757560 | Methods and apparatus for observing vessel contents A method for observing a change in one or more parameters of a flowable material in a vessel is disclosed, the method comprising transmitting an ultrasound signal into a vessel containing a flowable material; observing a change in the ultrasound signal after it has ... | 07/20/2010 |
| 7743659 | Structural health monitoring (SHM) transducer assembly and system A transducer assembly may include a first layer of dielectric material and a pair of electrically conductive traces adjacent to the first dielectric layer. Each of the electrically conductive traces may include a first contact pad and a second contact pad. The first... | 06/29/2010 |
| 7712369 | Array-based system and method for inspecting a workpiece with backscattered ultrasonic signals A method and an array-based system for inspecting a structure are provided that can identify unacceptable levels of porosity, microcracking or defects attributable to thermal damage. The inspection system includes a two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers, a... | 05/11/2010 |
| 7677104 | Acoustic transducer system for nondestructive testing of cement An acoustic transducer system for use in the measurement of longitudinal sound velocity in a cement sample that is maintained at high temperature and pressure. The acoustic assembly is separate from the end plugs to optimize acoustic coupling between the individual ... | 03/16/2010 |
| 7669478 | Ultrasonic driving device with multi-frequency scanning An ultrasonic driving device with multi-frequency scanning that includes a signal generating module, an output module, and an ultrasonic transducer module. The signal generating module provides a first drive signal, the frequency of which varies within a specified r... | 03/02/2010 |
| 7644618 | Apparatus and method for nondestructive inspection of parts A method of inspecting a radius area of composite parts with an ultrasonic inspection system, the system includes at least one ultrasonic probe, an upper sliding surface, a lower sliding surface, an adjustable guide rail, and an adjustable encoder wheel rotatably co... | 01/12/2010 |
| 7607352 | Ultrasonic sensor transmitting and receiving ultrasonic frequencies adjusted according to temperature Components of an ultrasonic sensor are contained in a cylindrical casing having an end wall closing one end of the casing. A vibrator such as a piezoelectric element is disposed in the casing in contact with the end wall. An integrated circuit chip that includes a s... | 10/27/2009 |
| 7555955 | Ultrasonic sensor An ultrasonic sensor for detecting an object includes a sending element for sending an ultrasonic wave to the object, a receiving portion for receiving the wave reflected by the object, a first transmitting portion for transmitting a vibration of the wave received b... | 07/07/2009 |
| 7536912 | Flexible diagnostic patches for structural health monitoring Devices for monitoring structural health conditions of structures. A device includes a bottom substrate layer and an electrical connection layer disposed on the bottom substrate layer. The electrical connection layer includes a middle layer and a pair of generally c... | 05/26/2009 |
| 7497121 | Ultrasonic sensor An ultrasonic sensor includes a sending element for sending an ultrasonic wave to an object to be detected, a receiving portion for receiving the ultrasonic wave reflected by the object, an oscillating portion that oscillates by the ultrasonic wave transmitted there... | 03/03/2009 |
| 7398687 | Ultrasonic sensor A cover member of an ultrasonic sensor has a first engagement portion and a second engagement portion, which are respectively engaged with a third engagement portion and a fourth engagement portion of a sensor body. The engagement portions are arranged in such a man... | 07/15/2008 |
| 7392705 | Ultrasonic sensor An ultrasonic sensor includes an ultrasonic transducer and a case. The ultrasonic transducer has a housing in a cylindrical shape with a bottom attached thereto, a piezoelectric device disposed in the housing, a connection pin electrically coupled with the piezoelec... | 07/01/2008 |
| 7376519 | Method for reducing the computation resources required for determining damage in structural health management system A method for determining damage in a structural health monitoring system comprising a plurality of sensors distributed across a structure is disclosed. The method includes decomposing the plurality of sensors into a plurality of sub-arrays. Each sub-array is associa... | 05/20/2008 |
| 7362229 | Ensuring the performance of mandated inspections combined with the collection of ancillary data During an inspection discrete checkpoints provide data to a portable reader, enabling a record to be generated identifying each checkpoint visited during an inspection. At least one checkpoint associated with the inspection will convey ancillary data to the portable... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7357028 | Nondestructive testing apparatus A nondestructive testing apparatus inspects an internal part of a large-diameter pile using both a single transmission/reception probe for transmitting/receiving an ultrasound signal of more than 50 kHz and a plurality of reception probes, digitally processes the re... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7358644 | Method for controlling an actuator and control device belonging thereto A method for the electric control of an actuator, especially a piezoelectric actuator of an injection system comprises the following steps: charging the actuator; waiting during a specific period of time (D1, D2) and discharging the actuator after the ... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7357431 | Structure for mounting ultrasonic sensor on mounting member An ultrasonic sensor for emitting ultrasonic waves and for receiving the waves reflected from objects is mounted on a mounting member such as a bumper of an automotive vehicle. A through-hole for inserting a front portion of the ultrasonic sensor is formed in the bu... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7343803 | Modular ultrasonic sensor The present disclosure relates to an ultrasonic sensor used, for example, in the form of an ultrasonic vehicle parking aid provided with a sensor having an ultrasonic membrane and optionally a board provided with mounted required electronics and a coupling for an el... | 03/18/2008 |
| 7337672 | Method for inspecting grinding wheels This invention discloses a method of evaluating the internal structure of a grinding wheel through ultrasonic inspection. ... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7334479 | Systems and methods for non-contact measuring sputtering target thickness ultrasonics A method and apparatus for ultrasonically measuring the thickness of sputter targets of varying shapes. An immersion bubble (32) and transducer (36) provide pulses to a front surface (24) and a front surface/bonded surface (26) interface ... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7328620 | Methods and system for ultrasound inspection An ultrasound inspection system is provided. The ultrasound inspection system includes a pulse echo transducer and a processor that is operationally coupled to the transducer. The system facilitates reducing noise in an echo received from a near surface inspection a... | 02/12/2008 |
| 7325456 | Interrogation network patches for active monitoring of structural health conditions Apparatus for monitoring structural health conditions of structures. The apparatus includes a piezoelectric device that has a bottom cover plate, piezoelectric rings concentrically disposed with respect to an axis and positioned on the bottom cover plate, and concen... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7315362 | System and method for inspecting a mower A system and method for inspecting mowers that utilizes a video camera to allow a single technician to look directly at a selected reference point on a crankshaft of the operating mower to thereby determine if the crankshaft is bent. ... | 01/01/2008 |
| 7313960 | Ultrasonic sensor assembly An ultrasonic sensor assembly includes an ultrasonic sensor apparatus, a holding member and a spring arrangement. The spring arrangement includes two spring portions, which are connected together by a connecting portion. The spring portions are partially secured to ... | 01/01/2008 |
| 7312556 | Ultrasonic probe and manufacturing process thereof The invention relates to an ultrasonic probe in which the array accuracy of lead wires, and heat resistance when connecting to a connector are enhanced, and a manufacturing method therefor. The ultrasonic probe of the invention is one in which a plurality of piezoel... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7308828 | Ultrasonic probe An ultrasonic probe has a probe proper, a connector and a cable for electrically connecting between the probe proper and the connector. The probe proper includes a transducer that converts between ultrasonic wave and electricity, and a phase change member having a p... | 12/18/2007 |
| 7293605 | Feed-back control system for heat exchanger with natural shedding frequency The invention relates with the feed-back control system of a heat exchanger by use of the flow resonance phenomenon which maximizes the heat transfer efficiency by generating the flow disturbances of a heat transfer medium. If a heat transfer medium is periodically ... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7290450 | Process diagnostics A diagnostic device for use in a industrial process includes monitoring electronics or diagnostic circuitry configured to diagnose or identify a condition or other occurrence in the industrial process. The system can be implemented in a process device such as a flow... | 11/06/2007 |
| 7273459 | Vortex transducer A mechanically formed vortex transducer is described. The transducer has a plurality of piezoelectric elements suspended in an epoxy and heat molded into a desired shape. An irregularity in the transducer shape provides for a mechanically induced vortex focal field ... | 09/25/2007 |
| 7263196 | Mobile communications terminal with flat loudspeaker disposed in the terminal housing A mobile communications terminal is provided which is designed to transmit speech signals and to receive and reproduce speech signals, and which has a speech-reproduction device, wherein improved speech quality is achieved in that the speech-reproduction device has ... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7253631 | Method of determining the impedance of an electrochemical system The invention relates to a method of determining the complex impedance Z(fm) of a non-steady electrochemical system, comprising the following steps consisting in: bringing the system to a selected voltage condition and applying a sinusoidal signal with fr... | 08/07/2007 |
| 7248985 | Acoustic signature testing for electronic, electromechanical, and mechanical equipment A method for testing a unit is described where the unit includes one or more of electrical, electronic, mechanical, and electromechanical components. The described method includes applying at least one stimulus to the unit, receiving sound emissions from the unit, c... | 07/24/2007 |
