Patents by Inventor Alan C. Heller

Alan C. Heller has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230050433
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems and process for detecting a febrile condition in screening of multiple or large groups of persons for the likelihood of infectious diseases. The system comprises a temperature measurement device having at least a processor, a display, temperature sensor, camera module, and facial recognition software. The display may include a positional overlay. The system further includes a database containing baseline temperatures for a number of persons, including baseline temperatures by age group and by gender. An input device optionally may identify the specific person or provide survey questions to a person to further determine a febrile condition. Based on the baseline temperatures, measured temperature and other characteristics of the person, a febrile condition may be determined. Additionally, the system may include a secondary screening component providing nasal swabbing or saliva testing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventor: Alan C. Heller
  • Publication number: 20210310675
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to system and process for notification of contagion risk and mitigation of the risk thereof. The system comprises a meteorological history repository having meteorological data and a processor configured with an instruction set. The instruction set includes retrieving meteorological data for a selected region for a selected time window, calculating contagion risk based on the meteorological data and from at least one of a transmission risk or a susceptibility risk, calculating the transmission risk as a function of dew point change and calculating susceptibility risk as a function of relative humidity. The system generates a contagion risk indicator based thereon. Embodiments of the system for mitigating the risk of spread of contagions and include a controller configured to select a lower humidity bound as a function of contagion infectivity and an upper humidity bound as a function of contagion viability or mold/fungus growth rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventor: Alan C. Heller
  • Publication number: 20180313696
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems and processes for monitoring temperature of food and other substrates. Embodiments include a temperature sensor configured to provide temperature reading output of the food, a computer comprising a processor, memory, a network adapter, and a reporting database, the reporting database configured to store temperature reading output of the food.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Alan C. Heller, Alexander Shields, Scott Cadieux
  • Patent number: 10101051
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to system and process for notification of contagion risk and mitigation of the risk thereof. The system comprises a meteorological history repository having meteorological data and a processor configured with an instruction set. The instruction set includes retrieving meteorological data for a selected region for a selected time window, calculating contagion risk based on the meteorological data and from at least one of a transmission risk or a susceptibility risk, calculating the transmission risk as a function of dew point change and calculating susceptibility risk as a function of relative humidity. The system generates a contagion risk indicator based thereon. Embodiments of the system for mitigating the risk of spread of contagions and include a controller configured to select a lower humidity bound as a function of contagion infectivity and an upper humidity bound as a function of contagion viability or mold/fungus growth rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Inventor: Alan C. Heller
  • Publication number: 20170258335
    Abstract: Systems and processes are presented for real time health credentialing of individuals seeking entry to a facility requiring health credentialing for access. A system and process for real time detection of a febrile condition comprises providing a heat sensor operable to receive thermal radiation from a person. Optionally, the system provides a controller operable to selectively orient the thermal sensor incident to the facial region of a person within a zone of detection. Further, the system optionally processes the sensor temperature to conditionally determine a febrile condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventor: Alan C. Heller
  • Patent number: 9618401
    Abstract: The technology provides an external device for estimating a core body temperature of a human subject. The wrist monitor device includes a casing sized and shaped to fit onto a wrist of a human subject. The casing has a first face and a second face. In addition there is a cavity in the casing that houses a heat trap. The heat trap has an opening oriented to receive incoming thermal energy from the skin and a shell of a thermal-insulation material that has an inner thermal energy-reflective surface. Detected temperature data is compiled in a database and used to estimate whether an identified individual has a core body temperature indicative of a fever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Inventor: Alan C. Heller
  • Publication number: 20170049333
    Abstract: The technology provides an external device for estimating a core body temperature of a human subject. The wrist monitor device includes a casing sized and shaped to fit onto a wrist of a human subject. The casing has a first face and a second face. In addition there is a cavity in the casing that houses a heat trap. The heat trap has an opening oriented to receive incoming thermal energy from the skin and a shell of a thermal-insulation material that has an inner thermal energy-reflective surface. Detected temperature data is compiled in a database and used to estimate whether an identified individual has a core body temperature indicative of a fever.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventor: Alan C. Heller
  • Publication number: 20160109149
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to system and process for notification of contagion risk and mitigation of the risk thereof. The system comprises a meteorological history repository having meteorological data and a processor configured with an instruction set. The instruction set includes retrieving meteorological data for a selected region for a selected time window, calculating contagion risk based on the meteorological data and from at least one of a transmission risk or a susceptibility risk, calculating the transmission risk as a function of dew point change and calculating susceptibility risk as a function of relative humidity. The system generates a contagion risk indicator based thereon. Embodiments of the system for mitigating the risk of spread of contagions and include a controller configured to select a lower humidity bound as a function of contagion infectivity and an upper humidity bound as a function of contagion viability or mold/fungus growth rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2014
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventor: Alan C. Heller
  • Publication number: 20150182127
    Abstract: Systems and processes are presented for real time health credentialing of individuals seeking entry to a facility requiring health credentialing for access. A system and process for real time detection of a febrile condition comprises providing a heat sensor operable to receive thermal radiation from a person. Optionally, the system provides a controller operable to selectively orient the thermal sensor incident to the facial region of a person within a zone of detection. Further, the system optionally processes the sensor temperature to conditionally determine a febrile condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Inventor: Alan C. Heller
  • Publication number: 20140207405
    Abstract: The technology provides an external device for estimating a core body temperature of a human subject. The wrist monitor device includes a casing sized and shaped to fit onto a wrist of a human subject. The casing has a first face and a second face. In addition there is a cavity in the casing that houses a heat trap. The heat trap has an opening oriented to receive incoming thermal energy from the skin and a shell of a thermal-insulation material that has an inner thermal energy-reflective surface. Detected temperature data is compiled in a database and used to estimate whether an identified individual has a core body temperature indicative of a fever.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Inventor: Alan C. Heller
  • Publication number: 20140159914
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and process for electronic reporting of a sensor monitored process. The system includes a reader associated with a monitored process and in communication with a server over a network. The reader is configured for input from at least one sensor. The sensors are paired with a reader, whereby the reader is configured to relay the sensor output to the server. The system monitors the reader for output from the sensor. On receipt of the reader data, the system retrievably stores the data for compliance report review.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventor: Alan C. Heller
  • Publication number: 20140135646
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a system and process for estimating a core body temperature of a human subject. The system includes mount, a body, and a heat trap having a temperature sensor. The mount is operable to secure the device to a toilet or adjacent surface. The body houses a microprocessor. The heat trap is distal to the body and is shaped to receive a liquid stream and contain the thermal energy therein. The heat trap comprises a low thermally conductive material. The temperature sensor is in communication with the microprocessor. The temperature sensor is associated with the heat trap and disposed proximate a surface of said heat trap, wherein the liquid stream is directed across the temperature sensor. The system optionally incorporates a processor and memory to store input of the temperature sensor and associate the input with a person, compare the input to historical records for the person, and determine a febrile condition for the person based on the input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Inventor: Alan C. Heller
  • Patent number: 8686863
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a system and process for estimating a core body temperature of a human subject. The system includes mount, a body, and a heat trap having a temperature sensor. The mount is operable to secure the device to a toilet or adjacent surface. The body houses a microprocessor. The heat trap is distal to the body and is shaped to receive a liquid stream and contain the thermal energy therein. The heat trap comprises a low thermally conductive material. The temperature sensor is in communication with the microprocessor. The temperature sensor is associated with the heat trap and disposed proximate a surface of said heat trap, wherein the liquid stream is directed across said temperature sensor. The system optionally incorporates a process and memory to store input of the temperature sensor and associate the input with a person, compare the input to historical records for a person, and determine a febrile condition for the person based on the input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Inventor: Alan C. Heller
  • Publication number: 20130116591
    Abstract: Systems and processes are presented for real time health credentialing of individuals seeking entry to a facility requiring health credentialing for access. A system and process for real time detection of a febrile condition comprises providing a heat sensor operable to receive thermal radiation from a person. Optionally, the system provides a controller operable to selectively orient the thermal sensor incident to the facial region of a person within a zone of detection. Further, the system optionally processes the sensor temperature to conditionally determine a febrile condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Inventor: Alan C. Heller
  • Publication number: 20130085409
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a system and process for estimating a core body temperature of a human subject. The system includes mount, a body, and a heat trap having a temperature sensor. The mount is operable to secure the device to a toilet or adjacent surface. The body houses a microprocessor. The heat trap is distal to the body and is shaped to receive a liquid stream and contain the thermal energy therein. The heat trap comprises a low thermally conductive material. The temperature sensor is in communication with the microprocessor. The temperature sensor is associated with the heat trap and disposed proximate a surface of said heat trap, wherein the liquid stream is directed across said temperature sensor. The system optionally incorporates a process and memory to store input of the temperature sensor and associate the input with a person, compare the input to historical records for a person, and determine a febrile condition for the person based on the input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Inventor: Alan C. Heller
  • Publication number: 20040015318
    Abstract: A automatic sensory trip logger that provides wireless summary data about its trip log and creates an automatic and efficient mechanism for informing a receiver that a load of perishables may have been temperature abused. The invention includes a Logger, a Reader, a Gateway, a Server, a Processor, and a Notifier. The Logger includes a sensory element, data storage, a wireless transmitter and a battery. The transmitter uses a protocol which allows long battery life, in addition to automatic operation. The Reader is a wireless receiver tuned to the same frequency and protocol as the Logger's wireless transmitter. The Gateway collects sensory data from the Reader and forwards that data to the Server via the Internet. The Server accepts and stores data from the Gateway for retrieval and use by the Processor. The Processor formats data for graphing functions and determines whether a trip is “good” or “bad”, depending on parameters set by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventors: Alan C. Heller, Andrew W. Stell
  • Publication number: 20020008633
    Abstract: A tracking system is implemented according to the invention in which the identification data of a wireless transmitter is divided into multiple bursts. Instead of transmitting the entire identification in a single burst, the identification is split among bursts, so that it takes a period of time to uniquely identify a particular transmitter. However, the time between bursts falls under tight tolerance, so once a transmitter is identified, it can be further identified based on when it transmits as opposed to what it transmits. In this way, high tractability can be maintained without repeatedly transmitting the entire identification code of the transmitter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Publication date: January 24, 2002
    Inventor: Alan C. Heller
  • Patent number: 6222440
    Abstract: A tracking system is implemented according to the invention in which the identification data of a wireless transmitter is divided into multiple bursts. Instead of transmitting the entire identification in a single burst, the identification is split among bursts, so that it takes a period of time to uniquely identify a particular transmitter. However, the time between bursts falls under tight tolerance, so once a transmitter is identified, it can be further identified based on when it transmits as opposed to what it transmits. In this way, high tractability can be maintained without repeatedly transmitting the entire identification code of the transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Freshloc Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan C. Heller
  • Patent number: 6154139
    Abstract: A method and system utilize both the radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) parts of the electromagnetic spectrum to locate subjects (i.e. objects and persons) within a tracking environment. The system includes a battery-operated, microprocessor-based badge for each subject to be located. Each badge automatically transmits digitized infrared light signals to provide a fine determination of its subject's location. Each badge transmits RF and IR signals upon actuation of a page request/alert push button switch on its badge. An RF signal is also generated at a timed interval as a "heartbeat" pulse. This pulse informs the host computer that the badge is both present and fully functional. The IR and RF signals are modulated or encoded with badge identification data, page request or alert notification data, and battery condition data. The system also includes ceiling or wall sensors in the form of IR and RF receivers. Each RF sensor converts the encoded RF signals into a first set of electrical signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Versus Technology
    Inventor: Alan C. Heller
  • Patent number: RE36791
    Abstract: A radiolocation system for multipath environments, such as for tracking objects in a semiconductor fabrication facility (FIGS. 1a-1b), includes an array of receivers (20) distributed within the tracking area, coupled to a system processor (40) over a LAN. A TAG transmitter (30) located with each object transmits, at selected intervals, spread spectrum TAG transmissions including at least a unique TAG ID. In a high resolution embodiment, object location is accomplished by time-of-arrival (TOA) differentiation, with each receiver (FIG. 2b) including a TOA trigger circuit (64) for triggering on arrival of a TAG transmission, and a time base latching circuit (65) for latching the TOA count from an 800 MHz time base counter. In a low resolution embodiment, each receiver of the array is assigned a specific location-area, and receives TAG transmissions almost exclusively from TAGs located in that area, thereby eliminating the need for any time-of-arrival circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Precision Tracking FM, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan C. Heller