Patents by Inventor Kenneth Charles Rigdon

Kenneth Charles Rigdon 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: 10533882
    Abstract: Techniques for the design and operation of an efficient battery-powered meter are described herein. A metrology unit of the meter may be at least partially located in the gas flow of a pipe, and measures gas flow rate data according to a static flow sensor. The metrology unit calculates raw gas-volume data using at least the flow rate data as input. The metrology unit measures gas temperature to produce gas temperature data, and adjusts the raw gas-volume data, based at least in part on the gas temperature data, to produce corrected gas-volume data. The metrology unit accumulates the corrected gas-volume data over multiple minutes, hours or even days, and then sends the accumulated corrected gas-volume data to an index unit of the meter. By accumulating the data over time, fewer data transmissions are required. The index unit may send the accumulated the accumulated corrected gas-volume data to a utility server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Itron, Inc.
    Inventors: George Iliev, Kenneth Charles Rigdon, Johann de Jager
  • Publication number: 20180087943
    Abstract: Techniques for the design and operation of an efficient battery-powered meter are described herein. A metrology unit of the meter may be at least partially located in the gas flow of a pipe, and measures gas flow rate data according to a static flow sensor. The metrology unit calculates raw gas-volume data using at least the flow rate data as input. The metrology unit measures gas temperature to produce gas temperature data, and adjusts the raw gas-volume data, based at least in part on the gas temperature data, to produce corrected gas-volume data. The metrology unit accumulates the corrected gas-volume data over multiple minutes, hours or even days, and then sends the accumulated corrected gas-volume data to an index unit of the meter. By accumulating the data over time, fewer data transmissions are required. The index unit may send the accumulated the accumulated corrected gas-volume data to a utility server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventors: George Iliev, Kenneth Charles Rigdon, Johann de Jager
  • Patent number: 9860730
    Abstract: Disclosed are techniques to minimize the electricity consumption of battery powered devices during network communications and performance of other functions. Example techniques include efficiently discovering other mains powered and battery powered devices within communication range of the battery powered device. In another example, techniques enable a battery powered device to serve as a relay for one or more other battery powered devices. In another example, techniques ensure that transmissions to and/or from battery powered devices are delivered efficiently and with low latency. In yet another example, techniques determine whether and under what conditions a battery powered device should migrate from one network to another. In the event of migration, example techniques minimize battery consumption associated with the migration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Itron, Inc.
    Inventors: Mehdi Mani, Hartman Van Wyk, Kenneth Charles Rigdon, Elliott Adam Nelson
  • Patent number: 9456258
    Abstract: Disclosed are techniques to minimize the electricity consumption of battery powered devices during network communications and performance of other functions. Example techniques include efficiently discovering other mains powered and battery powered devices within communication range of the battery powered device. In another example, techniques enable a battery powered device to serve as a relay for one or more other battery powered devices. In another example, techniques ensure that transmissions to and/or from battery powered devices are delivered efficiently and with low latency. In yet another example, techniques determine whether and under what conditions a battery powered device should migrate from one network to another. In the event of migration, example techniques minimize battery consumption associated with the migration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Itron, Inc.
    Inventors: Mehdi Mani, Hartman Van Wyk, Kenneth Charles Rigdon, Elliott Adam Nelson, Keith Barnes, Iskander Banaouas, Yacine Khaled, Viet-Hung H. Nguyen, Bastien Mainaud
  • Patent number: 9356831
    Abstract: A node may be configured for operation in an intelligent network environment, wherein the node communicates via different modes of communication. The node selects a first mode of communication (e.g., mesh network mode). The node communicates via the first mode of communication. In response to determining a first condition (e.g., interference), the node selects a second mode of communication. The node then communicates via the second mode of communication. In response to determining a second condition (e.g., interference ceases), the node selects the first mode of communication and communicates via the first mode of communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Itron, Inc.
    Inventors: Elliott Adam Nelson, Kenneth Charles Rigdon
  • Publication number: 20160021525
    Abstract: Disclosed are techniques to minimize the electricity consumption of battery powered devices during network communications and performance of other functions. Example techniques include efficiently discovering other mains powered and battery powered devices within communication range of the battery powered device. In another example, techniques enable a battery powered device to serve as a relay for one or more other battery powered devices. In another example, techniques ensure that transmissions to and/or from battery powered devices are delivered efficiently and with low latency. In yet another example, techniques determine whether and under what conditions a battery powered device should migrate from one network to another. In the event of migration, example techniques minimize battery consumption associated with the migration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Mehdi Mani, Hartman Van Wyk, Kenneth Charles Rigdon, Elliott Adam Nelson
  • Publication number: 20160021433
    Abstract: Disclosed are techniques to minimize the electricity consumption of battery powered devices during network communications and performance of other functions. Example techniques include efficiently discovering other mains powered and battery powered devices within communication range of the battery powered device. In another example, techniques enable a battery powered device to serve as a relay for one or more other battery powered devices. In another example, techniques ensure that transmissions to and/or from battery powered devices are delivered efficiently and with low latency. In yet another example, techniques determine whether and under what conditions a battery powered device should migrate from one network to another. In the event of migration, example techniques minimize battery consumption associated with the migration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Mehdi Mani, Hartman Van Wyk, Kenneth Charles Rigdon, Elliott Adam Nelson, Keith Barnes, Iskander Banaouas, Yacine Khaled, Viet-Hung H. Nguyen, Bastien Mainaud
  • Publication number: 20160019663
    Abstract: Disclosed are techniques to minimize the electricity consumption of battery powered devices during network communications and performance of other functions. Example techniques include efficiently discovering other mains powered and battery powered devices within communication range of the battery powered device. In another example, techniques enable a battery powered device to serve as a relay for one or more other battery powered devices. In another example, techniques ensure that transmissions to and/or from battery powered devices are delivered efficiently and with low latency. In yet another example, techniques determine whether and under what conditions a battery powered device should migrate from one network to another. In the event of migration, example techniques minimize battery consumption associated with the migration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Mehdi Mani, Hartman Van Wyk, Kenneth Charles Rigdon, Elliott Adam Nelson
  • Publication number: 20140169152
    Abstract: A node may be configured for operation in an intelligent network environment, wherein the node communicates via different modes of communication. The node selects a first mode of communication (e.g., mesh network mode). The node communicates via the first mode of communication. In response to determining a first condition (e.g., interference), the node selects a second mode of communication. The node then communicates via the second mode of communication. In response to determining a second condition (e.g., interference ceases), the node selects the first mode of communication and communicates via the first mode of communication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: ITRON, INC.
    Inventors: Elliott Adam Nelson, Kenneth Charles Rigdon