Patents Examined by Donnie L. Crosland
  • Patent number: 8576664
    Abstract: A moving object detection system is provided with an existence detection part, an integrating part and an existence judgment part. Based on first and second detection signals, the existence detection part calculates a rotation angle of each transition factor that is obtained from the first and second detection signals and rotates around the origin in a two-dimensional coordinate system. The existence detection part is configured so that the rotation angle becomes less than 90 degrees. The integrating part integrates each rotation angle to obtain an integrated angle. The existence judgment part judges whether or not a moving object approaching or leaving a receiver of the device exists in a detection area based on the integrated angle and a threshold angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Fumihiro Kasano, Toshimasa Takagi, Hidehiko Fujikawa, Toru Mugiuda
  • Patent number: 8547227
    Abstract: A method of operating a radio frequency (RF) communication device includes internally storing energy received by the RF communication device, and using that energy to enhance communication by the RF communication device upon occurrence of a predetermined event. The energy received by the RF communication device may be energy transmitted by a shelf or other display unit that an object with the RF communication device is located on. The predetermined event may be any of a wide variety of events. The energy storage may be accomplished in a battery, capacitor, or other energy storage device. The use of energy to enhance communication may be used to provide increased power for sending, receiving, or detecting signals. The enhanced power may be provided continuously, and/or may include periods of power enhancement alternating with periods of non-enhancement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
    Inventor: Ian J. Forster
  • Patent number: 8531286
    Abstract: A security system includes at least one audio sensor and an alarm panel that transmits alarm report data through a communications network to at least one alarm receiver located at a central station remote from the premises that receives the alarm report data transmitted from the alarm panel through the communications network. A line card receives the alarm report data. An alarm receiver processor receives and processes regulated alarm report data in accordance with Underwriter Laboratories 1610 requirements. The line card is operable for receiving non-regulated alarm report data that is not regulated in accordance with Underwriter Laboratories 1610 requirements. The line card includes a secondary communications channel interfaced to a central station automation system and routes the regulated alarm report data to the central station automation system over the secondary communications channel and bypasses the alarm receiver processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Stanley Convergent Security Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Friar, Mark Davis
  • Patent number: 8519847
    Abstract: A method for scheduling communications over a wireless communication subsystem and a radio frequency identification (RFID) communication subsystem comprising determining one or more periods of activity of the wireless communication subsystem; deriving one or more periods of non-activity on the basis of the one or more determined periods of activity; synchronizing an operation of the radio frequency identification (RFID) communication subsystem with the one or more periods of non-activity; and triggering the operation of the radio frequency identification (RFID) communication subsystem in accordance with the one or more derived periods of non-activity to enable substantially concurrent communications operation of the wireless communication subsystem and the radio frequency identification (RFID) communication subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Mauri Honkanen, Jari Junell, Antti Lappetelainen
  • Patent number: 8004396
    Abstract: An information integration system for integrating information includes: a local information receiving unit configured to receive information from a plurality of sensors; an information collecting unit configured to collect information from a plurality of remote information sources; and an information processing unit coupled to the local information receiving unit and the information collecting unit, the information processing unit being configured to process the information received by the local information receiving unit and the information collected by the information collecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Chih-Yuan Liu, Lun-Chia Kuo, Chung-Yi Wu
  • Patent number: 7990260
    Abstract: A normality determination unit determines that a communication function for an outdoor unit of its own is normal when receiving a signal from one of indoor units, and writes a normality flag into an EEPROM. Further, the normality determination unit determines that it is not asserted that the communication function for the outdoor unit of its own is normal when not receiving a signal from any of the indoor units for a predetermined time period, and deletes the normality flag in the EEPROM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sunao Ueda, Yasuaki Miyaba, Hisashi Sumida
  • Patent number: 7990281
    Abstract: A doorbell chime (100) can comprise a chassis (101), a cover (104) having a mechanical-cover identifier (105, 106), a mechanical-cover identifier detector (103) (to detect when the cover is at least substantially disposed in the installed position), and a chime (102) mounted in the chassis. This chime is configured to operate in a first mode of operation (302) when the mechanical-cover identifier detector detects the cover and in a second mode of operation (303) (that is different than the first mode of operation) when the mechanical-cover identifier detector does not detect the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: HeathCo, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Blaise Tylicki, Timothy Gale Birdwell, Thomas Michael Gott, Jimmy David Claiborne
  • Patent number: 7986228
    Abstract: A security system includes at least one audio sensor and alarm panel, each located at a premises and generating alarm report data through a communications network to at least one alarm receiver located at a central station remote from the premises. A line card receives the alarm report data. An alarm receiver processor receives and processes regulated alarm report data in accordance with Underwriter Laboratories 1610 requirements. A line card is operable for receiving non-regulated alarm report data that is not regulated in accordance with Underwriter Laboratories 1610 requirements and establishing a bi-directional link for the non-regulated alarm report data between any central station automation system and the alarm panel at the premises until the bi-directional link is no longer required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Stanley Convergent Security Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Friar, Mark Davis
  • Patent number: 7978094
    Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a reflective element assembly portion and at least one cap portion adapted to attach to the reflective element assembly portion. The reflective element assembly portion includes a reflective element. The reflective element assembly portion comprises a first molding that encompasses at least a perimeter portion of the reflective element. The first molding is formed by molding a first resinous material having a tool shrinkage factor equal to or greater than about 1%. The cap portion comprises at least one second molding formed by molding a second resinous material having a tool shrinkage factor of less than or equal to about 1%. The cap portion preferably includes internal structure for supporting at least one accessory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: John T. Uken, Lee Karner, Richard R. Hook, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 7973665
    Abstract: A child monitor system includes a child unit having a sensor to capture content, and a parent unit having a processor and a user interface communicatively coupled with the processor to reproduce the content captured by the sensor. The child unit and the parent unit are configured to communicate via a wireless communication link carrying content data representative of the captured content. The system further includes a memory communicatively coupled with the child unit or the parent unit and configured for non-volatile storage of the content data. The processor of the parent unit is configured to issue an instruction to effectuate the non-volatile storage of the content data in the memory in response to a content storage request received via the user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Graco Children's Products Inc.
    Inventor: Craig Desrosiers
  • Patent number: 7969321
    Abstract: A smoke detector adapted for installation within a bracket of a ceiling downlight; the smoke detector comprising a lower body portion adapted for engagement with said bracket, and an upper body portion extending upwardly from said lower portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Inventor: John Spellman
  • Patent number: 7969325
    Abstract: Variable thoroughfare toll rates are applied in anticipation of an event impacting traffic flow. An event occurrence is identified and determined to cause a change in a normal traffic flow amount on an impacted section of a thoroughfare. A traveler is notified of the impacted section of the thoroughfare in association with an impacted section-choice toll rate, a bypass choice in association with a bypass-choice toll rate, and a future time period duration for an application of the bypass-choice and impacted section-choice rates. A notified traveler is charged a toll for using the thoroughfare as a function of the bypass-choice rate in response to choosing to travel upon the presented bypass choice, or as a function of an impacted section-choice toll rate in response choosing to travel upon the presented impacted section choice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rick A. Hamilton, II, Naveen Lamba, Colin Fung Wan Lim, Benjamin G. Morris, James W. Seaman, Vinodh K. Swaminathan
  • Patent number: 7969288
    Abstract: A force feedback system provides components for use in a force feedback system including a host computer and a force feedback interface device. An architecture for a host computer allows multi-tasking application programs to interface with the force feedback device without conflicts. One embodiment of a force feedback device provides both relative position reporting and absolute position reporting to allow great flexibility. A different device embodiment provides relative position reporting device allowing maximum compatibility with existing software. Information such as ballistic parameters and screen size sent from the host to the force feedback device allow accurate mouse positions and cursor positions to be determined in the force feedback environment. Force feedback effects and structures are further described, such as events and enclosures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Adam C. Braun, Jonathan L. Beamer, Louis B. Rosenberg, Dean C. Chang
  • Patent number: 7969295
    Abstract: A device 20 for location and identification of pipes, conduits, cables or buried or hidden objects 8 is described without the need of any invasive and/or destructive work, said device comprising at least one transponder 1 utilizing RFID or like technology for identification without any physical contact or line-of-sight, said transponder 1 being attached in a support 7 shaped as a mesh, tape, wire, cable, cordage or alternatively in a device 32/33 such as a bar, tappet, line, stud, mushroom, pipe, marker or the like, device 20 resulting from the combination of 1 and 7 or of 1 and 32/33. A system for location and identification of said objects 8 comprises said device 20 and further a reading and/or writing unit 3 of the information on said pipe, conduit, cable or buried or hidden object 8, at least an antenna 2 besides said pipe, conduit, cable or buried or hidden object 8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Inventors: Claiton Pereira Colvero, Vinicius Rangel Duarte Carneiro, Alexandre De Oliveira Dal Forno
  • Patent number: 7969315
    Abstract: A sensor device for monitoring physical stresses placed on a user has a sensor body with pressure sensors for sensing pressure and generating a pressure data signal indicating the pressures sensed. An alert mechanism functions to alert the user when the pressure sensed by the pressure sensors exceeds predetermined threshold force levels. The sensor device is utilized to enable a method of monitoring the physical stresses and alerting the user when the predetermined threshold force levels are exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: MedHab, LLC
    Inventors: Janice Marie Ross, Johnny Ross, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7965195
    Abstract: A system, computer program product and method to provide information related to a power distribution system based on information provided by a plurality of network elements electrically connected to a plurality of power lines of the power distribution system at a plurality of locations is provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving a notification from a group of network elements that have detected a voltage signature indicating an imminent power outage, determining location information of the power outage, outputting the location information of the power outage, receiving a live notification from a first network element of the group of network elements indicating a first power restoration at a location of the first network element, determining location information of the first power restoration, and outputting the location information of the first power restoration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Current Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brian J. Deaver, Sr., David S. Yaney
  • Patent number: 7961090
    Abstract: A method and a system for controlling LED with power line carrier are disclosed. The system contains a host controller, an electric power conductor, and at least a luminous device, and the luminous device further containing an environmental data collection module. The method comprises the steps of providing a power line carrier module to both the host controller and the luminous devices; the luminous devices detecting a set of environmental data by the environmental data collection module; the luminous devices transmitting the set of environmental data to the host controller; the host controller recording and analyzing the set of environmental data; and the host controller sending a control signal to the luminous devices according to the analysis. Therein the control signal and the set of environmental data are transmitted by the power line carrier module through the electric power conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Intematix Technology Center Corp.
    Inventor: Yu-Chou Hu
  • Patent number: 7961087
    Abstract: Holistic alarm monitoring may be provided. An alarm display interface may receive alarm messages relating to assorted priorities and/or categories. Users may configure rules for displaying and processing the alarm messages as they are received. Historical alarm messages may be correlated and analyzed to determine trends, as by displaying the alarm messages on a calendar. Users may also configure and share alarm display views, search through received alarm messages, annotate and/or attach files to alarm messages, and categorize alarm messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Inventor: Bahman Hoveida
  • Patent number: 7956738
    Abstract: A field device for use in an industrial process control or monitoring system includes terminals configured to connect to a two-wire process control loop. The loop carries data and provides power to the field device. RF circuitry in the field device is provided for radio frequency communication. A power supply powers the RF circuitry using power received from the two-wire process control loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Rosemount Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Karschnia, Charles R. Willcox, David A. Broden, Brian L. Westfield, Kelly M. Orth
  • Patent number: 7956734
    Abstract: A wireless tag reader/writer apparatus includes a receiving/transmitting antenna configured to transmit an interrogation signal to wireless tags, each having a storage unit with at least a reserved area and an EPC area for storing a group ID unique to the wireless tag, and configured to receive response signals from the wireless tags; a tag-data storing unit configured to store interrogation data and response data, the interrogation data being contained in the interrogation signal to be transmitted to the wireless tags, and the response data being contained in the response signals transmitted from the wireless tags; and a main control unit configured to detect the group ID stored in the reserve area of each wireless tag, from the response data stored in the tag-data storing unit, and configured to determine that at least one of the wireless tags has dropped out, from the number of group IDs stored in the reserved area of each wireless tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuji Oozawa, Yukihiko Kambe