Patents by Inventor Michael James Hartman

Michael James Hartman 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: 9639725
    Abstract: A tracking associate system that comprises a rotatable platform; an optically retroreflective label reader attached to the platform; a control unit attached to the rotatable platform; a scene recording camera; and a data network configured to process data produced by the label reader and/or the camera. Another tracking system comprises one, or more, label tracking pairs that each have a recording camera associated with a light source emitter; a platform configured to allow the label tracking pair to track a plurality of optically retroreflective labels that are affixed to objects; and a data network in communication with the label tracking pair that is configured to process data received from the label tracking pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Danijel Maricic, Michael James Hartman, John Erik Hershey
  • Patent number: 9622324
    Abstract: A method and system for geolocation using a street light system having transponding technology. A predetermined band of radio frequencies employing spread spectrum technology is used to identify locations relative to an individual street light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael James Hartman, Bruce Gordon Barnett, John Erik Hershey, Ralph Thomas Hoctor, Michael Joseph Dell'Anno, Stanislava Soro
  • Patent number: 9621265
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling and monitoring street lights using optical link signaling through free space which does not require an FCC license for operation. The optical link signaling is accomplished in the space between street lights by using LEDs for both area lighting and optical signaling. A Street lighting system luminaire comprises a structural member such as a pole, a lamp comprising one or more LEDs, and an optical receiver that receives optical signaling from one or more other luminaires in street lighting network. The modulator modulates the output of the lamp to launch data into the street lighting system for transport. The optical receiver and modulator enables strobing and flashing modes such as required to support emergency services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael James Hartman, Bruce Gordon Barnett, John Erik Hershey, Michael Joseph Dell'Anno, Stanislava Soro
  • Patent number: 9622323
    Abstract: A street lighting fixture and street lamp used in street lighting containing an accelerometer that is used to detect and characterize acceleration events on a street lighting fixture. The accelerometer readings may be combined with GPS technology to determine a relocation of the street lighting fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael James Hartman, Bruce Gordon Barnett, John Erik Hershey, Michael Joseph Dell'Anno, Stanislava Soro
  • Publication number: 20170094754
    Abstract: Processes for commissioning an indoor lighting system composed of a plurality of lighting fixtures, each including a lighting associate, include the steps of establishing a direct connection table for each lighting associate; forming a full direct connection table represented as a square matrix and comprising data derived from all direct connection tables; grouping the lighting associates using an element reduction operation on the square matrix; and transmitting a group direct connection matrix to each lighting associate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Michael James Hartman, John Erik Hershey, Danijel Maricic
  • Publication number: 20170094755
    Abstract: Provided is a lighting system that includes a plurality of luminaires, at least one controller in communication with the luminaires via a communication line in a network, and configured to control the luminaires, and a lighting control system including a smart device which wirelessly communicates with the at least one controller and the plurality of the luminaires, and performs a commissioning operation of the luminaires in the network using visual light communication (VLC).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Tamás Darányi, Michael James Hartman
  • Publication number: 20170045626
    Abstract: A street lighting fixture and street lamp used in street lighting containing an accelerometer that is used to detect and characterize acceleration events on a street lighting fixture. The accelerometer readings may be combined with GPS technology to determine a relocation of the street lighting fixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: Michael James Hartman, Bruce Gordon Barnett, John Erik Hershey, Michael Joseph Dell'Anno, Stanislava Soro
  • Patent number: 9563889
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of masking transaction data for a secure wireless transaction includes transmitting wireless pseudo transaction data that includes false transaction data and processing received pseudo transaction data and transaction data to extract or separate the transaction data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Erik Hershey, Michael James Hartman, Richard Louis Zinser, John Anderson Fergus Ross
  • Patent number: 9560720
    Abstract: A method and system for the control and signaling of traffic signal lights by emergency vehicles in the vicinity. Emergency vehicles can be detected by traffic signal lights allowing the emergency vehicle to have a prioritized, rapid, unimpeded, and safe emergency vehicle transit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael James Hartman, Bruce Gordon Barnett, John Erik Hershey, Michael Joseph Dell'Anno, Stanislava Soro
  • Publication number: 20170019825
    Abstract: Provided are methods and systems of managing vertical handoffs in a wireless communication network. Embodiments include analyzing wireless device usage to determine usage patterns, which may include locations and times at which the wireless device is typically accessing the network. The network may recognize points in the usage patterns at which signal quality parameters are typically reduced. Such reductions in signal quality parameters may lead to inefficient vertical handoffs. The network may decrease adverse effects of inefficient vertical handoffs by reducing ping ponging, selecting links between wireless devices and network nodes, or indicating to a user of the wireless device that delays and/or data loss may occur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Inventors: John Erik Hershey, John Anderson Fergus Ross, Michael James Hartman, Richard Louis Zinser
  • Patent number: 9526136
    Abstract: An electronic driver is provided. The electronic driver includes a power converter including an output terminal and configured to generate a converter output power based on a first switching frequency of the power converter. The electronic driver also includes a first controller operatively coupled to the power converter and configured to control the first switching frequency of the power converter. The electronic driver further includes a visible light communication adapter operatively coupled to the output terminal of the power converter and configured to alter the converter output power to perform visible light communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ramanujam Ramabhadran, Danijel Maricic, Michael James Hartman
  • Patent number: 9473999
    Abstract: Provided are methods and systems of managing vertical handoffs in a wireless communication network. Embodiments include analyzing wireless device usage to determine usage patterns, which may include locations and times at which the wireless device is typically accessing the network. The network may recognize points in the usage patterns at which signal quality parameters are typically reduced. Such reductions in signal quality parameters may lead to inefficient vertical handoffs. The network may decrease adverse effects of inefficient vertical handoffs by reducing ping ponging, selecting links between wireless devices and network nodes, or indicating to a user of the wireless device that delays and/or data loss may occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Erik Hershey, John Anderson Fergus Ross, Michael James Hartman, Richard Louis Zinser
  • Patent number: 9439269
    Abstract: A system and method for a lighting control system to control street lighting fixtures using modified geometric harmonic modulation for communications over a powerline. At least some of the lighting fixtures have another communications capability that enables RF communications. The communications may by messages be sent to the lighting fixtures to read RF enabled meters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael James Hartman, Bruce Gordon Barnett, John Erik Hershey, Michael Joseph Dell'Anno, Stanislava Soro
  • Patent number: 9426854
    Abstract: An electronic driver for operating an illumination device is provided. The electronic driver includes a power converter configured to illuminate the illumination device. The power converter includes a switch capacitor circuit configured to perform at least one of a pulse width modulation dimming and a visible light communication using the illumination device. The switch capacitor circuit includes a plurality of split capacitors operatively coupled in series to a second end of a primary winding of a transformer in the power converter and a control switch operatively coupled to the plurality of split capacitors. The power converter also includes a controller operatively coupled to the control switch and is configured to control the control switch to perform at least one of the pulse width modulation dimming and the visible light communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ramanujam Ramabhadran, Eric Lavigne, Michael James Hartman, Danijel Maricic
  • Patent number: 9420674
    Abstract: A system for identifying a fault in a light source is presented. The system includes at least one luminaire that includes the light source configured to emit light. Also, the at least one luminaire includes a monitoring device disposed proximate to the light source. The monitoring device includes a sensing unit configured to measure an amount of light emitted by the light source, and a squawk unit configured to generate a squawk signal based on the amount of light emitted from the light source, where the squawk signal is indicative of the fault in the light source. Further, the system includes a diagnostic unit communicatively coupled to the at least one luminaire and configured to determine the fault in the light source based on the squawk signal, and transmit a termination signal to the squawk unit to decouple an electrical power supply from the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael James Hartman, John Erik Hershey, Michael Joseph Dell'Anno, Stanislava Soro, Bruce Gordon Barnett
  • Patent number: 9369260
    Abstract: Provided are methods and systems of using division-free duplexing (DFD) in a communication network. Techniques for applying DFD in a communication network may decrease bottlenecks in the network by allowing one or more network nodes to transmit and on substantially the same frequency and at substantially the same time. In one embodiment, one or more nodes in the network may be DFD enabled, and may be configured to operate in either a conventional mode or a DFD mode. The mode of operation of DFD enabled nodes may depend on the quality of signals transmitted to and/or received at the DFD enabled nodes. Further, the mode of operation may change dynamically, and may be substantially controlled by any suitable processor in the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Anderson Fergus Ross, Michael James Hartman, John Erik Hershey, Richard Louis Zinser
  • Patent number: 9355670
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for increasing spectral efficiency over data channels in a storage or communication system. In some embodiments, data may be encoded and transmitted over multiple channels. The transmitted data from the multiple channels may be considered together as a channel bundle, thereby increasing the edge transitions of the group of signals to improve clock recovery and reduce coding constraints. In some embodiments, the channel bit size is reduced to maximize data rates based on the reduced coding constraints. Furthermore, the channel bundle has only one channel with timing markers, so that a receiver may receive information from the channel bundle and recover clocking based on the timing markers in the one channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Anderson Fergus Ross, Michael James Hartman, John Erik Hershey, Richard Louis Zinser, Xiaolei Shi
  • Publication number: 20160113092
    Abstract: A street lighting fixture and street lamp used in street lighting containing an accelerometer that is used to detect and characterize acceleration events on a street lighting fixture. The accelerometer readings may be combined with GPS technology to determine a relocation of the street lighting fixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventors: Michael James Hartman, Bruce Gordon Barnett, John Erik Hershey, Michael Joseph Dell'Anno, Stanislava Soro
  • Publication number: 20160039294
    Abstract: A system and method for electrical charging is disclosed. The electrical charging system comprises a first charging coil and an energy storage device coupled to the first charging coil. The energy charging system further comprises an energy charging station comprising a second charging coil disposed on a movable positioner, wherein the second charging coil is coupleable to an electrical energy source, at least one drive mechanism configured to translate the movable positioned, and a system controller. The system controller is configured to detect an event indicative of a proximity of the first charging coil to the energy charging station, translate the movable positioner such that the second charging coil is substantially aligned with, and closely spaced apart from, the first charging coil to form an electrical transformer, and initiate a charging cycle configured to transfer electrical energy to the at least one energy storage device via the electrical transformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Louis Steigerwald, John Erik Hershey, Michael James Hartman, Robert Dean King
  • Patent number: 9232934
    Abstract: Systems and methods for communicating ultrasound probe location and image information are provided. One system includes an ultrasound device coupled with an ultrasound probe and configured to acquire ultrasound images of a subject. The ultrasound imaging system also includes at least one camera configured to acquire (i) scene information including ultrasound imagery of the ultrasound probe with the subject during an image scan and (ii) ancillary probe data. The ultrasound imaging system further includes a processor configured to receive the ultrasound images and the ancillary probe data and a multiplexing unit configured to receive (i) the ultrasound images and ancillary probe data from the processor and (ii) the scene information from the camera, wherein the multiplexing unit is further configured to associate in time the ultrasound images, ancillary probe data and scene information. The ultrasound imaging system additionally includes a communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: John Erik Hershey, Michael James Hartman, Michael Joseph Dell'Anno, Stanislava Soro