Patents by Inventor Jim Allen
Jim Allen 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).
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Patent number: 8253018Abstract: A pre-fabricated ferromagnetic loop having a footprint characterized by a continuous wire shaped according to a predetermined planar pattern. In some embodiments, the predetermined planar pattern can be multiple contiguous polygons within a larger footprint used for establishing a sensor for the detection of moving vehicles. The footprint may include one of a triangle, a square, a rectangle, a rhombus, a parallelogram, an ellipse, or a circle, and/or other shapes or configurations. Similarly, each of the multiple contiguous polygons may include one of a triangle, a square, a rectangle, a rhombus, a parallelogram, and/or other shapes or configurations. A loop sensor housing is arranged to enclose a continuous loop sensor wire configured in the predetermined planar pattern. The prefabricated loop sensor is inserted in a groove web pre-cut in a receiving medium to match the predetermined planar pattern.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2011Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: United Toll Systems, Inc.Inventor: Jim Allen
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Publication number: 20120198545Abstract: A method of electronically displaying glyphs. The method includes receiving a glyph spacing, moving a first glyph toward a second glyph along an axis, identifying an intersection of a first axis coordinate of the first glyph with a second axis coordinate of the second glyph, and moving at least one of the glyphs along the axis to separate the first and second axis coordinates of the respective first and second glyphs by the glyph spacing.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2012Publication date: August 2, 2012Applicant: Provo Craft and Novelty, Inc.Inventors: George Willard Keenan, Jim Allen Colby, Matthew B. Strong, Daniel Torgerson, Garth Braithwaite, Daniel Hatch, Andrew Branch, Randall Wright, Sean Thayne, Emerson Tyler Wright, Jeremiah Stephenson, Mark Miles, Mac Sims
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Patent number: 8135614Abstract: A multizone RF read/write system for conducting transactions with vehicles traveling at high speeds. A first RF read zone is created, preferably by use of a first gantry that extends over at least one lane and contains at least one RF source that creates a large powerful RF read zone for reading or reading and writing to a transponder on a passing vehicle. Additional RF read zones arranged in tandem with the first RF read zone are created by at least one additional RF source that is located on an additional gantry extending over at least one lane, or located on the first gantry. Accordingly, multiple RF read zones are created to conduct transactions with passing vehicles. In one aspect, the multiple RF read zones can be used to ensure that tolling transactions with a single vehicle are more likely to be completed and have a higher degree of accuracy. In another aspect, the multiple RF read zones each employ a different RF technology so that multiple types of RF toll tags can be read and written.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2010Date of Patent: March 13, 2012Assignee: United Toll Systems, Inc.Inventors: Jim Allen, Balaraju Banna, Shyamnath Harinath, Fajie Sun, Malcolm Talley
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Publication number: 20110168442Abstract: A pre-fabricated ferromagnetic loop having a footprint characterized by a continuous wire shaped according to a predetermined planar pattern. In some embodiments, the predetermined planar pattern can be multiple contiguous polygons within a larger footprint used for establishing a sensor for the detection of moving vehicles. The footprint may include one of a triangle, a square, a rectangle, a rhombus, a parallelogram, an ellipse, or a circle, and/or other shapes or configurations. Similarly, each of the multiple contiguous polygons may include one of a triangle, a square, a rectangle, a rhombus, a parallelogram, and/or other shapes or configurations. A loop sensor housing is arranged to enclose a continuous loop sensor wire configured in the predetermined planar pattern. The prefabricated loop sensor is inserted in a groove web pre-cut in a receiving medium to match the predetermined planar pattern.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2011Publication date: July 14, 2011Applicant: United Toll Systems, Inc.Inventor: Jim ALLEN
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Patent number: 7953144Abstract: A method halts transmission and/or reception of a desired signal on a channel in a communication network and samples an analog metric versus time on the channel at a predetermined sample rate. Successively sampled sets of data are stored first to a one dimensional array, each of which set is then stored to a two-dimensional array. The two dimensional array is analyzed in the time domain to determine the presence of impulse noise. Analog parameters represented by values contained in the samples can be analyzed to determine where, with respect to time, impulse noise occurs, and what is the amplitude of the impulse noise as well as AWGN.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2007Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Assignee: ARRIS Group, Inc.Inventors: Jim Allen, Tom Cloonan
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Patent number: 7952021Abstract: A pre-fabricated ferromagnetic loop having a footprint characterized by a continuous wire shaped according to a predetermined planar pattern. In some embodiments, the predetermined planar pattern can be multiple contiguous polygons within a larger footprint used for establishing a sensor for the detection of moving vehicles. The footprint may include one of a triangle, a square, a rectangle, a rhombus, a parallelogram, an ellipse, or a circle, and/or other shapes or configurations. Similarly, each of the multiple contiguous polygons may include one of a triangle, a square, a rectangle, a rhombus, a parallelogram, and/or other shapes or configurations. A loop sensor housing is arranged to enclose a continuous loop sensor wire configured in the predetermined planar pattern. The prefabricated loop sensor is inserted in a groove web pre-cut in a receiving medium to match the predetermined planar pattern.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2008Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Assignee: United Toll Systems, Inc.Inventor: Jim Allen
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Patent number: 7925440Abstract: A system and method for accurate express tolling of highway vehicles. A multilane tolling system comprises a tolling (MVIC) unit that collects information from tolling subsystems arranged to take various vehicle measurements. Preferably, an intelligent vehicle identification subsystem sends vehicle information to the MVIC unit many times per second. Preferably, a vision tracking system (VTS) communicates with the MVIC unit and sends the latter information about the vehicle position using vision tracking sensors. Preferably, an RF subsystem conducts multiple reads of a transponder on a passing vehicle and forwards the read information to the MVIC unit. Preferably, a vehicle image capture unit (VICU) captures images of the passing vehicle when a camera in the VICU receives a trigger from the MVIC unit. Preferably, a driver alert module is used alert a driver passing through a tolling point as to account balance associated with a silent toll tag or pay by plate system.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2010Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: United Toll Systems, Inc.Inventors: Jim Allen, Sheng Zhong, Raghavan Venugopal, Tiegang Xie, Fajie Sun, Sangmesh Reddy, Brijesh Rai Chawla, Balaraju Banna, Shyamnath Harinath
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Publication number: 20110013022Abstract: A system and method for accurate express tolling of highway vehicles. A multilane tolling system comprises a tolling (MVIC) unit that collects information from tolling subsystems arranged to take various vehicle measurements. Preferably, an intelligent vehicle identification subsystem sends vehicle information to the MVIC unit many times per second. Preferably, a vision tracking system (VTS) communicates with the MVIC unit and sends the latter information about the vehicle position using vision tracking sensors. Preferably, an RF subsystem conducts multiple reads of a transponder on a passing vehicle and forwards the read information to the MVIC unit. Preferably, a vehicle image capture unit (VICU) captures images of the passing vehicle when a camera in the VICU receives a trigger from the MVIC unit. Preferably, a driver alert module is used alert a driver passing through a tolling point as to account balance associated with a silent toll tag or pay by plate system.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2010Publication date: January 20, 2011Applicant: United Toll Systems, Inc.Inventors: Jim Allen, Sheng Zhong, Raghavan Venugopal, Tiegang Xie, Fajie Sun, Sangmesh Reddy, Brijesh Rei Chawla, Balaraju Banna, Shyamnath Harinath
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Publication number: 20100274641Abstract: A multizone RF read/write system for conducting transactions with vehicles traveling at high speeds. A first RF read zone is created, preferably by use of a first gantry that extends over at least one lane and contains at least one RF source that creates a large powerful RF read zone for reading or reading and writing to a transponder on a passing vehicle. Additional RF read zones arranged in tandem with the first RF read zone are created by at least one additional RF source that is located on an additional gantry extending over at least one lane, or located on the first gantry. Accordingly, multiple RF read zones are created to conduct transactions with passing vehicles. In one aspect, the multiple RF read zones can be used to ensure that tolling transactions with a single vehicle are more likely to be completed and have a higher degree of accuracy. In another aspect, the multiple RF read zones each employ a different RF technology so that multiple types of RF toll tags can be read and written.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2010Publication date: October 28, 2010Applicant: United Toll Systems, Inc.Inventors: JIM ALLEN, Balaraju Banna, Shyamnath Harinath, Fajie Sun, Malcolm Talley
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Patent number: 7764197Abstract: A method and system for synchronization of detection loops in a multilane environment. A plurality of loop sensors are arranged in a plurality of lanes such that loop sensors in adjacent lanes are mutually contiguous. A simultaneous synchronization signal is sent to each of the plurality of loop detector controllers, where each loop detector controller is in communication with a loop sensor. The signal causes a scheduling of sampling periods for each loop sensor, such that the sampling period of each loop sensor does not overlap with that of a contiguous loop in an adjacent lane.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2008Date of Patent: July 27, 2010Assignee: United Toll Systems, Inc.Inventors: Jim Allen, Balaraju Banna, Malcolm Talley, David C. Allen, Sr., Allen Jacobs
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Patent number: 7751975Abstract: A system and method for accurate express tolling of highway vehicles. A multilane tolling system comprises a tolling (MVIC) unit that collects information from tolling subsystems arranged to take various vehicle measurements. Preferably, an intelligent vehicle identification subsystem sends vehicle information to the MVIC unit many times per second. Preferably, a vision tracking system (VTS) communicates with the MVIC unit and sends the latter information about the vehicle position using vision tracking sensors. Preferably, an RF subsystem conducts multiple reads of a transponder on a passing vehicle and forwards the read information to the MVIC unit. Preferably, a vehicle image capture unit (VICU) captures images of the passing vehicle when a camera in the VICU receives a trigger from the MVIC unit. Preferably, a driver alert module is used alert a driver passing through a tolling point as to account balance associated with a silent toll tag or pay by plate system.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2008Date of Patent: July 6, 2010Assignee: United Toll Systems, Inc.Inventors: Jim Allen, Sheng Zhong, Raghavan Venugopal, Tiegang Xie, Fajie Sun, Sangmesh Reddy, Brijesh Rai Chawla, Balaraju Banna, Shyamnath Harinath
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Patent number: 7734500Abstract: A multizone RF read/write system for conducting transactions with vehicles traveling at high speeds. A first RF read zone is created, preferably by use of a first gantry that extends over at least one lane and contains at least one RF source that creates a large powerful RF read zone for reading or reading and writing to a transponder on a passing vehicle. Additional RF read zones arranged in tandem with the first RF read zone are created by at least one additional RF source that is located on an additional gantry extending over at least one lane, or located on the first gantry. Accordingly, multiple RF read zones are created to conduct transactions with passing vehicles. In one aspect, the multiple RF read zones can be used to ensure that tolling transactions with a single vehicle are more likely to be completed and have a higher degree of accuracy. In another aspect, the multiple RF read zones each employ a different RF technology so that multiple types of RF toll tags can be read and written.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2005Date of Patent: June 8, 2010Assignee: United Toll Systems, Inc.Inventors: Jim Allen, Balaraju Banna, Shyamnath Harinath, Fajie Sun, Malcolm Talley
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Patent number: 7725348Abstract: A system and method for accurate express tolling of highway vehicles. A multilane tolling system comprises a tolling (MVIC) unit that collects information from tolling subsystems arranged to take various vehicle measurements. Preferably, an intelligent vehicle identification subsystem sends vehicle information to the MVIC unit many times per second. Preferably, a vision tracking system (VTS) communicates with the MVIC unit and sends the latter information about the vehicle position using vision tracking sensors. Preferably, an RF subsystem conducts multiple reads of a transponder on a passing vehicle and forwards the read information to the MVIC unit. Preferably, a vehicle image capture unit (VICU) captures images of the passing vehicle when a camera in the VICU receives a trigger from the MVIC unit. Preferably, a driver alert module is used alert a driver passing through a tolling point as to account balance associated with a silent toll tag or pay by plate system.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2005Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: United Toll Systems, Inc.Inventors: Jim Allen, Sheng Zhong, Raghavan Venugopal, Tiegang Xie, Fajie Sun, Sangmesh Reddy, Brijesh Rai Chawla, Balaraju Banna, Shyamnath Harinath
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Patent number: 7712523Abstract: A torque head for gripping tubular members, in at least some aspects, has a housing, grip mechanism secured within the housing, the grip mechanism for selectively gripping a tubular member, the grip mechanism including at least one jaw selectively movable toward and away from a portion of a tubular member within the housing, the at least one jaw having mounted thereon slip apparatus for engaging the portion of the tubular member, the slip apparatus including die apparatus movably mounted to the at least one jaw, the die apparatus movable with respect to the at least one jaw so that relative movement of the tubular with respect to the torque head is possible to the extent that the die apparatus is movable.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2003Date of Patent: May 11, 2010Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.Inventors: Randy Gene Snider, David Shahin, Jim Allen, Kevin Gray, Gary Thompson
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Publication number: 20090278014Abstract: Equipment for collecting information from vehicles moving through a lane on a roadway is positioned over the roadway using a track structure and a transfer device. The transfer device is adapted to mount and move the equipment between a first location and a second location along the track structure. A mounting structure, such as a gantry, may be used to support the track structure and/or equipment over the lanes on the roadway. A pulley system may be disposed in the track structure to move the transfer device. Also, a displacing device to raise the equipment relative to the track structure when the equipment is being moved along the track may be used. Alternatively, the transfer device may be mounted in an offset configuration to move the equipment between locations without the use of a displacing device.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2008Publication date: November 12, 2009Inventors: Jim Allen, James Daniel Moseley
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Publication number: 20090174575Abstract: A system and method for accurate express tolling of highway vehicles. A multilane tolling system comprises a tolling (MVIC) unit that collects information from tolling subsystems arranged to take various vehicle measurements. Preferably, an intelligent vehicle identification subsystem sends vehicle information to the MVIC unit many times per second. Preferably, a vision tracking system (VTS) communicates with the MVIC unit and sends the latter information about the vehicle position using vision tracking sensors. Preferably, an RF subsystem conducts multiple reads of a transponder on a passing vehicle and forwards the read information to the MVIC unit. Preferably, a vehicle image capture unit (VICU) captures images of the passing vehicle when a camera in the VICU receives a trigger from the MVIC unit. Preferably, a driver alert module is used alert a driver passing through a tolling point as to account balance associated with a silent toll tag or pay by plate system.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2008Publication date: July 9, 2009Inventors: Jim ALLEN, Sheng Zhong, Raghavan Venugopal, Tiegang Xie, Fajie Sun, Sangmesh Reddy, Brijesh Rai Chawla, Balaraju Banna, Shyamnath Harinath
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Publication number: 20090174576Abstract: A system and method for accurate express tolling of highway vehicles. A multilane tolling system comprises a tolling (MVIC) unit that collects information from tolling subsystems arranged to take various vehicle measurements. Preferably, an intelligent vehicle identification subsystem sends vehicle information to the MVIC unit many times per second. Preferably, a vision tracking system (VTS) communicates with the MVIC unit and sends the latter information about the vehicle position using vision tracking sensors. Preferably, an RF subsystem conducts multiple reads of a transponder on a passing vehicle and forwards the read information to the MVIC unit. Preferably, a vehicle image capture unit (VICU) captures images of the passing vehicle when a camera in the VICU receives a trigger from the MVIC unit. Preferably, a driver alert module is used alert a driver passing through a tolling point as to account balance associated with a silent toll tag or pay by plate system.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2008Publication date: July 9, 2009Applicant: Jim AllenInventors: Jim Allen, Sheng Zhong, Raghavan Venugopal, Tiegang Xie, Fajie Sun, Sangmesh Reddy, Brijesh Rai Chawla, Balaraju Banna, Shyamnath Harinath
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Publication number: 20090174778Abstract: A system and method for accurate express tolling of highway vehicles. A multilane tolling system comprises a tolling (MVIC) unit that collects information from tolling subsystems arranged to take various vehicle measurements. Preferably, an intelligent vehicle identification subsystem sends vehicle information to the MVIC unit many times per second. Preferably, a vision tracking system (VTS) communicates with the MVIC unit and sends the latter information about the vehicle position using vision tracking sensors. Preferably, an RF subsystem conducts multiple reads of a transponder on a passing vehicle and forwards the read information to the MVIC unit. Preferably, a vehicle image capture unit (VICU) captures images of the passing vehicle when a camera in the VICU receives a trigger from the MVIC unit. Preferably, a driver alert module is used alert a driver passing through a tolling point as to account balance associated with a silent toll tag or pay by plate system.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2008Publication date: July 9, 2009Inventors: Jim ALLEN, Sheng Zhong, Raghavan Venugopal, Tiegang Xie, Fajie Sun, Sangmesh Reddy, Brijesh Rai Chawla, Balaraju Banna, Shyamnath Harinath
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Publication number: 20080271907Abstract: A pre-fabricated ferromagnetic loop having a footprint characterized by a continuous wire shaped according to a predetermined planar pattern. In some embodiments, the predetermined planar pattern can be multiple contiguous polygons within a larger footprint used for establishing a sensor for the detection of moving vehicles. The footprint may include one of a triangle, a square, a rectangle, a rhombus, a parallelogram, an ellipse, or a circle, and/or other shapes or configurations. Similarly, each of the multiple contiguous polygons may include one of a triangle, a square, a rectangle, a rhombus, a parallelogram, and/or other shapes or configurations. A loop sensor housing is arranged to enclose a continuous loop sensor wire configured in the predetermined planar pattern. The prefabricated loop sensor is inserted in a groove web pre-cut in a receiving medium to match the predetermined planar pattern.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2008Publication date: November 6, 2008Inventor: JIM ALLEN
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Publication number: 20080143555Abstract: A method and system for synchronization of detection loops in a multilane environment. A plurality of loop sensors are arranged in a plurality of lanes such that loop sensors in adjacent lanes are mutually contiguous. A simultaneous synchronization signal is sent to each of the plurality of loop detector controllers, where each loop detector controller is in communication with a loop sensor. The signal causes a scheduling of sampling periods for each loop sensor, such that the sampling period of each loop sensor does not overlap with that of a contiguous loop in an adjacent lane.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2008Publication date: June 19, 2008Inventors: Jim Allen, Balaraju Banna, Malcolm Talley, David C. Allen, Allen Jacobs