Patents Examined by Eric Blount
  • Patent number: 10463083
    Abstract: The invention relates to a monitor device for monitoring the closed or open state of an article, the monitor device being in the form of an electronic circuit comprising a button closure system comprising two rows of elements (11, 12, 13, 14, 21, 22, 23, 24) made of electrically conductive material, each element of one row being couplable and un-couplable with an element of the other row. A detector-and-signaling device is connected firstly to at least one of the elements, referred to as a “first terminal” (21), and secondly to at least one of the other elements, referred to as a “second terminal”. The detector-and-signaling device (4) is configured to detect the state of electrical continuity between the first and second terminals (21, 24), and to issue a signal as a function of said detected continuity state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: GENIUS OBJECTS
    Inventors: Philippe Tourrette, Alexandre Faucher
  • Patent number: 10468132
    Abstract: A pill dispenser is disclosed that includes a pill-dispensing mechanism, a receptacle, an identifying camera positioned to capture an image of an area adjacent to the pill dispenser, and a processor in operative communication with the pill-dispensing mechanism and the identifying camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Dean Kamen, James G. Turner, Erik N. Sabin, Gregg W. Rivinius, David E. Collins, Benjamin Zaslow, Jonathan Zobro, Alexander R. Therrien, Jared N. Farlow
  • Patent number: 10467868
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a magnetic apparatus for providing a tactile sensation and, more particularly, to a magnetic apparatus for providing a user with tactile information, by means of changes in viscosity, rigidity and elasticity due to a magnetic field, by using a magnetorheological fluid or a magnetorheological elastiomer. A magnetic apparatus for providing a tactile sensation comprises a tactile sensation provider 110 having magnetic particles 101, wherein the tactile sensation provider 110 provides a user with tactile information by means of a change due to an external magnetic field that has been applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: CK MATERIALS LAB CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seoung Hun Do, Hyeong Jun Kim
  • Patent number: 10466137
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a water detection device that includes a water-activated battery configured to supply an electrical voltage upon contact with water, an electronic circuit configured to receive the electrical voltage from the water-activated battery, where the electronic circuit is configured to communicate with an external, electronic device upon receipt of the electrical voltage, and a housing configured to receive the water-activated battery and the electronic circuit, where the housing has passageways configured to facilitate movement of water into the housing and toward the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: HS Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradly Jay Billman, Kade Scott, Matthew T. Flachsbart, Cory Matheson, Benjamin D. Ethington
  • Patent number: 10449858
    Abstract: A device for a motor vehicle for displaying information includes an instrument panel and an information device configured to display information at various locations on the instrument panel so as to be visible to a driver of the motor vehicle. The device also includes a control device which is configured to receive information specifications that are relevant to vehicle management and result from at least one of: a position of the vehicle, a position of the vehicle relative to a roadway, a position of the vehicle relative to a driving lane, and a position of road users in a surrounding of the vehicle. The control device also determines a display location on the instrument panel based on the information specifications, and displays an item of information on the instrument panel at the determined display location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Olivier Pitrat, Marcel Ottmann
  • Patent number: 10436675
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a rolling bearing for a rotating member of a machine provides measuring, over time, the temperature values of the bearing or of a region surrounding the bearing. The method identifies temperature peaks in the temperature trend and highlights an alarm condition if the peaks satisfy an alarm criterion, for example the presence of five peaks in twelve operating hours of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: CAMOZZI DIGITAL S.R.L.
    Inventors: Cristian Locatelli, Luca Testi, Luca Soliani, Rosario Assenza, Matteo Giavarini
  • Patent number: 10431079
    Abstract: A driving control apparatus for an intersection traffic light array is provided. The intersection traffic light array includes Nxi horizontal ground traffic light sets. The Nxi horizontal ground traffic light sets include a horizontal ground traffic light set pxi which is disposed at an intersection safety line position of an entrance lane xi of a planar intersection. The Nxi horizontal ground traffic light sets further include a horizontal ground traffic light set qxi which is disposed at a stop line position of the entrance lane xi. Each horizontal ground traffic light set includes at least one traffic light, and part or all of traffic lights of a horizontal ground traffic light set i are provided with a wireless driving signal input port and/or a wired driving signal input port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Shenzhen Yijie Innovative Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Xiaofeng Su
  • Patent number: 10425525
    Abstract: A collision avoidance device includes a mobile device having a display screen. A proximity sensor is disposed on a side opposite the display screen. The proximity sensor is positioned to detect any obstacles present in a path of a user operating the display screen while moving. A warning device is powered by the mobile device to alert the user of any obstacles in the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Inventor: James J. Bitetto
  • Patent number: 10424035
    Abstract: Individuals are remotely monitored over a data communication network to automatically detect and responds to anomalous conditions. A user account of a plurality of user accounts is configured for remote monitoring for emergency conditions of monitored individuals. A monitoring device can be wearable and in physical contact with a first individual. A notifying device can also be wearable for a second individual for notification of emergency conditions. An anomalous condition is detected. The monitoring device includes sensors that measure conditions within and around the first individual, and send readings to the anomalous condition server for analysis. An alert is sent responsive to the anomaly determination, from the network communication interface, to the notifying device, according to personalized settings of the second individual.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Inventors: Trungram Gyaltrul R. Sherpa, David H. C. Chen
  • Patent number: 10410297
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a system may include a communication badge device including a communication device. The communication device can include a touchscreen interface and at least one sensor configured to generate a signal related to an orientation of the communication badge device. The communication device may further include a processor coupled to the touchscreen interface and the at least one sensor. The processor may be configured to determine a first mode and a second mode based on the orientation. The processor can be further configured to provide name tag data to the touchscreen interface in the first mode and to provide a user interface to the touchscreen interface in the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: PJS of Texas Inc.
    Inventors: Don Dyer, Travis Dyer, Rex Gore, Andrew Graham
  • Patent number: 10405484
    Abstract: Methods for avoiding seed-metering errors in planters include monitoring seed loading in a seed distribution disk with a pre-sensor, monitoring clogging of the seeds with at least one post-sensor, monitoring obstructions in a seed duct with the post-sensor, detecting analog voltage signals generated by the pre-sensor and post-sensor, converting the analog signals into digital signals using at least one analog/digital converter, processing the digital signals on a processor, and transmitting the processed digital signals to a central monitoring unit with an RF transceiver. Related devices for avoiding seed-metering errors in planters are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Inventor: José Roberto do Amaral Assy
  • Patent number: 10410073
    Abstract: Driver assistance system of a motor vehicle, to be connected with a navigation unit and a camera unit; wherein the navigation unit is adapted to access map data representing road segments of a road network located in the geographic proximity of the motor vehicle and road signs located on the road segments, to determine a current position of the motor vehicle located on a road segment, and to provide first information of at least one road sign to the driver assistance system, which road sign is located on a position of a road segment to be traveled by the motor vehicle based on the current position of the motor vehicle. The driver assistance system is adapted to provide second information of the at least one road sign to the camera unit based on the first information provided by the navigation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: LUCAS AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Georg Schneider
  • Patent number: 10403117
    Abstract: A water quality measurement apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises an electrochemical cell, a pH sensor, a temperature sensor, a control circuit, a power source, a database, and a warning device. The electrochemical cell comprises a working electrode, a reference electrode, and a counter electrode. The control circuit provides predetermined adjustable potentials between the reference electrode and the working electrode and measures electrochemical currents between the working electrode and the counter electrode, to form a current diagram based on the predetermined adjustable potentials and the electrochemical currents. The database stores predetermined reference diagrams based on various pH values and temperatures, and is in communication with the control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: MOEN INCORPORATED, A DELAWARE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Inho Song
  • Patent number: 10399576
    Abstract: Until a lapse of a prescribed time from switching to a manual drive mode, a special judgment criterion for judging whether to generate an attention-arousing event is employed so that an attention-arousing event is generated more frequently than in an ordinary state and information is presented to a driver in a different expression form than in the ordinary situation. Since after occurrence of a handover the frequency of arousing attention of the driver is increased and attention of the driver is aroused in a different form, the driver realizes the switching to the manual drive mode soon and hence mode confusion can be avoided. Arousing attention of the driver is started earlier than in the ordinary situation by changing the judgment criterion for judging whether to generate an attention-arousing event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yukio Suzuki, Kenichi Nagahashi
  • Patent number: 10403450
    Abstract: The invention relates to a monitor device for monitoring the closed or open state of an article, the monitor device being in the form of an electronic circuit comprising a zip closure system comprising two strips, each having fastened thereto a row of elements, referred to as “teeth” (11, . . . , 14, 20, . . . , 25), which elements are made of electrically conductive material. A slider (3) is mounted to slide along the strips and is configured, in one direction, to cause the teeth of one row to mesh with the teeth of the other row, and in the other direction, to separate the teeth. A detector-and-signaling device (4) is connected firstly to at least one of the teeth, referred to as a “first terminal” (21), and secondly to at least one of the other teeth, referred to as a “second terminal” (24). The detector-and-signaling device is configured to detect the state of electrical continuity between the first and second terminals (21, 24), and to issue a signal as a function of said detected continuity state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: TOURRETTE INVESTISSEMENTS
    Inventors: Philippe Tourrette, Alexandre Faucher
  • Patent number: 10395507
    Abstract: An emergency command device comprises: two safety inputs connectable to a control/evaluating unit to receive an input voltage; two safety outputs connectable to the control/evaluating unit; two electrical switching paths respectively extending between the two safety inputs and the two safety outputs; an emergency actuating unit comprising: a manually triggerable actuating element, a background element, and two switches connected to the actuating element and respectively disposed in the two electrical switching paths; a light emitting unit comprising red LEDs to backlight the actuating element and yellow LEDs to backlight the background element; a voltage detector detect an electrical output voltage at one of the two safety outputs; and a flashing circuit arrangement coupled to activate flashing of the yellow LEDs and/or the red LEDs in response to detection by the voltage detector of a drop in the output voltage below a preset or presettable threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Pilz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Bellingkrodt, Jörg Seid, Sergej Birt
  • Patent number: 10388413
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for intelligent suppression of alerts. Alerts may be evaluated prior to presentation to determine whether to present the alert or suppress the alert to reduce alert fatigue. The evaluation includes analysis of the alert including specific alert parameters. Alert parameters include, but are not limited to, an age of the patient, one or more diagnoses of the patient, one or more problems of the patient, etc. Additional parameters that may be evaluated include an alert severity score, a threshold value, and an override rate. Alerts that qualify may be suppressed and the suppressed alerts may be provided as non-interruptive alerts (i.e., alerts that may be presented but do not require action in order to continue with a workflow).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: CERNER INNOVATION, INC.
    Inventors: Ramachandran Koduvayur Bala, Damodar Reddy Karra
  • Patent number: 10384602
    Abstract: A method includes receiving, with one or more processors, biometric information of a first user. The method also includes determining, with the one or more processors, whether there is an indication that the first user is distracted based on the biometric information. The method further includes receiving, with the one or more processors, vehicle speed information. The method also includes determining, with the one or more processors, whether there is an indication that the first user is driving based on the vehicle speed information. The method further includes in response to determining that the first user is distracted and that the first user is driving, instructing, with the one or more processors, a mobile device associated with the first user to contact a second user or a call center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
    Inventors: Rachel Csabi, Matthew T. Flachsbart, Pooja Krishnaswamy, Nils Griswold-Steiner, Luis Eduardo Santana, Bradly Jay Billman
  • Patent number: 10384686
    Abstract: Method for automatically assessing performance of a driver (110) of a vehicle (100) for a particular trip, wherein current driving data sets, comprising basic driving data are repeatedly read from the vehicle, which method comprises the steps a) collecting previous-trip driving data sets comprising instantaneous vehicle energy consumption, for different previous trips, different drivers and different vehicles; b) grouping said previous-trip driving data sets into basic historic groups of such sets; c) mapping each current driving data set to a basic historic group; and d) calculating an energy consumption-based trip performance parameter value for the current trip based upon a respective energy consumption-based group performance parameter value for the mapped basic historic groups, which group performance parameter value in turn is calculated based upon the respective instantaneous energy consumption value in the respective previous-trip driving data sets in the basic historic group in question.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: GREATER THAN AB.
    Inventor: Anders Lindelöf
  • Patent number: 10381116
    Abstract: A point-of-care computer system is provided, including a display positioned in a point-of-care location. The point-of-care computer includes hardware coupled to a frame of a hospital bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Mark Zerhusen, Ryan A. Reeder, John D. Vogel, Michael E. Cerimele, Carl W. Riley, Timothy D. Wildman