Patents Examined by Albert Wong
  • Patent number: 9412536
    Abstract: An illuminated keyboard includes at least one light-emitting element, a membrane switch circuit module, plural keys, a fixing plate, and a proximity sensor. The fixing plate includes plural openings, plural joining regions, and plural fixing regions. The plural fixing regions are arranged between the plural openings for fixing plural elastic elements of the plural keys. The proximity sensor includes an induction antenna circuit. The induction antenna circuit is formed on the plural joining regions or the plural fixing regions of the fixing plate for sensing whether an object enters a sensing range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: PRIMAX ELECTRONICS LTD.
    Inventors: Bo-An Chen, Hsien-Tsan Chang
  • Patent number: 9378563
    Abstract: A method for simulating the effect of viewing an image through a colored filter or colored ophthalmic spectacle, contact, intraocular or other lens is described. This method includes using a computer program to alter the red (R), green (G) and blue (B) color brightness of the individual pixels of the original image and then displaying them on the display screen or other visual display device of a computer. Each pixel's original RGB brightness value is multiplied by a fraction, which is determined by the RGB transmission of the colored lens or filter. The altered image is then displayed to a system user who will see the original image, as it would appear if seen through the colored lens or filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Inventors: Herbert A. Wertheim, Philip R. Bartick, William F. Moore
  • Patent number: 9377951
    Abstract: A letter confirmation system is provided on a handheld electronic device. The letter confirmation provides highlighting of various letters that have been input to the handheld electronic device during a string of member input actuations. The letter confirmation system can additionally provide predictive linguistic elements that would be appropriate next inputs. Various types of highlights can be provided in various combinations to provide various indications to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventor: Jason Griffin
  • Patent number: 9354083
    Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methodology subject matters for providing communications to battery powered metrology devices within an Advanced Metering System (AMS). The battery powered metrology devices may be associated with AC supplied devices that are configured with mailboxes for their associated battery powered devices. The battery powered metrology devices may include such as water and gas meters collocated with electricity meters. Communications between the battery powered devices and their associated mailbox containing electricity meters may be by way of direct wired or radio frequency connections for providing reliable message transport between communications system coupled components in an Advanced Metering System.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Itron, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael T. Garrison Stuber, John Buffington
  • Patent number: 9344778
    Abstract: The Cone Penetrometer Technology (CPT) has evolved over the last several decades as a low cost technique for performing subsurface evaluation for environmental and structural interest. The basic CPT system consist of the push system, cone module, pushrods, tether cable and the data acquisition system. The tether cable is the communication and power interface between the cone and the acquisition system. The Wireless Magnetic Mutual Induction system will replace the need for the tether cable by implementing a battery pack and a wireless communication scheme by using the pushrods, specially made solenoids, and by applying the principle of mutual induction and Faraday's Law.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Inventor: Rocky Lane Hull
  • Patent number: 9342154
    Abstract: Interfacing application programs and motion sensors of a device. In one aspect, a high-level command is received from an application program running on a motion sensing device, where the application program implements one of multiple different types of applications available for use on the device. The high-level command requests high-level information derived from the output of motion sensors of the device that include rotational motion sensors and linear motion sensors. The command is translated to cause low-level processing of motion sensor data output by the motion sensors, the low-level processing following requirements of the type of application and determining the high-level information in response to the command. The application program is ignorant of the low-level processing, and the high-level information is provided to the application program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: InvenSense, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven S. Nasiri, Joseph Jiang, David Sachs
  • Patent number: 9305460
    Abstract: A warning light detector and system to alert a motorist of warning lights is provided. The warning light detector includes a camera that takes digital images of a field of view in front of the automobile, and a detection program to detect any warning lights analyzes these digital images. A control system of the detector activates an alert feature, such as a sound and/or light, to alert the motorist of a warning light when one has been detected by the detection program. An alert feature may be a sound emitted from a speaker or light that flashes and the alert feature may be configured on the detector or be transmitted through the automobile's stereo, warning, or navigational system, for example. A detector may be a mobile device, such as a mobile phone and a warning light detector application program may be downloaded to the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Inventor: John Justine Aza
  • Patent number: 9282665
    Abstract: An illuminated doorbell chime system is disclosed having a chime coil and LED lights. A chime control circuit has a power supply unit, an LED driver and a chime driver. The power supply unit is connected to the LED lights and the chime coil. The LED driver is connected to the LED lights. The chime driver is connected to the chime coil. A door switch selectively applies power to the power supply unit. The LED driver has a bipolar junction transistor, a base Zener diode, and a voltage divider. The chime driver has a Mosfet transistor, a gate resistor, a gate capacitor, and a gate Zener diode. The LED driver and the chime driver are interconnected, with a cathode of the gate Zener diode connected to the collector of the bipolar junction transistor, and a cathode of the base Zener diode connected to the drain of the Mosfet transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: LITEX INDUSTRIES, LIMITED
    Inventors: Donald J Ladanyi, Georgios V Lazaridis
  • Patent number: 9257122
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for indicating an audience member's perception of a speaker's speech by receiving a speech sample associated with a speaker and then by analyzing the speech to predict whether an audience would perceive the speech as exemplary of good or poor behavior. This can be also used to notify people when they exhibit good or poor behaviors. For example, good or poor behaviors could include: condescending, whining, nagging, weak, strong, refined, kind, dull, energetic, interesting, boring, engaging, manipulative, likeable, not likeable, sincere, artificial, soothing, abrasive, pleasing, aggravating, inspiring, unexciting, opaque, clear, etc. This invention has applicability to areas such as consumer self-improvement, corporate training, presentation skills training, counseling, and novelty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Inventors: Debra Bond Cancro, George Joseph Cancro
  • Patent number: 9251677
    Abstract: A powered entrance barrier door alarm device and system is configured to alert someone of an unauthorized breach of a powered entrance barrier, such as a garage door, whereby the powered entrance barrier is opened without the use of the powered entrance barrier opener. The powered entrance barrier alarm system includes a powered entrance barrier position sensor, and a detector circuit coupled with a powered entrance barrier opener power supply. The detector circuit measures an electrical power parameter to a powered entrance barrier opener. A detector module having a controller monitors the inputs from the detector circuit and the powered entrance barrier positioning sensor to determine if an alarm should be initiated. A detector module may have an electrical plug and an electrical outlet for a powered entrance barrier opener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Inventor: Bart Peter Mika
  • Patent number: 9250709
    Abstract: A data entry device including a housing formed of at least two portions, data entry circuitry located within the housing, at least one case-open switch assembly operative to sense when the housing is opened and tamper indication circuitry operative to receive an input from the at least one case-open switch assembly and to provide an output indication of possible tampering with the data entry circuitry located within the housing, the at least one case-open switch assembly including an arrangement of electrical contacts including at least first, second and third contacts and a displaceable conductive element, the tamper indication circuitry and the third contact together being operative such that when the third contact is short circuited to at least one of the first contact, the second contact and another contact, an output indication of possible tampering is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: VERIFONE, INC.
    Inventors: Mehran Mirkazemi-Moud, John Barrowman, Christian Eric Schulz, Arnon Aviv, Amihay Avital, Sergey Meron, Dave Faoro
  • Patent number: 9238964
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are provided for compressing a variety of signals, such as measured signals from a hydrocarbon operation, that may be stored and/or transmitted in compressed form. Segmentation tools and techniques are used to compress the signals. Segmentation techniques include breaking a signal into segments and representing the data samples of the signal as segment boundary points, which may reflect where changes occur in the signal, and segment parameters, which may be utilized to model the segmented data. Embodiments can be used in real-time or in batch modes. New data samples can influence previous segment boundary points and/or segment parameters in some cases. Systems may modify what has already been stored or displayed as a result in revising segmentation information based on analysis utilizing the new data samples. Embodiments may utilize different Bayesian analysis techniques including the use of prior probability distributions and maximum a posteriori analyses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Maurice Ringer, Walter Aldred, Jonathan Dunlop
  • Patent number: 9233030
    Abstract: A moisture alert device that has a number of moisture detecting sensor divots around the outside of the device where the sensor divots are connected to insulated circuits within the device that transmits a moisture detections signal to a base, the base sending the signal to a control device, which in turn sends the moisture detection signal to a user by visual, auditory or tactile means. In some cases, the moisture detection signal transmitted to a wireless receiving device. The device can be a wearable garment such as a vest, or in other situations, the device can be a bed component such as a pillow case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Kyra Massey Kennedy
    Inventor: Kyra Massey Kennedy
  • Patent number: 9227484
    Abstract: A system detects the presence of a living being within a vehicle and triggers an alarm should the temperature rise above or fall below a predetermined threshold limit. The system uses a carbon dioxide monitor to determine for the living being's presence, which is backed up by one or more subsystems that include a motion sensor that senses motion, a sound sensor that senses sounds, especially those made by distressed living beings, and a camera that uses facial recognition software to detect a face within the vehicle. The alarm can be staged so that a lower level of alarm is triggered when the hazardous temperature is approaching, but has not yet reached critical levels, and one of the subsystems has detected a living being within the vehicle, but the others have not yet activated, and a higher level alarm once critical temperatures have been reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Inventors: Wayne P. Justice, Kit David Kuss, Mark Duane Denney
  • Patent number: 9207329
    Abstract: A satellite-based positioning system (SPS) signal processing technique re-samples a received series of PRN sequences from an SPS satellite to align them with a nominal sampling rate for a corresponding series of perfect reference PRN replica sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Inventors: Farrokh Farrokhi, Edmund Gregory Lee, Dickson Wong
  • Patent number: 9202376
    Abstract: A parking management system and method with regard to street cleaning and parking regulations. A data collection method and system. A system and method to make available multiple parking spots at a time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Inventor: David Anthony Evans
  • Patent number: 9189975
    Abstract: A spherical body map having one hemisphere centered on any given point of the body and another hemisphere centered on its antipodal point is provided in the Azimuthal Equidistant Hemispheric projection. Both hemispheres are placed side by side so to show a great circle line passing through the center and antipodal points straight. This map can show correct directions and distances from the center point to any other points on the body with realistic and recognizable shapes, even for remote continents. It can also demonstrate three important properties of this projection: directions from points along a great circle to a center point do not show the exact opposite of directions from the center point to the points; distances between any two points, not only from the center point, along a great circle line are correct; and the map is convertible from flat to three-dimensional forms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Inventor: Yasuo Shinozuka
  • Patent number: 9167075
    Abstract: A method of selecting a service and inputting information to that service, in which an input device having keys is provided. When a key is pressed and released quickly, the user indicates a desire to enter a symbol on the key in order to enter symbols of an entry string. In addition, one or more of the keys may also be used to identify a service and also supply that service with the entry string. For example, by pressing and holding such a key, the entry string may be delimited and then sent to a service corresponding to the pressed key. In this manner, a single key press may be used to both delimit an entry string and also send the entry string to the service. The service may use the delimited entry string to retrieve information, which is then supplied to the input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: ZI CORPORATION OF CANADA, INC.
    Inventor: Roland E. Williams
  • Patent number: 9151151
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for localizing a drilling device of an earth drilling apparatus, wherein a localization signal is emitted by the drilling device, said signal being received by an external receiver and evaluated for determining the position of the drilling device, wherein an output signal, which is converted into the localization signal, is fed to the drilling device via a connection line, which is connected to the drilling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: RAYONEX BIOMEDICAL GMBH
    Inventor: Gerhard Völkel
  • Patent number: 9147341
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a wireless gauge reader system for use on an existing electrical substation where the substation has a window through which at least one glow tube is visible. The system includes a frame fastened to the substation that surrounds at least a portion of the window, and a door in connection with the frame that allows the door to open and close. The door includes a wireless gauge reader (WGR) that has an optical sensor that is positioned to view the glow tube when the door is closed. The WGR also has a transmitter to transmit a wireless signal based on the illumination state of the glow tube. Various aspects of the connection of the door to the frame are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: CYPRESS ENVIROSYSTEMS
    Inventors: Harry Sim, Robert Shaw, Steve Kim