Patents Examined by Andrew Bee
  • Patent number: 8994510
    Abstract: A method for determining a transponder type to which an electromagnetic transponder in the field of a terminal belongs, wherein the type is determined based on a difference between a measured value of a piece of information representative of the current in an oscillating circuit of the terminal and a no-load value of this piece of information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Proton World International N.V.
    Inventor: Guy Restiau
  • Patent number: 8994557
    Abstract: A collision warning apparatus, to be mounted to a vehicle, has a roof mount unit (40), to be fixed to the vehicle's roof, as well as a cabin mount unit (41) to be located in the driver's cabin. A digital transmission line (42) is provided for connecting the two. The roof mount unit (40) houses the antennas as well as the analog circuitry of the apparatus, while the cabin mount unit (41) comprises a display (26). The data sent through the transmission line (42) is digital, which allows to make the transmission line thin and flexible. The roof mount unit (40) has a magnet (43) and batteries (48) mounted in its base section (46), with the lighter components, in particular the antennas (30a, 31a, 32a) located in its head section (47).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Safemine AG
    Inventors: Peter A. Stegmaier, Urs M. Rothacher
  • Patent number: 8988196
    Abstract: A method of power recovery by an electromagnetic transponder in the field of a terminal, wherein: a ratio of the current coupling factor of the transponder with the terminal to an optimum coupling position with a resistive load value is evaluated; and a detuning of the oscillating circuit is caused if the ratio is greater than a first threshold greater than or equal to one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventor: Luc Wuidart
  • Patent number: 8988198
    Abstract: Systems and methods for creating “feelings” from tangible objects in a responsive and cost efficient manner are provided. In accordance with such systems and methods, near field communication (NFC) tags are embedded into tangible objects, e.g., Compact Discs (CDs), books, posters, etc., where the NFC tags include feeling/sensory feedback parameters associated with the object in which the NFC tag is embedded. That is, such NFC tags are able to stimulate one or more senses, such as the human senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste. Thus, sensory feedback is provided via tangible objects, where only minimal cost (e.g., a few cents) is added to the production/manufacture of such objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Mika Pesonen, Eero Aho, Jari Nikara
  • Patent number: 8976004
    Abstract: An onboard apparatus control system is disclosed. The onboard apparatus control system includes a portable apparatus and an in-vehicle apparatus which controls an onboard apparatus according to position of the portable apparatus. From multiple transmitting antennae, the in-vehicle apparatus transmits pulse pattern signals with different transmission frequencies at an overlapping timing, so that the pulse pattern signals are radio waves whose intensities are changed stepwise according to different patterns. The portable apparatus receives the radio waves transmitted from the multiple transmitting antennae. The position of the portable apparatus with respect to the vehicle is determined based on a combined pattern of the received pulse pattern signals, which a receiving unit is to receive at location with respect to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Munenori Matsumoto, Akira Takaoka, Tohru Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8976005
    Abstract: A passive keyless system including a base that selectively allows access to a restricted environment through a base transceiver operating with an encrypted link on first and second frequencies, and a base recording element storing base measured movement history information. Also, a passive keyless device with at least one sensor detects a movement property of the device, a device recording element stores movement history information about the device and reflecting the detected movement property, and a device transceiver communicating with the base transceiver, and transmitting to the base transceiver encrypted security information identifying the device in accordance with a passive keyless protocol and/or the movement history information, and an access request element that causes the device transceiver to request access to the base transceiver. The base uses the base measured movement history information and movement history information when allowing access to the restricted environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Zoran Zivkovic, Jan René Brands, Frank Harald Erich Ho Chung Leong, Stefan Drude
  • Patent number: 8970348
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that authenticates a user. During operation, the system obtains a sequence of facial gestures from the user. Next, the system authenticates the user based on a likeness of the sequence to a set of baseline representations of the facial gestures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Intuit Inc.
    Inventors: Jason M. Evans, Sean P. Loosli
  • Patent number: 8957778
    Abstract: The present invention uses a wireless memory/communication device at least on the one or more sample storage devices, preferably on both the one or more sample storage devices and the sampling holder, optionally the port on the equipment as well. Data such as that relating to the vessel, the location of the port on the vessel, the device, its manufacture date or lot number, the date of the installation, sterilization and/or taking of a sample along with the person who installed the device and/or took the sample can be read and preferably added to the wireless device when a read/write type of device as these events occur through a scanner/reader/writer device (fixed or hand held). The sample storage device in the laboratory can also then be read and recorded to track the sample storage device's life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: EMD Millipore Corporation
    Inventors: George Adams, John Dana Hubbard, Aaron Burke, Anthony DiLeo
  • Patent number: 8952826
    Abstract: A circuit interrupter includes, a first contact and a second contact, the second contact being moveable relative to the first contact, a drive assembly structured to move the second contact relative to the first contact, and an erosion monitoring device including a linear transducer coupled to a portion of the drive assembly. The liner transducer is structured to generate an output signal representative of an amount of linear displacement of the portion of the drive assembly, wherein the erosion monitoring device is structured to monitor a degree of erosion of at least one of the first contact and the second contact based on the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Brad R. Leccia, Steven Castelein, Robert Yanniello, Johan De Jong
  • Patent number: 8952791
    Abstract: The current invention is a method and system for tracking an RFID tag within a defined 3D space and can be used to identify objects within a live performance and create hotspots with respect to the objects, which allows viewers the ability to select objects that are associated with one of the hotspots, and transmits their interest in the selected object to one or more users. Preferably, the system operates such that hotspots can be created for previously created video, newly created video media, as well as live broadcasts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Inventors: Lincoln Berry, III, Justin Lamar Johnson, Giacomo Caruso, Amanda Farkas, Jared Szechy, Matthew Fisher, Phillip Doepker, Ralph Barrera, Tom Whitney
  • Patent number: 8941506
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for detecting a power line of a telematics unit is incorrectly wired. In one example, a system includes a first module that evaluates at least one of a validity of a global positioning system and a powered on status of the telematics unit. A second module determines that the power line of the telematics unit is incorrectly wired based on the at least one of the validity of a global positioning system and the powered on status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventors: Eric T. Hosey, Kevin W. Owens, Daniel C. McGarry, Joshua M. Sine
  • Patent number: 8933783
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of detecting fraud for an access control system using biometric recognition, comprising the steps consisting in: taking at least two images (S2) of a face presented to the access control system by an individual (I) according to at least two positions of the individual in front of the access control system, or two angles of picture-taking of the individual, processing these two images to determine a score representative of the flatness of the face appearing on the images, and as a function of this flatness score, detecting a possible fraud on the part of the individual, said detection conditioning the implementation of an identification processing of the individual by the access control system. The invention also relates to an access control system implementing said method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Morpho
    Inventors: Sébastien Brangoulo, Thomas Fedusac
  • Patent number: 8933791
    Abstract: A system and method for identifying a specific RFID tag includes RFID reader circuitry, such as within an RFID reader, configured for sending and receiving RF signals to detect RFID tags and for obtaining signal parameter information associated with the RFID tags. Processing circuitry is configured for using the signal parameter information for one or more tags of the RFID tags and calculating a tag score for the one or more RFID tags. The processing circuitry is further configured for determining a specific RFID tag using the tag scores for the one or more RFID tags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Vocollect, Inc.
    Inventors: Rob Vargo, Ryan Zoschg, Edward Charles Borgoyn, Mike Naughton
  • Patent number: 8928490
    Abstract: A meter apparatus, a metering network, and a metering method thereof are provided. The meter apparatus includes a pulse generator, an optical sensor, a spinning disc, and a magnetic sensor. The pulse generator is configured to generate a number of pulses proportional to an amount of a consumed resource. The optical sensor is configured to detect the number of pulses to generate a first signal, and transmit the first signal to a meter reader. The spinning disc is configured to produce an amount of rotation proportional to the amount of the consumed resource. The magnetic sensor is configured to detect the amount of the rotation to generate a second signal, and transmit the second signal to the meter reader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Wistron Neweb Corp.
    Inventors: Chih-Hsiang Peng, Wan-Neng Liu
  • Patent number: 8922340
    Abstract: A vehicle door latch assembly includes a first proximity sensor on a first side of a door handle and a second proximity sensor on a second side of the door handle. The assembly also includes a latch operative to latch the door closed and to unlatch the door to allow the door to open. The assembly further includes control circuitry for activating the latch to unlatch the door based on an object such as an operator's hand sensed with both the first and second proximity sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Yun Shin Lee, Pietro Buttolo, Cornel Lewis Gardner
  • Patent number: 8917170
    Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the articulation angle between a tractor and trailer connected by a kingpin and fifth wheel include a transfer assembly associated with the kingpin and interacting with the fifth wheel such that the transfer assembly is rotationally moved relative to the kingpin by relative rotational movement between the kingpin and the fifth wheel. This rotational movement is read by an articulation sensing mechanism having one of a reader element and output element mounted to the transfer assembly and the other of the reader element and the output element operatively mounted to the trailer such that the reader element and the output element interact to provide a signal corresponding to the articulation angle between the tractor and trailer. This signal can be analyzed by a processor for any beneficial use, for example, outputting to a counter steering mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Inventor: Santo A. Padula
  • Patent number: 8912885
    Abstract: A personal authentication apparatus comprises an input unit configured to input image data; a face detection unit configured to detect a face region of a person included in the image data input by the input unit, and to detect feature data from the detected face region; a facial expression determination unit configured to determine a facial expression from the face region detected by the face detection unit; a storage unit configured to store feature data used to authenticate a person in correspondence with respective facial expressions of a plurality of faces; a selection unit configured to select feature data corresponding to the facial expression determined by the facial expression determination unit from the storage unit; and an authentication unit configured to authenticate a person by comparing the feature data of the face region detected by the face detection unit, and the feature data selected by the selection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinya Hirai
  • Patent number: 8907791
    Abstract: A door assembly includes a first door skin and a second door skin spaced apart from the first door skin. The assembly also includes an energy sensor generating an energy signature signal and a memory storing a door component operating signature. A controller is coupled to the accelerometer and forms a comparison of the energy signature signal to the door component operating signature and generates a door component operation status signal in response to the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: TD IP Holdco, LLC
    Inventors: Patricia Yulkowski, Leon Yulkowski, Edward J. Yenni
  • Patent number: 8902074
    Abstract: A safety harness includes at least one of integrally formed electrical conductors or optical conductors. The conductors can be energized by a replaceable electrical supply. An electrical or an optical sensor can couple an associated signal to sensing circuitry. The sensing circuitry responds to variations in the signal as the condition of the harness changes. A fault indicating output device, such as an audible or visual indicating device, carried on the harness can alert a user to a potential harness failure. Harness condition can be transmitted wirelessly to a displaced monitoring site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michel Landry, Bechir Jazi, Alex Tsen
  • Patent number: 8902079
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for scanning the division mark of a mechanical roller-type counter (1), for any type of counter, comprising a number of rotatably driven ciphering rollers (2), each ciphering roller carrying a number of digits (3) or symbols that are distributed homogeneously over the circumference and can be detected and evaluated with a fixed reading device arranged opposite. Said device is characterized in that at least one transponder (6) is associated with each digit (3) or each symbol in the respective ciphering roller (2) of the roller-type counter (1). An RFID antenna field (15) is located opposite the transponder, at a small distance therefrom, said field being controlled by a circuit in such a way that a ciphering roller of the roller-type counter (1) can be read respectively by an antenna (16, 17, 18) of the RFID antenna field (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Hengstler GmbH
    Inventors: Herbert Deichmeyer, Frieder Liebermann, Norbert Hoffmann, Jörg Luttmer