Patents Examined by Julie Bichngoc Lieu
  • Patent number: 7319407
    Abstract: A display unit for a refrigerator is provided. The display having a TV receiving function is installed at a front surface of a refrigerator door. A mounting panel with a plurality of speaker holes formed therein is also installed around an edge of the display. A speaker is mounted to a rear surface of the mounting panel on a portion where the speaker holes are formed. Further, a resonance box is installed to enclose the speaker such that low and middle frequency sound can be transmitted forward to the outside. A sound transmission tube that communicates with the speaker hole is forced at a front portion of the resonance box. In addition, a sound absorbing material is covered on an inner rear surface of the resonance box that faces the rear of the speaker. A display as configured has improved sound quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Chan-Kyoo Jang, Ik-Kyu Lee
  • Patent number: 7317399
    Abstract: A remote monitoring system for exterminating pest comprises at least one sensor, installedd at a plurality of zones of a subject site, for sensing movement of the pest in the zones, and producing and transmitting detection signals corresponding to the movement; at least one remote controller installed at the subject site, for receiving the detection signals and processing and transmitting the received detection signals; and a central control apparatus for receiving information from at least one remote controller, analyzing the information and managing the analyzed information by the zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Cesco Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chan Hyuk Chyun
  • Patent number: 7317400
    Abstract: Reverse bias voltage VM is applied to any one of self light emitting elements arranged on a light emitting panel 1 under detection mode. Current corresponding to weak current flowing to the element is supplied to a transistor Q3 by the operation of a current mirror circuit comprised of transistors Q1, Q2. The current mirror circuit is formed with the transistor Q3 as a control side current source transistor and transistors Q4 to Q7 as a controlled side current source transistor. The sizes of the controlled side current source transistors Q4 to Q7 are set to, for example, 1:2:4:8 with respect to the control side current source transistor Q3 so as to construct current amplifying means. Current value amplified by a current comparison type comparator 7 is compared with current value from a reference current source 8 and its output is latched by a latch circuit 9 and stored in a data register 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Tohoku Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Sato, Kazuhiro Satoh, Takashi Goto
  • Patent number: 7315251
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for indicating field replaceable unit status and configuration. A visible alert may be mounted on a card, in proximity to a location for a field replaceable unit. The visible alert may indicate a failed replaceable unit or a location for installation of a new replaceable unit. Supplemental power may be available on the card whereby a visible alert may be operable when an appliance, which contains the field replaceable unit, is powered down or when the card has been removed from the appliance. Additionally, an appliance in accordance with the present invention may include cards with visible alerts associated with field replaceable units. The visible alerts may be visible to an administrator without opening the chassis of the appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Network Appliance, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Holland, Peter Snyder, David J. Baik, Ko Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7315249
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for tracking a user's posture. The system and method include an environmental module for determining the user's physical environment, a biomechanical module for determining at least a user's posture in the user's physical environment, and an output module for outputting to the user an indication of at least the user's posture relative to at least a target correct posture. The physical environment can include a computer workstation environment, a manufacturing environment, a gaming environment, and/or a keypadding environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Inventor: Stephanie Littell
  • Patent number: 7315244
    Abstract: A sound-detection and alerting system (SDAS) is designed for use in hospitals, offices, or other environments where excessive noise levels are of concern. The SDAS depends on several variables to trigger an alarm so that false alarms are kept to a minimum. A microphone circuit captures acoustic energy which is limited to specific frequencies by a bandpass filter. A comparator integrates the various frequencies and compares them to a threshold signal. A delay timer ensures that signals exceeding the threshold signal are persistent for a pre-determined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Inventor: Eric L. Carmichel
  • Patent number: 7312715
    Abstract: Method and system for managing cabling rooms that include a plurality of communication panels, which are arranged closely to one another. Each cabling room has a plurality of patch panels, structurally connected to form vertical structures. An operator is automatically guided to a communication panel or a plurality of communication panels, in which changes are to be made to modify the connectivity status or to deal with connectivity problems that may arise for any reason. The system automatically indicates to an operator optimal ports that are available and optimal patch cords for connecting them, based on distances between ports and on the electrical characteristics of the electrical signals that it is intended to pass between the ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: RIT Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: David Shalts, Dael Govreen-Segal
  • Patent number: 7312703
    Abstract: Initialization of a sensor for monitoring the structural integrity of a building involves the sensor, a gateway and an installer device. An automated initialization brings the sensor online and enables the sensor for remote monitoring without requiring on-site manual configuration. Through the automated initialization, the sensor joins a logical communication group and a GPS location associated with the sensor becomes remotely accessible by a human network administrator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Inventor: Christopher L. Hoogenboom
  • Patent number: 7312700
    Abstract: A “seeking” wireless terminal determines its location coordinates via access of its GPS receiver. The seeking wireless terminal then sends a seeking request via a supporting wireless network infrastructure. The seeking request includes at least one interest item entered by a user of the seeking wireless terminal and also the location coordinates of the seeking wireless terminal. The location coordinates may include an elevation of the wireless terminal. The seeking wireless terminal receives a seeking response via the supporting wireless network infrastructure that includes location coordinates of a “sought” wireless terminal. The seeking wireless terminal accesses a map segment corresponding to the location coordinates of the seeking wireless terminal and to the location coordinates of the sought wireless terminal. Then, the seeking wireless terminal displays the map segment, an icon that represents the seeking wireless terminal, and an icon that represents the sought wireless terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Jeyhan Karaoguz, James D. Bennett
  • Patent number: 7307526
    Abstract: A system federates heterogeneous monitoring systems to provide end-to-end monitoring information for conveyances with item-layer visibility. A first node of the federated system comprises a first monitoring system and a first port and a second node comprises a second monitoring system and a second port. In parallel with a conveyance being transported between the first node and the second node, the first monitoring system sends an agent to the second monitoring system. The agent comprises logic and/or data necessary to implement processes on the second monitoring agent while the conveyance is at the second port. When the conveyance arrives at the second port, the second monitoring system executes the agent to determine conditions of the conveyance and/or its contents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Savi Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravindra U. Rajapakse, David L. Shannon, Leo S. Chang, Stephen J. Lambright, Christopher A. Stephenson, Andrew E. S. Alcock, Jeyappragash Jeyakeerthi, Gregory Y. H. Lee
  • Patent number: 7307536
    Abstract: Systems and methods to provide multi-layer visibility of nested containers at a mobile checkpoint are disclosed. Thee systems include a portable deployment kit in communication with a nested container. The portable deployment kit can be contained in a durable carrying case having a total weight that is within military standards for carrying by one person and includes a handle. Inside, the carrying case can include foam or other material to protect internal components during transport and deployment. In use within the system, the portable deployment kit can serve as a self-contained checkpoint or site server for gathering necessary information from the nested container and uplinking for centralized data collection. In one embodiment, the portable deployment kit includes a label printer for updating an identification device on the nested container to reflect, for example, aggregation and deaggregation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Savi Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Shannon, Steven J. Farrell, Stephen J. Lambright, Roderick E. Thorne, Blair B. LaCorte, Ravindra U. Rajapakse, Leo S. Chang
  • Patent number: 7304573
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, the present technique provides a medical device component having an RF tag that is configured to provide information regarding the medical device component. Particularly, the RF tag may contain and provide information regarding maintenance, installation, and manufacture of the medical device component. Indeed, the exemplary embodiment of the present technique may facilitate the development of an “as built” or hardware configuration of the medical device through the use of RF tags. Advantageously, the medical device may be surveyed by activating the RF tags, which contain and transmit information regarding the various components in the medical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: GE Medical Systems, Inc
    Inventor: Steve Postma
  • Patent number: 7301440
    Abstract: The present invention provides a device for providing communications through power lines comprised of multiple conductors by transmitting the data signals through a plurality of the conductors. One embodiment of the present invention may be comprised of a transmit circuit communicatively coupled to a first energized conductor for applying a first voltage signal representing the data to the first energized conductor; the transmit circuit being communicatively coupled to a second energized conductor for applying a second voltage signal representing the data to the second energized conductor; and wherein the second voltage signal is opposite in polarity to said first voltage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Current Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: James Douglas Mollenkopf
  • Patent number: 7298255
    Abstract: A sensory system for determining the orientation of an object, wherein the sensory system includes a plurality of non-uniformly spaced waveguide sensors or array(s) of waveguide sensors. The non-uniformly spaced waveguide sensors are responsive to received radio frequency signals wherein the received power of the signals is dependent upon the orientation of the waveguide(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Carlos M. Pereira, Hai-Long Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7298264
    Abstract: A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system that tracks tags in real-time based on EPC codes and on other priority codes written into transponder memory fields of the tags. As an example, a priority code may be written into a memory of an RFID transponder identifying a high-value item or a small high-value item that is likely to be stolen. Based on the use of this priority code, those items can be preferentially tracked as opposed to items of low value or size such that they are unlikely to be stolen. Such use of priority codes and local filtering alleviates the need to go back to large centralized databases associating unique numbers with other parameters and potentially the history of the item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Inventors: Peter J. Kuzma, Charles A. Eldering
  • Patent number: 7298290
    Abstract: In a DSRC communications controller equipped with a plurality of reception means for DSRC communications according to the invention, a reception reservation storage section 104 comprises means for detecting a communications frame start signal (unique word 1) of DSRC communications by using reception means not engaged in communications among the plurality of reception means and means for storing the control information of DSRC communications where the communications frame start signal is detected. On completion of DSRC communications by way of reception means, a controller uses the control information stored in the reception reservation storage section to establish next communications. This allows continuous reception of information from a plurality of roadside machines to be made efficiently even in case a plurality of communications areas overlap one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koichi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 7295134
    Abstract: An aircraft terrain avoidance method and device may employ a collision warning section that transmits a caution signal when the aircraft risks colliding with the terrain at the end of a first predetermined period of time. A warning signal is transmitted when the aircraft risks colliding with the terrain at the end of a second predetermined period of time, which is shorter than the first predetermined period of time. A piloting system causes the aircraft to automatically climb with a first gradient corresponding to a predetermined value upon the transmission of the caution signal. An automatic pilot is engaged automatically, if currently disengaged, to force the aircraft to climb with a second gradient, corresponding to the maximum gradient possible in the current flight conditions of the aircraft, upon the transmission of the warning signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Airbus France
    Inventors: Christophe Jourdan, Vincent Foucart
  • Patent number: 7295113
    Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) controller within an RFID system includes an RFID interrogator interface configured to receive signals from RFID interrogators and configured to manage the RFID interrogators based on instructions received from an application program. The RFID interrogators are configured to receive data from an RFID tag. The controller also includes a controller core configured to process the signals received from the RFID interrogator interface and to provide the data to the application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: SAP Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stephan Haller, Uwe Kubach
  • Patent number: 7292147
    Abstract: An optical disk comprises a disk substrate having a hub and an annular optical metallicized data region extending radially outward from the hub. The optical disk further comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder affixed to the disk substrate, e.g., within the non-data containing hub region. The optical disk further comprises at least one linear antenna element coupled to the transponder, e.g., via pole lead(s), and extending within the data region. The antenna element(s) can be applied to the disk substrate as a patterned antenna layer over a metallicized data region, and can be electrically isolated from the data region. A method and system of identifying an optical disk is provided. A radio frequency (RF) signal can be transmitted to the optical disk at a range of at least five feet, and preferably at a range of at least ten feet. An RF signal with an identification code (e.g., a unique number) can be received from the optical disk in response to the transmitted RF signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Mark Benedikt
  • Patent number: 7289018
    Abstract: A method for distance alert for a vehicle, the distance of the vehicle to obstacles in the vehicle's surroundings being detected. The output of an alert depends on whether or not an obstacle is located in the vehicle's travel path. If there is no obstacle located in the travel path, then an alert is only output at a substantially smaller distance than would be the case when an obstacle is located in the travel path. The method is used for avoiding unnecessary alerts about obstacles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Ewerhart, Clemens Guenther, Thomas Wittig, Arnd Engeln