Patents Examined by Kam Ma
  • Patent number: 8378816
    Abstract: Signal processing technology for assessing dynamic system similarity for fault detection and other applications is based on time- and frequency-domain time series analysis techniques and compares the entire autocorrelation structure of a test and reference signal series. The test and reference signals are first subjected to similar pre-processing to help guarantee signal stationarity. Pre-processing may include formation of multivariate signal clusters, filtering and sampling. Multivariate periodograms or autocovariance functions are then calculated for each signal series. Test statistics are computed and assessed to determine the equality of the test and reference signals. When the difference between sample autocovariance functions or periodograms of such signals exceeds a preselected threshold value, fault detection signals and/or related diagnostic information are provided as output to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Clemson University
    Inventors: John R. Wagner, Hany F. Bassily, Robert B. Lund
  • Patent number: 8373573
    Abstract: A display system utilizes a tilting sensor in a viewing device to transmit a wireless signal containing tilting information to a display device when a person who puts on the viewing device has tilting movements about an axis that connects between the viewing device and the display device. The display device adjusts a multimedia content displayed on a panel according to the tilting information by physically rotating the panel about the same axis or rotating the multimedia content about the same axis before the content is displayed on the panel to synchronize with the tilting angle of the viewing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Transcend Information, Inc.
    Inventors: Hsu-Chi Chou, Li-Jen Chao, Chih-Heng Chiu, Chung-Won Shu
  • Patent number: 8362891
    Abstract: A method displays the remaining range of a motor vehicle. The method determines repeatedly estimated values relating to the remaining range of the motor vehicle based on a fill level of an energy storage unit and at least one additional motor-vehicle state influencing the remaining range. A first remaining-range value is determined based on the estimated values and displayed as a first display value by a first graphical element on the display device. An updated second remaining-range value is determined during the display of the first display value. If the difference, in terms of amount, between the first and the second remaining-range values exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the second remaining-range value is displayed as a second display value by a second graphical element in addition to the first display value on the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Josef Schumann, Nicolas Schreiber, Marc Breisinger
  • Patent number: 8350676
    Abstract: Provided are an RFID operating system and an RFID system operating method for allowing multiple RFID readers to read tags without collision. The RFID system operating method includes the steps of grouping RFID readers spaced apart by more than a spacing distance capable of avoiding collision between RFID readers into a single group to determine at least one group, classifying RPM readers included in each group into at least one sub-group based on a read time of each RFID reader, and driving the RFID readers such that RPM readers belonging to at least two different sub-groups that do not collide with each other simultaneously operate. According to the present invention, switching is performed sub-group by sub-group to reduce the number of switching operations and sub-groups can simultaneously operate to decrease a read time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: EMW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung Hoon Ryou, Won Mo Sung, You Ho Kim, Seung Up Seo, Young Soo Jang, Ha Sun Na, Bong Suk Choi
  • Patent number: 8334758
    Abstract: A local interconnect network BUS remote control system, including a printed circuit board antenna for receiving wireless communications signals and transmitting them to at least one radio frequency module, the printed circuit board antenna including a digital layer; a power layer; a ground layer; a radio frequency layer; at least one radio frequency module mounted on the vehicle, the at least one frequency module in communication with the printed circuit board antenna for demodulating the wireless communication signals into local interconnect network signals; a local interconnect network BUS in communication with the at least one frequency module for receiving the local interconnect network signals; and a local interconnect network controller in communication with the local interconnect network BUS for receiving the local interconnect network signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Flextronics Automotive, Inc.
    Inventors: Sam Baruco, Victor Rabinovich, Yaroslaw Matkiwsky, Tom Bednarchuk
  • Patent number: 8314693
    Abstract: A device for displaying a plurality of detectable variable quantities of a motor vehicle that are in a ratio to one another, each quantity represented by a band, and the bands being arranged relative to one another such that they form a variable geometric figure. The bands have a variable length depending on the deviation from an optimum ratio of the quantities to one another, and intersect in an intersection area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Continental GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Cieler, Katrin Lübbert, Guido Meier-Arendt, Carmen Solterbeck
  • Patent number: 8305188
    Abstract: A system and method of maintaining login state information is disclosed. In one embodiment a system comprises a memory configured to store login state information, a camera configured to capture an image, and a processor configured to determine, based at least in part on the image data, a location of a central object associated with the user, to determine, based at least in part on the image data, a location of a satellite object associated with the central object, to determine, based at least in part on the location of the central object and the location of the satellite objection, an angle, and to modify, based at least in part on the angle, the login state information to indicate that the user has logged in.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dang Tran, Daniel Gicklhorn, Andrew Shelansky
  • Patent number: 8294583
    Abstract: An EAS Tag with a marker that includes an adjustable housing comprised of a plurality of portions movably coupled with one another, forming an adjustable enclosure. A portion of the plurality of portions is movably coupled with a next, subsequent adjacent portion of the plurality of portions, with a first section of a first portion detachably, and adjustably accommodating a final portion to form the adjustable enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Universal Surveillance Corporation
    Inventors: Adel O. Sayegh, Edgardo Redublo
  • Patent number: 8264330
    Abstract: A communications system for use in transmitting data in a railroad system is provided. The communications system includes a track circuit having a plurality of rails configured to transmit an electrical signal thereon, a first processor communicatively coupled to the track circuit via a first locomotive on said track circuit, and a trackside communications station operable to output cab signaling data, wherein the trackside communications station includes a second processor communicatively coupled to the track circuit. The first processor is programmed to compare a received data signal to a pre-stored database, and generate a response based on the comparison. The second processor is programmed to generate a corrected signal using the generated response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Berry B. Yeldell, Samuel R. Mollet
  • Patent number: 8253571
    Abstract: An apparatus for sensing impact of a body on a strip located on a support, characterized by comprising: a strip (2) of material presenting piezoelectric characteristics, applicable to a support in the region to be monitored; at least one continuous tape (4) made of conductive material and associated with said strip (2) in a manner parallel to it; a device (6) connected to said tape to condition the electric signal generated by the impact of said body on said strip (2); a device (12) for sensing said signal; a device (18) for indicating the sensed signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Stageup S.R.L.
    Inventors: Lorenzo Peretto, Gaetano Pasini, Roberto Tinarelli, Pierpaolo Zennaro
  • Patent number: 8253559
    Abstract: A wireless device includes a user interface that generates a first location request signal in response to an indication from a user to locate a handheld wireless communication device. A short-range wireless transmitter transmits a first RF paging signal in response to the location request signal. An adjunct device is coupled to the handheld wireless communication device via a communication port of the handheld wireless communication device. The adjunct device emits a first detectable alert signal in response to the first RF paging signal to assist the user in locating the handheld wireless communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: THL Holding Company, LLC
    Inventors: John W. Howard, Richard Cutler, Robert M. Kennard
  • Patent number: 8253560
    Abstract: An adjunct device includes a first housing for coupling to a handheld wireless communication device via a communication port of the handheld wireless communication device. A short-range wireless receiver receives a first RF paging signal from a remote wireless device. A user interface emits a first detectable alert signal in response to the first RF paging signal to assist the user in locating the handheld wireless communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: THL Holding Company, LLC
    Inventors: John W. Howard, Richard Cutler, Robert M. Kennard
  • Patent number: 8242891
    Abstract: To estimate a tag read status of a passive RFID system in an actual operation environment. A method for estimating, by simulation, a tag read status of an RFID system comprises the steps of calculating the power supply activation status of each of one or more tags having IDs within a range in which the tag moves; and analyzing the operation of a collision avoidance protocol provided in the RFID system. The tag has a state parameter representative of the state of the tag. For a command signal in conformance with the collision avoidance protocol, the operation and state parameter of the tag are changed in accordance with the power supply activation status when the command signal is being processed in the tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroto Sugahara
  • Patent number: 8237546
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for secure communications of confidential information are provided. In an embodiment, a method of communicating with a population of radio frequency identification tags includes transmitting a first interrogation signal, receiving a response to the first interrogation signal from at least one RFID tag at a first received signal strength including at least a portion of a first identification code, and transmitting a second interrogation signal that includes a request for confidential information, a command to transmit a response to the second interrogation signal at a secure power level, and the first identification code. In another embodiment, a method for communicating with an RFID tag includes receiving an interrogation signal that includes a request for confidential information and transmitting a response to the interrogation signal at a secure power level. The response includes the confidential information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Bekritsky, Randall Allen Drago, Ming-Hao Sun
  • Patent number: 8188837
    Abstract: A method of finding a key to a mobile vehicle includes receiving a call, at a call center, indicating that the key is lost and requesting, via the call center, a telematics unit on-board the mobile vehicle to establish communication with a remote access key fob that is associated with the key, the remote access key fob having an alarm integrated therewith. The method further includes requesting, via the call center, the telematics unit to activate the alarm of the remote access key fob and activating, via the telematics unit, the alarm of the remote access key fob.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventors: Russell A. Patenaude, Steven C. Tengler
  • Patent number: 8179231
    Abstract: A chipless RFID tag system having a transmitter sending an input signal and a tag substrate. The tag substrate has at least one microstrip and the microstrip has a first portion with a first impedance and a second portion with a second impedance different from the first impedance. The system further includes a receiver detecting at least two reflections from an interface of the first and second impedances and identifying relative time domain positions of the reflections to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Louisiana Tech Research Foundation
    Inventors: Khodadad Varahramyan, Mangilal Agarwal, Sudhir Shrestha, Jeevan Kumar Vemagiri, Aravind Chamarti, Sireesha Ramisetti
  • Patent number: 8149093
    Abstract: A method of detecting position of a moving RFID tag relative to an antenna, includes continually receiving a signal from the RFID tag at the antenna. The phase of the received signal over a time period is detected and, based on a maximum detected phase, the position of the RFID tag relative to the antenna is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Lyngsoe Systems
    Inventors: Patrick Claus Friedrich Eggers, Boyan Radkov Yanakiev, Gert Frølund Pedersen, Alex Oprea
  • Patent number: 8144010
    Abstract: An intrusion detector for a security system that detects the breaking of a glass in a window or a door and motion within a protected area is provided. The intrusion detector includes a single sensing section, a first filter, a second filter, a microprocessor, and an alarm generating. The microprocessor includes a motion detection section, an activation section for activating the motion detection section for a preset period of time only when a detected acoustic signal is consistent with that required to break glass, and a timing section for timing the preset period. The sensing section is capable of sensing motion induced signals during both activation and non-activation of the motion detection section, but the motion detection section ignores motion-induced signals during non-activation of the motion detection section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Smith, Tom R. Petek
  • Patent number: 8134454
    Abstract: The present invention supports the remote control of a controlled device. A hybrid device receives a control signal over an infrared communications channel or a wireless networking channel. The hybrid device can replace an IR receiver module in the controlled device in order to provide backward compatibility as well as provide universal operation with a wireless networking controller. The hybrid device processes a signal received over one of the communications channels. When a signal is received over the infrared communications channel, the processor converts the signal to an output code that is sent to a device controller. When a signal is received over the wireless networking communications channel, the processor converts the signal to a wireless command, converts the wireless command to an output code, and sends the output code to the device controller. All output codes are transparent for the two communications channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Computime, Ltd
    Inventors: Wai-leung Ha, Kairy Kai Lei, Gordon Qian
  • Patent number: 8125314
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method, system, and computer program product for determining user interest in media. The invention can select one of a set of different activity profiles specified within a data store. Each activity profile can include biometric attributes and associated baseline attribute values specific to an activity state. A media stream can be manipulated (e.g., created from environmental inputs and/or played upon a presentation device). Biometric data can be received from a user in proximity to the media stream. The received biometric data can be compared values in the selected activity profile. An interest level in the media stream can be determined based on comparison differences. A programmatic action can be performed relating to the media stream based upon the determined interest level. For example, a bitrate of the media and/or a marker in the media can be modified based on interest level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rachel H. Fithian, Hugh E. Hockett