Patents Examined by Kimberly Jenkins
  • Patent number: 7026953
    Abstract: A keyless entry device includes a plurality of antennas which receive high frequency signals, a high frequency receiver which reproduces data from the high frequency signals received by the plurality of antennas, an intermittent controller which changes over an operation of the high frequency receiver between a continuous operation and an intermittent operation in an interlocking manner with turning on or off of an ignition key of an automobile, and a data processor which outputs data as control signals, wherein when the ignition key is turned on, the keyless entry device is operated as the tire pressure monitoring device and when the ignition key is turned off, the keyless entry device is operated as the keyless entry device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shohei Fujii
  • Patent number: 7023318
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic lock for a locking system, in particular an electronic ignition lock for a motor vehicle. The lock has a holder into which an associated electronic key can be introduced. The key, which is in the holder, exchanges at least one coded operating signal with the lock. After positively evaluating the operating signal, the holder can be moved into at least one actuating position. The lock has a blocking element which adjusts on introduction of the key into the holder and/or removal of the key from the holder. Movement of the holder is possible when the key is correctly in the holder. Furthermore, the lock has a switching element on which the adjusting movement of the blocking element exerts a switching action via a separate transmitter which can be brought into operative connection both with the blocking element and with the switching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Marquardt GmbH
    Inventors: August Geiger, Karl Müller, Michael Geber, Hartmut Fitz
  • Patent number: 7015794
    Abstract: The active transponder is intended for several applications or to operate in various modes requiring different levels of security. Security is controlled by varying the maximum communication distance to a reader. The active transponder includes a battery (2) powering the various electronic circuits amplifying component (8), a module (4) forming a demodulator for the incoming signals, and a component for validating the data comprised in the signals, and a data processing unit (10). The unit includes circuit (12) for controlling the maximum communication distance between the transponder and a reader transmitting signals at a determined power. Circuit (12) sends a security signal (S1, S2) respectively to the data validating component and/or to the signal amplifying component. This signal is used either to control the value of the reference value of the validating component, or to vary the gain of the amplifying component to vary the maximum communication distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: EM Microelectronic-Marin SA
    Inventors: Marc Degrauwe, Jürg Rudin, Thierry Roz
  • Patent number: 6999000
    Abstract: A transponder-based microwave telemetry apparatus for moving machinery includes a microwave transmitter disposed outside the moving machinery to fill a chamber of the moving machinery with microwave energy. The transponder-based microwave telemetry apparatus also includes a transponder disposed inside the moving machinery for measuring a sensed condition of a part of the moving machinery and providing a modulated microwave signal that contains information on the sensed condition. The transponder-based microwave telemetry apparatus further includes a receiver disposed outside the moving machinery to separate modulated and continuous-wave signal components of the signal and extracts information from the modulated component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: The Board of Control of Michigan Technological University
    Inventors: Richard Lynn Campbell, Douglas Bruce Brumm, Glen Barna, Carl Anderson
  • Patent number: 6999009
    Abstract: A key sensing device comprises a first conductive contact and a second conductive contact spaced from one another by a low-force spacer element which includes a low-force aperture disposed between the first conductive contact and the second conductive contact. A third conductive contact and a fourth conductive contact are spaced from one another by a high-force spacer element which includes a high-force aperture disposed therebetween. The low-force aperture and the high-force aperture are configured to be aligned with a keyboard key so that a pressing of the keyboard key with a sufficient force causes contact between the first conductive contact and the second conductive contact through the low-force aperture and contact between the third conductive contact and the fourth conductive contact through the high-force aperture. The low-force aperture is larger in size than the high-force aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Logitech Europe S.A.
    Inventor: Patrick Monney
  • Patent number: 6995685
    Abstract: An arrangement for providing power in a utility meter includes a power conversion circuit and a bank of capacitors. The power conversion circuit is operable to provide power to metering circuitry within the utility meter, the power conversion circuit having a maximum output current. The bank of capacitors is operably coupled to a power supply input of the radio frequency transmitter, the bank of capacitors configured to provide current in excess of the maximum output current during transmission by the radio frequency transmitter to supply power to the radio frequency transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Landis+Gyr, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce E. Randall
  • Patent number: 6992600
    Abstract: A method for configuring button keys on a membrane includes the steps of: mapping the membrane under the conditions of without jumping and without generating ghost keys; gathering adjacent button keys on a same cluster; defining a button key configuration chart according to each cluster; and linking circuits of each button key in each cluster to a flat cable of the membrane. Then defining total number of various composite keys; locating the composite keys to be not co-linear or cross co-linear on the X-axis or the Y-axis of the matrix scanning lines; and mapping other adjacent button keys without the jumping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Shin Jiuh Corporation
    Inventor: Tien-Min Lu
  • Patent number: 6989763
    Abstract: A universal remote control apparatus that is programmable with software supplied by manufacturers of controllable devices so that a single remote control apparatus has a broad spectrum application capable of operating many different controllable devices. The remote control apparatus is based in a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) having sufficient memory to store the requisite software from a multitude of controllable devices and is operable to send or receive signals to the controllable devices by radio signal or by infra red beam. The remote control apparatus can be coupled to a personal computer to download the requisite software into the memory of the PDA, which can come via software supplied with the controllable device or by accessing the manufacturer's web site and downloading the necessary software therefrom. The display screen of the PDA can then be customized to replicate any control functions with a touch screen actuation control buttons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Inventors: Justin D. Wall, David M. Wall
  • Patent number: 6987467
    Abstract: A navigation aid for a refreshable Braille display and similar products for the visually impaired. A navigation wheel is located adjacent at least one end of the refreshable Braille display. Rotation of the wheel by an increment moves the displayed text forward or backward by a predetermined increment, such as by one word, or one line or one paragraph. In a preferred embodiment, the function performed by rotating the wheel can be changed by depressing the wheel. A separate navigation wheel may be located at opposite ends of the refreshable Braille display and the two navigation wheels may perform the same or different functions when rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Freedom Scientific
    Inventors: Michael C. Romeo, Darryl O. Newberry, Brian Blazie
  • Patent number: 6982629
    Abstract: A method and device for child seat recognition in a vehicle involving use of radio signals to recognize a child seat. The child seat includes a passive transponder. The radio signal is sent back by the child seat and is then sampled by a device in the vehicle, the computing time between the sampled values is used for the management of other tasks. After the termination of the sampling, the evaluation occurs. This is controlled using interrupts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: A. Ruediger Giesel
  • Patent number: 6980084
    Abstract: A power-on reset for a transponder (102, 200, 400) capable of measuring one or more parameters (e.g., temperature, pressure) in an object (e.g., a tire, 104) and transmitting a data stream (FIGS. 3C, 4B) to an external reader/interrogator (106). The transponder typically operates in a passive mode, deriving its power (Vxx, Vcc, Vdd) from an RF interrogation signal received by an antenna system (210, 410), but can also operate in a battery-powered active mode. The transponder includes memory (238, 438) for storing measurements, calibration data, programmable trim settings (436b), transponder ID and the like. A power-on reset circuit (600) prevents operation of the transponder until it is stable, and starts transmission of the data stream at a first bit of the data stream, in order to ensure a first-pass transmission of a complete data stream. It also prevents modulation of the antenna system for data stream transmission if the power levels are too low for stable transponder operation during modulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: Dale Lee Yones
  • Patent number: 6977580
    Abstract: An apparatus, system and method of identifying a vehicle that may present safety threats to security areas are provided. When a vehicle is approaching a security zone, a request for identification (ID) is issued to the vehicle's on-board computer system (OBCS). Upon receiving the ID, a comparison is made between the ID of the vehicle and a list of suspect vehicle IDs. It there is a match, the vehicle is considered to be suspect and the OBCS is instructed to take control over the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dwip N. Banerjee, Kumar Ravi, Eduardo N. Spring
  • Patent number: 6970100
    Abstract: A temperature tag and system for sensing and reporting an internal temperature reading inside a container. The temperature tag mounts on an outside surface of the container, and a shaft with a temperature sensor extends through the side of the container and senses the internal temperature reading. A plurality of readings may be recorded at a predefined sampling rate and stored in a data memory. The temperature tag then sends the temperature readings to a reader device that presents the temperature readings to a user. The reader device may trigger the temperature tag to send the temperature readings with a signal such as an infrared (IR) signal, a radio frequency (RF) signal, and the like. The temperature readings may be analyzed in the temperature tag, the reader device, or may be downloaded to a computer to determine if an alarm condition exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Long Range Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Lovegreen, James Livingston, Russell P. Blink
  • Patent number: 6956460
    Abstract: A fixed transmitter for operating a rolling code receiver is disclosed. A set of fixed codes is captured from a rolling code transmitter that is used to actuate a corresponding rolling code receiver. The set of fixed codes is stored in a memory of a fixed code transmitter. The fixed code transmitter, upon each actuation, transmits one or more codes of the set of fixed codes to operate the rolling code receiver. The set of stored fixed codes in the fixed code transmitter has fewer codes than a total number of unique codes that can be generated by the rolling code receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Inventor: Philip Y.W. Tsui
  • Patent number: 6924728
    Abstract: The vehicle safety system which is for a vehicle equipped with a remote starter comprises a wireless transmitter located inside a closed space, adapted to emit a signal for disabling the remote starter. The system further comprises at least one wireless receiver located on board the vehicle, and being operatively connected to the remote starter. The wireless receiver, upon receipt of the signal, disables the remote starter, and thereby prevents remote starting of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: No-Start Inc.
    Inventors: Jack Wisnia, Robert Nelson
  • Patent number: 6903650
    Abstract: An operator (32) with transmitter overwrite protection is used with a plurality of different transmitters (40, 42, 44). Each type of transmitter has at least one command button that when actuated generates a signal which includes at least a transmitter identifying code. The operator includes a receiver (170) capable of receiving the signal from any of the plurality of transmitters and a memory device (62) that has a plurality of storage locations (63a-f). A controller (60) is connected to the receiver and the controller stores each transmitter identifying code in a corresponding storage location. The controller overwrites one of the transmitter identifying codes in a corresponding storage location when a new transmitting code is learned if the plurality of storage locations are full, except for the transmitter identifying codes for one specific type of the plurality of transmitters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Wayne-Dalton Corp.
    Inventor: James S. Murray
  • Patent number: 6900719
    Abstract: A method and device for providing anti-theft protection for an electrical device installed on a body, such as a vehicle, by fixing to the body an electrical chip having a unique identification number identifying the body, electrically connecting the electrical device to the electrical chip in a manner such that removal of the electrical device from the body automatically interrupts the electrical connection of the electrical device to the electrical chip, and disabling the operation of the electrical device whenever its electrical connection to the chip is interrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Roseman Engineering Ltd.
    Inventor: Yechiel Roseman