Patents Examined by Son Tang
  • Patent number: 7227456
    Abstract: An interrogator is disposed in a main body of a vehicle for transmitting interrogating signals. A responder is mounted to each tire of the vehicle for returning tire information such as air pressure to the interrogator in response to the interrogating signals. The responder is provided with at least one sensor for detecting tire information and a sensor specifying means for specifying properties of the sensor. The interrogator is provided with a control means for processing tire information, and correction tables for correcting properties of a sensor specified by the sensor specifying means. The control means corrects the tire information by the correction tables and then outputs data related to the tire information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kouta Iijima
  • Patent number: 7218207
    Abstract: A method for a detecting position of a lane marker relating to the present invention obtains an integral brightness by taking an image of a road surface (4) by a camera (2) loaded on a vehicle (3), converting the image taken by the camera (2) into an overlooked image and by integrating a brightness of a coordinate of a direction X which is in a direction perpendicular to a road width direction Y of the road surface (4) shown in the overlooked image which is converted. Thereafter, the method carries out a detection of a lane marker position provided on the road surface (4) by obtaining a position of the road surface (4) corresponding to the coordinate of the road width direction Y indicating a high integral brightness from a distribution of the detected integral brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Clarion Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirotaka Iwano
  • Patent number: 7218224
    Abstract: A human body detection sensor includes two oscillation circuits, a tuning circuit which connects equivalent points of the two oscillation circuits to each other, an antenna electrode which is connected to any one of the oscillation circuits so that a change in circuit state occurs upon approach of a human body, and a wave detector circuit for detecting a shift of oscillation between the two oscillation circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: U-Shin Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuo Tokudome
  • Patent number: 7212124
    Abstract: Provided is a portable information device having an RFID, the device being a device in which no effect is produced on original communication of the portable information device for which an EMC measure is taken, the device having good productivity, and the device keeping communication distance without damaging portability. A place where an antenna is set is located on the side of a battery cover of a battery receiving section to make the communication distance of an incorporated RFID long. A circuit configuration wherein a condenser for resonance is connected to both ends of the antenna coil and an IC is connected to an intermediate tap of the antenna coil is made so as to make it unnecessary that the resonance frequency of the RFID is individually adjusted and make the production of the RFID easy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takehiro Ohkawa, Hiroshi Yoshigi
  • Patent number: 7193501
    Abstract: An enclosure constructed around an area at which hot work is to be performed at a facility containing flammable or combustible material. Hot work includes such things as welding, torch cutting, grinding and the like. Facilities include petroleum drilling and production platforms, oil tankers, petroleum and chemical plants, and petroleum tank farms. Gas detection monitoring apparatuses are used with the enclosure which will automatically simultaneously shutdown one or more enclosures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Alford Safety Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason P. Albarado, Todd J. Hutchinson
  • Patent number: 7190258
    Abstract: Embodiments of an alarm circuit/device located in a livestock trailer that activates during the braking and/or turning of a trailer and tow vehicle combination is described along with a method of use. Upon activation, livestock in the trailer, such as horses, sheep and cattle, are alerted to further pending deceleration or centrifugal forces and can accordingly brace or otherwise prepare to avoid injury.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Inventor: Richard Lee
  • Patent number: 7187275
    Abstract: An electric power line characteristic monitoring method that allows automatic conductor circuit fault data logging of average nominal and maximum magnitudes of conductor current, voltage, temperature and strain. Additionally, an alarm is implemented to enunciate a faulted condition on the power line. Parametric data storage is provided for later retrieval by a remote exciter. The parametric data is retrieved from the exciter through the transmission of a specific frequency and code key that activates the exciter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Inventor: Norman D McCollough, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7187291
    Abstract: A remotely controlled device (3) for controlling a remotely controlled launcher for dog training includes receiving circuitry (26,27) for receiving control information signals from a remote transmitter (2), controller (40) coupled to receive demodulated information from the receiving circuitry (26,27) and adapted to generate a control signal in response to the demodulated information, a coupling device (21A) for coupling the control signal to a control input of the animal training device (14-1), and a test circuit (33) responsive to a test switch (16) for testing continuity of the coupling by the coupling device (21A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Tri-Tronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Crist, Timothy T. Duncan
  • Patent number: 7183916
    Abstract: A method for identifying packages in transit, comprises the steps of providing on a support a transponder chip equipped with a memory unit containing data identifying the chip, means for reading the memory unit and means for receiving and transmitting data at radio frequency, affixing said support to one of the packages so as to associate the identification data with the package, and providing one or more remote control units capable of radio frequency communication with the transponder chip so as to receive the identification data and identify the package. The method also comprises the steps of providing, on the support, means for writing the memory units, detecting predefined parameters of the package, transmitting them to the transponder chip by means of the remote control units and entering them into the memory unit by means of the writing means. An identification device designed to operate using the aforementioned method is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: EDS-Te.Ma S.R.L.
    Inventor: Giuseppe Romeres
  • Patent number: 7183913
    Abstract: A method comprises providing a container having a first container portion and a second container portion, placing an inflatable life raft within the container, placing a transmitter mechanism adjacent the container, and automatically detecting whether a tamper condition has occurred. The tamper condition comprises at least one of the following: removal of the life raft from the container; an increase in distance between the first and second container portions; and a change in position of at least a portion of the life raft relative to one of the portions of the container. The transmitter mechanism is adapted and configured to transmit a signal upon the detection of the tamper condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Vane Line Bunkering, Inc.
    Inventors: C. Duff Hughes, Frank Hornig, Kevin Brophy
  • Patent number: 7176790
    Abstract: A vehicle has a display device which widens the field of view (visible area) reflected by a side mirror or a back mirror mounted on the vehicle. To enable a driver driving the vehicle to confirm safety even when it is difficult for the driver to visually recognize some of objects surrounding the vehicle, a liquid crystal display device or an EL display device is provided in the side mirror (door mirror), the back mirror (room mirror) or in an interior portion of the vehicle. A camera is mounted on the vehicle and an image from the camera is displayed on the display device. Further, information read from a sensor (distance measuring sensor) having the function of measuring the distance to another vehicle, and a sensor (impact sensor) having the function of sensing an externally applied impact force larger than a predetermined value is displayed on the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 7170418
    Abstract: A multi-criteria event detection system, comprising a plurality of sensors, wherein each sensor is capable of detecting a signature characteristic of a presence of an event and providing an output indicating the same. A processor for receiving each output of the plurality of sensors is also employed. The processor includes a probabilistic neural network for processing the sensor outputs. The probabilistic neural network comprises a nonlinear, nor-parametric pattern recognition algorithm that operates by defining a probability density function for a plurality of data sets that are each based on a training set data and an optimized kernel width parameter. The plurality of data sets includes a baseline, non-event, first data set; a second, event data set; and a third, nuisance data set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Susan Rose-Pehrsson, Ronald E Schaffer, Daniel T Gottuk, Sean J Hart, Mark H Hammond
  • Patent number: 7170394
    Abstract: Disclosed is a novel technique for transferring power and signals between two electrical devices over a single wire pair. In particular, a remote sensor is connected to a host device. Power to the remote sensor is supplied through a voltage reference and control loop circuit that holds the voltage component of the power signal present on the wire pair constant during remote current sensing. The remote sensor itself can transmit measurements or information by driving a load on the sensor and thereby modulating the loop current. The current signal in the sensor-to-host loop can be a precision AC analog signal or a serial digital bit stream. Both types of signals can coexist using a multiplexing scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin G. Chandler, Antonio Carlos Monte-Filho
  • Patent number: 7164345
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for realizing an alarm function using a mobile terminal and a charging device for charging the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal includes a controller for generating an alarm control signal a predetermined time period ahead of a predetermined alarm time, and a first interface for transmitting the alarm control signal to the charging device. The charging device includes a second interface for receiving the alarm control signal from the mobile terminal, and a lamp driver for generating a lamp driving signal for controlling a lamp in response to the received alarm control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Eung-Jin Park
  • Patent number: 7161488
    Abstract: A method and device for identifying, testing or clearing a prefilled medicinal syringe in which the syringe is inserted into the test device which reads coding on the syringe and has a display as to whether the syringe is appropriate or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Arzneimittel Gmbh Apotheker Vetter & Co. Ravensburg
    Inventor: Eugen Frasch
  • Patent number: 7154388
    Abstract: A mobile platform fire detection system includes a plurality of smoke detectors locatable in a compartment of a mobile platform. Heat sensors are also positioned in the compartment. At least one indication panel is located outside of the compartment and adjacent to an entranceway into the compartment. The indication panel operates to identify an alarm condition of each of the smoke detectors and the heat sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Richard J Mazzone
  • Patent number: 7154387
    Abstract: A warning system housed in a license plate bracket and installed on a vehicle. The system includes a self-contained power source, an accelerometer to measure the deceleration force of the vehicle, and a microprocessor unit (including a microprocessor chip). When the system senses that the vehicle is decelerating at a rate greater than a threshold level, it illuminates warning lights provided on the license plate bracket to thereby alert drivers of neighboring vehicles of the vehicle's rapid deceleration. The warning system is self-contained and self-powered to avoid the need to, and associated drawbacks of, drawing from the vehicle's power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Inventor: Walter McKinley Boomershine, III
  • Patent number: 7154399
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring whether a resident is away from home or inactive within the home. A sensor, which includes a transmitter, a processor, a timer, and a detector, watches for motion to occur within a home. Upon sensing motion, the sensor sends a first signal indicative of the motion if the timer is not currently running and waits for the motion to end. If the timer already is running, the timer is restarted at zero. Upon expiration of a predetermined timing period, the sensor transmits a second signal indicative of inactivity. By comparing the timing of the second signal and the predetermined timing period, with a third signal sent by an exterior door sensor, a determination can be made whether the resident has left the home or is inactive within the home. The system includes a database, a CPU and State Model for determining the activity state of a home.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Paul Edward Cuddihy, Meena Ganesh, Jenny Marie Weisenberg, Catherine Mary Graichen, Vrinda Rajiv, Mark Mitchell Kornfein
  • Patent number: 7142113
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to detect an external source are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Ming-Ren Lian, Gary Mark Shafer, Hubert A. Patterson
  • Patent number: 7135974
    Abstract: Described is a RF device (e.g., an RF tag) which includes a communication arrangement and an input arrangement. The communication arrangement sends and/or receives data relating to a target device. The RF device may also include a memory for storing the target device data. The input arrangement is coupled to the target device. The RF device obtains power from the target device through the input arrangement. The described RF device is provided with a viable alternative to a full reliance on a stand alone battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David Hernandez, Edward Barkan