Patents Examined by Daniell L. Negrón
  • Patent number: 11145191
    Abstract: A flash light module (1) can include a housing (30) carrying at least a visible flash light emitter (10) to emit a flash light beam along an optical axis (OA) and at least one additional emitter (20) emitting non-visible light arranged at a second distance (D2) perpendicular to the optical axis (OA), where position and orientation of the additional emitter (20) and at least the second distances (D2) are suitably adapted as well as the housing (30) is suitably shaped in order to enable the additional emitter (20) to emit non-visible light (22) along a non-visible light emitting direction (IRD), wherein the additional emitter (20) is adapted to emit the non-visible light (22) to the environment suitable to remote communicate to, preferably to remote control, external electronic devices (5) comprising corresponding receivers for the non-visible light (22). A mobile device (100) can include the flash light module (1) and a method to operate the mobile device (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Lumileds LLC
    Inventors: Thierry De Smet, James Tarne, Arjen van der Sijde, Nicola Bettina Pfeffer, Olivier Meilhon
  • Patent number: 11136000
    Abstract: A system and method for providing access to a vehicle is provided. The system includes a plurality of capacitive sensors circumferentially spaced from one another in a circular arrangement defining a plurality of sensor nodes for receiving a touch input from a user in the form of a touch or a swipe. A controller unit is coupled to the plurality of capacitive sensors and a power source and is in communication with a plurality of vehicle systems and a latch mechanism. The controller unit detects a plurality of changes in capacitance of the plurality of capacitive sensors due to the touch input and determines whether the plurality of changes in capacitance matches a gesture sequence within a predetermined amount of time. The controller unit controls the latch mechanism in response to the communication with vehicle systems and changes in capacitance matching the gesture sequence within the predetermined amount of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventor: Francesco Cumbo
  • Patent number: 11113953
    Abstract: An exemplary method of controlling a vehicle from a remote location includes receiving a first signal from a vehicle-paired device and initiating a vehicle function in response to the first signal. The first signal is sent by the vehicle-paired device in response to a second signal sent from a secondary triggering device. An exemplary range extending system includes a vehicle-paired device configured to transmit a first signal to a vehicle, and a secondary triggering device that transmits a second signal to the vehicle-paired device to initiate a transmission of the first signal from the vehicle-paired device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Charles Everett Badger, II
  • Patent number: 11113944
    Abstract: A walking analysis method includes measuring impacts due to floor landing occurring during walking; identifying an impact section before floor landing, a free fall section, and an impact peak section by floor landing in an impact graph over time; analyzing at least one impact-related parameter for the impact section before floor landing, the free fall section, and the impact peak section by floor landing; and determining a walking-related accident type according to a result of analyzing the at least one impact-related parameter. Accordingly, by classifying and detecting a variety of accidents that may actually occur, the main walking characteristics that are dangerous in the actual accident can be extracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Min Gi Jeong, Jeong Kyun Kim, Myung Nam Bae, Kang Bok Lee, Sang Yeoun Lee
  • Patent number: 11100739
    Abstract: Two factor identification verification of controlled-environment facility residents and associated non-residents systems and methods capture, via a controlled-environment facility associated communications device, by a controlled-environment facility communications processing system, a first type of biometric sample of a user. The controlled-environment facility communications processing system submits the first type of biometric sample of the user to a centralized investigative data aggregation and analysis system, which verifies the user using the first type of biometric sample and determining. When the system(s) determine that a certainty of this resulting verification of the user does not meet a predetermined certainty threshold a second type of biometric sample of the user is captured and submitted for verification of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Securus Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Martin Mathew
  • Patent number: 11074774
    Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatuses are provided for managing a parking facility. A host processor may receive identification information relating to a vehicle entering, exiting and/or parked in the parking facility. The host processor may determine an account associated with the vehicle, based on the identification information and on account information associated with the account. The host processor may determine that the vehicle is authorized to park in the parking facility, based on the account information. And host processor transmits permission information to a user device to thereby allow the vehicle to enter, exit and/or remain parked in the parking facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Inventor: Marc Chelnik
  • Patent number: 11054909
    Abstract: The object is to provide a tactile sense provision apparatus that vibrates the finger or the like of the user through a touch panel to provide the user with a tactile sense when the touch panel is operated. A tactile sense provision apparatus comprises a transparent plate that covers a touch panel of equipment; an actuator that is fixed to the transparent plate; a reception unit that receives a signal transmitted based on operation through the touch panel; and a control unit that operates the actuator based on a signal received by the reception unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: MARUWA Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshio Tanabe
  • Patent number: 11055936
    Abstract: In selected examples, a vehicle control system (VCS) includes Bluetooth beacons and an app running on a mobile device, such as a smartphone or a key fob equipped with movement sensors and a Bluetooth® transceiver. Passive keyless entry capability of the system uses received signal strength indications (RSSIs) together with movement-related indications of the movement sensors to determine when the mobile device moves away from the vehicle beyond a predetermined departure distance, and/or approaches the vehicle to within a predetermined arrival distance. When the user approaches the vehicle, the mobile device automatically transmits an arrival notification to the VCS, which automatically performs arrival actions, e.g., unlocking doors and disarming security features of the VCS/vehicle. When the user moves away from the vehicle, the mobile device automatically transmits a departures notification to the VCS, which performs departure actions, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: VOXX INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Aravind Warrier, Sylvain Jalbert, Robert Andre Lacroix
  • Patent number: 11030888
    Abstract: A transmitter device for coupling to a vehicle and for conducting a transmission to a remote system includes a transmitter and a processing circuit coupled to the transmitter and having an input interface. The input interface is coupled to an existing user interface of the vehicle for receiving an input to cause the transmitter to conduct its transmission to the remote system. The input interface is coupled to a vehicle sensor for receiving a vehicle sensor input including a motion status of the vehicle. The processing circuit is configured to prevent transmitter from conducting its transmission to the remote system unless the motion status of the vehicle indicates the vehicle is travelling at a speed less than a threshold speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Steven L. Geerlings
  • Patent number: 11030424
    Abstract: A configuration which can easily discriminate a moving wireless (radio) tag from a stationary wireless (radio) tag. The configuration uses an antenna to measure phases of response waves received from a wireless tag. Based on the measurements, the configuration measures changes in distance from the wireless tag to the antenna and detects travel of the wireless tag. Based on the measurements, the configuration measures changes in velocity of the wireless tag relative to the antenna. A wireless tag having a rate of changes in signs of the velocity, of not less than a predetermined value in the measured velocity changes, is detected as being a stationary tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Masayuki Ogawa, Kohei Enomoto, Yusuke Masuda
  • Patent number: 11017189
    Abstract: One of the major issues with adding a driverless vehicle to a roadway, populated or not, is how that vehicle is able to keep its location in the required lane of the roadway in which it is operating. Current GPS systems that provide information to autonomous vehicles are not accurate enough for those vehicles to keep their operating positions in a lane on roadways. In inclement weather the GPS system is even less accurate and may not even function. In alternate embodiments the system can be utilized for equipment and personnel identification, such as identifying the location of construction workers and equipment at a construction site in relation to the system. This will provide benefits including, but not limited to, increasing the safety of a construction site, ensuring that only authorized personnel are present on the site and/or within a given area of the site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: SEE ID, INC
    Inventor: William T. Reny
  • Patent number: 11009259
    Abstract: A switch assembly features an automatic switch and an electronic circuit board. The automatic switch has a common contact and a normally open switch contact to short when a boiler has sufficient water, and has the common contact and a normally closed switch contact to short when the boiler has a low water level. The electronic circuit board has a signal processor, a reset switch, and a low water status LED for providing a status indication of a low water condition that remains ON even if the water level has risen unless the reset switch is reset. The signal processor couples to the common contact, the normally closed switch contact and the normally open switch contact, senses signaling containing the status of the common contact, the normally closed switch contact and the normally open switch contact, provides corresponding signaling to turn ON the low water status LED when the water level is low, and responds to a reset switch signal and turn OFF the low water status LED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: FLUID HANDLING LLC
    Inventors: Pratik Naresh Shah, Ronan Stephens, James J. Gu
  • Patent number: 11011272
    Abstract: A system and a method for remotely controlling a medical device based on image data are disclosed. The system includes a medical device, an image sensor, and a remote caregiver interface. The medical device includes a controller coupled to a communication network. The image sensor is coupled to the communication network and is configured to capture image data. The remote caregiver interface is coupled to the communication network and is configured to display the image data for viewing by a user, receive a selected remote control function from the user, and transmit an input signal corresponding to the selected remote control function to the controller of the medical device to execute the selected remote control function based on the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Durlach, Ross Nave, Krishna Sandeep Bhimavarapu
  • Patent number: 11011032
    Abstract: Provided is a tactile information supply module. The tactile information supply module includes a receiver for receiving message information from the outside, a controller for converting the message information into a tactile signal, and an operator for providing tactile information to a user based on the tactile signal, wherein the operator includes at least one tactile sensation provider comprising magnetic particles and a matrix material, and wherein the tactile sensation provider is transformed in response to an external magnetic field to provide the tactile information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: CK MATERIALS LAB CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seoung Hun Do, Hyeong Jun Kim
  • Patent number: 10999093
    Abstract: An NB-IOT based wireless device group access method and terminal relate to the technology of smart home systems. The method includes that the NB-IOT based device group access terminal establishes (S601) a connection with an external device requesting to access an NB-IOT network; and when a command issued by the NB-IOT network to the external device is received, the NB-IOT based device group access terminal interprets (S602) the command into a communication command protocol supported by the external device and issues the communication command protocol supported by the external device to the corresponding external device; when information uploaded by the external device with the established connection is received, the NB-IOT based device group access terminal interprets (S602) the information into a communication command protocol supported by the NB-IOT network and uploads the communication command protocol supported by the NB-IOT network to the NB-IOT network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: XI'AN ZHONGXING NEW SOFTWARE CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Gezhuang Wang, Zonghe Yue
  • Patent number: 10997838
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a marker. The methods comprise: storing energy collected by an energy harvesting element of the marker; using the stored energy to enable operations of the marker's communications element; receiving, by the marker's communications element, a marker deactivation signal transmitted from an external device; and causing either a resonator to be prevented from receiving transmit bursts emitted from an EAS system, a bias element's magnetic field to be normalized, or a resonator to be physically prevented from vibrating, in response to the marker deactivation signal's reception.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: SENSORMATIC ELECTRONICS, LLC
    Inventors: Hubert A. Patterson, Thomas Solaski, Ronald B. Easter
  • Patent number: 10984616
    Abstract: A car sharing system includes a car share device mounted on a vehicle. The car share device performs wireless communication with a mobile terminal, to which code information is registered so that the mobile terminal is actuated as a vehicle key of the vehicle, to authenticate the code information through the wireless communication. In an authentication completion state of the code information, the car share device performs ID verification through an electronic key system of the vehicle to allow the mobile terminal to operate an on-board device. The car sharing system further includes a position monitor that monitors whether the mobile terminal has approached the vehicle, and an automatic transmitter that automatically transmits an actuation permission request, which requests a permission for actuation of the on-board device, from the mobile terminal when the position monitor determines that the mobile terminal has approached the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Masahiro Arakawa, Masahiko Oya, Masaki Oshima
  • Patent number: 10977600
    Abstract: A food locker includes a housing, a food support member, a first door, a second door, and a lock. The housing includes a front wall a front wall, a rear wall, and a chamber. The front wall includes a first opening in communication with the chamber. The rear wall includes a second opening in communication with the chamber. The food support member is disposed within the chamber. The first door is supported by the housing and is movable between a closed position and an open position. The food support member is accessible through the first opening when the first door is in the open position. The second door is supported by the housing and is movable between a closed position and an open position. The food support member is accessible through the second opening when the second door is in the open position. The lock is operatively coupled to at least one of the housing and the first door and is actuatable between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Little Caesar Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent A. Deemter, R. William Kneifel, II, Matthew Omlor, Rick Moreno, David Scrivano, Dana Tilley
  • Patent number: 10967835
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronic device and a method for controlling the electronic device, and the electronic device according to various embodiments of the present document comprises a processor, wherein the processor can: receive, via a communication circuit, at least one signal from an external electronic device having a smart key; perform verification with the external electronic device on the basis of the at least one signal; measure an angle at which the at least one signal has been received and/or a received signal strength indication (RSSI) thereof, on the basis of the result of the verification performed; identify the location of the external electronic device on the basis of the measured reception angle and/or RSSI of the at least one signal; and, based on the identified location of the external electronic device, control at least some components of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jeong Woo, Minyong Song, Soyoung Lee
  • Patent number: 10970996
    Abstract: A system for automatically opening a lid to a grain bin with controller in communication with an actuator for receiving a signal containing a data packet to activate the actuator. An RFID is combined to an unloading device for transmitting the data packet to the controller when the RFID is positioned proximate to the controller. The controller compares the device id with a stored identification value and upon a match the controller activates the actuator to open the lid of the grain bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: 2320 SOLUTIONS, LLC
    Inventor: Justin Walker