Patents Examined by Brian Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 12217600
    Abstract: A control device configurable to couple to one or more devices having different control functions and a method of facilitating remote control of at least one device having different control functions includes a processor that receives an instruction for at least one of the control functions and additional information from the at least one device, the processor including a plurality of processing algorithms, the additional information received from the at least one device including at least a locally transmitted data signal. The processor selectably processes the additional information using at least one of the processing algorithms and controls a touch sensitive display reconfigurable for the different control functions, such that the at least one control function and the selectably processed additional information are presented on the touch sensitive display. The processor also generates at least one control signal responsive to receiving the locally transmitted data signal. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: The Diablo Canyon Collective LLC
    Inventors: Steven Wayne Goldstein, John Usher
  • Patent number: 12210996
    Abstract: Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities for determining/identifying confidence ratings/indicators for delivery of items. In one embodiment, this comprises determining a number of location events that occurred within a zone of confidence for delivery an item to a serviceable address; and responsive to determining the number of location events that occurred within the zone of confidence for delivery the item to the serviceable address, determining, via one or more processors, a confidence rating for delivery of the item to the serviceable address based at least in part on the number of location events that occurred within the zone of confidence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: United Parcel Service of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Jay Christian Staples
  • Patent number: 12211000
    Abstract: A delivery management server includes one or more processors configured to receive a return request notification indicating that a return is requested using a package container. The one or more processors are also configured to, based at least in part on receipt of the return request notification and a determination that a cover of the package container is in a closed state: store a trial end time, determine a trial duration based on a comparison of a trial start time and the trial end time, and based on a determination that the trial duration is less than or equal to a trial duration threshold, send a request to direct a transportation vehicle to a container location to retrieve the package container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Motogo, LLC
    Inventors: David Brian Ruth, Yuan-Chang Lo
  • Patent number: 12170005
    Abstract: Methods and systems for processing messages received from a security device are presented. In some embodiments, a server may receive one or more messages from a security console and subsequently may determine the location of the security console. The server then may identify one or more other devices that are grouped, e.g., located within a predetermined distance, with the security console. Thereafter, the server may send one or more alert messages to the identified devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Thiru Srinivasan, William Lesage
  • Patent number: 12153986
    Abstract: A method for implementing a software-based (SB) radio frequency identification (RFID) tag is disclosed. The method comprises storing first RFID identity data in a memory of the SB RFID tag, storing second RFID identity data in the memory of the SB RFID tag; and receiving via an antenna coupled to the SB RFID tag an RFID interrogation signal from an RFID reader and, in response determining by a processor of the SB RFID tag a status of an RFID identity selection criterion, selecting one of the first RFID identity data and the second RFID identity data, based on the status of the RFID identity selection criterion; and sending the selected one of the first RFID identity data and the second RFID identity data to the RFID reader via an antenna coupled to the SB RFID tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC
    Inventors: Robert Keith Butler, Lyle W. Paczkowski
  • Patent number: 12154398
    Abstract: This facility security equipment remote operation management device comprises: a network communication unit that receives a remote operation instruction for security equipment connected to a private IP network of a facility; a transmission area determination unit that determines whether the instruction was received via the private IP network of the facility; and an operation instruction unit that transmits the instruction to the security equipment only if the instruction was received via the private IP network of the facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshihide Yasumura
  • Patent number: 12124550
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are disclosed for a wearable proximity detection system. In one embodiment, a wearable device configured to be worn by a wearer includes a first energy source configured to transmit energy; a sensor configured to detect energy from a proximate, second energy source of a compatible, second wearable device; and processing circuitry in communication with the first energy source and the sensor, the processing circuitry configured to use the energy detected by the sensor to determine a predetermined identifying characteristic associated to a second wearer of the second wearable device. In one embodiment, a method includes transmitting, via a first energy source, energy; detecting, via a sensor, energy from a proximate, second energy source of a compatible, second wearable device; and using, via processing circuitry, the energy detected by the sensor to determine a predetermined identifying characteristic associated to a second wearer of the second wearable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Richard J. Sabacinski, David J. Crouch
  • Patent number: 12047065
    Abstract: A touch-based control device is operable to detect touch input over an entirety of the control device's exterior, including at regions of an exterior panel that (i) overlay portions of a circuit board where no touch sensors exist, and/or (ii) extend beyond a perimeter of a touch region or circuit board on which touch sensors are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Brilliant Home Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Cardanha, Bozhi See, Michelle Pillainayagam
  • Patent number: 11994250
    Abstract: An anti-theft device for protecting a portable electronic device from theft or unauthorized removal in a retail environment is provided. The anti-theft device includes a shroud configured to at least partially receive and engage a portable electronic device. The anti-theft device also includes a dock configured to releasably engage the shroud. The dock is configured to engage the shroud in a locked configuration so as to prevent removal of the shroud and the portable electronic device from the dock and to disengage the shroud in an unlocked configuration so as to allow the shroud and the portable electronic device to be removed from the dock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: InVue Security Products Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathon D. Phillips, Antonios L Karagiannis, Mark D. Reeves, Matthew Thomas Kerley, John A. Buchanan, Daniel C. Symons, Darin J. Shaw, Joshua Abdollahzadeh, Scott M. Speck, Erik L. van Bergen, Larry T. McKinney
  • Patent number: 11987283
    Abstract: A vehicle trailer assist system is configured to display a plurality of target areas to a vehicle operator for the vehicle operator to select. The vehicle operator selects a target area on a trailer for tracking and using in determining a relative orientation with the vehicle. The system records selected target area and determines a relative orientation between a trailer and a tow vehicle based on a relative position between the features in the selected target area on the trailer and the tow vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Continental Autonomous Mobility US, LLC
    Inventors: Nizar Ahamed, Abdulwahab Alkeilani, Luis Enrique Guerra Fernandez
  • Patent number: 11932484
    Abstract: A container for storing liquids includes an inner layer including a storage space for storing liquids; an outer layer; and multiple spacers fastened between the inner layer and the outer layer to form multiple compartments. The spacer includes a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is secured to an adhesive layer of the inner layer. The first surface has many cavities. The second surface is secured to the outer layer and having projections complimentarily secured to the cavities. A manufacturing method of the container is also provided. Therefore, it can solve the problem permeation and adhesive failure caused by leaking. It can generate an early alarm by detecting any leaking or permeation of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Inventor: Chien-Chih Ho
  • Patent number: 11913979
    Abstract: An electrical safety monitor is provided. The electrical safety monitor may include a housing having a face. The electrical safety monitor further includes a plurality of line inputs for hardwiring a plurality of electrical connections. The electrical safety monitor further includes a plurality of test points with each of the test points corresponding to one of the line inputs, each of the plurality of test points accessible at the face of the housing. The electrical safety monitor further includes a line monitoring circuit having a plurality of light indicators and configured to produce light if voltage exists between any two of the line inputs to thereby indicate presence of voltage to a user. The electrical safety monitor further includes illumination areas associated with each of the test points, wherein each of the illumination areas is provided light by one or more of the plurality of light indicators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: GRACE TECHNOLOGIES, INC
    Inventors: Bryan P. Van Itallie, Aaron Tuttle, Connor B. Meehan, Roger S. Clarke
  • Patent number: 11900798
    Abstract: The invention relates to mobile surveillance and, more particularly, to systems and methods for policing traffic violations, such as illegal cell phone use while driving. The surveillance system may include a mobile unit and an imaging device configured to monitor, detect, and record vehicles moving in the same direction or in an opposite direction of the mobile unit. The imaging device may capture license plate information and other data, such as characteristics corresponding to the driver of the vehicle. Advantageously, the surveillance system can record, analyze, detect, and communicate distracted driver violations effectively and efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: VIG Vehicle Intelligence Group LLC
    Inventor: Greg Horn
  • Patent number: 11816966
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to security systems for securing an item of merchandise from theft or unauthorized removal. For example, the security system may include a sensor configured to be coupled to the item of merchandise and a base configured to removably support the sensor and the item of merchandise thereon. The sensor has a generally L-shaped surface for being secured to a portion of the rear and bottom surfaces of the item of merchandise. The base includes a charging circuit for providing power to the sensor and/or the item of merchandise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: InVue Security Products Inc.
    Inventors: David N. Berglund, Daniel D. Dugas, Jeffrey A. Grant
  • Patent number: 11807298
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating a warning vibration of a steering wheel includes, a reservoir disposed within the steering wheel and filled with a non-conductive fluid, a connection tube connected to the reservoir and configured to form a hydraulic line of the non-conductive fluid, an actuator disposed within the steering wheel, connected to the connection tube, and configured to vibrate according to inflow and outflow of the non-conductive fluid from the connection tube, a positive electrode and a negative electrode disposed on opposite sides of the reservoir, a high voltage power supplier configured to supply a high voltage to be applied to the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and a vibration generation controller configured to selectively apply an output voltage of the high voltage power supplier to the positive electrode and the negative electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Kyoung-Jin Chang
  • Patent number: 11476952
    Abstract: An apparatus that includes a partial power source including a first material and a second material, the partial power source configured to generate, upon contact with a conducting medium, a potential difference between the first material and the second material to provide power to a control device, and generate, using the first material and the second material, a current flow within the conducting medium, the current flow including information encoded based on a variable conductance between the first material and the second material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: OTSUKA PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mark Zdeblick, Andrew Thompson, Aleksandr Pikelny, Timothy L. Robertson, Hooman Hafezi
  • Patent number: 11355000
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described for detecting a state transition for sensors of a monitoring system, and determining whether the state transition is abnormal such that further action is warranted. The determination may be based on a history of state transitions in the monitoring system, and may be based on whether the same state transition has previously occurred at a corresponding time in the history, whether the new state has previously occurred following the corresponding time in the history, and other factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventor: Zhen Zhao
  • Patent number: 11183038
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for unlocking a security tag that is connected to an article. The apparatus includes an unlocking device configured to provide an unlock signal or force to a security tag allowing for the security tag to be removed from the article. The apparatus further includes an unlocking surface disposed between the unlocking device and the security tag and an alignment feature configured to indicate a detachment zone that corresponds with a source of the unlock signal or force, wherein placing the tag in the detachment allows for the unlocking device to provide an unlock signal or force to the security device to allow the security tag to be removed from the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: SENSORMATIC ELECTRONICS, LLC
    Inventors: Channing E. Miller, Adam S. Bergman
  • Patent number: 11176798
    Abstract: Anomaly notification system that notifies of an anomaly of cared person in room includes sensor, sound collecting unit, first determination unit that determines whether a volume of the collected sound is more than or equal to a reference volume, second determination unit that determines whether a target sound is a predetermined activity sound generated by an activity of cared person, and third determination unit that determines whether an anomaly occurs in cared person, based on the activity amounts, which are measured before and after the target sound is collected, and notification unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD
    Inventors: Kenji Masuda, Toshiaki Tanaka, Masaru Yamaoka, Kazuhiro Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11172848
    Abstract: A system (100) monitors a position stability of a person (105) located on a patient positioning device (104) within a medical setting monitored area (108) and includes a sensor unit (110) with optical sensors (112) real time outputting a sensor signal (114) sensor data indicating a sequence of three-dimensional views of the monitored area over a monitoring time. A processor unit (120) receives the sensor signal and determines, based on indicated three-dimensional views, a person's center of weight (121), a geometric reference value (123), and a geometric distance (D) between the center of weight and the geometric reference value and automatedly monitors the determined geometric distance in real time over a monitoring time and calculates a current position stability (127) as a function of the currently determined geometric distance and geometric distances determined within a past analysis time interval and outputs a position stability signal (129).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Drägerwerk AG & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Frank Franz, Stefan Schlichting, Jasper Diesel