Patents Examined by Brent A. Swarthout
  • Patent number: 10657812
    Abstract: A notification system includes a notification unit configured to notify a second person of position information relating to a parking position of a vehicle and auxiliary information to help the second person to find the vehicle after the vehicle is moved and parked by a first person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tohru Yanagida, Chikage Kubo, Ai Fujimura, Shunsuke Noda, Satoshi Usui
  • Patent number: 10651716
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an actuator or circuit includes elements moveably coupled via bearings positioned between curved grooves. The bearings and the curves may exert a restorative force to return the elements to an original position after movement and may be spherical, cubic, cylindrical, and/or include gears that interact with groove gears. In some embodiments, an electrical coil may be coplanar with a surface of an element and a hard magnet may be positioned in the center and be polarized to stabilize or destabilize the element with respect to another element. In various embodiments, a magnetic circuit includes an element with an electrical coil wrapped in multiple directions around the element. In some embodiments, an actuator includes attraction elements and exertion of force causes an element to approach, contact, and/or magnetically attach to one of the attraction elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Camille Moussette, John S. Morrell, Patrick Kessler, Samuel Weiss
  • Patent number: 10650711
    Abstract: A power device comprising: multiple light sources (202A, 202B, 202C) arranged in a housing (205); a mask (204) arranged around each of the multiple light sources in the housing and including multiple chambers (207A, 207B, 207C) corresponding to the multiple light sources to direct light (214A, 214B, 214C) emitted from the multiple light sources to a common area (140, 216) on an outer surface of the housing; and multiple image sources (214A, 214B, 214C) corresponding to the multiple light sources arranged between the multiple light sources and the outer surface of the housing, light emitted from each of the multiple light sources reaching a corresponding image source before reaching the surface of the housing and projecting a corresponding image (212) on the common area on the surface of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Marinus Arnoldus Martinus Vugts
  • Patent number: 10643465
    Abstract: A framework for precision traffic analysis estimates dilemma zone activity to dynamically adjust phase cycle timing for improved efficiency of traffic flow at a roadway intersection. The framework identifies a traffic detection area at or near a traffic intersection, and detects objects in the traffic detection area from sensors located proximate to the traffic intersection. The framework then correlates lapsed phase cycle times for the traffic signal with associations between object characteristics and known speed characteristics for the roadway for a determination of whether there is dilemma zone activity for the remainder of that phase cycle. The framework then determines whether to adjust a timing of the current phase cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: ITERIS, INC.
    Inventors: Brian R. Girardot, Todd W. Kreter, Michael T. Whiting
  • Patent number: 10636267
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide retail systems to detect suspicious movement patterns within a retail shopping facility, comprising: an array of camera systems, an array of RFID readers, and a shopping facility evaluation system configured to: receive RFID tag read information from RFID readers of a first RFID tag of a consumer item of a first product; access and apply a first set of rules to identify a first pattern of movement of the first RFID tag; access a set of historic movement patterns specific to the first product; cause an RFID reader to trigger the RFID tag to transition to a state to emit RFID tag information more frequently; access and apply a second set of rules identifying when the first pattern of movement corresponds with a historic movement pattern; and cause a notification to be communicated to a central evaluation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Steve P. Jeon, Bruce W. Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 10625745
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems for modifying a standard automobile in order to perform an automated driver's exam on a driver of the modified automobile, which monitor the driver, the automobile, and the surroundings of the automobile during the driver's exam, and compare the monitored data to benchmark data in order to determine whether the driver's exam is passed. The systems may monitor the behavior of the driver, such as eye movement, head position, posture, or the like; the motion of the automobile, such as speed, acceleration, braking, or the like; the configuration of the automobile, such as the wheel position, turn signal switch position, or the like; the surrounding of the automobile, such as road conditions, positions of other vehicles, obstacles, signs, signals, or the like. The systems may also provide feedback during automated driving exams or practice exams by proving a display and speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Inventor: Sean Tremblay
  • Patent number: 10629041
    Abstract: According to an aspect, a system includes a wearable biometric device operable to monitor one or more biometric indicators of a user. The system also includes an intrusion detection system including one or more sensors and a control panel operable to monitor the one or more sensors, establish communication with the wearable biometric device, and perform an action responsive to an event detected by the one or more sensors or the wearable biometric device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Srinivasa Reddy Pilli, Vijaylakshmi Bondapalli
  • Patent number: 10621873
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generating a geofence based on messages received periodically from a plurality of vehicles. A candidate geofence is approximated based on vehicle stoppage data obtained from a datalog of messages. For a given candidate geofence, additional stoppage data is obtained to identify additional vehicle stoppages. The locations of these additional vehicle stoppages are binned to a corresponding geospatial tile. A relatively large cluster of contiguous geospatial tiles form a geofence that may be transmitted to a client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Keep Truckin, Inc.
    Inventors: Seth Brandon Spiel, Numan Sheikh, Aamer Zaheer
  • Patent number: 10621837
    Abstract: The purpose is to provide a device, method and program for tactile information conversion, and an element arrangement structure for presenting a plurality of types of stimuli that are capable of presenting a plurality of types of stimuli at one point in a concentrated manner from different points. One of the features is to determine a first stimulation point at which a first type of tactile stimulus is generated or generate the first type of tactile stimulus at the first stimulation point via the output unit and output tactile information for generating a second type of tactile stimulus via the output unit to the output unit at a second stimulation point separated within a temporally and/or spatially predetermined threshold value from the first stimulation point of the first type of tactile stimulus that has been determined or generated by a first stimulation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: JAPAN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AGENCY
    Inventors: Susumu Tachi, Masashi Nakatani, Katsunari Sato, Kouta Minamizawa, Hiroyuki Kajimoto
  • Patent number: 10614720
    Abstract: Provided is an information presentation method capable of, when a vehicle tries to enter a second lane different from a first lane on which the vehicle is traveling, effectively presenting information for assisting situation determination by a driver. The information presentation method for presenting information for assisting situation determination by a driver of a vehicle includes: acquiring information about an object located in a periphery of the vehicle; determining whether or not the vehicle can enter a second lane different from a first lane on which the vehicle is traveling, based on the information about the object; and presenting a result of the determination to the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignees: PANASONIC CORPORATION, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Toshiya Arai
  • Patent number: 10614706
    Abstract: An at least one processor determines whether behavior of a user of an electronic apparatus has a high probability of inducing a traffic accident based on an acceleration measured by an accelerometer. The at least one processor issues an alert notification to the user when the at least one processor determines that the behavior of the user has the high probability of inducing the traffic accident.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeki Tanabe, Hideki Morita, Isao Masuike, Shinya Saito, Tetsushi Wakasa
  • Patent number: 10597928
    Abstract: A barrier operator feature enhancement device is designed to provide one or more features found in modern barrier operator devices and to incorporate those features into a previously installed barrier operator system. To facilitate ease of use, the barrier operator feature enhancement device can communicate with a large variety of barrier operators. Such communication may be wireless or wired, depending on the communication protocol implemented by a particular previously installed barrier operator. To facilitate the ease of installation, the device is designed to configure itself to operate with the communication protocol of the previously installed barrier operator. Once configured to be able to communicate with the previously installed barrier operator, the feature enhancement device works with the barrier operator to provide one or more additional features to enhance the capabilities of the previously installed barrier operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Casparus Cate, James Joseph Fitzgibbon, Robert R. Keller, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10600320
    Abstract: A method for controlling traffic lights is provided. The method may include obtaining historical track data of a plurality of vehicles. The method may include obtaining a congestion period. The method may include determining a discharge speed during the congestion period based on a portion of the historical track data corresponding to the congestion period. The method may further include determining an offset value based on a length of the road, the discharge speed, a cycle length of a first traffic light at the downstream intersection, a cycle length of a second traffic light at the upstream intersection, and a time length of a green light of the second traffic light being lit, and determining a signal timing of the second traffic light based on the offset value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: BEIJING DIDI INFINITY TECHNOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Weili Sun, Xianghong Liu, Jianfeng Zheng, Jinqing Zhu
  • Patent number: 10593176
    Abstract: A security system for a building comprises a pressure sensor and a computer system communicatively coupled with the pressure system. The pressure sensor coupled to a movable portion of a window in the building. The computer system is configured to: receive a first pressure measurement from the pressure sensor; compare the first pressure measurement to a reference pressure measurement; and based on the comparison, detect that the movable portion of the window has moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: InvenSense, Inc.
    Inventors: Vamshi Gangumalla, Sankalp Dayal, Calin Miclaus, Karthik Katingari, Rob Dick, Paul Schreier
  • Patent number: 10592916
    Abstract: A system configured to be mounted to a vehicle, the system including a display viewable over a predetermined range of distances and a motion sensor configured to detect speeds of one or more vehicles within the predetermined range of distances of the display. The system may receive, via the motion sensor, the speeds of the one or more vehicles and based at least in part on the speeds of the one or more vehicles relative to a threshold speed may display first image data or second image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: DeLorean, LLC
    Inventor: Jack Z. DeLorean
  • Patent number: 10581629
    Abstract: Apparatus and systems for providing home and building security and condition monitoring include a plurality of devices, including intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected devices, that communicate dynamically with each other and a remote server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Hartford Fire Insurance Company
    Inventors: Michael Louis Brandman, Julia M. Feldman, Richard J. Marchetti, Steinar Ryen
  • Patent number: 10582248
    Abstract: Electronic digital display systems, including roadside display devices, vehicle-based devices, personal mobile devices, intermediary servers, advertising servers, and/or additional external data sources may operate individually or in combination to identify one or more vehicle locations, driving routes, driver and passenger characteristics, and the like. Vehicle and individual characteristics may be determined based on data received from traffic cameras, vehicle-based devices, personal mobile devices, and/or other data sources. Based on the vehicle characteristics, individual characteristics, driving data and driving patterns, and the like, digital content may be determined for electronic roadside displays to be viewable by the approaching vehicles, and/or other digital display devices to be viewable by associated individuals via other display devices and at other times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company
    Inventor: Robert Wasserman
  • Patent number: 10576993
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing a voice output service in a vehicle can include: a controller configured to detect whether a driver enters the vehicle, determine a recommended function for the driver based on information of the driver and information of a state of the vehicle when it is detected that the driver enters the vehicle, and generate a voice output service message for informing the driver of the recommended function; and an output device configured to output the generated voice output service message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Hyun Jin Yoon
  • Patent number: 10569707
    Abstract: An emergency warning system for warning vehicles and electronic devices is disclosed. The emergency warning system comprises a first system. The first system is provided in a building or highway or road construction zone or in a first vehicle indicative of an emergency vehicle. The first system comprises an actuator, a radio-frequency signal generator communicatively coupled to the actuator. The radio-frequency signal generator is used to generate radio frequency signals at a particular frequency. Further, the first system comprises a transmitter for broadcasting the signals generated by the radio-frequency signal generator. Further, the emergency warning system comprises a second system provided in a second vehicle and at least one electronic device, present within a predefined distance of the first system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Inventor: William Adam
  • Patent number: 10568558
    Abstract: A system for monitoring a pilot's health is provided herein. The system may include: a head mounted device mountable to a head of a pilot; at least one vital signs sensor couplable to a body portion of said pilot and configured to obtain vital signs data associated with said pilot; at least one head sensor configured to obtain head-related data associated with the head of said pilot; and a computer processor configured to receive the vital signs data and the head-related data as an input and generate as an output, an indication of pilot incompetence, based on predefined criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: ELBIT SYSTEMS LTD.
    Inventors: Yaron Kranz, Zvi Oron, Yoav Ophir