Patents Examined by Donnie L. Crosland
  • Patent number: 7656285
    Abstract: A system in which one or more alarm sources (10), can wirelessly communicate with a receiver (30), to activate an alarm and does not contain any identification that indicates the communication's source (10). The system may include “repeaters” (40), whose function is to relay the communication from one station to another over distances longer than can be reached by a single transmitter (10), Apparatuses for transmitting (10), repeating (40), and receiving (30), are also disclosed, as well as a communication system comprised of various elements of these.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.v.
    Inventors: Kim Johnnie Hansen, Carlton B. Morgan, Thomas Dean Lyster
  • Patent number: 7656289
    Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring an inside of a manhole in which the inside of the manhole is monitored using a simple communication and power supply unit is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: LS Cable Ltd.
    Inventor: Su-kil Lee
  • Patent number: 7652565
    Abstract: In a sensor network system, sensor data having a high precision (high resolution) is collected, and congestion of a communication network and an apparatus for processing the sensor data is suppressed. A sensor node has a contribution degree calculator for calculating an influence that the detected sensor information exerts upon the entire system precision (resolution). A first communicating circuit transmits sensor information responding to a calculated contribution so that no congestion caused by transmitting too large a quantity of data all at once occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Masanori Takaoka, Toshiyasu Nakao
  • Patent number: 7652566
    Abstract: Apparatus includes an arc wave generator for testing an arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) for use in a test system for testing whether or not an arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) is operating normally, in which a false arc is generated for use in testing the arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI). The arc wave generator includes a rectifier which receives a commercial power source as an input source and rectifies alternating-current voltage of the commercial power source to generate a rectified signal. A drop resistor drops the voltage of the rectified signal to generate a voltage-dropped signal. A mono-stable multivibrator adjusts a voltage level and a pulse width of the voltage-dropped signal and generates a pulse signal which is used to generate a false arc for testing the arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI). Thus, a false arc is generated with a simple circuit to accurately test the actions of the arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Hetko, Inc.
    Inventors: Jun Bae Lee, Shin Yon Jo
  • Patent number: 7649455
    Abstract: A system for monitoring the contents of a closed container is provided. The system includes a sensing system for monitoring the contents of the container; a signal receiving element for receiving sensor data from the sensing system; a control element for analyzing received sensor data; a first transceiver element for receiving signals containing sensor data from within the container and for transmitting those signals outside of the container; and a satellite transceiver element for receiving signals from the first transceiver element and for forwarding the received signals via satellite uplink to a remote location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: System Planning Corporation
    Inventors: Linda G. Easley, Ronald L. Martin
  • Patent number: 7649451
    Abstract: The data processing device includes an identification information displaying controller, a selecting controller, and a recording controller. The identification information displaying controller displays a plurality of identification information that is read from a storage medium and is indicative of respective ones of a plurality of different operating conditions. The selecting controller selects at least one of the plurality of identification information from the plurality of identification information. The recording controller records the at least one of the plurality of identification information, allowing a user to use at least one of the plurality of different operating conditions that corresponds to the at least one of the plurality of identification information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasunari Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7649472
    Abstract: A multi-module facility safety or security notification system containing (a) a central control unit, (b) at least one sub-module containing a light source and a sensor for detecting the level of ambient light, (c) at least one sub-module containing at least one additional sensor that is not an ambient light sensor, and (d) a at least two user selectable illumination options capable of being selected from at least the central control unit. The minimum illumination options are first an option where the light sources will respond to the ambient light sensor and the other sensor (i.e. a night-light mode) and second, an option where the light sources do not respond to the ambient light sensor but does respond to a different sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Inventor: David Joseph August Paterno
  • Patent number: 7646285
    Abstract: A security system in a vehicle extends its protection to installed equipment of the vehicle, such as audio components and navigation systems. The installed equipment is armed and disarmed by the security system remote control, preventing the equipment from normal functioning after unauthorized removal. The security system further enables programming, monitoring, and diagnosing of the installed equipment through the security system remote control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: DEI Headquarters, Inc.
    Inventors: Franklin Ochs, Mark Rutledge
  • Patent number: 7639129
    Abstract: Methods of automatically configuring a power monitoring system based upon the locations of the monitoring devices in a hierarchy representing the spatial interrelationships of the monitoring devices. The power monitoring system includes a host computer communicatively coupled to a plurality of monitoring devices arranged in a hierarchy in an electrical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Inventors: Jon Andrew Bickel, Ronald W. Carter, Larry E. Curtis
  • Patent number: 7639130
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a system and method for controlling the output level of an enunciator on a portable electronic device. In the system, an enunciator management system for an electronic device is provided. The system comprises: an enunciator having a first enunciation level and a lower, second enunciation level; a sensor; a monitoring circuit connected to the sensor providing a trigger signal that registers a notable activation of the sensor; memory to store data relating to the first and the second enunciation levels for the enunciator and adjustment information for the enunciator for an application operating on the device; and an enunciator management module to initiate the enunciator at the first enunciation level and selectively activate the enunciator at the lower, second enunciation level depending on the adjustment information and the trigger signal from the monitoring circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventor: Kevin Orr
  • Patent number: 7636041
    Abstract: A monitoring system includes at least one fixed location monitoring station, a remote central station and a communications link interconnecting the monitoring station with the remote central station. The monitoring station includes a processor coupled to an input device for retrieving subject identification definition data and subject location definition data. The processor also retrieves physiological parameter sampling data from the subject and determines whether the physiological parameter sampling data lies within boundary limits of the identification definition data and also determines whether the location of the monitoring station lies within boundary limits of the location definition data. In the event the sampling data and the fixed location are within boundary limits, the processor may actuate an access control to permit the subject to enter or exit a controlled premises.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: AccuTrak Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Eli Camhi
  • Patent number: 7636040
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus for displaying and setting operating conditions of a peripheral device, includes: a display unit; an operating condition selection unit; a first comparison unit; and a first display control unit. The operating condition selection unit selects two or more operating conditions from a plurality of operating conditions. The first comparison unit comparing the selected two or more operating conditions for each of a plurality of operating condition items that constitute each operating condition. The first display control unit controls the display unit to display the selected two or more operating conditions by displaying, in a first display mode, an operating condition item whose value is different between the two or more operating conditions and by displaying, in a second display mode different from the first display mode, another operating condition item whose value is identical between the two or more operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasunari Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7636045
    Abstract: A product presentation biped robot implementing presentation of products such as vehicles through explanation of at least one among performance, specifications and operation of the products, is provided. The robot has a communication unit being capable of communicating with a database located externally of the robot and storing information including at least data needed for implementing the presentation of the products, a data acquirer accessing the database through the communication unit to acquire the data needed for implementing the presentation of one from among the products interested by a customer, and a product presentation implementor implementing the presentation of the one from among the products to the customer based on the acquired data presentation robot that implements product presentation, thereby enabling to ease the work of a salesperson.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichiro Sugiyama, Taizou Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 7633404
    Abstract: A measurement indication method and an apparatus to indicate difference between a measured result taken by a medical measurement instrument and a normal digital value according to medical theory. The medical measurement instrument includes at least a measurement element, a power supply, at least one processing unit and the apparatus to implement the measurement indication method. The apparatus includes a plurality of indication lamps capable of emitting light of three or more colors. The number and lighting color of the indication lamps can be changed sequentially according to the difference of the measured digital value and a normal digital value range. Thereby users can easily determine the difference between the measured result and the normal value. And the measured value can be indicated in graphics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: K-Jump Health Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Daniel C. M. Tseng
  • Patent number: 7633384
    Abstract: There are provided an alarm information processing device and an alarm information processing method capable of handling alarm information in unification and of exhibiting flexible adaptability in response to the circumstances. A collection unit collects alarm information having a plurality of mixed formats. A normalization unit normalizes alarm information collected by the collection unit. An information processing unit executes information processing relative to the alarm information normalized by the normalization unit. A user setting unit is used for setting a logic for normalization by a user in the normalization unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Mamoru Kakimoto, Yasunori Sakata, Naohito Ohtani, Yasunori Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7633386
    Abstract: A detection system in which a single sensor is employed to detect an extensive range of a parameter. The output signal from the sensor is fed to the input of the electrical circuit, having a feedback loop, wherein the electrical circuit has a non-linear transfer characteristic. The non-linear transfer characteristic is achieved by changing the behavior of the feedback loop of the electrical circuit at a predetermined level of input signal. The output of the circuit has a proportional relationship with the input until the input signal reaches this predetermined value, whereupon the behaviors of the feedback loop changes and the relationship of the output to the input of the circuit changes. While the input signal is above the predetermined value, the output of the circuit has a linear but disproportionate relationship with the input at a gradient different to that when the input signal is below the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Thorn Security Limited
    Inventor: Steven Ian Bennett
  • Patent number: 7629894
    Abstract: A plurality of directional sounders located in a region being monitored can be synchronously and sequentially activated in various patterns to establish an audibly defined exit route from the region. Emitted audio, from a respective sounder, can be different than the audio emitted by other activated sounders to provide a path and direction for evacuation to individuals in the vicinity of the exit route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Plocher, Janet J Z X Jin, Foong Yeen Chan, Qing Li
  • Patent number: 7626490
    Abstract: If an information sending request is received from an information terminal via a data communication connection before search for information requested by the information terminal via a voice communication connection is finished, the sending of the information to the information terminal is prohibited. This prevents old information from being transmitted to the information terminal in response to the information sending request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kashima
  • Patent number: 7626491
    Abstract: An indicator control system for switching from a measurement value display mode to a camera display mode and vice versa in order to display a selected mode on a monitor section of an indicator and for generating an alarm from an alarm section. The measurement value display mode shows the measurement data of an object to be monitored such as a construction machine. The camera display mode being for a camera section that is mounted on the construction machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Caterpillar Japan Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Yamada, Isao Murota, Tomoaki Ono, Satoshi Fujii
  • Patent number: RE41087
    Abstract: The invention discloses a locator unit contained within footwear providing a method for GPS position determination and transmission of said location determination data to a central monitoring station which disseminates the data through the use of proprietary software, wireless communications, land based wire systems and the Internet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: GTX Corp
    Inventors: Mitchell W. Jamel, Patrick E. Bertagna, Ralph H. Davis