Patents by Inventor Stephen John Hunter
Stephen John Hunter 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: 11984024Abstract: A parking meter detects an object in proximity, based on a change in a proximity measurement at the meter, activates a directional sensor in response to detecting the object, receives sensor data at a meter processor from the directional sensor, wherein the received sensor data indicates a predetermined direction to the detected object relative to the meter. The parking meter determines a presence of the object, or lack thereof, in the predetermined direction based on the sensor data, and upon a positive determination of the presence of the object, stores an indication of the presence of the object along with a time of the positive determination.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2023Date of Patent: May 14, 2024Assignee: IPS GROUP INC.Inventors: Alexander Schwarz, Stephen John Hunter
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Publication number: 20240064441Abstract: Devices and meters comprising: a housing configured to mount to a pole supporting an existing meter, the housing defining an interior; a sensor within the interior of the housing, the sensor configured to collect environmental information pertaining to the local external environment of the existing meter; a wireless radio within the interior of the housing, the wireless radio configured to transmit the environmental information to the existing meter or to a remote server in communication with the existing meter; a power unit within the interior of the housing, the power unit supplying power to the sensor and the wireless radio.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2023Publication date: February 22, 2024Inventors: David William KING, Alexander SCHWARZ, Stephen John HUNTER, Chad P. RANDALL
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Patent number: 11764593Abstract: A power supply unit for supplying power to a device has a rechargeable, main battery; a charging arrangement for charging the main battery; a non-rechargeable back-up battery; load terminals for connection to a load; and a control unit for controlling supply of power to the load primarily from the main battery and secondarily from the back-up battery. The device is, in particular, a single bay, stand alone parking meter. In the event that the main battery runs low, the control unit is configured to supply power to the load from both the main battery and the back-up battery or only from the back-up battery. The back-up battery is easily replaceable, and the power supply unit has a bay, with connectors for receiving the back-up battery. The main battery is charged from solar panels. A communication device is provided to communicate status messages wirelessly to a control system.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2020Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: IPS GROUP INC.Inventors: Stephen John Hunter, Andre Malan Joubert
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Publication number: 20230274635Abstract: A parking meter detects an object in proximity, based on a change in a proximity measurement at the meter, activates a directional sensor in response to detecting the object, receives sensor data at a meter processor from the directional sensor, wherein the received sensor data indicates a predetermined direction to the detected object relative to the meter. The parking meter determines a presence of the object, or lack thereof, in the predetermined direction based on the sensor data, and upon a positive determination of the presence of the object, stores an indication of the presence of the object along with a time of the positive determination.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2023Publication date: August 31, 2023Inventors: Alexander SCHWARZ, Stephen John HUNTER
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Patent number: 11688277Abstract: A parking meter detects an object in proximity, based on a change in a proximity measurement at the meter, activates a directional sensor in response to detecting the object, receives sensor data at a meter processor from the directional sensor, wherein the received sensor data indicates a predetermined direction to the detected object relative to the meter. The parking meter determines a presence of the object, or lack thereof, in the predetermined direction based on the sensor data, and upon a positive determination of the presence of the object, stores an indication of the presence of the object along with a time of the positive determination.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2022Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: IPS GROUP INC.Inventors: Alexander Schwarz, Stephen John Hunter
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Patent number: 11683617Abstract: Devices and meters comprising: a housing configured to mount to a pole supporting an existing meter, the housing defining an interior; a sensor within the interior of the housing, the sensor configured to collect environmental information pertaining to the local external environment of the existing meter; a wireless radio within the interior of the housing, the wireless radio configured to transmit the environmental information to the existing meter or to a remote server in communication with the existing meter; a power unit within the interior of the housing, the power unit supplying power to the sensor and the wireless radio.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2021Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: IPS GROUP INC.Inventors: David William King, Alexander Schwarz, Stephen John Hunter, Chad P. Randall
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Publication number: 20230072840Abstract: A parking meter detects an object in proximity, based on a change in a proximity measurement at the meter, activates a directional sensor in response to detecting the object, receives sensor data at a meter processor from the directional sensor, wherein the received sensor data indicates a predetermined direction to the detected object relative to the meter. The parking meter determines a presence of the object, or lack thereof, in the predetermined direction based on the sensor data, and upon a positive determination of the presence of the object, stores an indication of the presence of the object along with a time of the positive determination.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2022Publication date: March 9, 2023Inventors: Alexander SCHWARZ, Stephen John HUNTER
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Publication number: 20230057773Abstract: A meter apparatus and method of operating a removable meter apparatus are described. The meter apparatus includes a tag associated with unique tag identification information and configured to be permanently affixed to a location housing at a unique physical location, and includes a removable meter unit configured to mate with the location housing and receive the tag identification from the tag and report the tag identification to a data manager configured to associate an identifier of the removable meter unit with the tag identification and unique physical location, and associate configuration information for the physical location with the removable meter unit and the tag identification. The unique physical location can comprise a single-space parking location.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2022Publication date: February 23, 2023Inventors: David William KING, Alexander SCHWARZ, Stephen John HUNTER
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Patent number: 11423776Abstract: A parking meter detects an object in proximity, based on a change in a proximity measurement at the meter, activates a directional sensor in response to detecting the object, receives sensor data at a meter processor from the directional sensor, wherein the received sensor data indicates a predetermined direction to the detected object relative to the meter. The parking meter determines a presence of the object, or lack thereof, in the predetermined direction based on the sensor data, and upon a positive determination of the presence of the object, stores an indication of the presence of the object along with a time of the positive determination.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2020Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignee: IPS GROUP INC.Inventors: Alexander Schwarz, Stephen John Hunter
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Publication number: 20220030335Abstract: Devices and meters comprising: a housing configured to mount to a pole supporting an existing meter, the housing defining an interior; a sensor within the interior of the housing, the sensor configured to collect environmental information pertaining to the local external environment of the existing meter; a wireless radio within the interior of the housing, the wireless radio configured to transmit the environmental information to the existing meter or to a remote server in communication with the existing meter; a power unit within the interior of the housing, the power unit supplying power to the sensor and the wireless radio.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2021Publication date: January 27, 2022Inventors: David William KING, Alexander SCHWARZ, Stephen John HUNTER, Chad P. RANDALL
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Patent number: 11172274Abstract: Devices and meters comprising: a housing configured to mount to a pole supporting an existing meter, the housing defining an interior; a sensor within the interior of the housing, the sensor configured to collect environmental information pertaining to the local external environment of the existing meter; a wireless radio within the interior of the housing, the wireless radio configured to transmit the environmental information to the existing meter or to a remote server in communication with the existing meter; a power unit within the interior of the housing, the power unit supplying power to the sensor and the wireless radio.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2020Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: IPS GROUP INC.Inventors: David William King, Alexander Schwarz, Stephen John Hunter, Chad P. Randall
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Publication number: 20210344218Abstract: A power supply unit for supplying power to a device has a rechargeable, main battery; a charging arrangement for charging the main battery; a non-rechargeable back-up battery; load terminals for connection to a load; and a control unit for controlling supply of power to the load primarily from the main battery and secondarily from the back-up battery. The device is, in particular, a single bay, stand alone parking meter. In the event that the main battery runs low, the control unit is configured to supply power to the load from both the main battery and the back-up battery or only from the back-up battery. The back-up battery is easily replaceable, and the power supply unit has a bay, with connectors for receiving the back-up battery. The main battery is charged from solar panels. A communication device is provided to communicate status messages wirelessly to a control system.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2020Publication date: November 4, 2021Inventors: Stephen John HUNTER, Andre Malan JOUBERT
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Publication number: 20210067846Abstract: Devices and meters comprising: a housing configured to mount to a pole supporting an existing meter, the housing defining an interior; a sensor within the interior of the housing, the sensor configured to collect environmental information pertaining to the local external environment of the existing meter; a wireless radio within the interior of the housing, the wireless radio configured to transmit the environmental information to the existing meter or to a remote server in communication with the existing meter; a power unit within the interior of the housing, the power unit supplying power to the sensor and the wireless radio.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2020Publication date: March 4, 2021Inventors: David William KING, Alexander SCHWARZ, Stephen John HUNTER, Chad P. RANDALL
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Publication number: 20200327801Abstract: A parking meter detects an object in proximity, based on a change in a proximity measurement at the meter, activates a directional sensor in response to detecting the object, receives sensor data at a meter processor from the directional sensor, wherein the received sensor data indicates a predetermined direction to the detected object relative to the meter. The parking meter determines a presence of the object, or lack thereof, in the predetermined direction based on the sensor data, and upon a positive determination of the presence of the object, stores an indication of the presence of the object along with a time of the positive determination.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2020Publication date: October 15, 2020Inventors: Alexander SCHWARZ, Stephen John HUNTER
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Patent number: 10741064Abstract: A parking meter detects an object in proximity, based on a change in a proximity measurement at the meter, activates a directional sensor in response to detecting the object, receives sensor data at a meter processor from the directional sensor, wherein the received sensor data indicates a predetermined direction to the detected object relative to the meter. The parking meter determines a presence of the object, or lack thereof, in the predetermined direction based on the sensor data, and upon a positive determination of the presence of the object, stores an indication of the presence of the object along with a time of the positive determination.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2019Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: IPS GROUP INC.Inventors: Alexander Schwarz, Stephen John Hunter
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Patent number: 10674236Abstract: Devices and meters comprising: a housing configured to mount to a pole supporting an existing meter, the housing defining an interior; a sensor within the interior of the housing, the sensor configured to collect environmental information pertaining to the local external environment of the existing meter; a wireless radio within the interior of the housing, the wireless radio configured to transmit the environmental information to the existing meter or to a remote server in communication with the existing meter; a power unit within the interior of the housing, the power unit supplying power to the sensor and the wireless radio.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2019Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: IPS GROUP, INC.Inventors: David William King, Alexander Schwarz, Stephen John Hunter, Chad P. Randall
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Publication number: 20200153270Abstract: A power supply unit for supplying power to a device has a rechargeable, main battery; a charging arrangement for charging the main battery; a non-rechargeable back-up battery; load terminals for connection to a load; and a control unit for controlling supply of power to the load primarily from the main battery and secondarily from the back-up battery. The device is, in particular, a single bay, stand alone parking meter. In the event that the main battery runs low, the control unit is configured to supply power to the load from both the main battery and the back-up battery or only from the back-up battery. The back-up battery is easily replaceable, and the power supply unit has a bay, with connectors for receiving the back-up battery. The main battery is charged from solar panels. A communication device is provided to communicate status messages wirelessly to a control system.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2020Publication date: May 14, 2020Inventors: Stephen John HUNTER, Andre Malan JOUBERT
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Patent number: 10574085Abstract: A power supply unit for supplying power to a device has a rechargeable, main battery; a charging arrangement for charging the main battery; a non-rechargeable back-up battery; load terminals for connection to a load; and a control unit for controlling supply of power to the load primarily from the main battery and secondarily from the back-up battery. The device is, in particular, a single bay, stand alone parking meter. In the event that the main battery runs low, the control unit is configured to supply power to the load from both the main battery and the back-up battery or only from the back-up battery. The back-up battery is easily replaceable, and the power supply unit has a bay, with connectors for receiving the back-up battery. The main battery is charged from solar panels. A communication device is provided to communicate status messages wirelessly to a control system.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2017Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: IPS GROUP INC.Inventors: Stephen John Hunter, Andre Malan Joubert
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Publication number: 20200059708Abstract: Devices and meters comprising: a housing configured to mount to a pole supporting an existing meter, the housing defining an interior; a sensor within the interior of the housing, the sensor configured to collect environmental information pertaining to the local external environment of the existing meter; a wireless radio within the interior of the housing, the wireless radio configured to transmit the environmental information to the existing meter or to a remote server in communication with the existing meter; a power unit within the interior of the housing, the power unit supplying power to the sensor and the wireless radio.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2019Publication date: February 20, 2020Inventors: David William KING, Alexander SCHWARZ, Stephen John HUNTER, Chad P. RANDALL
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Patent number: 10491972Abstract: Devices and meters comprising: a housing configured to mount to a pole supporting an existing meter, the housing defining an interior; a sensor within the interior of the housing, the sensor configured to collect environmental information pertaining to the local external environment of the existing meter; a wireless radio within the interior of the housing, the wireless radio configured to transmit the environmental information to the existing meter or to a remote server in communication with the existing meter; a power unit within the interior of the housing, the power unit supplying power to the sensor and the wireless radio.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2019Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: IPS GROUP INC.Inventors: David William King, Alexander Schwarz, Stephen John Hunter, Chad P. Randall