Patents Examined by Anne V. Lai
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Patent number: 7564375Abstract: Data collected in connection with operation of a vehicle can be used to automatically determine upon which one of a plurality of predefined routes a vehicle has been operating. In one exemplary embodiment, an operator inputs identification data into a data set that also includes other types of data. The route identification data uniquely identifies the specific one of the plurality of predefined routes, enabling the route the vehicle was operating on during that time period corresponding to the data set to be determined. In a second exemplary embodiment, rather than requiring the operator to provide the route identification data, geographical position data collected during operation of a vehicle are compared with geographical position data corresponding to each one of the plurality of predefined routes until a match is found, thereby identifying the route the vehicle was operating on during collection of the geographical position data.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2006Date of Patent: July 21, 2009Assignee: Zonar Systems, Inc.Inventors: Brett Brinton, Charles Michael McQuade
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Patent number: 7561019Abstract: A security system capable of safely performing home device state check or operation. In the security system, a mobile telephone module of a mobile telephone transmits M-series data (call signal) to home device modules provided in home devices such as a door lock and home electric appliances. In response to this call, the home device module returns a home device ID to the mobile telephone module. The mobile telephone module authenticates the home device module according to the home device ID and after authentication, returns a mobile telephone ID and state check or operation command to the home device module. The home device module authenticates the mobile telephone module according to the mobile telephone ID. When this mutual authentication is complete, the home device module performs the home device state check or operation according to the command and returns the result to the mobile telephone module.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2005Date of Patent: July 14, 2009Assignee: Super Wave CorporationInventors: Toyoki Sasakura, Kenichi Miyamoto
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Patent number: 7561057Abstract: A system for detecting water leaks is described. In one embodiment, the system includes a plurality of sensors, selected from a moisture sensor, a water level sensor, and/or a water temperature sensor. A processor collects moisture readings from the sensors. In one embodiment, the processor reports a possible water leak when a moisture sensor detects moisture above a moisture threshold value. In one embodiment, the processor reports a water leak when the water level reading exceeds a water threshold value and/or when the temperature reading exceeds a temperature threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2005Date of Patent: July 14, 2009Inventor: Lawrence Kates
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Patent number: 7561067Abstract: A measurement system for an aircraft having the three-axis components of the airspeed of the aircraft, the three-axis components of the wind speed currently encountered by the aircraft, and the wind speed distribution ahead of the aircraft simultaneously in real time. It comprises a Doppler anemometer measuring the airflow speeds at a plurality of points separated by a prescribed distance in the beam irradiation direction that changes in a time series, and an inertial data measurement device measuring the movement information and positional information of the aircraft. Moreover, the display system of the aircraft includes the horizontal two-axis airspeed of the aircraft, the three-axis components of the wind speed currently encountered by the aircraft, and information on the wind speed distribution ahead of the aircraft are displayed simultaneously in real time.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2006Date of Patent: July 14, 2009Assignees: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Naoki Matayoshi, Kimio Asaka, Yoshinori Okuno, Masahiro Hagio, Yoshihito Hirano, Shumpei Kameyama, Toshiyuki Ando, Hidetaka Kiyosue, Masashi Furuta, Tomoya Matsuda
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Patent number: 7557718Abstract: A lack of patient movement monitor and method. The monitor and method patient support includes a plurality of sensors located beneath a patient support to determine movement of a patient. An alarm is activated when patient movement over time is determined to be lacking.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2005Date of Patent: July 7, 2009Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.Inventors: Robert Petrosenko, David Lokhorst, Mayur Yermaneni, Michael Z. Sleva, William L. Jacques, II, Karen Janoff, John A. Bobey, Jonathan H. Mueller, Richard B. Stacy, Andrew F. Skinner
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Patent number: 7551076Abstract: An object locator feature is incorporated into a security system that includes a user interface device with a display, keypad and associated transmitter. Wireless RF electronic tags with sounders are attached to different objects, e.g., an inanimate object, or a living being such as a child or pet. Each tag has an identifier such as a serial number that is learned to the user interface device by the user typing in the identifier of each tag. The user also types in descriptive information regarding the object with which the tag is associated, The user can edit the entries by adding or deleting objects, or changing the descriptive information. In a search mode, the user can select an object by its name or an assigned sequence number. In a polling mode, the electronic tags are periodically polled to confirm the presence of the associated object to the user.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2003Date of Patent: June 23, 2009Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventor: Dan Tyroler
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Patent number: 7545261Abstract: The present invention discloses a vehicular collision alert system (100) which receives signals (104) from devices (102) commonly associated with vehicular use. The direction (308) of the received signals is determined, and a heading of the signal source is also determined (610) and compared with the present location and heading of the vehicle (612). If the comparison indicates a sufficient chance of a collision, and alert is generated (616) to notify the driver of the vehicle of the potential collision.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2008Date of Patent: June 9, 2009Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Nathan J Harrington
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Patent number: 7538659Abstract: A bed monitoring system that remotely monitors a patient bed. The bed monitoring system comprises a bed status system and a master station. The bed status system is coupled to the patient bed and is configured to monitor at least one condition of the bed, and to generate a bed message indicating the status of the monitored condition. The master station, remote from the patient bed, is operatively coupled to the bed status system to receive bed status information. The bed message can include a bed identifier, bed type identifier, patient exit detection signal, bed occupied signal, or various other status signals. The system can also include locating stations that receive the bed messages from any beds within its monitored location, and generates a station message including information from the bed messages. The master station receives the station messages and can determine the status and location of any bed.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2007Date of Patent: May 26, 2009Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.Inventors: Daniel J. Ulrich, Matthew W. Weismiller, Thomas E. Scott, Robert J. Jennings, Julie E. Myers, Joseph H. Novak
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Patent number: 7528737Abstract: A process transmitter includes a temperature responsive indicator to indicate an operating condition of the process transmitter. The operating condition may represent a level of a sensed process variable or an operating temperature of the process transmitter.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2006Date of Patent: May 5, 2009Assignee: Rosemount Inc.Inventor: Robert Hedtke
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Patent number: 7522065Abstract: A portable electronic device that automatically detects its mode of use and alters a characteristic of its user interface to match the mode of use. A mobile telephone is described as an example of a portable electronic device. The telephone is equipped with a proximity sensor that may indicate whether the telephone is held close or far from the user's face. Based on the proximity to the user's face, gains in the audio interface are adjusted. The gain is reduced when the device is held close to a user's face and increased when the device is moved away from the user's face. This approach is well suited for use in connection with portable devices that use voice command interfaces.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2004Date of Patent: April 21, 2009Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventor: Stephen R. Falcon
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Patent number: 7492164Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a product sensor (2), and a product sensor (2). In the manufacturing method, a circuitry pattern is formed in the product sensor (2) for achieving an antenna circuit (L, C1, C2). In addition, the product sensor (2) is provided with at least one measuring means (13), whose at least one electrical property is affected by at least one condition. Product control is performed by measuring the at least one measuring means (13) formed in the product sensor (2), which means is affected by at least one condition, at least one electrical condition. In order to form a product sensor, at least a first (3) and a second module (5) are formed, the first of the modules (3) being provided with at least a part of said antenna circuit, and the second module (5) being provided with said at least one measuring means (13). Said at least two modules (3, 5) are connected to each other.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2005Date of Patent: February 17, 2009Assignee: UPM-Kymmene CorporationInventors: Marko Hanhikorpi, Samuli Strömberg
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Patent number: 7482936Abstract: An electronic sensor is configured to be carried by a person and to be used by the person to detect a cleanliness state of the person's hands. A single unit includes the electronic sensor and (a) a device to provide an indication of the cleanliness state of the person's hands and/or (b) a device to identify the person. A circuit that is configured to control how long after a cleanliness state of a person's hands has been determined to be clean, the state is presumed no longer to be clean. A badge that includes indicia identifying a person who carries the badge, a sensor to be used to detect a cleanliness state of the person's hands, and a visible indicator to indicate to other people the cleanliness state of the person's hands can be used in combination.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2007Date of Patent: January 27, 2009Assignee: BioVigil, LLCInventor: Steven F Bolling
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Patent number: 7474196Abstract: An apparatus, system, method and computer program product for implementing an automatic identification system to improve the functionality of a personal communication device. A data carrier that contains one or more data items transmits a data signal wirelessly to a personal communication device equipped with an RFID reader. The personal communication device decodes the data signal and at least a portion of the data is used by the personal communication device to establish a communication connection with another device or network. The data subsequently transmitted by the personal communication device is accomplished using GSM, GPRS, WAP, EDGE, UMTS or other similar wireless network protocol. The communication connection is used to provide a request for a service such as a phone call, an Internet connection, a third party service, or to request for the storage of data in a network.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2005Date of Patent: January 6, 2009Assignee: Nokia CorporationInventors: Petri Vesikivi, Peter Anthony Wakim, Sami Ranta
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Patent number: 7466241Abstract: The present invention provides a method for determining a refresh rate of a dynamic billboard. A method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: obtaining traffic flow information; and determining the refresh rate of the dynamic billboard based on the traffic flow information.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2006Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Ruthie D. Lyle, Xiaohu S. Yao
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Patent number: 7450014Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, an apparatus is provided for generating an alert signal when a fastener for closing and opening a clothing item is open. The apparatus comprises a first unit for detecting that the fastener is open; a second unit for detecting that the clothing item is worn; and an alert mechanism for generating an alert signal when the first unit detects that the fastener is open and the second unit detects that the clothing item is worn.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2006Date of Patent: November 11, 2008Inventor: Houshang Farhadian
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Patent number: 7443291Abstract: A portable terminal comprising a transmission part that transmits to information provision equipment or a server, a signal indicating presence at a prescribed location, presence of a communications counterparty at a prescribed location, a reception part that receives from the information provision equipment or the server, a signal indicating the position of a moving body, a moving body is approaching or is present at the prescribed location, an alarm part that issues an alarm using the moving body in position signal received at the reception part, indicating the moving body is approaching or is present at the prescribed location, a light detection part detecting the degree of brightness, a part deciding whether or not to transmit a present in prescribed location signal that decides, using the brightness as detected by the light detection part, whether or not to send a present in prescribed location signal from the transmission part.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2006Date of Patent: October 28, 2008Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventor: Koichi Terui
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Patent number: 7439859Abstract: A drinkware is provided to provide information to a receiver. The drinkware is a RF device coupled to a handheld drinking container. The RF device can receive and send RF signals and communicate with a sensory device. A transmitter can send a signal to the communication device, which then activates sensory device. The RF device can communicate with the transmitter to control a fountain machine.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2004Date of Patent: October 21, 2008Assignee: Whirley Industries, Inc.Inventor: Richard L. Humphrey
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Patent number: 7439865Abstract: A mount sheet having a plurality of radio tags attached at an interval to it is run over a radio communicating section. The radio communicating section has a metal member providing a conveying surface with a slit formed therein. A dielectric member is arranged on a lower surface of the metal member with a projecting section inserted into the slit and, by doing so, the top surface of the projecting section is set flush with the top surface of the metal member. An antenna of the radio communicating section is located beneath the projecting section of the dielectric member and this antenna is held within the metal case. When any radio tag being an object of a radio communication is located over the slit, the radio communicating section positively makes radio communication with the radio tag through the antenna.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2005Date of Patent: October 21, 2008Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Nobuo Murofushi, Kouichi Sano, Yasuo Matsumoto, Yasuhito Kiji
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Patent number: 7420464Abstract: Methods and systems for tracking movements of participants in a market research study, for example, outside retail establishments, are provided. The methods and systems employ portable monitors carried on the persons of the participants to gather location data.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2005Date of Patent: September 2, 2008Inventors: Joan Fitzgerald, Jack C. Crystal, Alan R. Neuhauser, James M. Jensen, David Patrick Forr, Eugene L. Flanagan, III
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Patent number: 7411485Abstract: Method and apparatus (2) of a vehicle for alerting a driver of a vehicle when the vehicle deviates from a predefined driving area in a lane. The apparatus includes an image display unit (6) and a control unit (5) connected to each other to enable the apparatus to provide a visual warning via the image display unit when the vehicle is outside the predefined driving area and where the visual warning is displayed in the form of a solid or broken line on the side of the image display unit (6) that corresponds to the side of the vehicle where the deviation occurs.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2005Date of Patent: August 12, 2008Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar ABInventor: Johan Jarlengrip