Patents by Inventor Bruce D. Lightner

Bruce D. Lightner 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).

  • Patent number: 9466159
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and systems installed in a vehicle. One method includes identifying, with a processing unit installed in a vehicle, one of a plurality of data sources providing vehicle data over a communication interface in the vehicle, wherein the plurality of data sources provide vehicle data from at least two different vehicle control modules. The method also includes incrementing, with the processing unit, a counter associated with the one of the plurality of data sources, comparing, with the processing unit, the counter to a threshold, setting, with the processing unit, the one of the plurality of data sources as an active data source for receiving vehicle data when the counter exceeds the threshold, and processing the vehicle data received provided by the one of the plurality of data sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas C. Harter, Michael K. Kuphal, Bruce D. Lightner, Randel J. Thome
  • Patent number: 9441977
    Abstract: Methods and systems for transmitting location data from a collection device installed in a vehicle to an external device. One method includes receiving, with the collection device, a plurality of instances of location data for the vehicle, wherein each of the plurality of instances of the location data includes a coordinate, a time, and a quality value, and storing, in a memory module of the collection device, the plurality of instances of location data. The method also includes receiving, with the collection device, a request from the external device, the request associated with a time period, determining, with the collection device, a set of location data from the plurality of instances of location data based on the time period, and transmitting the set of location data to the external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas C. Harter, Michael K. Kuphal, Bruce D. Lightner, Randel J. Thome
  • Patent number: 9361737
    Abstract: A base unit installed in a vehicle including a vehicle communication module for communicating with a controller, the controller monitoring at least one operating parameter of the vehicle. The base unit also includes a transceiver and a processor configured to receive the at least one operating parameter of the vehicle from the vehicle communication module. The processor is further configured to receive identifying information for a driver associated with the vehicle from at least one external device and process the at least one operating parameter and a set of thresholds associated with the driver to detect a driving event. The transceiver is configured to transmit the driving event to at least one external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Tom C. Harter, Michael K. Kuphal, Randel J. Thome, Bruce D. Lightner
  • Patent number: 9299200
    Abstract: A base unit installed in a vehicle including a vehicle communication module for communicating with a controller, the controller monitoring at least one operating parameter of the vehicle. The base unit also includes a transceiver and a processor configured to receive the at least one operating parameter of the vehicle from the vehicle communication module and process the at least one operating parameter to detect an event, wherein the event is used for driver compliance logging. The transceiver is configured to transmit the event to at least one external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Tom C. Harter, Michael K. Kuphal, Randel J. Thome, Bruce D. Lightner
  • Patent number: 9235936
    Abstract: A base unit installed in a vehicle including a vehicle communication module for communicating with a controller, the controller monitoring at least one operating parameter of the vehicle. The base unit also includes a transceiver and a processor configured to receive the at least one operating parameter of the vehicle from the vehicle communication module and process the at least one operating parameter to detect an event, wherein the event is used for driver compliance logging. The transceiver is configured to transmit the event to at least one external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Tom C. Harter, Michael K. Kuphal, Randel J. Thome, Bruce D. Lightner
  • Publication number: 20150325063
    Abstract: A base unit installed in a vehicle including a vehicle communication module for communicating with a controller, the controller monitoring at least one operating parameter of the vehicle. The base unit also includes a transceiver and a processor configured to receive the at least one operating parameter of the vehicle from the vehicle communication module and process the at least one operating parameter to detect an event, wherein the event is used for driver compliance logging. The transceiver is configured to transmit the event to at least one external device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: Tom C. Harter, Michael K. Kuphal, Randel J. Thome, Bruce D. Lightner
  • Publication number: 20150170433
    Abstract: A base unit installed in a vehicle including a vehicle communication module for communicating with a controller, the controller monitoring at least one operating parameter of the vehicle. The base unit also includes a transceiver and a processor configured to receive the at least one operating parameter of the vehicle from the vehicle communication module. The processor is further configured to receive identifying information for a driver associated with the vehicle from at least one external device and process the at least one operating parameter and a set of thresholds associated with the driver to detect a driving event. The transceiver is configured to transmit the driving event to at least one external device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Tom C. Harter, Michael K. Kuphal, Randel J. Thome, Bruce D. Lightner
  • Publication number: 20150170434
    Abstract: A base unit installed in a vehicle including a vehicle communication module for communicating with a controller, the controller monitoring at least one operating parameter of the vehicle. The base unit also includes a transceiver and a processor configured to receive the at least one operating parameter of the vehicle from the vehicle communication module. The processor is further configured to process the at least one operating parameter to detect an event using a state machine including a plurality of states, wherein the event is used for driver compliance logging. The transceiver is configured to transmit the event to at least one external device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Tom C. Harter, Michael K. Kuphal, Randel J. Thome, Bruce D. Lightner
  • Publication number: 20150170428
    Abstract: A base unit installed in a vehicle including a vehicle communication module for communicating with a controller, the controller monitoring at least one operating parameter of the vehicle. The base unit also includes a transceiver and a processor configured to receive the at least one operating parameter of the vehicle from the vehicle communication module and process the at least one operating parameter to detect an event, wherein the event is used for driver compliance logging. The transceiver is configured to transmit the event to at least one external device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Tom C. Harter, Michael K. Kuphal, Randel J. Thome, Bruce D. Lightner
  • Patent number: 8682525
    Abstract: In telematics device mounted to a vehicle, an auxiliary processor detects an interrupt from an accelerometer and forwards the interrupt to a main processor—the interrupt wakes up the processor from a sleep mode. The main processor may then compare vehicle voltage and/or a value for a speed parameter to predetermined criteria to determine whether the interrupt was a false positive or if the accelerometer missed a detection of a user cranking up the vehicle. The main processor may also enter a conditional state if monitored information meets a minimum threshold. During the conditional state, the processor may operate according to rules for a current operational state and also according to rules for a changed state. The threshold for deeming a changed operational state is higher than for entering a conditional state to evaluate whether a change of operational state (i.e., on to off, or off to on) occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: HTI IP, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Deep Kalinadhabhotla, Ivan Neflali Cardenas Perez, Bruce D. Lightner
  • Publication number: 20080090488
    Abstract: A drive unit for driving a mobile assembly where the mobile assembly includes a mobile and a rotational coupling unit for storing and delivering energy to the mobile and where the mobile assembly has an oscillating period. The drive unit includes a motor for connecting to the mobile assembly, a power source, a motor driver for providing power from the power source to the motor and a control unit for controlling the motor driver to provide drive-pulse impulses to the motor with a low duty cycle and with a pulse period tailored to the mobile assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Inventor: Bruce D. Lightner
  • Publication number: 20080081538
    Abstract: A mobile apparatus including a motor and one or more mobile assemblies. Each mobile assembly includes a rotational coupling unit oscillating between winding to store energy and unwinding to supply energy with rotation alternately in a first direction and in a second direction. The mobile assembly includes a mobile connected to the coupling unit for rotation by the coupling unit alternately in the first direction and in the second direction. The motor is connected to and stores energy into a first one of the mobile assemblies. In one preferred embodiment, the motor is a low duty-cycle impulse motor that conserves energy. A typically mobile apparatus has an expected battery life of well beyond 12 months.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Inventors: Laurence Jeffrey Ostrow, Bruce D. Lightner
  • Patent number: 5987588
    Abstract: A processor architecture is described which operates with improved computational efficiency using instruction fetching functions that are decoupled from instruction execution functions by a dynamic register file. The instruction fetching function operates in free-running mode which does not stop if a fetched instruction cannot be executed due to data being unavailable or due to other instruction dependencies. Branch instructions are taken in a predicted direction and the results of execution of all instructions are provisionally stored pending validation or invalidation on the basis of the dependencies becoming available later.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Hyundai Electronics America, Inc.
    Inventors: Valeri Popescu, Merle A. Schultz, Gary A. Gibson, John E. Spracklen, Bruce D. Lightner
  • Patent number: 5832293
    Abstract: A processor architecture is described which operates with improved computational efficiency using instruction fetching functions that are decoupled from instruction execution functions by a dynamic register file. The instruction fetching function operates in free-running mode which does not stop if a fetched instruction cannot be executed due to data being unavailable or due to other instruction dependencies. Branch instructions are taken in a predicted direction and the results of execution of all instructions are provisionally stored pending validation or invalidation on the basis of the dependencies becoming available later.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Hyundai Electronics America, Inc.
    Inventors: Valeri Popescu, Merle A. Schultz, Gary A. Gibson, John E. Spracklen, Bruce D. Lightner
  • Patent number: 5797025
    Abstract: A processor architecture is described which operates with improved computational efficiency using instruction fetching functions that are decoupled from instruction execution functions by a dynamic register file. The instruction fetching function operates in free-running mode which does not stop if a fetched instruction cannot be executed due to data being unavailable or due to other instruction dependencies. Branch instructions are taken in a predicted direction and the results of execution of all instructions are provisionally stored pending validation or invalidation on the basis of the dependencies becoming available later.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Hyundai Electronics America, Inc.
    Inventors: Valeri Popescu, Merle A. Schultz, Gary A. Gibson, John E. Spracklen, Bruce D. Lightner
  • Patent number: 5708841
    Abstract: A processor architecture is described which operates with improved computational efficiency using instruction fetching functions that are decoupled from instruction execution functions by a dynamic register file. The instruction fetching function operates in free-running mode which does not stop if a fetched instruction cannot be executed due to data being unavailable or due to other instruction dependencies. Branch instructions are taken in a predicted direction and the results of execution of all instructions are provisionally stored pending validation or invalidation on the basis of the dependencies becoming available later.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Hyundai Electronics America
    Inventors: Valeri Popescu, Merle A. Schultz, Gary A. Gibson, John E. Spracklen, Bruce D. Lightner
  • Patent number: 5627983
    Abstract: A processor architecture is described which operates with improved computational efficiency using instruction fetching functions that are decoupled from instruction execution functions by a dynamic register file. The instruction fetching function operates in free-running mode which does not stop if a fetched instruction cannot be executed due to data being unavailable or due to other instruction dependencies. Branch instructions are taken in a predicted direction and the results of execution of all instructions are provisionally stored pending validation or invalidation on the basis of the dependencies becoming available later.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: Hyundai Electronics America
    Inventors: Valeri Popescu, Merle A. Schultz, Gary A. Gibson, John E. Spracklen, Bruce D. Lightner
  • Patent number: 5625837
    Abstract: A processor architecture is described which operates with improved computational efficiency using instruction fetching functions that are decoupled from instruction execution functions by a dynamic register file. The instruction fetching function operates in free-running mode which does not stop if a fetched instruction cannot be executed due to data being unavailable or due to other instruction dependencies. Branch instructions are taken in a predicted direction and the results of execution of all instructions are provisionally stored pending validation or invalidation on the basis of the dependencies becoming available later.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: Hyundai Electronics America
    Inventors: Valeri Popescu, Merle A. Schultz, Gary A. Gibson, John E. Spracklen, Bruce D. Lightner
  • Patent number: 5592636
    Abstract: A processor architecture is described which operates with improved computational efficiency using instruction fetching functions that are decoupled from instruction execution functions by a dynamic register file. The instruction fetching function operates in free-running mode which does not stop if a fetched instruction cannot be executed due to data being unavailable or due to other instruction dependencies. Branch instructions are taken in a predicted direction and the results of execution of all instructions are provisionally stored pending validation or invalidation on the basis of the dependencies becoming available later.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Hyundai Electronics America
    Inventors: Valeri Popescu, Merle A. Schultz, Gary A. Gibson, John E. Spracklen, Bruce D. Lightner
  • Patent number: 5561776
    Abstract: A processor architecture is described which operates with improved computational efficiency using instruction fetching functions that are decoupled from instruction execution functions by a dynamic register file. The instruction fetching function operates in free-running mode which does not stop if a fetched instruction cannot be executed due to data being unavailable or due to other instruction dependencies. Branch instructions are taken in a predicted direction and the results of execution of all instructions are provisionally stored pending validation or invalidation on the basis of the dependencies becoming available later.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignee: Hyundai Electronics America
    Inventors: Valeri Popescu, Merle A. Schultz, Gary A. Gibson, John E. Spracklen, Bruce D. Lightner